The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-03 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSrUVER.

Police-cous-able Eaves saw Steadman trying to after a drill, the animal struck forward with his
conceal something in his hand. He took hold of near hind leg and broke the Major's right leg.
him, and found he had two stones, and two in his Determined to reach home, however, if possible,
poskets. He asked prisoner what he was going to the major rode six miles with the 'broken limb
do wieh them, to which prisoner replied, "They are thrown along the horse's neck—a novel mode of
for you; you first began the row." He and other ' equita,ion, as the horse is a very nervous one in
constables tried to persuade the mob to move off , the saddle. It will be some considerable time,
about ten o'clock. He used no staff, but saw a staff however, before the major will be able to resume
used twice or thrice subsequently. his dutics.
Police-constable Grinnell Saw Morton throwing VAGRANCY. —At the Police Court,. on Monday,
stones at the police just before he was apprehended. . before Mr. J. Swirdell, Matthew Lee, an old of-
He also saw Walton and Charli s Wakeman throw- fender, was chanced with begging at Pedmore, on
ing. Sunday last. Police-constable Paynter proved the
William Griffin, boot and shoe maker, deposed ca e and defendant was sentenced to 14 days hard
to seeing a constable struck with a stone. labour.
Benton Dawes, tobacconist, gave corroborative COAL STEALING.- -At the Police Court, yestertlay,
evidence. There were 3,000 or 4,000 persons as- before Colonel Fletcher (chairman), Lord Lyttelton
sembled, and there was a great noise. Two of his and Mr. R. L. Freer, Elijah Cartwright was charged
windows were broken, one with a stone and the with stealing coal the property of the Homer Hill
other with a brk. Witness was mobbed as he Colliery Company. Samuel Perry proved the case,
was proceeding to his business. and said the defendant had threatened him, which
John TI omits Mills, yardkecper at the Talbot was admitted. , Fined 10s, to include costs; in de.
Hotel, slid the police took refuge in the hotel yard fault 7 days.—James Wale and Joseph Broom were
and he closed the gate. He saw a wounded con- charged with stealing coal belonging to the Homer
stable taken in an insensible condition, and attended Hill Colliery Company, on the 23rd ult. Samuel
,by a doeter- Perry proved the case. Finei 5s each, to include
William Cross who at the time was a constable, costs; in default 7 days.
heard Steadman say he would make it hot for the THE CARD NUISANCE .—Samuel Fletcher, Simean
"bobbies" when it got dark. Witness was wounded Taylor, Joseph Hart, and David Dovey were sum-
in the head, and was attended by a doctor, mon-d for playing at cards on the highway, at
Cross-examined :He used his staff on two or Cracrep, on the 27th ult. Police-constable Oakey
three persons. He did not strike a won an, nor hit proved the case and said he picked up a penny.
a lame:man. He had since been diseharged from Defendants adrniVecl being there, but denied play-
the force. He did nr t hit anyone on the head that ing at cards. Fined 2s 6cl and costs; in default 7
night. days.
By the Chairman he was discharged for an as- SCHOOL Boana CASES. The following persons
sault, but he only committed it in self-defence. were summoned for neglecting to send their child-
For the-defence, Mr. R. H. Amphlett said it was ran to Cradley:Board Sehool. Elizabeth Attwood,
the general opinion of the people of Stourbridge Christopher Hill, and George Brewer were fined
that the police brought the riet on themselves by 2.s 6d each. Mr. Thompson proved the cases. A
the reckless manner in which they used their staves similar charge against James Wale was adjourned
on the people in the streets, without knowing for a fortnight.
whether the persons were out for a lawful purpose • ASSAULT CASE.—Sarah Ann Moore was charged
or not. He was also informed that it was perfectly with assaulting Annßinghatn.on the 24th ult. Mr.
heartrending to see the cruel manner in which Prescott defended.. Complainant said they had a
people were knecked about on the head by the few words when defendant struck her on the head
police with their staves. The jury would have to with a shovel, and inflicted a severe wound. She
zonsider if the crowd was assembled for an unlaw- became insensible. -Victoria Welsh corroborated.
ful purpose, for it did not follow that becax se one Mr. Pr scott, in defence, contended that comp;ain-
person misconducted himself by throwing a s'one ant first committed the assault, and defendant then
or otherwise that the assembly was an unlawful one. struck back. Rachael Baker said Bingham first
The conduct of the crowd was not such as to threw some mud on defendant and afterwards threw
justify the attack by the police, and if a balance a bucket of water and defendant then struck coin-
was drawn between the two parties he believed plainant .The Bench considered the case proved
several of the policemen should be standing in the and said it was a serious assault. Fined 20s and
dock at that time. He called. costs; in default one month.
