The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1875-07-17 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE OFIAR:GE OF PERJURY AGAINST A POLICEMAN.  John Giles, a Police-constable in the Staffordshire Constabulary, stationed at Blackheath, again appeared in answer to the charge of perjury, brought against him by Samuel Bate, of Dog Lane. i Mr. Waldron appeared for Bate, and Mr. Addison defended Giles.  Mr. Hayes, the Mdgistrates' Clerk, read, over the evidence taken at .the previous hearing: olitle!calelj-which appeared in our last week's impression. Bate was called, and- on cross-examination by Mr. Addison, he said he had a glaseof ale at Taylor's. Woul4' swear that he did not call for a quart of porter; nor did he ' order any porter at all. He went to. Taylor's about halfpast ten at night, andieft 'Olen minutes to eleven. lie. never went to John Levit s and fetched him out, and threatened to murder him. His (complainant's) father kept the Cock Inn. He had not had defendant'kwitness, Tremens. at his &timed house, drinking. He did not pay for two pints Of ale for Tromans. There was a min with Tromans, and witness paid for two pints of ale far that man, and Tromans had share of it. He had Jot asked Tromans to come and give'evidenee .for him. He aid not swear last week that he had promised to give the wltness plenty to eat and drink and good pay. He was up stairs when. the policenittn came to the door. Hannah Fletcher and Sarah Bastafield were up stairs. He went home that night about ten minutes past eleven. He had a chopper in his hand. He did not go out of the .houie with the chopper. He got the chopper to stand in his own defence. He did not see defendant's staff. The reason he. fetched the chopper was because defendant 'said he ihould use his iitaff  Hannah Fletcher said she was nurse at Bate's house. She heard a knoOk at the door, and Mr. Bate went down. There-was a policeman at the door, and he said he had found a man on the premises, and was going to lock him up.. Bate asked defendant not to take the man to the loekip, but to let him come into thelouse, and he would give him a glass of ale. Bate asked the officer what he wanted, and he said he had a right to:be there. Bate told him to go about his business. .The officir pint his hind. to his staff, and Said if he was insulted he 'bh,onld use-it. Bate then said he should use something, and he went into the shop.. When he, cameroutof the shop the officer had gone. She did not see Bate with Cifhopper. She was on the landing. She did not see Bate,push th 9 officer at all. She could ns)t tell whether Bate struck at the officer with the chopper, because she did not see him with one. As soon as Bate turned into the shop she locked the door, and gave the key to her mistress; When Bate came back defendant had gone. Sarah B,astalield, servant to Bate,. also gave evidenee. The Bench retired for a short time, and,:on returning into court they said they were of opinion that there was, no case against the defendant, and discharged him.  ItALESOWEN.  A "Lsix."—At the Worcester Assizes, On "Tifurridly, before, Sir R. W. Grove, James aill (27), striker,,Hales• owen, was charged with stealing from the person of William Thomas a bird-cage and a skylark, and a pockethandkerchief, on the 2nd of May last, at the parish of Flalesowen, and also with assaulting Thomas.—Mr. Selfe prosecuted, and Mr. Rateliff Cook defended.—On the day in question the prosecutor was going along a lane at The Quinton, and was followed by the prisoner and a number of other men. He (prosecutor) had two birds and two cages in his hands, and the prisoner asked him if he had a bird to sell. lie replied, in thonegative,-but the prisoner jumped upon his brick, put his hand upon his throat, threw him to the ground, and took one bird and case from lam, as also the pocket handkerchief after which he ran away. He valued tlae bird qt 16s. The prisoner afterwards offered the cage and bird for sale for a few shillings.—The defence was that the aff dr was a " lark "—Prisoner was sentenced to six months' imprison ment.  ,  • • • • , •i 741 i it. , • '