PETERSFIELD.
CANNIBALISM.—As a party of men were in the George public house, in the Square, after the business of the Christmas show market was over, about five o’clock p.m., a dispute arose over some beer, and a scuffle ensued, during which it appeared that a blow was given by a young man named William Tulip, about 20 years of age, a labourer in the employ of Mr. Tickner, of Hurst farm, Harting, to Thomas Marsh, a labourer residing in the parish of Steep. After receiving the blow, Marsh by some means got the forefinger of the right hand of Tulip into his mouth and completely bit off the top betwixt the top and the first joint. The finger was seen in Marsh’s mouth by the landlord, and as the top was not forthcoming or found, the inference is that he swallowed it, thereby proving himself a cannibal outright. The fellow was given into the hands of the police, and taken off to the station with the blood of his victim sticking around his mouth. What renders the case more strange is that the injured man refused to appear against the prisoner, who after a night’s lodging in the lock-up, was liberated on the following morning, and returned to his parish.