Mr. Godfrey Perkins, a Commis,ioner, of Stour- A SERIOUS AFFAIR.—Samuel Stokes was brougl_ t
bridge who said he was in High Street at eight up on a warrant, charged with assaulting Samuel
o'clock, and there was no disturbance. The police Mansell Cooper, at Overend, Crsdley. on the 14th
were swinging their staves round, end striking the ult. Mr. Homer defended. Complainant, who is
people who were in the street. • No s'ones were a ground bailiff, said he went to levy a distress on
being thrown. He saw one man win was doing the defendant's goods, with another 'man. The
n thing struck upon the head by a constable. , door was op •n and they walked in, when the de-
Mr. J. W. Woolley, another Commissioner, fendant came with a loaded gun and said "Where
corroborated. There were many respect al, people are the ? I will shoot them," and pr, sented a
in the crowd. The crowd were raising one man loaded gun at them. It was capped. They both
who was bleeding from a cut head. He also saw rushed at the clef ndant and they had a tussle for
another man who was injured. Just after that the the gun. The stock was broken off, and defendant
police, with drawn staves, rushed down the street, struck him with the stock on the head, inflicting a
knocking people down in their course, wound which bled. James Mansell Cooper and
Cross-examined: The police had had no provo- Police-constable Clarke also gave evidence. The
cation. There was no stone throwing. Bench imposed a fine of lOs and costs; with the
Samuel Cartwright, tailor, said he saw the police alternative of one month's imprisonment.
marching down High Street. P.S. Jones told them STEALING A HORSE. -- William Bowke and
to charge and show no mercy. • One of the eon- Alfred Bowke were charged with stealing a hors 3
stables raised his staff to strike witness, when be the property of David Beddall, farmer, from afield
asked him what authority the police had to thrash near Walton Hill, Clent. After hearing the evi-
innocent people in that style. The constable deuce the Bench committed the prisoners to take
aimed a blow at witness's head, but he p it their trials at the next Worcester Sessions.
with his arm. He saw no stones thrown. Th STEALING AN UMBRELLA,—AI ary Ann Jones was
street was crowded, but the people were orderly. No sentenced to 21 days hard labour for stealing an
stones were thrown until after the charge. umbrella the property of Harry Lane, Kiddermin-
Mr. W. Brown, clothier, corrolatrated In cross- star, on the 25th utt.
examination he said he knew stones wet e thrown, ALLEGED CRUELTY TO A HORSE. Samuel
and his own windows were broken. Half the police Rhodes, of the Lye, was summoned for cru2lly ill-
had said was untrue. He saw stones following ths treating a horse by working it while in- an unlit
police " my,teriously "in their charge down the sate. Adjourned for a week.
street and it occurred to his assistant that the VICTORIA HALL AND RINK..-.'During the week
police might be throwing stones themselves, this place of amusement has been visited by large
(Laughter). The police excited the people by their numbers to witness the races. On Tuesday rii4 ,t
unwarrantable interference. Witness had sub- A. Porter ran away wi,ll both races; the one mile
forward and the half-mile backwards. On Wed.
scribed to a fund fa-defending the prisoners.
