The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-07-05 00:00:00

BRIEHLEY HILL.

EITE•LING FOWLS AT HARTS HILL..—At the Stafford
shire Quarter Sessions, on Monday, before Mr. T. P.
Twemlow, Samuel Powley (33), shoemaker. was indicted
for stealing nine fowls, the property of Jabez Smith, at
Harts Hill, on the 15th April. The evidence connecting
the prisoner with the robbery was that his movements
were observed to be suspicious in the neighbourhood of
the fowl pea on the night in question, the marks of a
wooden leg were discovered in close contiguity (prbeiner
hod a wooden leg), spots. smears, and finger-marks of
blood were discovered by the police about his house an
hour or so after the robbery, feathers and calcined fowl
bones were found under the grate, and in about five days
afterwards the carcases of several fowls were found con-
cealed in a hay.rick in an apron which witnesses de.
posed to having seen worn by the prisoner's wife, and
to eomplete the chain, spot. of blood and the tracks of
• wooden leg were traced between the fowl pen and the
prisoner's residence. Guilty. Sentenced—after five
previous convictions—to seven years' penal servitude,_
Me. Young prosecuted.
USING DOGS FOR CATCHING GAME the Police
Court. on Monday, before Messrs. H. 0. Firmatone and
H. Hall, Daniel ,Guest. Richard Guist. Charles Corns,
and Charles Higgins were charged by Mr. J. B. Lucas,
headkeeper to the Earl of Dudley, with having on the
22nd ult., used dogs for the purpose of taking game, at
Womhourne. Mr. Holberton appeared to prosecute, and
Mr, 'Waldron defended. John Bourne said he was game
keeper in the employ of the Earl of Dudley. On the
above date he saw the defendants about four o'clock.
They were with four others and were coming up from
Smeatow Gate. Defendants had five or six dogs with
them which were hunting the fences and one was in the
field. All of defendants were urging the one dog on to
follow a rabbit. Cross-examined Defendants were
coming from the direction of a public-house. M ill
swear that one of dogs was in the field and that the de-
fendenta were urging him on. John Cadisallender,
gamekeeper. said there was game on each side of the
toed and the Earl of Dudley had the right of shooting
over it. Last witness spoke to him and he went to the
defendants about half-past four. There were eight men
altogether. The dogs were beating the fences over.
Witness went up to them and told them they would hear
of itsgain. Mr. Waldron, in defence, submitted that it
was not shown that the defendants were off the turnpike
road, and that the dogs were in the (mixes on the side
of the turnpike road. The Bench said they had given
the ease their best consileration, hut they coal not
come to any other conclusion than that the dogs were
used for the purpose of taking game. They had how.
ever, decided to take • merciful view of the case, and in
ease of Daniel Guest, against whom there was a long
list of previous convictions. they should inflict • fine of
Stand costa. The other defendants were fined is and
costs eneh.

Asinnt.Tlrao A Rol' —Henry Payne was charged with
ft./quilting John Parkes, on tbe '.2l;h tilt. Mr. Holberton
defended. Complainant tn;.l ron the above date he was
fighting with deetolant's jr her. when defendant Cams
up to them kick,' nun s on the knee and knocked
him on to a brie. I ris borat;ve evidence having been
adduced, defendant was tined ss.
Bane,. It.t.vrtv svire.mv or A PONY.—Wm. McHarge,
draper, Victoria Terrace, Stafford-street. Dudley. was
charged with cruelly illtreating a pony at Brettell Lane,
on the 23rd ult, and was further charged with being
drunk on the same date. Thomas Jukes said he saw
the defendant beat the pony unmercifully. with a deal
more severity than was necessary, and defendant was the
worse for liquor. P.O J. Taylor said lie saw the defen-
dant on the above date. He was driving the pony very
furiously and was beating it. He was that drunk he
could scarcely sit in the trap and lie had a narrow escape
of running into two wagons. Sergeant Hodson said I a
saw the defendant and the pony in question. The pony
was wonted all over and had been brutally beaten. De-
fendant who was intoxicated was calling the pony to
follow him and it did so like a dog. He never saw a
horse served like it before. Defendant did not make any
defence. The Bench said it wag proved to their satis-
faction that defendant had been guilty of groan cruelty
to the pony and fined him 203 and coats, and for being
drunk a further fine of 5g ; in defaUlt one month's im-
prisonment.