The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-07-05 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

SATURDAY, JULY 5, P. 873.  CURRENT TOPICS.  One of those cases of brutal and unprovoked cruelty to animals, which, we are sorry to say, for the sake of humanity, are only too common, was tried before a Bench of magistrates at Brierley Hill, on Monday last. The accused was one Wm. McHarge, draper, of Victoria Terrace, Staffordstreet, Dudley. As it frequently happens in these cases,the defendant was„drunk, and he was beating the pony which he was driving in a most brutal manner. The Bench, told the defendant that they had never heard of such a disgraceful case before, and by way of marking their sense of his conduct,they fined him 20s and costs.  We know it is a popular belief of late that butchers must be making a golden harvest, in fact living on a sort of "Tom Tiddler's" ground, where they have nothing to do but pick up money. Whether this be true or not, as a rule, it is evident from what occurred at Old Hill the other day that there are some exceptions. We refer to the ease of a butcher who was found in Cradley Pool on Tuesday night last, under circumstances which leave little doubt that he had committed suicide. The name of the unfortunate man is Joseph Cox, and, from what we can learn it was pecuniary difficulties that drove him to the rash act.  In view of the great increase in the number of eases of hydrophobia lately, it has been ordered, that for the present, all dogs that are at large in the township of Stourbridge should be muzzled.  Perhaps there is no business or calling which tends more to corrupt the morals of the young or panders more to the growing immorality of the age, than the traffic in indecent prints. And perhaps the moral turpitude of those who exhibit them in places of public resort, to persons of both sexes, as a source of attraction, is quite equal to that of those who deal in them. It is an evil which is becoming daily of greater magnitude, and it is only the strongest and most repressive measures that can be of the slightest use in combatting it. • case of this latter description was heard before Mr. Spooner, at Brierley Hill, on Thursday last. It was that in which a Mr. Preston, landlord of the Fountain Inn, Level-street, Brierley Hill, and a member of the Brierley Hill Local Board, was charged (on remand) with exhibiting obscene photographs in his house, on the 21st ult. Mr. Preston has a sort of "Museum" in his house, which is frequented by a large number of young persons, and it was proved by Police. constable Goodfellow that on the day in question. when he visited the defendant's house, a number of young "boys and girls" were examining some indecent photographs, which were in a case. The defendant received an excellent character from Mr. Edwin Cook (Chairman of the Brierley Hill Local Board), and from a Mr. Bright; and, as there was some slight doubt as to whether the defendant was cognisant of the nature of the photographs, Mr. Spooner allowed the case to be withdrawn on defendant "paying down" £lO, to be handed over to the Guest Hospital, at Dudley. In commenting on the case, the learned Stipendiary remarked that the exposure of such prints as those before him tended directly to affect the morals of the young women who visited the house, and added that if he had convicted defendant, he should have had no option but to send him to gaol for three months as a "rogue and vagabond."  With reference to thalate School Board Election. we see that the "Joint Committee" for the "Six" have issued an address thanking the rate. papers of Stoarbridge for placing them in a majority on the School Board. When it is borne in mind that they confidently asserted that they should be able to return the whole "Six," and that the only two who offered any real opposition to them got in by an immense majority—(neither Messrs. Hill, Packwood, or Branford canvassed for votes)—it will be readily seen that they are thankful for very "small mercies.' In confirmation of this, we insert a copy of a bill which has been published by the "independent Committee," showing the respective number of votes polled by each of the candidates Stourbridge School Board—Declaration of the poll : Prescott, 2,209; Wall. 2,046; Scott, 1,844; SlcEwen, 911; Stringer, 823; Walker, 771; Billinghani, 691; Cochrane, 616; Jones, 689; Hill, 260; Packwood, 144; Branford, 16.—The Independent Committee wish to draw attention to the following aggregate— Total votes given for Independent candidates, excluding those given for Mr, Wall, 4,578; total votes given for the Six," 4,401 ; majority for the Independent party, 177." i The first meeting of the new School Board will be held in the Commissioners Boom, at the Corn Exchange, on the 17th inst.  It hae been frequently asserted during the progress of the contest that, in the event ut a certain gentlemen being elected a member of the Board, those of the " Six " who would be elected would resign. In fact, so late as Monday last, one of the gentlemen elected stated positively that he would not "sit" at the Board. A meeting of the party, however, was held during the week, and, we believe sufficient reasons were given him to induce lam to alter his determination; and we are in a position to state that the whole of the candidates will stand as elected.  The Foresters of Brierley Hill and district held a, fete in Hagley Park, on Monday last. The weather in the early part of the day was lowering and threatening to such an extent that at onetime the public crier was sent round to announce that the fete was postponed, aud he shortly afterwards gave notice that in consequence of the postponement, all the pastry which Mr. Davis had prepared for the occasion, would be sold at cost price. Shortly afterwards, however, the weather clearing up somewhat in the meantime, it was again publicly announced that the fete would be held as originally advertised, and about two o'clock the procession, which consisted of members of the urder wearing their regalia, and carrying flags and banners, passed through Stourbridge, est reefs for Bagley Park. The procession was accompanied by the Worcestershire Militia File and Drum Band, and two local brass bands. The usual class of amusements were provided for the delectation of visitors ; and, notwithstanding the fact that tile weather had been very wet on the previous day, a large number of persons attended the park, and wo believe that a fair surplus will be realised for the benevolent object for the benefit of which the fete was projected.