PETERSFIELD.
Agent —Miss DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday 17th, present J. H. Waddington, Esq., chairman, R. Steele and G. Forbes, Esqrs.,
— John Voakes was committed to the quarter sessions for trial, on a charge of stealing, on the 4th May, at Liss, a purse containing 9s. 6d. belonging to George Voakes, his brother.
— John Jacobs was charged with cutting and stealing on the 5th May, 40 withy saplings belonging to William Eldridge Butler, Esq., in the parish of Greatham. It appeared from the evidence that Mr. Butler had sold a lot of timber, and that defendant was employed by the purchaser to remove the bark, and that he had cut the withy in question for the purpose of tying up the bark into bundles. Prosecutor stated that the stuff was of about three years growth, and was valuable prospectively for hop poles; he did not wish to press hardly on the man, but as he seemed to treat the matter very lightly when he detected him, he had thought it right to bring the case before the magistrates that it might be known that these depredations were not to be committed with impunity, fined 3s., and 7s. 6d. costs, or one month's imprisonment— the money was paid.
— John Hooker was charged on the information of James Webb, with having in his possession on the 2nd May, nine pheasants' eggs; he pleaded guilty, and was fined 13s. 6d., and 7s. 6d. costs.
— J. Primer, the younger, was charged with a like offence on the information of H. Luff; the number of eggs found on defendant in this case was 12, and the fine inflicted, as in the former case, was 1s. 6d. per egg, being 18s., and 7s. 6d. costs.
— George Aldred, a miserable looking object, with a wooden leg and minus an eye, was charged with causing a disturbance in the parish church at Clanfield during Divine Service, on Sunday, the 8th inst. The conduct of the prisoner appeared from the evidence of the clergyman and another witness to have been of a grossly scandalous and obscene character, the principal portion of which was wholly unfit for publication. Prisoner was committed to the Quarter Sessions at Winchester. We understand he obtained bail on Wednesday.
— Robbery by a Servant.—Elizabeth Walder, a servant, was brought up on remand, at the Magistrates' Clerk's Office, on Wednesday, before J. H. Waddington and R. Steele, Esqrs., charged with stealing sundry articles, belonging to Mr. G. W. Newman, of Heath Farm, in whose service she had been living, and also with obtaining a pair of boots from Mr. Brown, in the High-street, under the false pretence that her mistress would pay for them. *Mr. G. W. Newman deposed: Prisoner was a servant in my employ, and had been for about two months up to Friday, the 6th of this month. On that day she obtained leave to go out for the day and was to return at eight o'clock in the evening. She did not return, and on the following day I missed a pair of glass salt-cellars and several other things. I went upstairs to search her box, which I found locked and sealed. I broke it open, and found part of a bottle of port wine, which was lying on the top of her wearing apparel. I called Mrs. Newman up and we examined the box together, we found a pasteboard box containing some Berlin wool, a jet bracelet and some beads, a pocket handkerchief marked E. F. N., a small microscope, an ivory silk winder, a neck tie, piece of ribbon, pair of velvet cuffs, piece of bed furniture, binding, and other articles. Having found these things, I re-placed them in the box and sealed it up again, and sent for Mr. Superintendent Fey, who came to my house, and the seal which I had put on the box was broken in his presence, and he took a list of the articles, which are the same as those now produced. Mr. Fey afterwards shewed me a pair of glass salts and some envelopes marked with my initials, a small neck tie, and a book, all of which are my property. I value the whole at 15s.—Mrs. Newman on being sworn, deposed as follows: Last Friday week prisoner asked me to let her out for the day. I gave her leave, but told her I should like to see the contents of her box before she went; she made no objection, but not having the key in her pocket, she went up stairs to search the pocket of another dress; I followed her; she said she could not find the key, and thought it must be in the pocket of a dress that was at her aunt's, and she would bring it when she came home in the evening. I told her I should seal up her box, which I did before she left the house, and I believe she saw me do it. She did not come home that evening, but a note came from her cousin to say she was unwell. We waited till Monday, when I received a second note asking for one of her dresses and a part of her money. This note stated that she was unwell and wanted the money to get some refreshment, I did not send any money but sent the dress she had asked for. The box remained in the same place till the next day Tuesday. On that day I saw it opened and examined it with Mr. Newman, we found (here witness described the articles enumerated above) the articles now produced are the same, and are all the property of my husband. Mr. Superintendent Fey deposed—On Tuesday, the 10th inst., in consequence of the information I received from Mr. Newman, I went to a house on Ramshill, occupied by prisoner's aunt, Mrs. Walder. I saw prisoner there and requested her to go with me to Heath Farm to see what was in her box, she consented to do so, and left the house with a policeman; I remained and put several questions to the aunt, and before I left the house I saw Frances Walder, who I believe is prisoner's cousin; she unlocked a box and took from it a pair of glass salts, some envelopes, and a small neck-tie and gave them to me, she also gave me a book, all of which I now produce. I then went to Heath Farm and found prisoner there, I charged her with stealing the articles and took her into custody.—Sarah Walder deposed—I am prisoner’s cousin, I live at Ramshill. Prisoner gave me the salts and other articles now produced some time ago, I should think a month or six weeks ago, she said she bought the salts and that her mistress gave her the neck-tie; the articles were given to me at different times; I gave them up to Mr. Fey last Tuesday week, these now produced are the same I had from the prisoner. This completed the case of stealing, and the prisoner was next charged with obtaining goods under false pretences. In support of this charge, Mr. John Henry Brown deposed—I am a boot and shoemaker carrying on business in the High-street, Petersfield. I know Mr. Newman, of Heath Farm. I recollect prisoner coming to my shop on the 8th of April last and saying I am a servant of Mr. Newman’s, I want a pair of boots for myself and Mrs. Newman will pay for them. I let her have them in consequence of what she said, the price was 6s. 6d. which I told her. Prisoner was a stranger to me, and I certainly should not have let her have the boots on credit if I had not expected Mrs. Newman to pay for them.—Mrs. Newman on being re-called, deposed that she did not on the 8th of April or at any other time tell prisoner to get a pair of boots for herself, and that she (Mrs. N.) would pay for then.—Prisoner declined to say anything in her defence, and was fully committed on both charges for trial at the next Quarter Sessions.
(See also 02-Jul-1859)