PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS.— On Tuesday, before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart., J. Bonham-Carter, Esq., M.P., Major Briggs, Captain Sandeman, and J. Waddington, Esq.
Mr. J. Underdowvn, as hon. secretary of the Petersfield Amateur Dramatic Society, applied for and obtained a license for the performance of plays at the Dolphin Hotel during the ensuing month. His sureties were Mr. Hunnard and Mr. Duplock.
Joseph Pannell pleaded guilty to a charge of riding on a waggon without reins, and with no one by the side of the horses, on the Petersfield and Portsmouth road, on Monday, Dec. 7th. He was fined 1s. and 5s. 6d. costs.
James Clark (a casual) was sent to prison for 21 days for tearing up his clothes at the Petersfield Union Workhouse.
George Figg was brought up in custody on a charge of stealing, in the parish of Bramshott, on Thursday, Dec. 24th, a basket containing one hare, two rabbits, and a shoulder of venison, the property of Thomas Bullock.—Hugh Jones deposed as follows. I was staying with Mr. Bullock, at Lady Holt Park, near Harting, on Thursday last, December 24th. I saw him make up a basket of game, consisting of one hare, two rabbits, and a shoulder of venison. The parcel was directed to "Mr. Thomas Bullock, near "The Black Fox," at Liphook," and was taken away by Thomas Tulett, to be sent on from Harting by the mail cart.— Thomas Bullock deposed: I live near "The Black Fox," at Liphook. On the 24th December I went to the Liphook station to get a basket which I expected from my father. I received a rush basket; it was tightly sewed up, and had a label on it, addressed to me in my sister's handwriting. I went to the "Wheatsheaf" Inn about ten o'clock; I had the basket with me, which I placed on a form in the taproom. I saw the prisoner there. When I was about to leave, a little after eleven o'clock, I missed the basket, and have not seen it since.—P.C. George Chase deposed: On the evening of December 24th, having heard that a basket had been lost from the "Wheatsheaf," I went there between eleven and twelve o'clock. I saw the prisoner there. I searched for the basket, but did not find it. On the evening of Saturday I went to prisoner's house about five o'clock. Prisoner was not at home. I asked his wife to permit me to search the house; she consented, and I followed her into the pantry. She there showed me a leg of mutton and part of a shoulder of venison, which I now produce. I also found a rabbit-pie. I went to the Black Fox, and saw prisoner there. I called him aside into the bar, and showed him the venison in a dish, as I had found it, and said, "George, do you know anything about this?" He said, "No, 1 t don't know anything about it." I told him I found it at his house, and asked him how he accounted for the possession of it. He then said, " I bought it at Butcher Wakeford's, at Liphook." I asked him when he bought it and he said, "On Christmas-eve." I said, "What did you buy at Butcher Wakeford's?" He said, "A leg of mutton." I asked him if he called that a leg of mutton, and he said he didn't know what it was. I said, "I call it a shoulder of venison; how did you come by it ?" He said, "It was given to me at the Wheat Sheaf by Bill Chandler, a chap that lodges there." I then charged him with stealing it, and took him into custody. I put the value at 15s. 6d.—William Chandler deposed: I lodge at the Wheatsheaf. I was there on Christmas-eve. I saw prisoner there. I did not give him anything that evening.—Prisoner, on being called to plead, said he was not guilty of stealing, but was guilty of receiving, which being equivalent to a plea of not guilty, and the value being over 5s., left the magistrates no alternative, under the Criminal Justice Act, but to commit him for trial at the Quarter Sessions.—Committed accordingly.