PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS.—Tuesday.—Present Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., J. Waddington, Esq., and Major Briggs.
— Pheasants’ Eggs.—There were no less than four cases of taking pheasants’ eggs, all of which were clearly proved, and the parties were fined in sums varying from 4s. to 2s. 6d. each egg, with costs.
— Mr. Elkington applied on behalf of the Assessment Committee, of which he is a member, to have a clerical error corrected. In a late appeal case, that of Mr. Thomas Waller, of Steep, the magistrates reduced the gross rental from 170l. to 144l. 13s. 9d., upon which a reduction of 10 per cent. had to be made, so as to give the rateable value 130l. 4s. 6d., but by some mistake this had been returned at 115l. 15s., being a reduction upon the gross of nearly 20 per cent. The magistrates directed an amended return to be made to the committee.
— Adelaide Strong was charged with stealing, at Catherington, on the 25th of May, 15lbs. of salt pork, value 10s., the property of George Johnson. It appeared from the evidence that prisoner had taken advantage of the absence of complainant’s wife to possess herself of the door-key which had been deposited in a certain place by arrangement among the inmates, and by this means had entered the house and stolen the pork. She pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment.
— William Harris was charged with assaulting Charles Abrahams, a policeman, stationed at Privett. This case arose out of a drunken squabble on Saturday night, which the policeman attempted to suppress, when defendant struck him on the shoulder with a stick, and tore his coat. Fined 5s., costs 12s. 8d., damage 1s.
— James Sturt v. George Smart.—This was a charge of assault. The parties are tradesmen living at Peterefield. Complainant deposed that about half-past five on the morning of the 27th of May he was in his shop at work, when defendant passed by, and he (complainant) called out to him, ‟Smart, you have not let me have that account yet.” Defendant then came into the shop and began to show fight and spit in his face, and struck him, but not violently. Defendant’s version of the affair was that there was a balance between them of about 8s. 6d. in complainant’s favour, and that on the morning in question, as he was passing the shop, complainant called him a ⎯ rascal, and said if he did not pay him he would put him in the County Court that very day. He felt annoyed, and admitted saying that he should like to punch his head, and that only one thing (meaning the law) prevented his doing so, but positively denied having struck him, and called his brother, Henry Smart, and a lad named James Mason, who corroborated the statement as to no blows being struck on either side, although both deposed to the use of a good deal of strong language by both parties. Case dismissed.
— Mr. Adams appeared in support of an information laid under the Liss Enclosure Act by Mr. Joseph Inwood, charging John Harrison, Thomas Philp, and William Philp with committing wilful damage by throwing down a fence. The information was laid under 11 and 12 Vict., c. 99, s. 10. The damage was put at 5l. Mr. Harrison objected in limine that the magistrates had no jurisdiction, inasmuch as the case involved a question of disputed right, which must be tried at Nisi Prius. The magistrates, however, said they would hear the facts and then consider the question of jurisdiction, and Mr. Adams was proceeding to state the case, when it transpired that the award of the Enclosure Commissioners had not yet been confirmed, and on this ground the magistrates dismissed the information.
— William Tribe, relieving officer of the Catherington Union, applied, on behalf of the Board of Guardians, for an order on Mary Edney, of Horndean, to contribute 4s. a week towards the support of her husband, who is a lunatic in the asylum at Knowle, and for whose maintenance the common fund of the Union is chargeable with 8s. 2d. a week. Defendant pleaded inability, and, after a lengthened inquiry as to her means of subsistence, the magistrates dismissed the application.
— The Ship and Bell Inn, at Horndean, was transferred from Walter Yorke Edney to John Morrell.
— The Cricketers Inn, Steep, was transferred from Henry Ifould to Alfred Pocock.