PETERSFIELD
Agent—Miss DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY.—Present, the Hon. J. J. Carnegie (Chairman), Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., and J. Waddington, Esq.
— Elizabeth Beagley and her daughter Fanny were summoned to answer a charge of stealing wood, belonging to Mr. Henry Warner, of Hawkley, on the 26th April. The value of the wood in this case was laid at 2d., but it was stated that very extensive depredations were constantly being committed, and it was found necessary to put a stop to them. Benjamin Warner, son of the prosecutor, deposed to seeing the defendants, on the 26th of April, in a hop-garden, called Brooklands, belonging to his father. They each had a sack. Saw them break up some ‟spoil” wood (old hop-poles), and put them into their sacks and leave the garden. Went after them and overtook them in an adjoining meadow. Told them to put down the sacks and shoot out the wood, which they refused to do, saying they had nothing but what they had a right to. Witness shot the wood from the sacks, and told defendants he should bring them before the magistrates.They had leave to take the chips and points and small pieces, but not the old poles. The defendants elected to be tried by the Bench, and pleaded not guilty, alleging that for 11 years they had been in the habit of taking chips from the garden, and had never been forbidden.—Mr. Warner, on being recalled, explained this, by saying that the elder defendant’s husband worked on the farm, and they had always been allowed, after the pointing of the hop-poles for the season, to go in and gather up the chips and small pieces, but never had leave to take the old worn-out poles. He added that his father did not wish to press the charge, his only object being to give these people and others to understand that they would not be allowed to commit these depredations.—Dismissed with a caution.
— George Poore, aged 14, was charged with stealing, on the 2nd of May, at Priorsdeane, 37 hens’ eggs, belonging to his employer, Mr. John Rivers. It appeared from the evidence that prisoner was seen by the maid-servant to go into the hen-house about six o’clock in the evening of the day in question; that his master, on being informed of this, went into a back room, the window of which commanded a view of the hen-house, and after watching a few minutes he saw him come out with a bundle and go up the lane. He followed and called to him, and the boy put down the bundle and came back, and on being asked what he had in it said it was a pair of trousers and a shirt, which he was going to take to his aunt’s to get washed. Mr. Rivers took up the bundle, and led the boy back to the house, and he found in it 37 eggs—the exact number which the servant had counted in the hen-house at twelve o’clock that day.—Prisoner elected to be tried by the Bench, and said that another ‟chap” found half the eggs and gave them to him, and they were going shares. Mr. Rivers stated that he was in the habit of giving his people 1½d. a dozen for all stray eggs which they might find and bring in, and it appeared that some one had put this boy up to taking these eggs from the hen-house, not with a view to stealing them, but for the purpose of taking them in as stray eggs and getting the 1½d. a dozen on them. The poor boy has neither father nor mother, and had been in the union workhouse till he was taken into the service of Mr. Rivers about a year ago; he requested that Mr. Dollery, the master of the workhouse, might be sent for to speak to his character. This was done, and Mr. Dollery stated that while in the house he was one of the best conducted boys he had ever had under his charge. Mr. Rivers also expressed his willingness to continue him in his service, and the magistrates having consulted, the Chairman addressed the prisoner (who cried bitterly) in a very feeling manner, and told him the the Bench having reason to believe that in the present case he had been drawn into the commission of the crime with which he stood charged, by the evil influence of other parties, were disposed to deal leniently with him, but they hoped this would serve as a warning to him for the future. Fined 5s., or a fortnight’s imprisonment. Mr. Dollery very humanely paid the fine, and the boy was discharged.
— William Triggs was charged with having committed an aggravated assault on Jane Kelsey, on Saturday the 12th inst., at the ‟Half Moon,” at Sheet. Complainant deposed: I am the wife of Allen Kelsey; I live at Sheet. On Saturday last I had been out bark setting behind a company of barkers with my sister (Mrs. Martin). My husband and son work with the company cutting down timber. After we had done work I went to the Half Moon, public-house, with my husband and others, about seven o’clock. We sat and enjoyed our-selves very well till about nine, when Triggs and Thomas Nash came in. They began picking a quarrel and offered to fight any of the men. Triggs threatened to strike Mrs. Martin, I got up and said ‟Never hit a woman, Triggs.” He said ‟I’ve been looking for you in all the public houses for several Saturday nights; and now I’ve got you, I’ll pay you off,” and he immediately struck me on the mouth and knocked me down. I had Mrs. Martin’s baby in my arms at the time, and Samuel Todman pulled the baby out from under me. As soon as I got up I put my hand on Triggs’ shoulder and said ‟I suppose you are aware that you have hit me and knocked me down.” He said ‟Yes, and I’ll do it again.” He hit at me, and I pushed him back on the settle. As soon as he raised himself he struck me on the eye and knocked me down on the floor. This blow caused the mark which is now on my eye. (Complainant’s eye was frightfully blackened). Several witnesses were called to corroborate complainant’s statement. Defendant admitted having struck the woman, but alleged that she struck him first, and persisted in doing so till he was obliged to do some-thing in self-defence. Fined 40s., and costs 7s. 6d., or six weeks’ imprisonment. Defendant asked to be allowed a fortnight to pay the money, which the Bench refused, and he was removed in custody, but afterwards paid the fine and costs and was discharged.