The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-09 00:00:00

Nocal anti gistrid

BOAItD OF GUARDIANS.

The usual meeting of this Board was held in
the Board Room, yesterday, Mr. Granger in
the chair. There were also present :—Messrs.
H. Billiugham, J. Billingham, Higgs, Guest.
Rhodes, Fiddian, Haskew, Homer, J. Brooks,
Thomson, Wood and Giles. Admitted into
the house 13 ; discharged, 16; dead 1; born 0;
remaining 284 ; against 316; last year. Out-
door relief, Kingswinford district £l9 19s Od ;
Stourbridge district £l2 19s 6d ; Halesowen
district, .V. 4 6s. 6d ; non-resident, paupers,
11s. 8d; total £47 16s 8d ; against £54 10s. 2d.
last year.

'lli° Medical Officer's monthly report,was read
which showed the death rate for Kingswinford
20 per 1,000. Halesowen district 181 per 1,000.

DEATIL OF A WELL-KNOWN CRICKETER. We
regret to announce the death of Charles Brown, one
of the " old school" of cricketers of the county,
which took place at his house in Farmer's yard, off
South parade, on Tuesday. The deceased, as a
cricketer, was before the public for many years, and
besides being an expert wicket-keeper, he was a very
puzyling bowler, delivering, on many occasions, tha
ball behind his back, much to the delight and aston-
ishment of those who had the opportunity of witnes-
sing his achievements in this particular direction. He
was several years engaged at Enville by Lord Stam-
ford, as a bowler, and many of our townsmen have
no doubt often witnessed his extraordinary tricks with
the ball. The remains of Old " Charley " Brown,
were interred in the General Cemetery on Thursday
afternoon, Mr. W. Frisby conducting the service in
an impressive manner. We believe the expenses of
the funeral were defrayed by voluntary subscription,
and it is a remarkable fact that out of the deceased's
numerous cricket friends, only one old cricketer—
Edward Hickling—attended at the grave side to pay
a last parting tribute of respect to him. Deceased
was 60 years of ago, and lived in Farmer's Yard,
Nottingham.
EXCISE PROSECUTIONS.—At the Police Court,
yesterday, before Colonel Barrows and Mr. F.,Evers
Charles Blunt, of Kidderminster, was summoned by
Mr. J. F. Otter, Supervisor of Inland Revenue, for
using a carriage on the 2nd August, he not halting a
license. Defendant pleaded guilty. The case was
proved, and defendant fined in the mitigated penalty
of £5, with a recommendation to the Inland Reve-
nue to further reduce it to lOs 6d.—Joseph Hand,
hop merchant, of Wordsley, was also summoned by
Mr. Otter for having two carriages in his possession
ou the 2nd August, one only being licensed. Mr.
Waldron defended. John Evans, excise officer, said
that on the day in question he saw in Market-street
a cart containing four or five persons. On the cart
were the words, "Joseph Hand, hop merchant,
Wordsley," John Widdon Mullett, excise officer,
said that on the day in question he saw the defend-
ant's cart go from Market-street to the fete at the
Heath, carrying passengers. The first time there
were seven or eight persons in the vehicle. He saw
the same carts several times carrying passengers.
Mr. Waldron, for the defence, said that the defend-
ant sent his cart out for business purposes, and that
if defendant's servant took up passengers he 'con-
tended that his client was not liable. He called the
defendant's servant man (who is named Clarke) and
he swore that he did not take anyone to the picnic,
and that he did not go up Market-street; but went
to the Coach and Horses, High-street, with his
brother in the trap and two young women. Mr.
Otter contended that the case was proved, and that
a master was liable for the acts of his servant. The
Magistrates said they were • not satisfied with the
evidence of Clarke, and as several objections- had
been raised by Mr. Waldron they should adjourn
their decision for 14 days to confer with their clerk,
who was prevented from being present by illness.
CHAR,GE OF DRUNKENNESS.—Thomas Boult on,
of Clent, was charged with being drunk on the
2nd inst. Police-constable Wallace said that about
10 o'clock at night he saw the defendant, who was
very drunk, and could not walk straight. He had
cautioned the defendant before. Boulton denied
that he was drunk, and said that he had only had
two pints of ale that night. Charles Cox, land-
lord of the Cross Inn, swore that the defendant
was not drunk; as also did a man named Griffin,
and the Bench dismissed the case.—Thomas Wal-
dron, of Clent, was charged with being drunk on
28th ult. Police-constale Wallace proved the
case. Defendant was fined 2s 6d and costs.

A WIFE BEATER.—CaIeb Smith, of the Lye,
was charged with beating his wife, Harriet Smith,
on the 4th inst. Mr. Addison defended. Com-
plainant, who appeared in the box with a pair
of black eyes, said that she had been married to
the defendant eighteen months, and during the
whole of that time she had not been free from
bruises. On the morning of the above date, de-
fendant got out of bed about eight o'clock, and
began to beat and kick her, and she was covered
with bruises, and was afraid of her life. The reason
defendant beat her was that her brother had been
saying something about him. Hanah Tandry,
sister to complainant, gave corroborative evidence.
Police-constable Moyland proved apprehended the
prisoner and said that he threatened his wife in his
presence that he would do for her when he came
out of prison. Police-sergeant Rea also gave
evidence. The Bench considered it a bad case, and
fined defendant 20s and costs.
GETTING INTO A RAILWAY CARRIAGE WHILST IN
MOTlON.—Alfred Newland, was charged with at-
tempting to get into a railway carriage whilst in
motion, at Stourbridge Station, on the 17th ult.
Two witnesses proved the case, and defendant
pleaded guilty. Fined 50 and costs.
FURIOUS DRIVING. William Parsons was
charged with furious driving a pony and gig, at
Belbroughton on the 29th ilk. Police-constable
Payne said the defendant was galloping a pony
fast, trying to do two miles in five minutes. De-
fendant did not try to pull up the pony. A wit-
ness gave corroborative evidence. Fined 20s and
costs.

A BRUTAL ASSAULT.—WiIIiam Jones of Pensnett
was charged with assaulting his wife, Phoebe, on
the 26th ult. Complainant said that defendant
was a great brute to her. She had munmoned
him before the magistrates six times, and she had
forgiven him many times. . Defendanthas left her
two'or three times for dead, and she was afraid of
her life. Fined 108. and costs.

HIGHWAY OFFENCE.—John Wheeler Perks was
charged with allowing a quantity of sheep to stray
on the highway on the 29th ult. Police-constable
Payne proved that he found 38 sheep on the road
at Belbroughton some of them were suffering from
foot and mouth disease. Defendant kept his
fence in a very bad state. Fined 5s and costs.