PETERSFIELD, Saturday, February 16.
PETERSFIELD PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY.—Magistrates in attendance: Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P., Sir W. Knighton, Bart., and Mr. J. Waddington.
— Cattle Straying.—Edward Atkins, of Buriton, was charged with allowing his donkey to stray upon the highway leading from Buriton to Petersfield on the 29th of January, and fined 2s. 6d. and costs, 5s. 6d.
— Stealing a Watch.—John James Anneny was brought up on remand charged with stealing a watch, on the 28th January, belonging to Robert Harris, at the Sun publichouse, Privett. Prisoner pleaded guilty, said he was drunk, and knew nothing about it. Sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
— Stealing a Hare from a Cart.—Alfred Eade and John Blackman were brought up on remand charged with stealing a hare from a cart belonging to William Peasell, on the 1st of February. Eade pleaded guilty, and Blackman not guilty. Prisoners were each sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Hampshire Telegraph — Saturday 16 February 1867
PETTY SESSIONS.—Tuesday.— Present: Sir J. Clarke Jervoise, Bart., M.P. (chairman), Sir W. Knighton, Bart., andJ. Waddington, Esq.
— Edward Atkins, of Buriton was fined 2s. 6d., with costs 6s. 6d., for allowing his donkey to stray on the public highway. A fortnight allowed for payment.
— John James Anneny was brought up on remand, charged with stealing a pinchbeck watch and appendages, from the person of Robert Harris, at Privett, on Monday, January 28th.—Robert Harris deposed as follows: I live at West Tisted, and am a groom. On Monday evening, the 28th January, I was at the Sun Inn, at Privett, drinking with others. I had a watch in my pocket, and the chain and key were hanging on the outside. I went to sleep, and woke up some time in the night and found myself in the stable, and missed my watch. I have not seen it since. It was worth about 1l.—Henry Mills deposed: I live at Privett, and am a labourer. I was at the Sun Inn on the evening of Monday, January 28th. The last witness, Harris, was there, and also Tom, a Dorsetshire man, and prisoner. Harris was asleep, and so was Tom. I was sitting on one side of the table, and Harris and prisoner on the other. I had a full view of them. I saw prisoner put his left hand into Harris’s watch-pocket and take out the watch. He drew it along the stool under his hand, and put it into his pocket. I did not tell prosecutor what I had seen, nor anyone else, and I did not speak to the prisoner. I had been sitting close by Harris just before prisoner went and sat there, but I was only there a very few minutes. As I left the house I made a communication to Mr. Titheridge, the landlord, about the watch. I remember prisoner being brought up before the magistrate a fortnight ago, when he was remanded. He then said to me, ‟I hope you won't say too much, or else you’ll transport me.”—[Witness was here reminded by the magistrates’ clerk that in his examination at the office a week ago, when prisoner was remanded, he had sworn that the words used by prisoner were ‟I hope you won’t hurt me more than you can help.” Witness, after some hesitation, said he believed those were the words.] Police-constable Penny was present at the time.—P.C. William Stephen Penny deposed: On the 29th of January I took prisoner into custody, and charged him with stealing a watch from the person of Robert Harris; he denied the charge, and said he knew nothing about it. When he was being taken before the magistrates, I heard him say to the last witness . (Mills), ‟Don't be too hard upon me, or you’ll transport me.” I have not been able to trace the watch.—Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. The witness Mills was re-called, and informed by the bench that in consequence of his reprehensible conduct in making no effort to prevent the robbery when he saw it going on, his expenses would be wholly disallowed.
— John Blackman and Alfred Eade were brought up on remand, charged with stealing a hare from a cart at Woodcroft on Friday, the 1st inst.—William Russell deposed as follows: I live at Finchdean, and am a blacksmith. On Friday, February 1st, Mr. Green, of Ditcham, gave me a hare, which I put into my cart. On leaving Ditcham I went by the Green to Mr. Godfrey’s farm, at Woodcroft; it was about five in the afternoon, and was getting dusk. I went into the stable, leaving my horse and cart in the lane; the hare was then in the cart; I saw it as I got out. In consequence of a communication which I received from William Benham, I went out of the stable, and saw two men running up the lane. I followed, and came up with Blackman; the other man ran away. I accused Blackman of taking my hare; he said he had not got it; I said if he had not, his partner had. He made no reply, but hit me over the head with his stick; he struck at me twice afterwards, holding his stick with both hands. I then ran in at him, and threw him down. Two men came up and told me his name, and I then let him go. The man who ran away had something in his right hand. When I returned to my cart, I found that the hare was gone.—George Godfrey deposed: I live at Woodcroft. On Friday, the 1st of February, as I was going from my kitchen to the front room, about ten minutes past five in the afternoon, I saw two men pass the parlour window from the direction of Chalton. I saw them cross the railway and go straight to Russell’s cart. I saw one them take something over the tail of the cart, and put it under his left arm. He then ran along in a stooping position under the hedge, and the other man followed him. They went up Harris-lane. No one else went up the lane till I saw Russell and Benham go up. One of the men was dressed as the prisoner. Eade is, the other had on a black coat.—William Benham deposed—I work for Mr. Godfrey. On Friday, February 1st, I saw two young men, about five o’clock, come down the lane by Mr. Godfrey’s. One had a hare in his hand. As he went round the corner, the other was walking behind him. This was the prisoner Blackman. I cannot speak positively to the man who had the hare, except as to his dress, which was a light jacket, cord trousers and cap. I believe it was the prisoner Eade, but I cannot swear to him. He was close by Russell’s cart when a I first saw him.—Walter Kent, a labourer in the employ of Mr. T. Boys, of Chalton, deposed to seeing the two prisoners leaving Chalton together about five o’clock, going in the direction of Mr. Godfrey’s.—Elijah Watts, of Harting, deposed to the prisoners coming to his house together about a quarter-past seven on the evening in question, and remaining there all night.—P.C. John Smith deposed that, ‟from information,” &c., he went on Saturday morning, the 2nd of February, to Harting, in pursuit of prisoners. He overtook them at East Harting, and charged Blackman with stealing a hare from Mr. Rassell’s cart, and assaulting him. Prisoner said, ‟I never stole the hare. You can take me if you like.” He charged Eade with stealing a hare from a cart at Woodcroft. He said, ‟Woodcroft! I don't know where it is. I was never there in my life.”— He then took them into custody.—Prisoners both elected to be tried by the bench; Eade pleaded 'guilty; Blackman not guilty. They were both sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour. Blackman had been previously convicted of larceny, and was told by the Chairman that if the case had gone for trial at Winchester, and resulted in a conviction, he would' have been liable to ten years’ penal servitude. Eade had not been previously convicted of larceny, but although very young (apparently not more than 16) he had been more than once convicted of poaching.
— John Lake pleaded guilty to a charge of trespassing in search of rabbits on land in the occupation of Mr. S. W. Seward, of Weston, on Sunday, February 3rd. Defendant was convicted of' a like offence about twelve months ago, when he was adjudged to pay 21s. fine and costs.—The Chairman reminded him of this, and said the magistrates would not on this occasion impose a ‟cumulative” penalty, but would give him one more chance at the same price as before, viz., a fine of 11s. 6d., and costs 9s. 6d.
See also 12-Feb-1867