PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Present: Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., Major Briggs, and J. Waddington.
DISTRESS WARRANTS.—Distress warrants were issued at the suit of Mr. Josiah Gosden, assistant overseer, against Mr. Charles Parr for the following poor rates: Buriton, £5 2s. 11d.; Burial Board, £1 2s. 10½d.; and Sheet, £8 1s. 10½d.
TRESPASSING IN SEARCH OF RABBITS.—Richard Bone and James White were charged, on the information of William Philp, with trespassing in search of game and rabbits on land in the occupation of E. B. Fawcett, Esq., in the parish of Steep, on Saturday, June 16th. Defendants pleaded guilty, but alleged that they had the right of shooting over the adjoining land, and that they merely went to draw a rabbit which they had shot, and which had run into a burrow. Fined £1 each and costs 6s.
RIDING WITHOUT REINS.—Frank Newman pleaded guilty to a charge of riding without reins on the shafts of a waggon, on the turnpike road, in the parish of Buriton, on Thursday, June 28th. Defendant pleaded in mitigation that he was returning in the evening from hay carting, and being very tired and seeing nothing on the road he thought he would have a ride. Fined 6d, costs 7s. 6d.
AN EXCITING CASE.—THREATENING TO BLOW OUT THE BRAINS OF A MAN IN POSSESSION.—Thomas Cook, assistant sheriff’s officer, applied to the Bench under the following circumstances. He stated that he and another man were holding possession of certain farming stock and other effects belonging to Mr. Charles Parr, at Buckmore Farm, under an execution from the Sheriff. On Sunday last Mr. Parr came to the place and threatened to blow is ――― brains out, at the same time presenting a pistol at him and using the most violent language. An auction sale of the effects was to take place that (Tuesday) afternoon, and Mr. Parr had just arrived on the premises, and from his violent conduct, coupled with his threats on the previous Sunday, applicant was in fear of his doing him some bodily injury, and he requested that he might be bound over to keep the peace towards him. The magistrates at once issued a warrant for his apprehension, and Superintendent Longland and two of his men proceeded to Buckmore Farm to execute it, and soon returned with Mr. Parr in custody. The complainant’s statement having been reduced to writing and sworn by him, defendant was called upon to find two sureties of £100 each, and to enter into his own recognizance of £200 to keep the peace towards complainant for six months. Defendant was taken to the police station, but was told by the magistrates that his removal to Winchester would deferred till the next day, in order to afford him an opportunity of obtaining the required sureties. Supt. Longland informed the magistrates that on the police proceeding to take defendant into custody at Buckmore, he stepped into a chaise that was standing by, and drawing a pistol from his pocket presented it successively at several persons around, whereupon P.C. Hayter drew his staff and struck it from his hand. The pistol on examination was found to be loaded with ball and capped.
ROBBERY AT MR. SUMMERS’S—SPEEDY CAPTURE AND SENTENCE.—Just as the last case was disposed of and the magistrates were about to separate, it was announced in court that a theft had just been committed at Mr. Summers’s drapery establishment in the Square, and in a few minutes two rough-looking tramps, without shoes or stockings, were brought into the room in the custody of P.C. Hayter, on a charge of stealing a new macintosh coat and a new pair of boots. They gave the names of John Newman and Charles Williams.—Mr. Henry Calvert deposed as follows: I am managing agent to Mr. Summers. About a quarter of an hour ago I was in the shop, when I heard a rustling outside and remarked ‟There’s a macintosh gone.” I rushed out and saw the younger prisoner running down the High-street. I followed as fast as I could, and when I got to the bottom of the street I met Mr. Cole with a pair of boots in his hands, which I identify as the property of Mr. Summers. I know them by my private mark. I also missed a macintosh which had been hanging outside of the shop window, and which I had seen within an hour before I missed it. After meeting Mr. Cole I met P.C. Hayter with the elder prisoner in his custody. I observed that the latter had something in his coat pocket, and suggested to the policeman to search him. He did so, and took from an inside pocket of his coat a macintosh, which I also identify as Mr. Summers’s property. The macintosh is worth 25s., and the boots 11s.—Mr. Joseph Cole deposed: I am a hairdresser, living at Petersfield. This afternoon I was standing in my shop when I heard some one run past as if without shoes. I ran round the corner and saw prisoners walking fast. I called to them, when they shuffled up close together, as if passing something between them. I overtook them near the White Hart public-house. I said to the younger prisoner, ‟What have you got?” He answered ‟Nothing.” I collared him and took from him a pair of boots, which I gave to P.C.Hayter. He said ‟Don’t collar me: follow that man: he has got your coat in his pocket.”—P.C. William Hayter deposed: About half an hour ago I received the boots, which I now produce, and also the younger prisoner from the last witness (Mr. Cole). I met the other prisoner coming towards me in the custody of Mr. Winkworth, a young man in the employ of Mr. Chase, who delivered him up to me, and on searching him I found in the inner pocket of his coat the macintosh which I now produce.—Prisoners neither asked the the witnesses any questions nor attempted any defence, and were sentenced to one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.—Seldom has crime been more speedily overtaken by justice than in this case, scarcely an hour having eleapsed between the theft and the sentence of punishment.