PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS.—TUESDAY.— Before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., and J. Waddington, Esq.
— PARISH CONSTABLES. —The overseers for the following parishes produced the lists of parish constables, which were verified, viz., Bramshott, Blendworth, Catherington, Chalton, Clanfield, Eastmeon, Petersfield, Privett, Sheet, Steep, Buriton, Hawkley, and Greatham.
— ASSAULT ON A SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE. Superintendent Stephenson charged Edward Vick with assaulting him in the execution of his duty. Mr. Henry Ford, of Portsmouth, appeared for the defendant,— Complainant deposed: On Tuesday, the 10th of March, I was on duty in the Market-square, Petersfield. About three o’clock on the following morning I had occasion to enter the ‟Golden Horse,” public-house, and just as I had stepped inside the doorway my attention was directed to something in the left-hand room; observing the defendant coming down the passage, I stepped back one pace and stood in the doorway on the right to allow the defendant to pass, so that my breast was on a level with the wall of the passage. As he came to me he took hold of my right arm and said, ‟I shall pass this way. This is my way.” I said quietly, ‟There’s plenty of room for you to pass.” I had scarcely spoken, when he seized me with both hands (one by the collar and one by the arm) and threw me violently against the wall on the opposite side of the passage. I then took him into custody and charged him with the assault.—Sergeant Godfrey corroborated the previous evidence.—Mr. Ford, in a searching cross-examination of both witnesses, endeavoured to invalidate their testimony. The learned gentleman dwelt particularly upon the length of time the defendant was kept in custody, and elicited from superintendent the time, viz., from three o’clock on Wednesday morning until the following day (Thursday), when defendant was taken before a magistrate and released upon his own recognizances. —After a consultation between the magistrates, the Chairman told Mr. Ford that he need not go into a defence, as they considered the justice of the case was fully met by the punishment the defendant had undergone, and consequently the case was dismissed.—The Chairman urged upon the superintendent the necessity in every case of taking a prisoner with the least possible delay before a magistrate.
— Andrew Moss, of Bramshott, was charged by Benjamin Small, also of Bramshott; with an assault, by hitting him on the head. The case was without interest, and complainant was adjudged to pay 3s., and defendant 7s. 6d. costs.
— A KNOCK DOWN ON WARDOWN.— Richard Moore, of Buriton, was charged by William Ward, of the same place, with an assault on Tuesday, the 10th. The defendant did not appear but proof of service of summons having been given the case was proceeded with. It appeared from the evidence of complainant, and his tow witnesses Eli Porter and Thomas Harfield, that between 10 and 11 o’clock on the night of the bonfire on Wardown, defendant made a violent and unprovoked assault upon complainant by striking him a severe blow on the eye, from which a considerable quantity of blood flowed, and it was closed up for two days in consequence. The defendant was adjudged to pay a fine of 11s. 6d., costs 8s. 6d., together £1; or in default 21 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.
Hampshire Telegraph — Saturday 21 March 1863
PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Present the Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P., Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., and J. Waddington, Esq.
— This was a special session for verifying the lists of parish constables. John Aburrow, of the parish of Buriton, claimed exemption on the ground of being a retailer of beer. Name struck out.
— Edward Vick was charged by Superintendent Stephenson with assaulting him in the execution of his duty. Mr. H. Ford, of Portsmouth, appeared for defendant.—Complainant deposed as follows: On the night of Tuesday, the 10th, I was on duty in the Square, at Petersfield. About three o’clock in the morning I had occasion to enter the Golden Horse public-house. Just as I stepped in at the front door defendant came along the passage from the tap-room. I stepped back a pace and stood in the door-way on the right of the passage to allow him to pass me. He took hold of my arm, and said ‟This is my way; I shall pass this way.” I said quietly ‟There is plenty of room for you to pass.” I had scarcely spoken when he seized me with one hand by the collar and with the other by the arm, and threw me violently against the wall on the opposite side of the passage. I then took him into custody, and charged him with the assault.—Charles Godfrey, sergeant of' police, corroborated the evidence of the former witness.—Both witnesses were subjected to a severe cross-examination by Mr. Ford, but without eliciting anything to invalidate their testimony. The Superintendent, however, admitted that defendant was kept locked up in the police-station from Tuesday night till Thursday before being taken before a Magistrate, when he was released on his own recognisance.—The Magistrates having consulted, the chairman told Mr. Ford they would not trouble him to go into a defence, as they considered that the justice of the case would be fully met by the punishment which defendant had already undergone. The Chairman having announced the decision of the Bench, addressed himself to the Superintendent, and urged upon him the importance in every case of taking a prisoner before a Magistrate with the least possible delay.
— William Ward charged Richard Moore with an assault. Defendant did not appear, but service of summons having been proved, the case was proceeded with in his absence. Both parties live at Buriton, and it appeared from the evidence of complainant and two witnesses that they were present at the bonfire on War Down on the night of the 10th, when about ten o’clock defendant committed an aggravated and wholly unprovoked assault on complainant by striking him a violent blow on the eye causing blood to flow, and completely closing it for two days.—Convicted, and adjudged to pay a fine of 11s. 6d., together with 8s. 6d. costs, making together 1l., sr in default 21 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.