PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Miss DUPLOCK
PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY: present, Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), J. H. Waddington, J. Martineau, J. Bonham Carter, M.P., and G. Forbes, Esqs,
— Thomas Marchant, aged 15, was charged with leaving the service of his employer, Mr. James Goldsmith, contrary to agreement. Complainant deposed that he hired defendant on the 9th of November last to serve as under-carteri from that time to Michaelmas next; that defendant received his wages on Friday last, and left next morning. Defendant stated that his young master told him the day before he left that he was to go home. Complainant explained this by saying that defendant having driven against a post and tnrown down one of the horses, his son being angry at the boy's carelessness had said to him if he could not drive better than that he had better go home. The magistrates enquired of complainant if he was willing to take the boy back again, to which he replied that if he wished to return and would pay the costs of this complaint he would do so. Defendant said he did not wish to return; and as he persisted in saying that his young master told him to leave, the case was adjourned for a fortnight to enable complainant to produce his son as a witness on this point.
— Richard Denyer, Richard Budd, and James Pestall, three lads from Liphook, were charged with wilfully breaking two panes of glass in the window of a house in the occupation of John Coombs, at Hewshott-hill, in the parish of Bramshott, on the evening of the 28th of December. It appeared from the evidence of the complainant and his wife that on the evening in question the defendants came to the door and commenced singing, and on being told that no singing was wanted they smashed the window and ran away. Denyer and Budd were overtaken and brought back, when the former said that Pestall broke the window, and that he (Denyer) would pay for it. Mrs. Coombs, however, refused to compromise the case, and would have nothing but "the law." Defendants were adjudged to pay 2s. damages and 10s. 6d. costs. The Chairman expressed a wish that complainant had accepted Denyer's offer to pay, and that the case had not been brought before the Bench.
— William Knight was charged, under the Criminal Justice Act, with stealing at Liss one luncheon bag and a small quantity of bread and cheese, belonging to George Turner.—Complainant deposed: I work for Mr. Samuel Woodbourne. About half-past nine on Saturday morning last I went to my work, leaving my luncheon bag in the stable hanging on a tack over the bin. I returned about half past eleven, and found the bag gone. The bag now produced is the same; I know it by a particular mark.—Samuel Woodbourne deposed: In consequence of something that was said to me, I went into "The Bell," public-house, last Saturday, about twelve o'clock. Prisoner was there. Mr. Jenkins, the landlord, called him out into the shoemaker's shop, and I accused him of taking Turner's dinner out of the stable. He said I must prove that before I could do anything with him, and that he had not been into the stable. I told him I wanted the bag. He said he had not got it. I said, "It is no use your telling stories about it. If you don't give it me, I shall take it from you." He then gave me a bag, which he said he had had some time. The bag now produced is the same.—P.C. James Edson deposed to taking prisoner into custody, and receiving from Mr. Woodbourne the bag now produced, which prisoner said he had picked up on Lower Common and had had it for a month.—George Turner, re-called: I had no other bag than the one now produced.—Prisoner elected to be tried by the Bench and pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment, with hard labour.
— Jane Stanley was brought up in custody, charged with stealing at Rowland's Castle, on Thursday, the 6th inst., one cod fish, the property of Wm. Putman.—Complainant deposed: I travel with a cart with fish for sale. I was at Rowland's Castle on Thursday last. I had a cod fish in a basket in my cart; it was cut asunder; there was the head and shoulders in one piece, and the tail in another. I went into "The Fountain," public-house, and left my cart outside. I was there about twenty minutes. Prisoner was in the tap-room when I went in. When I came out something was said to me, in consequence of which I looked into the basket and found the fish was gone. I then went with Thomas Carpenter into the back premises of "The Fountain," and there I saw the head and shoulders of the fish between some loose boards, hid away. I know it was my fish. In another place, about two feet from where I found the head and shoulders, I found the tail. I took it and put it into my cart. You can go either round or through the house to the back premises. I had been in the tap-room with Mrs. Stanley, and had bought a basket of her. When I brought the fish out, I said, "Mrs. Stanley, this is a shameful thing." She said she knew nothing about it. —Thomas Carpenter deposed: l am the son of Henry Carpenter, the landlord of "The Fountain," at Rowland's Castle. I recollect on Thursday last seeing Putman at my father's house, about two o'clock. I saw prisoner take a large cod fish out of Putman's cart. The cart was standing opposite to my father's house. No one was with the cart. Prisoner came out of the front door from the tap-room. She put the fish under her apron and went round the house to the back premises. I did not see what she did with it. I was only a few yards from her. Her back was turned towards me. I did not speak to her. I afterwards went with Putman to the back of the house, and there we found a cod fish between some loose boards, out of sight.—Prisoner was committed for trial at the ensuing assizes, bail being taken for her appearance. The Chairman commended Thomas Carpenter for the prompt and becoming manner in which he had acted in the matter.
