The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-04-11 00:00:00

BRIERLEY HILL.

CHARGE OF Tuextrxxxxo.—At the Petty Sessions, OD
Thursday la-t, before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary,
Joseph Sidaway was charged by Mary Ann Dillingham
with using threatening language to her, on the 30th ult.
Complainant s lid she lived at the Salt Wells. On the
altive date she was in her garden getting some sprouts,
when the defendant CIIIIO, made use of abusive language,
and threatened to cut her legs off; inn! she was in bodily
fear of him. Martha Dunn and another witness corro-
borated the complainant as to the threats made use of,
and defeulant was ordered to god two sureties in 4:10,
and himself in £lO, to keep the peace for six mouths, and
to pay the costs, 15s lid ; in default 10 days imprison.
merit.

SEILIOUA AHSAULT.—WiIIiam Thompson, Enoch Owl -
nett, anti Wtiliatu Orrinnett, were charged by William
Bedworth with assaulting him on the 10th ultimo. Mr.
Maltby appeared for the complainant. Complainant
said lam a provision dealer, residing at Great Bridge.
On the above date I attended a sale at Oinbersley, and
iny road home lay through Brierley Hill. On driving up
the hill at Brierley lull, Thompson came up and caught
hold of the reins and stopped the horse, w ing to his
companions, "Come on, these are the b--s." I asked
him what he meant, when he replied that I had run over
• man. I told him I did not want any of his nonsense,
sad asked him to loose the horse. He refused to do so.
My half brother was with me, and asked him to produce
the man. Thompson, with an oath, said he would let us
know before he hail done with us. I then struck the
defendant, Thompson, with my gig whip. The other two
de•entlauts cried out, "Stick to him." I then got out of
to soil re,- strated with hi. ‘nti told

ale gig and reinonst._ a Witt. aim, and told him to
loose the horse, and let him go. I tried to break his
hold, but could not. I fell down with Thompson. The
two Gwinnetts, with others, began to punch and kick me.
As often as I got up, I was knocked down again. Two
men came up and got them off me, and I went to the
Policenstation. I had not run over any one; but I be-
lieve Thompson tried to lay bold of my horse, and I had
some diffieulty in keeeping the horse from going over
him. When Police-sergeant Carroll came up, I pointed
out the three defendants as the men, and the police took
them to the station, and took their names. My eyes
were blackened, my lips cut, my nose bleeding, and I was
very much injured, and was unable io follow my business
for several days.—Edward Bailey, of Great Bridge, said
that he was half.brother to the complainant, and was with
him at the time of the assault, and corrobozated what he
had said. Thomas Moreton also gave corroborative evi-
denee.—Tliompoun's clef:ince was that he, with the other
two defendants, were coming from the Stourbridge Fair,
and Bedworth was driving fast, and before he could get
out of the road the horse knocked him down. He went
to ask his name, when Bedworth struck him with the
whip. Enoch Givinnett said that Bedworth first struck
him, and he returned the blow. William Gwinnett denied
striking the defendant at all.—William Bedworth was
then charged by William Thomp ion with furious driving
on the road leading from Wordsley to Brierley Hill. on
the 30th ult. Thompson said that he heard a noise of a
horse coming fast, and before he could look round the
horse knocked him down. After hearing the evidence,
the Bench dismissed this ease, with costs.—As regards
the assault, he considered it a ass very serious one for a
man to be attacked as he was returning home at eleven
o'clock at night, and for some fanciful reason to have his
horse seized, and himself brutally assaulted. Ile did
not know if he had not ought to send them for trial for
the offence. Complainant said he did not wish to press
the case, as he had been informed that they were mar-
ried men. The learned Stipendiary said that if com-
plainant had not asked him to deal leniently with them,
he should have fined them £0 each; but as it was he
mu,t mark his sense of such conduct, and fine them 40s
each and costs, £O. 160; in default nix weeks' hard
labour.

CAUTION TO CA RTRaS.—Joseph Bunley was charged
by Superintendents Mill with leaving his cart in the rued
longer than is allowed. Pulioe.constable Hammond
proved the offense. Fined is and costs.
SAVAGE AMULT.—Sarah Smart was charged by Ann
Jones with assaulting her on the 4th inst. Complainant,
who had • fearful black eye, said she did not wish to
press the case, but the Bench decided to hear it. Com-
plainant said she was talking to the defendant's husband,
when she came up and struck her. The learned Stipen-
diary said if the defendant would give the comp:einant
a sovereign, he would allow her to settle it. 11 not, he
should sentence her to 14 days' hard labour.
_ .

