PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS—Tuesday, present, Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart. (chairman), Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart, and John Waddington, Esq.
— Indecent Conduct in a Public-house.—Henry Harris was charged with assaulting Peter Luff, on Saturday evening, the 8th inst., at the Golden Horse, Petersfield. Defendant did not appear. Service of summons having been proved, complainant, who is landlord of the above public-house, deposed that on the evening in question, Harris, with two other men, named Norgate and Watts, were in the parlour of his house, drinking. They were quit sober. There were several handbills hanging to the walls round the room. They took them down, and began lighting the fire in the grate. He then ordered them out of the room, and as they were leaving, Harris seized him (complainant) in such a way as to cause intense pain, and dragged him out of the house.—Convicted.—Fined £1, and costs 6s., or in default, one month’s imprisonment, with hard labor, the magistrates designating the assault as of a most cowardly and brutal character.
— The Refreshment License Act.—Henry Tupper Edney was charged by Mr. Superintendent Longland with selling ale on premises unlicensed for such purpose, on 27th July. This was a case of considerable importance to publicans. Defendant keeps the Blue Anchor public-house at Horndean, and on the day in question there was a cricket match on Horndean Down, when he attended and supplied refreshments to the company, not having provided himself with a provisional license, as required by a recent act. He admitted the charge, but stated that from something which he had seen in a newspaper about fairs and races being exempt he supposed that such exemption applied to cricket matches also, and had acted under that impression. —The Bench informed him that the last act reduced the cost of the license from 5s. to 2s. 6d., made the signature of one magistrate sufficient instead of requiring two, and, extended the time of sale to one hour after sunset. They, however, were satisfied that he had erred, through misconception, and not with any intention of evading the law, and they would, therefore, only fine him 2s. 6d. (the cost of the license) and costs 7s. 6d., trusting it would be a caution to him and others for the future.
— Taking a Hare.—Thomas Pinnix. jun. was charged, on the information of Henry Luff, with taking a hare from a wire on land in the occupation of Mr. Pearson, in the parish of Chalton, on the 10th of August. It appeared from the evidence that defendant was employed in reaping wheat in the field where the wire was set; that Luff found the wire and a hare in it on Saturday evening, and that on Monday morning, about half-past four, he was watching it, and saw defendant on his way to his work, go straight up to the wire, and take the hare out. —Convicted and fined 7s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. costs.