PETERSFIELD
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Present Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P. (chairman), Major Briggs, J. Waddington, Esq., and Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart.
— This being the special sessions for granting licenses to public-houses the whole of those within the division were renewed. There was no application for a new license.
— The Bench was occupied for a long time with two trumpery assault cases from Eastmeon, in both of which Henry Green was the complainant. In one case he charged Mrs. Restall and a boy named Luke Murritt with throwing water over his little girl, and in the other case he charged Eliza Norgate with slapping the same child in the face. The defendants in each case alleged that Green’s child was the aggressor. All that could be made of the evidence was that the parties, who are neighbours, live in a state of perpetual embroilment. The charge against the boy Murritt was dismissed. Mrs. Restall and Eliza Norgate were adjudged to pay the costs, but no fine was inflicted in either case.
— James Hounsome, of Buriton, was charged with assaulting Thomas Harfield, of the same place, on the 21st of August. Complainant deposed that on Friday, the 21st ult., in the evening, he was coming from Buriton to Petersfield, in company with his brother and his brother’s wife, bringing some plums into the town, when they met defendant, who said to him (witness) ‟What have you been up to with my little boy?” and without waiting for an answer struck him three times with his fist, and as he was stooping to pick up the plums he hit him again on the lip, and drew blood.— James Harfield and his wife corroborated as to the assault. Defendant did not deny having struck complainant, but pleaded that he had been exasperated by the latter having on several occasions treated his (defendant’s) little boy in a most disgusting manner, and by his having a day or two before thrown him dow and cut his knee.—The Chairman said the bench considered that defendant had received great provocation, but this would not justify him in taking the law into his own hands, and inflicting summary punishment. He was adjudged to pay a fine of 5s. and costs, 7s. 6d.