PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Present: Hon. J. J. Carnegie (Chairman), J. H. Waddington, J. Bonham Carter, and J. Martineau, Esqrs. Sir J. C. Jervoise, and Sir W. Knighton.—SERIOUS CASE OF LARCENY.—Richd. Beagley was charged under the following circumstances:—Sarah Bridger deposed: I live on the Stroud, in the Parish of Eastmeon; am a washerwoman, the wife of William Bridger. I wash for Mrs. Gilbert and Mrs. Blakeley, both of Portsea; they send their linen to me in boxes. On Tuesday morning last I got two boxes from Hardy, the Portsmouth carrier, and carried them to Mr. Lillywhite’s. I opened that from Mrs. Gilbert. I saw it contained soiled linen and a book with a list of the things sent. The boxes were corded up and directed to me. I took from the box some money, sent in payment for the previous week’s washing, and came into the town and purchased a piece of mutton and suet of Mr. Wake, for which I gave him a shilling and received sixpence in change. I took the mutton and suet to Mr. Lillywhite’s and put it, with the sixpence, into Mrs. Gilbert’s box; it was tied up in a handkerchief. I uncorded the box and corded it up again. Mr. Lillywhite put the two boxes into Mr. Fielder’s cart, of Winchester, as he would, pass my house on his way home. This was a little before twelve o’clock. I walked on towards home, expecting the cart would overtake me, but it did not. I waited at home till four o’clock, and then came back to Mr. Lillywhite’s to enquire after my boxes. They were not there. I then, from something I heard, went to ‟The Trooper,” at Froxfield. I got there about six o’clock. I saw the woman of the house, and, in consequence of what she said, I came back to Lillywhite’s again. Next day I went to Winchester and saw Mr. Fielder, the owner of the cart. In consequence of what he told me, I came back to Lillywhite’s, the same evening; my boxes were not there. Next morning, about six o’clock, I came to Petersfield, and went to Mr. Crassweller’s shop, in the Square. I saw prisoner in the stable. I asked him if he did not bring back two boxes which a gentleman had given him, having mistaken his road. He said no, he did not; that a man had called on him the night before, and he told him that he had not seen the boxes. I told him l had been to Winchester, and Mr. Fielder told me had mistaken his way and had sent the boxes back by Mr. Crassweller’s man. He said he was sure Mr. Fielder must be deceived, for he never saw any such cart or man, only one cart and a gentleman’s carriage: he added, ‟Pon my soul, if I had them, Missus, I would give them up to you.” I then came away, and after making some further enquiries about the town I went to Mr. Fey; this was about eight o’clock. I shortly after followed Mr. Fey to the prisoner’s house, at Borough-hill; Mr. Fey called me in; the prisoner was at home. I there saw my boxes; they were in a back room down stairs; they were both corded up. I uncorked Mrs. Gilbert’s box; I missed from it the mutton, the suet, the sixpence, and the handkerchief, which I had placed there; the linen and the book were in the box. I told prisoner the linen and the book were all right, but that the mutton, &c., were gone; he said ‟If there is anything missing I will pay you,” and took out his purse to do so. Mr. Fey said he could not allow that, and he then took him into custody, and both boxes into his possession. My name and address were written on the lid of Mrs. Gilbert’s box; there was no direction on the other. The boxes now produced by Mr. Fey are the same.—David Fielder deposed: I live at Winchester, and am a builder. On Tuesday morning last I was at Mr. Lillywhite’s. In consequence of something Mr. Lillywhite said to me I took two boxes into my cart; I believe those now produced are the same. I was to leave them at Stroud Common, at Mr. Bridger’s, as I intended to go that way home. I left Lillywhite’s between twelve and one o’clock. I mistook the road; I discovered my mistake about three miles on the road. I met a man driving a brewer’s cart towards Petersfield. I could not swear to the driver, but the name on the cart was Crassweller; and to the best of my belief the prisoner is the man. I met him about half-past one. I gave him the boxes I had received at Lillywhite’s, requesting him to leave them there. I gave him sixpence for his trouble. The boxes were in the same state as when I received them.—Thomas Fey, Superintendent of Police, deposed: On Thursday morning last about eight o’clock, Mrs. Bridger came to me, and in consequence of something she said I went to the house of the prisoner; he was at home. I told him I was come to make some enquiries about two boxes that were missing which had been sent to Mrs. Bridger on Stroud Common; he said he knew nothing of them. I told him that from a letter I had read from Mr. Fielder, of Winchester, I had no doubt he was the person who had received them. I told him there was quite sufficient for me to take him into custody whether I found the boxes or not. I said ‟If you know anything of the boxes you had better give them up.” He hesitated a little, and then said ‟I have them all right here.” I said ‟If they are all right it will be all right.” I then followed him up stairs, and in the corner of a bed-room I found two boxes; the smaller box was uncorked and the lid broken. I told him I did not consider it ‟all right” then. He tied on the cord, and we brought them down stairs. I then called in Mrs. Bridger and showed her the boxes; she identified them. She opened what she called Mrs. Gilbert’s box, and found that the mutton and suet which she had placed there were gone. Prisoner wished to pay her for it, but I refused to allow it. I did not find the handkerchief or, sixpence. I found on the table a small piece of mutton, which had been cooked. I then took the prisoner into custody, and also took possession of the boxes. He told me in the course of the conversation I had with him that the person never told him where he was to leave them.—William Neighbour deposed: I assist Mr. Crassweller in his brewery; prisoner was in his employ on Tuesday last. On that morning I gave orders to go to Froxfield; he returned with the cart about half-past two o’clock. He took the cart to the brewery; I was not there; there was no other man put with the cart on that day.—Prisoner pleaded guilty, and called Mr. Neighbour to speak to his character, who stated that he could not say anything in his behalf and did not wish to say anything against him.—He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.