PETERSFIELD, Saturday, Jan. 30.
PETERSFIELD PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY.—Magistrates in attendance: The Hon. J. J. Carnegie (in the chair), Mr. J. Bonham Carter, M.P., Mr. Waddington, Major Briggs, and Captain Sandeman.
Robbing a Shepherd Asleep.— Richard Browning, a jobbing drover, was brought np charged with robbing Henry White while asleep in the stable of the George Inn, Eastmeon, on the night of the 16th instant. — Prosecutor deposed : I am a shepherd in the employ of Mr. W. Rogers, of Hambledon. I went to Eastmeon on Saturday, the 18th inst., to Mr. White's, the George. I there paid for my boots 14s. and 2s. for the nailing, and 4d. for the blacksmith's beer. I changed a sovereign to pay. I had more beer, for which I paid. I was wearing my great coat, and I put my money in the pocket. I had two single shillings and sixpence and a fourpenny piece in silver and some halfpence. I can't say how many. I had my knife, and some tobacco in a bladder, altogether in value 3s 6d. We were in the taproom. The prisoner was there, and sat next but one to me. I asked Mr. White to allow me to lay down on the straw in the stable. He offered me a bed, but I declined, as I wished to go away early. I took my coat off, and put my money, my knife, tobacco, and a box of matches in my coat pocket, and laid it at my feet. My dog was lying by me, and growled about 1 or 2 o'clock. I afterwards found some one trying to take my watch out of my pocket. I put out my hand and felt some one. I then jumped on him, and said, "You rogue." I held him down. I said, "You robber, have you got my money ?" I fixed him again, and the man cried "Murder." The policeman came and said, "What is the matter?" I said, "This man has got my money." I held him tight. The man said. "Mr. White has got your money." I gave prisoner into custody of the constable. The policeman called Mr. White, and the prisoner laid down in the straw. The policeman came and showed a light on the prisoner. He got up, and then found my knife, my tobacco and pouch, and matches, in the straw (produced and identified).— John Morgan said: I am a police-constable, stationed at Eastmeon. On Sunday morning, the 17th instant, about half-past 1 o'clock, I was passing Mr. White's publichouse, the George. I heard some loud talk in the stable, and heard one say to the other, "You have got my knife, tobacco, and lucifers," and Henry White (the prosecutor) accused the prisoner of picking his pocket. He said his money, knife, &c., were gone. Prisoner was laid down on the straw in the stable. I turned the light upon him, and found the knife, tobacco, and box of matches. I called Mr. White, and then went back. The prisoner was laid down again. I picked up the purse, containing two shillings, a sixpence, a fourpenny piece, and one halfpenny. — By the Chairman: The knife and other things were under where prisoner laid. They both had some beer, but knew well what they were about. — Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and elected to be tried by the magistrates, and in his defence said, "I could hardly call out 'murder,' he held me so tight about the throat. I am as innocent as any one of these standing about here." — Prisoner was convicted, and sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour.