PETERSFIELD.
COUNTY BENCH.—Tuesday.— Before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart., J. B. Carter, Esq., M.P., J. Waddington, Esq., and Captain Sandeman.
OBTAINING GOODS BY FALSE PRETENCES. — Robert Henry Stoneham was charged with obtaining goods from William Henry Holland Robertson, of Liss, presenting in payment for the same a cheque on Messrs. Grant’s Bank at Portsmouth, drawn and signed by himself, he having no account there at the time.—The Chairman read a letter which he had received from the prosecutor, stating that prisoner’s wife had been to him and paid the money, and that he therefore did not intend to prosecute. The Chairman remarked on the impropriety of such a proceeding on the part of the prosecutor, and expressed his opinion that in the interests of justice the magistrates were bound to see that the case was thoroughly investigated. It was not to be tolerated that when criminal proceedings had been once instituted they should be stayed without legal sanction. He held it to be wholly inconsistent with the oath which he had taken as magistrate to allow such a course to be adopted, and he should at once issue a summons to the prosecutor to attend and give evidence in the case, and if that summons were not obeyed he would issue a warrant to compel his attendance, and if he refused to answer such questions as might be put to him he would at once commit him to prison. It was a very serious offence to compromise a felony or misdemeanour, and prosecutor, by the course he had taken, had made himself liable to a criminal prosecution.—Prisoner was then remanded for a week. (See also 16-Jan-1869 & 3-Mar-1869)
George Osgood, of Liss, was summoned to show cause why he should not contribute towards the support of his son, a boy 10 years of age, who has been sent to the reformatory at Eling, and was ordered to pay 1s. 3d. a week.
Walter Hill pleaded guilty to a charge of being drunk and riotous in the highway at Buriton, on Saturday night, the 28th ult., and was fined 5s., and 9s. 6d. costs.
Hampshire Telegraph 19 December 1868
At the same bench …
Application, was made for the transfer of the license of the "Jolly Sailor," public-house, from James Robinson to Robert Radkins. Mr. Superintendent Benntt objected, on the ground that the woman who was living with Radkins was another man's wife, and had been committed from this bench on a charge of pocket picking. This having been proved by P.C Chas. Abrahams, the magistrates at once refused the application, and the Chairman said it would be well if the brewers would exercise more caution in the selecton of their tenants, so that the magistrates might not have such cases as the present brought before them.