Thomas Wall, gardener, saw the poisoner Morton nesday night Fred Perry won the pi ize for figure
and his wife going down New Streht, towards th ir skating and Miss Whorton received the prize ill the
house. Witness 'stopped to speak to him, and while lad as race. On Thursday night J. Gillam won the
doing so Morton was struck by a policeman, and half-mite backward race and J. Smith won the mile
his head cut. Two other men were also struck. steeplechase. The prizes consisted of valuable
Mr. Allen Pearson ; James Shotten, ironmoubler ; silver medals.
lhomas Giles, glass engraver; Thomas Robinson, FIRE AT THE ME.—About half-past five o'clock
letter engraver ; Richard Pope, glassmaker ; and yesterday, a tire was discovered at a house and sh..p
Edwin Jones, gardener, gave similar testimony, belonging to Mr. Dudley Hill, situate in Dark
some of the witnesses saying that the police rushed Lane, Lye. The house has been void for above a
through the street "like racehorse'," knocking month. The Stourbridge Fire Brigade was soon on
over the people like ninepins, and indi-criminately ,he spot and it was found that the tire had brokeu-
using their staves about the heads and should es of out in three ;laces. The bedroom floor was buret
harmless, unoffendiog people. and the staircase partly destroyed. We understand
Witnesses to character were called, after which that the place was:insured.
the chairman summoned up, pointing out that tile BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—Tha wciekly -meeting
jury had not to try whether the police misconducted of this Board was held yesterday. Mr. Raybould
themselves. They had simply to enquire. whether in the chair. Thera were present Messrs.
prisoners were guilty of taking part in a riotous Lavender, Taylor, Kelly, Forrest, Robertson,
assembly, or whether what they did was in salf- J. Bidinghain, Newnan'. Hingley, II B. Guest,
defence. He then went carefully throueh the Pbtrgeter, Wood, Mibs, Homer, Hale, Langford,
evidence. Utiles, and Wright. Atheitted into the house
The jury being unable to agree were locked up uurin, the week 8 ; discharged 17 ; horn 0 ;
an hour, and they returned a verdict of " Guilty," c'
; ii i 99 C
witha strong recommendation to mercy. Sentence dead remaining the house 4. orres-
was deferred until Thursday morning when ponding period last year 480. Out-door relief,
George Morton, Henry Walton, NN illiam George Kingswinford district £34 Os 8d ; Stour
Steadman, Albert Wakeman, and Charles Wake- bridge district £27 17s lid ; Halesowen district,
man were brought up to receive sentence. Morton £l9 ss. 6d ; non-resident 4s. Total £Bl 8,
was sentenced to three weeks, Walton one month, lid against £llB 13s 3d.—The application of
Steadman two months, Albert Wakeman one month Air. Thompson, medical officer of the Work.
and Charles Wakeman one mont.t's imprisonment house, for an jhcrease of salary was considered.
without hard labour. Mr. Haskew proposed and Mr. Pargeter seconded
In passing sentence, Sir Richard Hartington said that it be increased £3O. On a division of the
he was extremely glad the jury had bc en enabled to Board the resolution was lost by 10 votes to 9.
come to the deci,ion at which they had arrived.
because it would be unfortunate if it were laid
down that a large number of persons were justified
in gathering together riotously and tumultuously
because some individual policeman happened to
have exceeded his duty. With referenee to the
charge made against the police, they appeared to
have vanished, with the exception of one again-t
a constable named Cross. who seemed to have u-cd
his staff mere than was necessary. No complaint
had been officially lodged against the officer, but on
a subsequent occasion, such complaint having been
made, Cross was dismissed from the force. This
showed that if the police were found exceeding
their duty a remedy could be obtained without re-
sorting to rioting. But when persons assembled
together tumultuously, they could not expect to be
dealt with as delicately by the pol.ce as if theywere
ladies going into a drawina room. It was abso-
lutely necessary for the police to make a demon-
stration of force in order to ensure) 'the mairstemnce
of peace. tinder he circumstances, the police, as a
body, had exercised great forbearance. The jury
had recommended the prisoners to mcrey on several
grounds, in some of which the Court entirely con-
curred. But they could not see why the occurenee
of an election was any excuse for a display of
violence- The Legislature had pr .vided absolute
sesresy in the recording of votes, and no amount of
eiolence couH prevent that secresy from being
kept. Beside, tae iot o curred chiefly after the
close of the poll, when no alteration in the result
could possibly be effected.
Charles Clarke (16), tanner, and 7ohn Fox, (on
bail) pleaded guilty to rioting at Stourbridge, on the
13th Apiil Fox, who was the ringleader of the
rioters who commifted damage and created great
disturbance in Stourbridge on the night after the
election, was sentenced to nine months' hard labour
and Clarke to three months' hard labour.