PETERSFIELD
Agent—Mr. G. Duplock
PETTY SESSIONS.—Tuesday.—Present: Hon. J. J. Carnegie (Chairman), Sir J. C. Jervoise, Bart., M.P., and J. Waddington, Esq.
The Overseers of the Parish of Eastmeon v. William Neale.—This was a case of considerable interest, and had been twice before the County Court. The facts, as we gathered from the evidence, were there:—Defendant had for many years been in business as a shoemaker in the village of Eastmeon; his wife had a life interest in two cottages. In 1855 she became insane, and was placed in an asylum near Fareham. An agreement was drawn up, bearing the date October 27th, between the Overseers and defendant, whereby the parish undertook the maintenance of the wife at the Asylum, defendant engaging to reimburse them 5s. a week. In 1858 defendant ceased to make these weekly payments, and arrears accumulated to a considerable amount—upwards of 30l. The Overseers sued defendant in the County Court, and obtained an order for payment, which order was not complied with, and a judgement summons was issued; but when this came on for hearing defendant pleaded inability, on the ground that all his property had been seized under a bill of sale, and upon this His Honour declined to commit him, and the case seemed at an end. The Overseers now applied to the magistrates for an order, whereby the wife’s life interest in the two cottages might be made available for her maintenance.—Mr. W. Weeks, one of the overseers, appeared to support the application, and Mr. Hervey appeared for the defendant.—The Magistrates having intimated to Mr. Hervey that the onus rested on him, that gentleman called the defendant, who deposed that he had made over his business to his two sons, and that he now worked for them and received 3s. a week from them for the use of the shop, and for his work, and that with the exception of an occasional meal with his sons this was all he had to live upon. It thus became quite clear that he had no means of contributing anything from his earnings towards the maintenance of his lunatic wife; but Mr. Weeks said he felt that as a public officer he should not be doing his duty to the ratepayers, many of whom were quite as poor as defendant, if he did not press for an order on the property in which the wife had a life interest.—Ultimately, an order was made by the bench for the overseers to receive 4l. a year out of the rent of the cottages.—Mr. Bonham Carter and Mr. J. Waddington, being interested in the parish, took no part in the adjudication on this case.
The Rev. W. M. K. Bradford, rector of Westmeon-cum-Privett, appealed against a poor-rate.—Mr. Field (Gosport) appeared for the respondents.—The notice of appeal set forth that the rate was made on the 29th of October, and Mr. Field took a preliminary objection to the proceedings on the ground that no such rate existed, and as it appeared on reference to the rate book that the rate was made on the 12th (not 29th), the objection was held to be fatal, and the case was dismissed.
Henry Downes pleaded guilty to a charge of night poaching on the 20th instead., and was sentenced to six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour, and at the expiration of the that term to find one surety in the sum of 10l. or two in 5l each not to be guilty of a like offence for one year, or failing such sureties six months’ additional imprisonment.
Thomas Owton was charged, on the information of Alfred Hoare, with trespassing in search of game on lands in the parish of Idsworth, belonging to and in the occupation of Sir J. Clarke Jervoise, Bart., (the hon. baronet withdrew during the hearing of this and the previous case).—Alfred Hoare deposed to seeing defendant on the 20th Nov., about half-past twelve in the day, pass up a row of young stuff, looking about. Witness called out to him, ‟Holloa, neighbour is that you?” Whereupon defendant took to his heels, but was pursued by witness and overtaken. He took him back to where he had first seen him, searched him, and found a wire in his pocket (produced), also found a hen pheasant just where defendant rose from the ground; it was just dead, quite warm, and quivering, and the blood running and dropping from the leaves.—Convicted, fined 1l. with 1s. 6d. costs, or one month’s imprisonment with hard labour.. The money not being forthcoming, defendant was removed in custody.
William White was charged with wilful damage to an oak tree, the property of Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., in the parish of Bramshott, on the 19th November, the information was laid by P.C. Charles Stone, who deposed as follows: On the 19th of this month, about five o’clock in the evening, I heard the sound of chopping. I went in the direction from which it came, and saw defendant up in an oak tree, about 20 feet from the ground; he was cutting the boughs with a bill. I asked him if he had leave to cut the wood; he said ‟Yes; we cut what we like, and master never says anything.” I said, ‟You had better come with me to your master.” I took him to Mr. William Chalcraft, for whom he works, who said he had not given him permission to cut the wood, and that it was absurd to suppose he should do so, as the wood did not belong to him. Fined 5s., costs 7s. 6d., or 14 days’ imprisonment with hard labour.
John Page, Alfred Figg, George Jackson, and Alfred Brown were summoned to answer a charge of trespassing in search of rabbits on Sunday, the 17th, on lands in the occupation of Mr. W. Goodeve, in the parish of Greatham. Jackson and Brown did not appear, and service of summons having been proved, the case was proceeded with in their absence. Figg pleaded guilty, Page admitted being there, but denied that he was searching for rabbits. The case was clearly proved by George Taylor, who distinctly swore to seeing them working in and out between the bushes, while two dogs which they had with them were doing the same. They were all convicted, and fined 2s. each, with 12s. 6d costs, to be paid between them.
Charlotte Kent was examined touching her parochial settlement, and an order was made for her removal to Bucklesbury, in Berkshire.
Susan Money charged Mary Edney with violently assaulting her on Monday, the 18th instant. Both parties live at Horndean. —Complainant deposed: On Monday, the 18th, about three o’clock in the afternoon, I was in the kitchen at Mr. Gale’s, at Horndean, where I lives servant, when Mrs. Edney came in, and asked me what business I had with her husband. She then struck me on the face with her fist; I said ‟Don’t strike me,” but she screwed up her fist again, and hit me in the eye, and knocked me backwards against the screen. I ran into the parlour, Mrs. Gale’s little girl was there; defendant followed me, and pushed the door open, she pulled me out by the hair of my head, and said she would tear me to pieces. I screamed ‟Murder,” and ran into the street.—Martha Small deposed: I live at Horndean. I recollect Monday week. I was called to Mrs. Gale’s. I saw Mrs. Edney strike Susan Money at the parlour door. Mrs. Gale came running to me, and asked me to go and fetch her little girl. I saw defendant strike complainant, and she had some of her hair in her hand; she said she would tear her to pieces, and used very bad language.—Fined 12s. 6d., costs, 7s. 6d.