PETERSFIELD.
Agent—MR. G. DUPLOCK
PETTY SESSIONS. — On Tuesday, before Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart., and Captain Sandeman.
— Daniel Lee was summoned for non-payment of a poor-rate amounting to 19s. 6d. Josiah Gosden, assistant-overseer, proved the rate which was made on the 1st October last, and deposed to having made repeated applications for payment, but without success. Defendant did not appear, and a distress warrant was ordered to issue forthwith. Several poor persons belonging to the parishes of Petersfield and Sheet were excused the payment of their poor rates on the the gronnd of poverty.
— Alfred Ellis was brought up in custody on a charge of stealing, at Eastmeon, on Monday, the 8th February, 8½ yards of alpaca, and 7½ yards of Irish linen, value together 18s., the property of his employer, Mr. Clement Atkins. Prosecutor deposed: I am a grocer and draper at Eastmeon, and prisoner was in my employ as assistant in the shop. He came to me in answer to an advertisement which I had inserted in a newspaper. This was about the 23rd January. On Saturday, the 6th February, he asked me for leave of absence on the following Monday. I gave him leave, and paid him ten shillings of his wages on account. I next saw him in custody at Portsmouth on Wednesday. The Irish linen now produced is my property—I know it by a pencil mark across it; the alpaca is similar to some which I have in stock, and I believe it is my property. The value of the two articles is 18s.—John Coffin deposed "I am a constable in the Portsmouth borough police force. On Tuesday morning, the 9th of this month, about nine o'clock, I saw the prisoner about to enter a pawnbroker's shop in Southsea. When he saw me he turned away and went towards Southsea Common. I followed and overtook him near the Pier Hotel. He had two or three bundles under his arm. I asked him what they contained, and he said, "Only a pair of shoes and a few little things my sister gave me. I came down from Eastmeon yesterday, and was going to a ball in the Isle of Wight last night, but got too late; I went over by the last boat last night, and came back by the first boat this morning." I took him to the station on suspicion of stealing the articles which are now produced — Superintendent Bennett deposed: I received prisoner into custody from last witness on Wednesday, the 10th inst., and he handed me at the same time the articles which I now produce. I said to prisoner, "Some Irish linen, a piece of alpaca, and a pair of shoes were found on you: where did you get them?" He said, "The linen and alpaca belong to Mr. Atkins, but the shoes do not; they were made for me by Mr. Attwood, at Eastmeon." I then charged him with stealing the linen and alpaca, and brought him to Petersfield. — Prisoner pleaded guilty, and produced a letter from his former employers, with whom he had been for three years, and who gave him a good character. The prosecutor also requested the magistrates to temper justice with mercy. — Prisoner, who appeared to feel his degradation keenly, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.