PETERSFIELD
PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY.—Present: The Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), and Major Briggs.
DAMAGING A HEDGE—THOMAS SCUFFLE and JOHN WINSLETT, mechanics, appeared upon a summons charged under the Wilful Damage Act with injuring a hedge, by jumping upon the same, belonging to Henry Brown, in the parish of Catherington, in going home from their work, across a meadow, from Shalford Lodge, on Tuesday, Nov. 14. They were each adjudged to pay costs, 5s. and 6d. each for damage.
STEALING A PICKAXE.—MICHAEL CUMMINGS ( a discharged soldier from the 62nd Regiment at Aldershott) was brought up charged with stealing, on the 22nd November last, a pickaxe, from premises at the back of the Coach and Horses, at Gravel Hill, in the parish of Buriton. The case was proved by P.C. Henry Grant, stationed at Horndean, who deposed to seeing prisoner at Horndean, about five o’clock, on the 22nd November, when he took him in charge as a deserter, and found in a bag some bone and pieces of old iron, among which was the broken head of the pickaxe, produced, and identified by Thomas Welch, the landlord. Prisoner pleaded guilty, and elected to be tried by the magistrates; the prisoner having been in the lockup for 13 days, was sentenced to seven days’ hard labour.
STEALING A HORSE TOPKNOT, FLYRING AND BELL.—GEO. CANNONS, aged 22, living at Priorsdean, was brought up charged with stealing a topknot, with a flying attached to a small brass bell, value 2s. 6d., from a stable at Goleigh Farm, in the Paris of Priorsdean, in the occupation of Mrs. Rivers.—From the evidence of William Rivers, it appeared that the prisoner was at the time employed upon the farm, as odd man.—James Noakes deposed to being in the employ of Mr. Dutton, at Forestside, in the parish of Melbourne, as Carter, being at the time at plough, when the prisoner went into the field, who taking the topknot and fly-ring from his pocket, tried them upon the halter heads of the horses, and offered to sell the same to witness, saying that he bought a set at Petersfield for four shillings and sixpence, had sold the rest, and wanted 2s. for it. Witness bought the same for 1s. 6d. P.C. Charles Butler, stationed at Froxfield, deposed to receiving information on the 7th of December, when he went to Melbourne and asked prisoner for the top-knot and bell, and to taking him back to Goleigh Farm. When upon the way prisoner told him he had picked it up on the dung-hill, and at the same time said ‟I might as well have given it up when they asked me for it. I could tell you if I liked where it is.” P.C. Butler then took prisoner into custody, and proceeded with him to Voakes, the Carter, at Forest-side, who gave up the top-knot, and he found the ring and bell in the stable. The mother of the prisoner here stepped forward, and said that her son was half an idiot, and quite unfit to keep his work, and that she did not know what to do.—The magistrates, after a searching enquiry, dismissed the prisoner, who left with his mother.
ALLEGED ASSAULT AFTER A WOOD SALE.—JOHN BUDD, GEORGE BUDD, and THOMAS STAPLEY, all young labourers of Bramshott, appeared upon summons, to answer the charge preferred by James Bolton, labourer, of Headley.—From the evidence of complainant it appeared that between 11 and 12 o’clock at night of the 11th of November (on which day a sale of underwood had taken place), he went to the Anchor at Liphook, and as soon as he got inside John Budd ran up against him, when George Budd struck him two or three times without his having spoken a word to either of them. John Budd then pushed George Budd away and offered to fight him, which witness declined. The house was then cleared by the waiter, James West. Upon getting outside the witness said that Stapley held him while John Budd knocked and kicked him about, and it appeared a regular ‟scrimmage” took place.—Complainant produced no witnesses.—The several defendants denied the truth of complainant’s statement, and called James West, who deposed to being at the Anchor Hotel, on the 17th November, as general servant, and hearing James Bolton offer to fight John Budd, and all the Budds for £2, and to seeing George Budd touch James Bolton with both hands on both sides of his face.—John Budd. told George Budd to sit down, and said, ‟What shall I fight you for, Shiner!” Bolton then said, ‟I’ll fight either of the Budds for two sovereigns.”—James Gauntlett deposed to being at the Green Dragon about eight o’clock on the 17th of November. Bolton was there, and offered to fight either of the Budds for two sovereigns against one. Robert Budd was there, and said he did not wish to have anything to do with it. Bolton left before witness, who, upon going out, heard a row in the street between John Budd and James Bolton, and saw them down together, and did not see either of them strike.—The case was dismissed against Robert Budd, George Budd, and Thomas Stapley.—John Budd and James Bolton were each bound in £5 to keep the peace for six months.