PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Present: Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P., chairman, Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart., J. Waddington, Esq., and Major Briggs.
A DISPUTE ABOUT GARDEN PRODUCE.—Port v. Amey and Amey v. Port. There were cross summonses for assault.—Mr. Stevens, from the office of Mr. White, Guildford, appeared for Port; Mr. Amey conducted his own case.—The assault arose out of a dispute about the product of a garden, adjoining the old Rushes turnpike gate-house. Port had been in the employ of Amey, and had lived in the cottage rent free, but paid 1s. a week for the garden. He left his service about a month ago. Amey contended by so doing he forfeited all right to the garden and its contents, but Port considered that as he had stocked the garden, he had a right to the crop, and on the 22nd of July proceeded to dig up the potatoes, when Amey enters the garden and threw baskets and potatoes and also complainant’s clothes over the hedge, and he likewise pushed him about and tried to get the prong from him.—The Magistrates having heard Port’s case, in the course of which something was said by Amey about his being willing to take the crop at a valuation, suggested to the parties whether they had not better retire and see if they could arrange the matter out of court. This suggestion was adopted, and Mr. Stevens afterwards informed the Bench that the case had been satisfactorily settled.
STEALING PEAS.—Louisa Clark, Frederic Stevens, and Edmund Stevens were convicted of stealing peas from a field belonging to Mr. Green, in the parish of Steep, on the 1st of July, and were adjudged to ay 15s. 6d., including costs.
SERIOUS CHARGE OF EMBEZZLEMENT AGAINST A FLYMAN.—James Painter came up under remand on a charge of embezzling certain sums of money belonging to his employer, Mr. Crafts, of the Red Lion Hotel.—Mr. Stevens defended—Mr. Robert Crafts deposed: I am an hotel keeper at Petersfield, and let out horses on hire. Prisoner was in my employ as fly driver, at 10s. a week. It was his duty every Monday morning, after the arrival of the first down train, to account my clerk for all the money he had received during the previous week. On Monday, the 17th July, prisoner was missing, and did not come in to settle as usual. He has not since paid any money to me, nor to the best of my belief to my clerk. On finding he was missing, I instructed the police to find him.—Cross-examined—Prisoner cam into my service about last February. I don’t remember whether I had a character with him.I have several times had occasion to complain of his conduct. I may have told him to suit himself with another master. It was about ten o’'clock when my clerk told me prisoner had not been in to settle. It might have been about twelve when I instructed the police. The men are allowed to deduct their wages when they settle. The rule of settling on Monday mornings is always acted up to, except when a man happens to be out on a job.—Francis Mager deposed: On the 11th July last I hired a conveyance from Mr. Craft’s to take me to Westbury. Prisoner was the driver. I paid him 10s. with 3s. 6d. for himself.—Henry Green, West Meon deposed: On the 13th of July last I received a telegram by special messenger on horseback, for which I paid the bearer8s., but I cannot swear that prisoner is the person who brought it.—James Moon deposed: I have the management of the yard at the Red Lion Hotel, and keep a book in which I enter every job that goes out. On the 13th July I sent the prisoner to Westbury. It is my duty to enter all journeys taken by the men, and I did so enter these journeys on the 11th and 13th July.—Cross-examined: I have been with Mr. Crafts more than 12 years. The custom of accounting on Monday mornings for all money received during the week has always been acted up to except when men are out on a job, and then they may sometimes have left it till Tuesday or Wednesday. A short time ago, when I complained of his not having cleaned a carriage, he said he supposed he must soon find another master. I saw him in the yard between seven and eight in the morning of Monday, the 17th of July, and told him to clean a carriage. He said, ‟Very well,” but when I returned from the first down about half-past nine he was gone.—John Charles Aires deposed: I am clerk to Mr. Crafts. It is the duty of the men to account to me every Monday morning, on the arrival of the first down train, for money received during the previous week. All journeys are brought to me by the last witness, and Moon and I enter them in my book. On the 11th ult. a pair of horses went from the station to Westbury Park. James Painter was the driver on that occasion. On the 13th an express message was sent from the station to Mr. Green, at Westmeon. James Painter took that message. Prisoner did not come to me at any subsequent part of the day, and he has never accounted to me for 10s. received from Mr. Mager, nor for 8s. received from Mr. Green. In fact, he has never accounted for any money received during the week previous to the 17th of July.—Cross-examined: I have been with Mr. Crafts a year and nine months. Three men have to account to me every Monday morning, and the rule for their doing so is never relaxed, except in cases where the men are out on a job. Prisoner has never before missed coming to book, but I once paid 10s. out of my own pocket to make his money right. On Monday, the 17th, I was at the office as early as between seven and eight in the morning.—Daniel Callingham deposed: I am a police constable, stationed at Emsworth. On the 17th ultimatum., I was at Havant, where I saw PC Eldefield from Petersfield, and from information received from him I apprehended prisoner at the White Hart, in East street, about 7 p.m. I searched him, and found on his person £2 7s. 5d. He said £2 belonged to Mr. Crafts, and the 7s. 5d. was the remainder of 10s. which he had taken for his wages for the preious week. Subsequently, on his way to the station, he said he had been drinking during the last week and hardly knew what he was about. I afterwards delivered him to PC Elderfield. Cross-examined: The Whit Hart is about 400 yards from the station, on the way to Chichester. Prisoner did not say anything about intending to return to Petersfield. He was sober at the time, but appeared to have been drinking.—P.C. Henry Elderfield deposed to receiving prisoner into his custody from the last witness and conveying him to Petersfield. He also stated that prisoner said, as they were waiting on the platform at Havant, ‟This is a rum job. I suppose I shall get a month at Winchester for this. It was through drink or I should not have went away. What with drink, and one thing and another. O couldn’t bear it any longer. There is one thing, I have got all my master’s money, and I suppose I should have stayed here till I had spent it all, and then I don’t know where the d___ I should have gone to.” Cross-examined: The prisoner made the statement quite voluntarily. Several persons were standing by listening and looking on. He said nothing about intending to return to Petersfield by the evening train.—Mr. Stevens, I'm opening the defence, remarked that there was no evidence to support the charge of embezzlement: in fact, it hardly amounted to a case of suspicion. Prisoner had been given to understand that he must seek another master. He had heard of a situation at Havant, and he had told a person whom he Mr. Stevens should call as a witness that he intended to go down and see about it. Could it be supposed that if he had had any felonious intention he would have told anyone where he was going? and, more-over, no evidence whatever had been brought to show that he did not intend returning: and the offence went no further than a neglect to account for the money at the proper time. He called John Standen, who deposed that prisoner told him on Sunday night, between eight and nine o’clock, that he was going to Havant on Monday morning to see about a situation, and if he got it he should return and get his family away on Monday night if he possibly could, but he said he should go to book and settle up with Mr. Aires on Monday morning before he left.—The Magistrates committed prisoner for trial at the next Assizes, but accepted bail for his appearance.