PETERSFIELD.] —PETTY SESSIONS.—On Tuesday, before Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), J. Bonham Carter, Esq., M.P.. and Major Briggs.
— A Navvy illtreating Horses.—Robert Cartwright, a navvy, in the employ of Messrs. Dierden and Buxton, was charged on the information of William Hewlett with ill-treating two horses. Defendant did not appear. P.C. William Hayter proved the service of the summons. Mr. James Port, landlord of the Swan Inn, Petersfield, deposed : On the 21st of September, about half-past one, I heard a horse in harness galloping part my house, and on going out I saw another horse, which had just been stopped near the Drum. I came out into the square and found the first horse had just been stopped about half way down the High-street. The carter, who had been drinking, then brought the other horse, which I had seen near the Drum, and, having hooked them together, he proceeded to flog them with a short whip, hitting them severely across the breast and by back-handed strokes cutting them behind. I advised him to throw away the whip, as I was sure he could do much better without it, but he continued to flog them on the way beck to the railway station, as long as they continued in my sight. I consider the horses were very ill-treated, as the flogging was altogether unnecessary. I should be very sorry to see any horse of mine used as they were.— William Hewlett deposed: I am foreman on the railway. On the 21st Sept. defendant had charge of a brown horse and a chestnut mare. I saw them about two o’clock, standing in front of the Railway View beershop, and found defendant inside drinking. He promised to go at once to his work, but almost an hour and a half afterwards I found him still drinking, and he told me be had given another man a quart of beer to do his work for the afternoon. I went to the railway station yard and found the horses in charge of a stranger who was also drunk. and I at once ordered the horses to be taken home to the stable.—The magistrates having consulted, the chairman said they considered it rather a case of neglect and illtreatment than of gross cruelty, and it was clearly traceable to drink. Defendant was adjudged to pay a fine of 2s. 6d., and 7s. 6d. costs, or in default to be imprisoned with hard labour for fourteen days.
— Using a Gun unlawfully.—James Stebbing, a journeyman blacksmith. living at Privett, was charged with using a gun for the purpose of killing game. —William Russell, a labourer, in the employ of Hr. Hunt deposed: On the 26th September I was at work in a field, called Ten Acres. at Tilmore Hill in Privett. I heard the report of a gun about a quarter before five in the afternoon. I saw the smoke and two cocktails pheasants flew from the dell cover, about eight rods from me. I ran to the dell and saw a man’s head. I got over the hedge and the man walked away from me. I followed him, and just before he got to the upper end of the field he looked over his right shoulder and dropped the gun under the hedge. He then walked on, got over the fence, and went into his workshop. I am quite sure defendant is the man. Pheasants are fed in the dell.—Richard Gearing, deposed: I am bailiff to Mr. Hunt. In consequence of what I heard from the last witness I went to defendant next day and asked him if he had been shooting. He said ‟No.” I said ‟It is no use denying it, as my man knows you well as well as he knows me.” He then said he hoped he should not take any further steps in the matter.—Convicted.—Fined 30s. and costs 7s. 6d., or in default, 21 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.