The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1872-01-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

CRADLEY REATH.  INTENT 10 COMEIT A BIIROLARY.—At the Old Hill Police Court, on Wednesday, before Messrs. F. W. U Barre and N. Hingley, Thomas Westwood, a respectable. looking man, was charged with being found on premises in the occupation of William klicktou, the Queen's Head, Cradley Heath, with intent to commit • felony, and with having housebreaking implements in his possession, on the 15th inst. Mr. Homer appeared for the prisoner.— Sarah May said she was servant in the employ of provecuter. She had known prisoner about nine months. He was not in the employ of Mr. Hickton. About six o'clock on Friday night she went to her bedroom. She took • candle with her. The bed room was occupied by the barmaid and herself, and was on the third storey. She heard a noise under the bed as though • man was breathing, and ran down stairs, and told Miss Hardy, the her maid. Whilst she was telling her they heard a noise though a boot had been dropped on the second floor, sod i they went up stairs together. They went to the nods room door, and saw • man on • bag in the corner. Tile • malt room is on the seeund floor. He threw his arms up and made a moaning noise, and they ran down and told Joseph, the brewer. The box produced belonged to Miss Hardy, and was on the second floor. Cross.examined Mr. Hickton does not live at the Queen's Head. He lives at the Plough and Harrow, and Miss Hardy and myself keep the Queen's Head. Prisoner came into the house every morning, and had been at the house that day. He was not drunk at the time.—Charlotte Hardy, barmaid at the Queen's Head, said she had known prisoner some years. On Friday night the 1.91. h, from what last witness told her, she went up stairs. She heard a noise on the second floor. They searched several rooms, and found a man on the begs in a corner of the malt room. He made a noise and threw up his arms. They were frightened and ran down stairs, and told Joe, the brewer. She then went up stairs with Joseph Siviter, and three other men. She stood on the top of the stairs whilst the men searched the rooms. Sitter went in the spare room, and found • man behind the door. She heard &vitar ask the man what brought him there, and she then went in. Prisoner stood behind the door with his boots in hi, hand. She said, 'Tom, you are the hat maul should Tiave thought would have done such a thing" and he said, "Oh, my poor children," and began to er's.. The box produced belonged to her. She kept the talc- 1 ings of the house in the box, and carried the key in her .1 edv.t. Ilse luck was boomed that night, and there A ere some marks on the boo. It looked as though some oue had been tampering cliii it. She bad beenl to the ha in the afternoon to change a sovereign, and the lock was then quite right. She also went to change a£s note. Prisoner was hi the house, and said he did not think there was any money kept in the house, sad she said, "Oh yes, Tom, there is the week's takings; but do not tell any one, or else they might murder us for the sake of £lO. Cross-examined: The lock wu on the box when I found it. It was not unlocked. but the lock was loose. It was not loose before that night.—Mr. Homer: iWere you not courting? Witness: You re not going to nsult me like that, sir. Prisoner is • married man; and I twchirel airdndocotreitisi I..etaysota uuiolinneyed nwa you ocuer:a inUeyyr nilirmt be said 1 will - thec on: satt ablobuylr, date about hall.past six, he was sent for to the Queens Head. Be went there, and found prisoner in the spare