The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1879-08-23 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

ASSAULTS.—EIijah Wildon was charged with assaulting John Hardy on the 9thiinst. Defendant said they were both fighting together. Complainant said he was in his garden and heard a row over the other side of the hedge. Witness looked over to see what was the matter, and he saw the defendant was fighting. The defendant on seeing him said, " There's the man I want to kill to night." Complainant went away but defendant followed him to his back door and said he wanted to have a" Zulu war." Complainant replied that he must have cue with himself then. The defendant then struck him. A man named Tibbetts said he heard the defendant threaten complainant, but complainant did not speak to him back again. He also saw him strike complainant, but he did not strike back again. Defendant was fined is and costs ; in default 7 days.—Caroline Pulley was charged with assaulting Mary Batherham and John Batherham on the 12th inst. Mary Batherham said the defendant was going to throw a stone at her husband when she put her hend up to stop him from throwing it and defendant struck her. John Batherham said he saw the defendant strike his wife. He went up to them to get them away from each other when the defendant ° kicked him and threw stones ,at him. Defendant was fined lOs and costs ; in ' default 21 days, in the ,voman's case. In the man's case the charge was dismissed.--John Turner was charged with assaulting samuel Priest and Rizabeth Priest on the 11th inst. Samuel Priest, groom, of Wombourn, said that defendant came into his house on the 11th inst, He asked defendant if he would hive a cup of tea, to which he replied that he did not want any tea as it was nearly supper time. Defendant then,went to a public-house and had some ale. He came back again into the house and rushed at complainant, caught hold of him by the throat and tiled to strangle him. Elizabeth Priest, wife of Samuel Priest said the defendant came into their house on the above date, and caught hold of her husband by the throat and tried to strangle him. Witness said she went to the door and screamed out murder, but no one came to assist them.. Witness went into the house again and saw that her husk-11d was going black in the face, and she took up a chair and struck the defendant, when he struck her, and then kicked her under the breast. Defendant then said that he would take the life of both of them away, and she went again to the door and screamed out murder, but no one came. The Bench said they should not fine him for assaulting the woman as she first struck him with a chair, but should fine him 5s and costs for the assault upon the man; in default of payment 7 days. ASSAULTING COUNTY COURT BAlLlFFS.—Benjamin Guest and Jane Guest, of Wombourn, were i charged with assaulting James and Joseph Woodward, bailiffs of the Wolverhampton County Court. Mr. Dallow prosecuted on behalf of the High Bailiff. , The officers went to the house, and proceeded to remove the furniture on an execution for .£4 is. Ihe woman struck both men, and took from them i a clock and a chair. They ofered to take lOs ; rather than move the good, but the woman refused to pay, and sent a neighbour for her husband By the time the husband had arrived the bailiffs and the goods were at a public-house near. Benjamin Guest rushed in with a poker, and struck at James Woodward. He was thrown down, but he kicked and struggled so fiercely that the officers went off for a constab'e. A large crowd followed and threatened the bailiffs. The female defendant stated that ,he acted as she did because the men treated her badly in the the first instance by declining to hear her statement as to payments she h id made only a short time previously,iand because the bailiffs would not wait ten minutes whilst she fetched her husband. Benjamin Guest said he had nothing t 3 say except that the bailiffs assaulted him with a stick. Mrs. Quest, with great volubility