PETERSFIELD.
Agent—MR. G. DUPLOCK.
MAGISTRATES’ CLERK’S OFFICE.—Wednesday.—Before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie.—John Millard and John Couzens, two youths of about 18 years of age, were brought up in custody, charged with having, on Sunday evening last, in the parish of Catherington, committed an assault, with intent, &c., on the person of Eliza Smith, wife of Henry Smith, of Cowplain. Complainant deposed as follows: I am the wife of Henry Smith, and live at Cowplain, in the parish of Catherington. On Sunday evening last, about half-past eight, I left home with my husband’s nephew, John Smith, and walked with him about half-a-mile on the road towards Horndean. As we were going along two young men came behind us for a short distance, and then mended their pace and passed us. When I had gone as far as I wished with my husband’s nephew I turned back to go home. After I had gone a short distance I looked round and saw the two young men that had passed us just before. One of them stopped back and whispered something to the other, who then came up to me and said, ‟I shall see you safe home, Polly.” I said, ‟No, thank you; I can see myself home.” He then took hold of my arm, and I pushed him away. He then tried to kiss me, and I pushed him away again. He tried to throw me down, and used very foul language. (Witness described the conduct and language of the prisoner, which is wholly unfit for publication, and produced the dress she had on at the time. The dress was very much soiled and torn.)—Henry Smith, the husband of complainant, corroborated her statement as to her going out with his nephew, and added that she returned in about half-an-hour, crying and with her dress very dirty and torn; that he and two young men who lodged in the house, William Clayton and James Smith, went out in pursuit of the men and overtook the prisoners about three-quarters of a mile from his house. This witness and also William Clayton, who was afterwards called, distinctly swore to the identity of both prisoners.—P.C. Charles Godfrey deposed to taking the prisoners into custody on Monday, the 12th instant, when Couzens said he was there with Millard, but never touched the woman. Millard said he thought she was a woman from the town.—The prisoners were cautioned in the usual form, and asked if they wished to say anything. Millard replied, ‟I have nothing to say.” Couzens said he was not present at the assault, although he admitted being in company with Millard both before and after.—Millard was committed for trial at the next assizes, bail being allowed (two sureties of 20l. each, or one of 40l.) Couzens was discharged with an admonition.