CHARGE Ow ASSAULT ANdO THREATENING. James
Greenfield was charged by John Jewkes with assaulting
him and using threatening language to him, on the 30th
alt. From the evidence of complainant, it appeared that
defendant is a son of the complainant's second wife, and
on the above date the defendant came to hie house, and
beat hips in a brutal way. Witness then nicked up a gun
to try to frighten him with it, when the defendant struck
him with it. Witness then got a revolver to try to
frighten him, and the defendant took it off him, and
struck him with it. In answer to the charge, defendant
said that he had heard that his mother was in. He went
to see her, but the complainant refused to allow him to
do so, and took down a gun and threatened to shout him.
Defendant took the gun off him, whereupon tins cum-
pininant fetched • rev3lver which was loaded in four
chambers, and cocked it to shoot him; but, being the
strongest, defendant took it off him, and his brother dis-
charge it. The learned Stipendiary said it was a very
serious offence to point a loaded revolver at any one, and
nothing would justify the complainant in doing that.
Still defendant had no night to go to threaten his father.
in-law, and he eliould order him to find two sureties in
£2O each, and himself in £2O, to keep the piece for six
months.

BOYA' QUAREELEI.—John Tolley was charged by Alfred
Williams with assaulting him on the 6th inst. The ease
was proved, and defendant was tined 5a and costs ; in
default 14 days.

LocAL BoAllo OF HEALTH HSETIXO.—The ordinary
monthly meeting of this Bo trd was held on Monday, at
the Public Olive, Mr. Cook presiding. The whole of
the members of the Board were present —The Finance
Committee reported that £ll. Is. 6d. had been paid for
sundry expenses, and that the following accounts were
due :—South Staff irdahire Waterworks for supply, hy-
drants, Ac., £lB. 10s.; Messrs. Chrimes and finest, for
stand-pipes, At, £l2. 125.; Mr. Pritchard, for print-
ing, At, £41.; Clerk', cash including expenses of Chair-
man and Clerk to London, Ac, £lO. 6i; Clerk's and
Surveyor's salaries, £33., together with several small
amounts as general expenses. The Surveyor's account
showed that £75. 6s. Ild, had been expended, and to-
wards this a cheque had been given for £60., leaving a
balance due to that. officer of £l5. 6s• lid. Amount of
rate to be collected as per last month's statement,
£636 Bs. 61. The sum of £165. Is. had been collected
during the month towards this sum. The committee
relommended that a cheqhe for £5O. should be given to
the Surveyor. It was also shown Mott £l3O. was due to
Mr. Wittaker on account of contracts. The report con-
cluded by recommending that £5. should be given to Mr.
Beckley for collecting the old rate. A lung dibeussion
ensued, during which it appeared that the committee had
only overdrawn their account at the bank of t 24. The
report was ultimately passed.- —The Streets Committee
reported that rosny imoriveruents led taken plies is the
condition of the roads in the town.—Mr. Jellnes stated
that the hydrants had been fully tested, and everything
had passed off in • satisfactory manner. During the
earlier part of the afternoon, water had been thrown over
the highest buildings in High.etreet. He hoped Brierley
Hill would start with a volunteer fire brigade, inasmuch
as the town had no control in any way over the county
police. Ile mid this beaus Ut most plum when them

was no fire brigade the engines were worked by the rm.
lice. Mr. Casson !mid he bad no doubt bat that Mr.
Smith would allow the cnoine from the Round Oak
Works to attend Rev Ore. The Chairman recommended
that some of the Fire Institance Companies should be
emptied to. The report EIRE sdnnted.—The Sanitary
Committee's report was read and adopted. It reviewed
the work done daring the past wee—A vote of thinks
was pulsed to the Finance Cemmittee, for which Mr.
Fletcher responded.—Mr. Casson drew atfontion to the
state of Level-street —A petition against the atoppage of
a road from Brettell Lane to Stonrbridge, was pte'untfed
to the Board. Some of the petitioners said IlmY had
known the road to be a public one for more ths: 70
seam. The matter was referred tone Road Committese
—Mr. Jeffries cave notice that he should move, et the
I next nieetine. that the Board should consider the an,.
I ability of lighting certain streets with gas.—After a slight
amount of routine business. the Board separated.
ACCIDENT AT A BIART FERNiCE —A few days ago,
while (rem men were engaged ramming a charge under a
'bore" in the bottom of a blast furnace at the Lava.
Brockmoor, the charge exploded prematurely. and all the
melt were more or less injured be being burnt. One or
two are now able to be about, and none of the injuries
, are considered Of a dangerous character.