PETERSFIELD.
SOLDIERS OF THE MILITARY TRAIN STEALING DUCKS.—At the Petersfield Petty Sessions, on Tuesday—present Hon. J. J. Carnegie, chairman, Right Hon. Sir W. G. H. Jolliffe, Bart., M.P., Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P., and J. Waddington, Esq.
—the only case before the bench was a charge of duck stealing against seven soldiers from Aldershott, named Patrick Dwyer, John Thomas Whitehouse, Joseph Huggens, James Butler, James Phillips, Edward Sheeby, and John Mylott. Prisoners all belonged to the Military Train, and were last week encamped at Woolmer, and the charge was that on Wednesday night, the 10th inst. they stole four ducks belonging to Noah Adams, of Greatham.— Complainant deposed as follows: I live at Greatham, and am a farmer. I had a number of ducks in a meadow near my back door. I saw them safe about nine o’clock in the evening of Weduesday, the 10th of this month. About twelve o’clock | heard the ducks ‟quacking,” and I got up. I heard some persons running along the road. Found Police Constable Kingshott with the prisoners Dwyer and Whitehouse in his custody, and two of the ducks now produced, and which I identify as my property. The ducks were dead.—John Blanchard deposed: I live about quarter of a mile from Noah Adams. The seven prisoners were at my house on the evening of Wednesday, the 10th. They came in a few minutes past ten, and left about a quarter to twelve, except Butler, who went away about half an hour before, with a man belonging to the 24th. I went to Aldershott on Saturday last with Police Constable Masterman, and picked out five men from a number that were paraded. Five of the prisoners are the men; the other two, Dwyer and Whitehouse, were with them at my house.—Mary Ann Blanchard, sister to the last witness, corroborated his evidence, and added that when Butler and the man belonging to the 24th left, about quarter past eleven, they went towards the camp; but when the others left, about quarter before twelve they turned in the opposite direction and went towards Noah Adams’s house. Witness accompanied her brother to Aldershott on Saturday, and identified Sheehy and Mylott.—P.C. George Kingshott deposed: On the night of Wednesday, the 10th, | was on duty at Greatham, with P.C. Walters. We heard some persons in Blanchard’s house, and watched for their coming out. We stood behind a bush while they passed us. There were ten or twelve of them. They went towards Noah Adams’s house. I waited while Walters went to call P.C. Masterman, and we all went towards Greatham. When we got within 50 yards of the old turupike gate we met ten soldiers. I saw something in Whitehouse’s hand. I went and took it from him. They were two ducks. Those now produced are the same. A man belonging to the 24th tried to get them from me, when I fell with Whitehouse into the hedge. I held them with my left hand, and prisoner with my right. I put the handcuffs on Whitehouse, and the other constable secured Dwyer, and we then handcuffed them together. The other men went towards the camp. Adams came down about twenty minutes after, and I asked him if he knew the ducks. He said ‟Yes, they are mine.” I took the stick which I now produce (a formidable weapon) from Whitehouse and picked up a similar close by.—Similar evidence was given by P.C. Joseph Walters and P.C. William Masterman, the latter adding: When I collared one of the men I received a blow on the chin from a stone. Eight of them then ran away. I followed and overtook them near the old gate. They all had sticks and stones, and all turned round and threw at me. I drew mv staff and struck one of them, and broke my staff. They then all ran towards the camp. Next day I went down and found the duck, which I now produce, just over the hedge, close by the spot where I had met the men. I also received another duck (produced) from John Page. These two ducks were likewise identified by Adams as his property, and as having been stolen at the sane time with the others.—Dwyer and Whitehouse were convicted and sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labor. With regard to the other five, the chairman remarked, that after consulting with the other magistrates, that although there could be no moral doubt as to their guilt, still the evidence of identity was barely strong enough to bring the charge legally home to then and they were accordingly dismissed, with a caution.