PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS. — On Tuesday, before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman) and J. Waddinigton, Esq.,
— John Minchin Peake applied for and obtained a license for the Green Dragon public-house, at Liphook.
— George Waller, a carter, in the employ of Mr. Carver, of Terwick, was summoned to answer a charge of leaving a waggon for 21 hours on the turnpike road, in the parish of Sheet, on the 6th of March.—P.C. Hayter deposed that in the afternoon of the day in question he was on duty on the Petersfield and Midhurst road when he saw a waggon loaded with lime standing on the off side of the road. The axle was broken and the waggon was leaning over so as to bring it within 18 inches of the centre of the road, and it remained in that position from half-one till eleven o'clock the next day. The night was very dark and there was no one left with the waggon, nor any light put up to warn passengers of the danger. The waggon had the name of "H. Carver, Terwick," on it, and he (witness) went next day and saw Mr. Carver, and learned from him that defendant was in charge of the waggon at the time of the accident.—Mr. Carver, on being sworn, stated that when defendant returned home and informed him of the accident he said he had got the waggon into such a position as to leave half the road free, and he (witness) told him to go the first thing next morning and remove it.—The magistrates thought someone ought to have been stationed with the waggon for the night, or that at least a lantern should have been placed on it, and the Chairman intimated that if an accident had occurred and death had ensued, the consequences would have been very serious both to defendant and his master.—Fined 5s. and 9s. 6d. costs.
— George Bramley was convicted of being helplessly drunk at Liphook.—P.C. George Chase deposed that he had picked up the defendant in the highway, and had done the same thing twice before during the last three months.—Fined 5s. and 9s. 6d. costs.
— John Coombs was charged with stealing, on Sunday, the 21st of February, from Linchborough enclosure, on Woolmer Forest, 13 pieces of oak stack wood, value 1s., the property of John Bartholomew.—Prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour.
— William Love v. Henry Green.—This was a case of considerable interest and importance. Complainant is a member of the Eastmeon Benefit Society of United Brethren, of which defendant was the secretary. The claim was for 9s., being one week's sick pay from the 10th to the 16th February last. Defendant refused payment on the ground that, complainant had forfeited his membership by having gone to a public-house during the time he was on the sick list. The 42nd rule of the club provides that "If any member, while on the sick list of this society, shall be known to be at any public-house . . . . . except a just cause be shown, he shall be excluded this society, to be proved, if required, before a magistrate." It appeared from the evidence that complainant had been on the sick list, and had "declared off" on the 30th of January. That he went to the George Inn, where the monthly meeting of the club was being held, on the evening of that day, and instead of going into the clubroom, which is set apart expressly for the transaction of the club business, he went into the tap-room, and was seen there in the act of drinking. On being remonstrated with by Henry Budd, one of the stewards, he replied that he had "declared off" that day, and he considered that the day ended at six o'clock in the evening, and that, therefore, he was no longer on the sick list. The steward, however, considered that the day ended at twelve o'clock at night, and that complainant was on the sick list up to that hour, and as he was drinking in the taproom from about seven o'clock till half-past ten he had broken the rule cited above. On the 10th of February complainant was again ill, and on applying for relief in the usual form, i.e., by sending a medical certificate of his illness, the defendant refused to give an order for the payment of such relief, on the ground that he had ceased to be a member of the society on the 30th of January, when he had violated the rule which provided for the exclusion of a member who enters a public-house while on the sick list. The magistrates enquired of defendant what steps had been taken to exclude complainant under rule 42, to which he replied that there had been no formal decision by the members on the subject, as it was held that the rule was so clear in itself that it needed no further steps to be taken, but that when complainant violated the rule, he at once ceased to be a member.—The magistrates however held that complainant, by breaking the rule in question, did not ipso facto cease to be a member, but only rendered himself liable to expulsion, and as this had not been formally carried out, he was still a member, and they accordingly made an order for payment of the 9s., with costs 15s. 6d.
— George Howard, William Howard (father and son), and Reece Porter (step-son of the elder Howard), were brought up in custody charged with stealing, at Langrish, on Saturday, March 20th, six gallons of beer, the property of John Waddington, Esq.—Mr. Waddington retired from the bench while the chairman heard so much of the case as to warrant a remand.—We reserve the evidence given until the case shall be completed. (See below Stealing Beer from a Brewhouse)
— Thomas Benham was adjudged to be the putative father of the twin illegitimate children of Jane Searle, and was ordered to pay 1s. 6d. a week for each child, with 27s. costs. (See below Affiliation Case—Two Fine Boys.)
Chichester Express and West Sussex Journal 30 March 1869
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STEALING BEER FROM A BREWHOUSE.
GEORGE HOWARD, his son WILLIAM HOWARD, and his step-son RECE PORTER, labourers, in the employ of Mr. Waddington (who retired during the hearing) of Langrish Lodge, near the town, were brought up charged with feloniously stealing and taking away six gallons of beer.
P.C. James Moore deposed—I am stationed at Eastmeon. From information I received I watched Mr. Waddington's premises on the night of Saturday, the 20th. I concealed myself in the shrubs inside the entrance gate. I saw Rece Porter come along and go in the direction of Mr. Waddington's house. After he had gone about half an hour he came back walking very lightly. He went out of the gate, where he stood a few minutes. He then went back and I heard two persons talking in the carriage road; just at the same time some one went along up the high road. I then saw William Howard come away from Mr. Waddington's house; After him came George Howard and after him Rece Porter. They went out of the gate separately, and then wnet down the road together. When they got 60 or 70 yards I overtook them. I asked Rece Porter what he had got, he said "Some swipes." I asked him what he meant; he said "Beer," I said "You've got a barrel; you've no right to take it." He said "Ask my father," he said "’twas tops and bottoms, and that Golding had given them leave to take it." I took them to Mr. Waddington's, who said they had no leave from them.
Walter Golding deposed—I live at Langrish. I have brewed for Mr. Waddington for 20 years. George Howard has assisted me for the last eight years. After we begin the brewing he has the key. We began on Monday, the 8th. On the night of Friday, the 19th of March, I saw it locked up by Geo. Howard, who had the key. I did not, on the 20th, give him any beer, nor did I tell him he might take any. When we brew we take the odds and ends, and he might drink on the premises, but not take away. I had not on this occasion given permission for him to take beer away. On Friday night, the 19th, there was a quantity in the tun tub, sufficient to fill up the 30 gallon cask. I found on Monday morning about the same quantity in the barrel. In my estimation the tub contained about nine gallons; it was cleansed out on Monday. I never gave authority to either to take away. The barrel I sold to Rece Porter some years ago. No questions were put by either prisoners, and they were remanded til Monday, the 29th. Bail was applied for and granted.
AFFILIATION CASE.— TWO FINE BOYS
JANE SEARLE, a good looking young woman, applied for, and obtained an order of affiliation against Thomas Benham, a farm labourer, as the putative father of her two illegitimate male children. It appeared from the evidence of complainant that they were living together in service in the year 1867 with Mr. George Newman, at Heath Farm, and that she was confined in the Petersfield union workhouse on the 20th of last May, but from unfavourable health was unable to make the application till the present time. Defendant did not deny the paternity, but did the statement of complainant's sister, who was produced as a witness, when she said, producing the children, to defendant, "They are the very pictures of you," when he said, "Do you see the likeness?" Defendant was ordered to pay 1s. 6d. for each child and £1 7s. expenses.