— James Etherington was charged with stealing 24 brooms, belonging to James White.—Complainant deposed: I live at Hammer, in the parish of Bramshott. I make brooms for sale. I went to London on the 23rd of December, and left a quantity of brooms in my workshop. There were 15 bundles, each containing 24 brooms. When I returned I found only 14 bundles. The brooms I make are made of cow-heath. The brooms I lost were all dry, seasoned heath. Those now produced are like mine, both as to heath and binding, "but brooms be rum things to swear to."—Eliza White deposed: l am wife of last witness. I recollect my husband going to London on the 23rd of December. After he was gone I took particular notice of the brooms, and placed two birch faggots against them. This was in the shop. The shop door was shut and latched, but not locked. There were five bundles of brooms lying together. In consequence of something said to me by the Frensham policeman next morning, I went into the shop and found the faggots thrown down and one bundle of brooms gone from the five. I have seen prisoner about there frequently; am not sure whether I saw him that day.—Prisoner, who is an old offender, having for a long time past spent the greater part his existence in prison, denied all knowledge of the brooms, and was remanded for a week.
— Parish of Chalton v. Edwin Hill.— Defendant was summoned for non-payment of poor's rate, 2l. 11s. 9d. He did not appear. It appeared that defendant was called in the rate-book "Hills," and in the summons "Hill," in consequence of which the case was dismissed and a new summons issued.
— Mr. Glasse, Clerk to the Board of Guardians of the Catherington Union, appeared to support an application to the magistrates respecting a pauper lunatic named Croote, who, it appears, was discovered in a wood, in the parish of Catherington, in May, 1857, in a state of perfect nudity, and has since been maintained in the county asylum at the expense of that parish. The application was to have the pauper adjudged to be maintained by the county and to reimburse the parish for the expense they had been put to, his proper settlement not being known. Mr. Glasse proved the service of due notice on the Clerk of the Peace for the county, and also that all possible enquiries had been made respecting the legal settlement of the lunatic, but without avail. Application granted and order made.
COUNTY COURT.—A Court was held at the Town Hall, on Thursday last, before C. J. Gale, Esq., the Judge These Courts will in future be held bi-monthly, instead of every month as heretofore.
— Richard G. P. Minty v. Frederick Redman—This was a suit for the recovery of 5l. for damages done to plaintiff's crops by cattle straying into his ground, owing to defendant not putting up fences according to agreement. Defendant did not appear. The plaintiff stated that he had purchased certain pieces of waste land under the Liss Inclosure Act, and defendant had purchased some adjoining pieces. The conditions of sale provided that the purchasers of certain lots were to make certain fences. Plaintiff here pointed out to the Judge the positions of the respective pieces on the plan, and showed that, by the terms of sale, it devolved upon defendant to make a fence between their several portions, which he had neglected to do, and in consequence of such neglect his (plaintiff's) crops sustained damage, which he estimated at 5l. The Judge asked for the award of the Commissioners, but was told that such award had not yet been made, but that the land was sold by the Commissioners to pay the expense of inclosure, whereupon his Honour expressed a doubt to whether plaintiff could recover, inasmuch as there was no priority of agreement as between him and defendant; he thought the remedy must be sought in another form. Defendant was undoubtedly bound to the Commissioners to fulfil the conditions of sale by putting up the fences, but the question was, whether an action would lie for damages sustained by a stranger. As this objection, however, had probably come upon plaintiff unexpectedly, he would adjourn the case to afford him an opportunity of communicating with the Commissioners on the subject. Adjourned.
— There were no other cases of public or general interest before the Court.