Street, came across some telegraph cables, and under the impression that they were “dead” wires, hitched a horse thereto and succeeded in dragging out about a dozen yards of no less than 33 different cables connecting this town with Ireland, the Continent, and America.  Their prize was sold for 4s. 6d., but the inconvenience caused was very serious.  Henry Jones, who was tried for the trick, pleaded ignorance, and was let off.—­At Quarter Sessions, Ernest Lotze, got six months for stealing, Dec. 12, 1892, from his employer 87lb. weight of human hair, valued at L300.

Personal Outrages.—­Maria Ward was sentenced to penal servitude December 18, 1873, for mutilating her husband in a shocking manner.—­At Warwick Assizes, December 19, 1874, one man was sentenced to 15 years, and four others to 7 years’ penal servitude for outraging a woman in Shadwell Street.—­George Moriarty, plasterer, pushed his wife through the chamber window, and on her clinging to the ledge beat her hands with a hammer till she fell and broke her leg, May 31, 1875.  It was three months before she could appear against him, and he had then to wait three months for his trial, which resulted in a twenty years’ sentence.

Sacrilege.—­In 1583 St. Martin’s Church was robbed of velvet “paul cloathes,” and also some money belonging to the Grammar School.—­ Handsworth Church was robbed of its sacramental plate, February 10, 1784; and Aston Church was similarly despoiled, April 21, 1788.—­A gross sacrilege was commuted in Edgbaston Church, December 15, 1816.—­Four Churches were broken into on the night of January 3, 1873.

Sedition and Treason.—­George Ragg, printer, was imprisoned for sedition, February 12, 1821.—­George Thompson, gun maker, 31, Whittall Street, was imprisoned, August 7, 1839, for selling guns to the Chartists.

Shop Robberies.—­Diamonds worth L400 were stolen from Mr. Wray’s shop, November 27, 1872.—­A jeweller’s window in New Street was smashed January 23, 1875, the damage and loss amounting to L300.—­A bowl containing 400 “lion sixpences” was stolen from Mr. Thomas’s window, in New Street, April 5, 1878.—­Mr. Mole’s jeweller’s shop, High Street, was plundered of L500 worth, April 13th, 1881.  Some of the works of the watches taken were afterwards fished up from the bottom of the Mersey, at Liverpool.

Short Weight.—­Jan. 2, 1792, there was a general “raid” made on the dealers in the market, when many short-weight people came to grief.

Street Shouting.—­The Watch Committee passed a bye-law, May 14, 1878, to stop the lads shouting “Mail, Mail,” but they go on doing it. Swindles.—­Maitland Boon Hamilton, a gentleman with a cork leg, was given six months on July 25, 1877, for fleecing Mr. Marsh, the jeweller, out of some diamonds.—­James Bentley, for the “Christmas hamper swindle,” was sentenced to seven years at the Quarter Sessions, May 1, 1878.