PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS, TOWN HALL. May 15. Before the Hon. J. J. Carnegie, Sir A. K. Macdonald, Bart., and J. Waddington, Esq.
— STEALING HOP-POLES—Elizabeth Beagley and Fanny Beagley, mother and daughter, were charged with stealing wood in the parish of Hawkley, on the 26th April, of the value of 2d., the property of Henry Warner. Benjamin Warner sworn, said his father held a farm, in the parish of Hawkley; that on the 26th April there was a quantity of spoil wood in the hop-garden; that at 3 o’clock in the afternoon he saw Elizabeth and Fanny Beagley each with a sack, which they were filling with wood, and then left the garden. He followed and overtook them in a meadow adjoining, and told them to put down the sacks and shoot out the wood. They both denied having any, which they had not a right to. He then said he should take them before the magistrates. The Chairman, after seriously cautioning the prisoners, discharged them.
— John Rivers of Priorsdean, charged George Poor, a boy 14 years of age, and working for him, with stealing three dozen and one egg, on the 2nd of May. Ann Tigg sworn, said, I live with Mr. Rivers, and know the prisoner; I saw him go into the hen house on the 2nd of May, about six o’clock in the evening; I went and told master; I had been in the hen house about 1 o’clock, and saw three dozen and one eggs in the nests. This is all I know. John Rivers gave corroboratory evidence, and said I saw George Poor in the hen house, the 2nd May, at six o’clock in the evening; I went into a back room, and saw him pass backward and forward by an opening in the boarding; he then came out and went up the lane, and into a 20 acre field. I called to him, when he put the bundle down and came to me. I asked him what he had in his bundle, he told me a shirt and pair of trousers to carry to a washerwoman. I asked him if he had not got some eggs, he said no; I then took hold of his hand and went to the bundle, and then home, when I found three dozen and one egg. I asked him how long he had carried on that game, he said this was the first time. I gave him 3s. per week, and most days my wife gave him some victuals. Mr. Dollery, master of the Union, stated that the boy was an orphan, and had no friend whatever to help him; that he had been with him in the Union eighteen months; that he was the best boy he had ever had there, and (continued Mr. Dollery) I hope, gentlemen, you will be as lenient to him as you can, for he was a good boy. The magistrates, after consulting, sentenced the prisoner to pay 5s. in a week, or to go to prison for a fortnight. Mr. Dollery immediately paid the money, and the boy was discharged; and Mr. Rivers said he would take the boy again to his work.
— AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.— Jane Kelsey charged William Triggs with having assaulted her at the Half-Moon, in the parish of Steep, and stated; On Saturday last, I and my sister, Mrs. Martin, had been working behind some barkers setting up the bark; my husband and son worked with six others. We came back together in the evening. I and my sister went home, changed our wet clothes, had some bread and cheese, and then went and joined the party at the Half-Moon, and had some beer. About 9 o’clock, Thomas Nash and William Triggs came in, and began to pick a quarrel with the men, and offered to fight any of them. Triggs then threatened to strike Mrs. Martin; I said ‟Triggs, never strike a woman.” He said he had been waiting for three Saturday nights running, and now ‟I’ve got y’un I’ll pay y’m.” He made no more to do, but knocked me down. He hit me on the mouth. I had Mrs. Martin’s baby in my arms. I was standing. I got up with the baby, and said ‟Now, don’t strike me any more, don’t hit a woman, you are no man if you do!” and pushed him with my hand back on the seat of the settle. He then got up and struck me on the eye, and knocked me down again with the baby in my arms. (The prosecutor’s eye presented a bad appearance, very black, with a cut on the eyebrow.) James Buss said: I live at Steep Marsh. I was one of the barkers. I went to the Half-Moon on Saturday evening. Mrs. Kelsey nor Mrs. Martin were there then, they came in afterwards about 9 o’clock, I saw William Triggs strike Mrs. Kelsey twice. I saw the blood. She had a baby in her arms. I did not hear a quarrel. Samuel Todman took up the child. Other witnesses gave corroboratory evidence relative to the assault. Fined 40s. and costs 7s. 6d., in default to be imprisoned six weeks. Defendant was removed, but subsequently returned into Court, and paid the money.
— TAKING A PHEASANT’S EGG.— Brownton Lock charged James Atkins, a boy about 10 year’s old, with taking a pheasant’s egg from a nest in the parish of Buriton, on the 5th of May. He said: I came out of Gumbrel’s house (the keeper) and saw John Powell. I ran after him, and then saw James Atkins run away from a nest. I ran after him, and found a pheasant’s egg in his hand which was in his round frock pocket. Luke Gumbrel, gamekeeper to J. Bonham Carter, Esq., said; On the 5th of May I saw the nest with only one egg in it about ½ past 4 in the afternoon. About ½ 6 I again saw the nest with an egg in it. Fined 1s. and 2s. 6d. costs. The father, who was present, said the boy should pay the money out of his own pocket.