COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS—SATURDAY
Present: FRANCIS SMITH, Esq. (chairman), and Captain PILKINGTON, R.N.
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TRESPASS IN PURSUIT OF GAME—JOHN BLACKMAN and ANDREW WATTS, youths, were charged with being on land, on the 27th February, at North Marden, in the occupation of Mr. Samuel Clark, in pursuit of game. The defendants pleaded not guilty.
Charles Atkinson being sworn, said—I am an assistant game-keeper to Admiral Sir Phipps Hornby, of Littlegreen, near to Petersfield. I saw the prisoners, John Blackman and Andrew Watts, on the 27th February last, about one o’clock in the day. I was on the Down at the time, and observed the two men taking a rabbit from two terrier dogs; the dogs had been hunting the rabbit, and were cheered on by the prisoners. Watts chucked the rabbit down the hill to a little boy. They began after this, beating about the furze and cheering on their dogs. Watts refused at first to give me his name. I took a rabbit from Blackman, telling him that I should take it to Littlegreen and lay an information against him and his companion; he was very saucy and said he would ascertain whether I did so or not.—The men were each fined £1 including costs.