PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS.—Tuesday.
(Present the Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman); the Right Hon. Sir W. G. H. Jolliffe, Bart. M.P. ; Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart: J. Waddington, Esq.,) and Major Briggs.
STEALING AN OLD HAT.
Andrew Small, a labourer, was brought up, charged with stealing an old hat, hanging in an outhouse at Greatham, the property of Noah Adams, valued at 6d. (but apparently not worth 2d.), on the 28th of December last. Prisoner pleaded guilty to taking the hat, but having been locked up five days, he was discharged with a caution.
DIGGING FOR RABBITS.
Thomas Fosticue and Alfred Eade, labourers, were charged upon summons with digging for rabbits upon land in the occupation of Thomas Vinson, of Liss.
P.C.George Kingshott deposed, On Sunday, the 18th of December last, between 10 and 11 in the morning, I was duty going to Rake. I saw the two defendants in Cooper’s field, belonging to Mr. Vinson; Eade was using a spade, and Fosticue was with him. They were digging in a hole, in which they had tracked a rabbit in the snow: upon seeing me they ran away.
By the Chairman —Fosticue was only looking on.
Fosticue pleaded not guilty. Eade pleaded guilty, and said:— ‟Fosticue was only looking on, what was done I did all myself. It’s the first time, and I’ll warrant it will be the last.
The Chairman—You can answer for the first time, but not for the last. How about the spade?
Defendant —The spade belongs to another man. I borrowed it to dig the rabbits out.
Mr. Vinson said he did not wish to press the charge, he only wished to put a stop to it
The charge was dismissed against Fosticue, and Eade was fined 1s. and 7s. 6d. costs. Defendant thanked the magistrates, and paid the money.