MAGISTERIAL BUSINESS
STEALING GEESE AND DUCKS.—GEORGE TULL was charged, on remand, with stealing three geese and three ducks, the property of Mr. A. Colebrooke, on the 30th January, 1862, when the prisoner absconded.
Richard Stevens, an intelligent boy, deposed—I live with my father, in Colebrooke’s Cottage, at Burton. On the 30th January, 1862, Mr. Colebrooke had three geese and three ducks; one had a broken wing. I next saw them at Mr. Mitchell’s office, after the 30th of January, in possession of a policeman.
Mrs. Stevens, the lad’s mother, deposed—On the 30th of January, 1862, I had charge of Mr. Colebrook’s poultry, three geese and four ducks. On the 31st of January I went to the hovel at seven o’clock in the morning, and one duck was left; three geese and three ducks were gone; one was brown, another was speckled, and the third had a broken wing. I can swear to the ducks.
John Bright deposed to receiving three geese and three ducks, on the evening of the 30th of January, 1862, from George Tull; also to meeting Budd, the carrier, near to Mr. Colebrooke’s cottage, in the Portsmouth road, at Burton, and to taking the geese and ducks in the cart, and to selling them, on the following morning to Mrs. Terry, at the Portsmouth market, and also to their being the same he received from the prisoner Tull.
Richard Budd, the Petersfield and Portsmouth carrier, deposed to John Bright stopping him near to Mr. Colebrooke’s farm, on the 30th January, and to the prisoner being under the hedge, and giving something to Bright in a sack, who put it into a hamper in the cart.
Mrs. Terry deposed—I recollect Friday, the 31st of January, 1862. I received three geese and three ducks from Budd, the carrier’s, cart, in a hamper. I gave 4s. each for the geese and 3s. each for the ducks.
Mr. Superintendent Fay deposed to going to Portsmouth on the 31st January, 1862, and finding Bright in the Commercial-road, and then going on to Mrs. Terry’s, when she gave him the three live ducks and three geese which were killed. Bright had an opportunity of seeing the ducks before the magistrates.
Prisoner declined saying anything, but elected to be tried by the bench, and pleaded guilty.—Sentenced to two calendar months’ hard labour.
The Chairman cautioned the prisoner, and said that upon a second conviction he would be liable to penal servitude for five years.
EMBEZZLEMENT AND FELONY.—GEORGE SHEPHERD was charged on remand with embezzlement, and also feloniously stealing the property of his master, Mr. Martin, baker and grocer, of Horndean.
Edwin Martin deposed to living at Horndean, being a baker and grocer there. George Shepherd was in his service as baker, and employed in carrying out bread and grocery for the last two or three months, and had not accounted for the sum of 1s. 3½d. received from Mrs. Wells, of Chalton, on the 28th September, and also from Mrs. Wild, of the same place, 2s. 1d., on the 29th of September.
Both charges were proved; the prisoner declined putting any questions.
He was then charged with stealing one pound six ounces of tobacco, and one book, the property of his master, Edwin Martin.
P.C. Grant deposed yesterday, the 10th of October, in company with Mr. Martin searched the prisoner’s box, in an outhouse, and found under some wearing apparel, the tobacco, now produced, being one pound six ounces, and a book, of the value of 2s. The tobacco was kept in a tub in the cellar, from which this sample was taken (produced). Witness produced a large piece of brown paper, which contained the tobacco, and was fitted to the remainder of the bag, in which the tobacco was sent to Mr. Martin’s, and was lying by the side of the tub in the cellar, which exactly corresponded.
Edwin Martin was examined—His statement corroborated in every particular, the evidence of the previous witness, and said prisoner had no right in the cellar.
The prisoner was committed upon both charges for trial, at the coming Quarter Sessions to be holden at Winchester.
The following poor rates were signed for the undermentioned parishes, viz., Buriton at 1s. 6d., Greatham 1s. 8d., Liss 2s., Petersfield 2s., Steep 2s., Hawkley 2s. 6d., and Empshott at 2s. ½d. in the £.