PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS.—On Tuesday, before Sir J. Clarke Jervoise, Bart., M.P. (chairman), Sir W. W. Knighton, Bart., and J. Bonham-Carter, Esq., M.P.
Refusing to Support a Mother.—Noah Adames was summoned to show cause why he should not contribute towards the support of his mother, a widow, aged 82.—Josiah Gosden, relieving officer of the Petersfield Union, deposed that defendant’s mother had been chargeable to the parish of Hawkley since the 30th of November, 1864; that she had been living with another son, George Adames, and has been allowed 1s. 6d. a week by the parish as out-relief. Witness also put in the rate book to prove that defendant rents about 37 acres of land, the rateable value of which was assessed at £52 14s. 6d.—Defendant pleaded inability, and handed to the magistrates sundry papers showing what were his expenses in rent, taxes, &c., and asked them to tell him how he could have anything to spare out of all that.—He was told that the magistrates could not enter into the question of the success of his farming speculations, but as an occupier of 37 acres of land, he must be held liable for the partial maintenance of his aged mother, and he was accordingly ordered to pay 1s. 6d. per week.
Claim on a Benefit Society. James Goddard v. William Brewer—was a claim of £1 4s. for three weeks’ sick pay due to complainant from the Union Benefit Society, held at the Golden Horse, Petersfield, of which defendant is secretary. It appeared from the evidence that complainant lives a Milton, in the parish of Portsea, and has been a member of the club 29 years. On the 1st of October last he was attacked with cholera, and a certificate of his illness, signed by his medical attendant, Dr. Page, was forwarded on the 6th of that month. He continued ill three weeks, and then declared ‟off.” The certificate had been sent to his brother that he might receive the money for him, as he had done on former occasions, but the secretary and stewards refused to pay on the ground of delay in forwarding the certificate. They, however, offered to pay complainant for two weeks, retaining the other 8s. as a sort of fine for such delay; this offer was refused.—In answer to the complainant, defendant stated that the club had no wish to withhold the sick pay from any member that was entitled to it; but as there had been repeated instances of delay in sending in the certificate of illness, whereby the stewards were prevented making the necessary enquiries, it had been determined to strike off a week’s pay in such cases. He added that there was no reason in the present case to suspect any intention of fraud on the part of complainant.—The magistrates ordered payment of the full amount, with 7s. 6d. costs.
Trespassing in search of game.—George Garnett, James Anderson, Henry Webb, and Henry Nicholson were convicted on the evidence of John New, for trespassing in search of game on land belonging to Miss Hewiett, in the parish of Bedhampton, on Saturday, November 25th.—Defendants alleged that they had received permission to shoot a rabbit or two for John New, the father of witness. New denied this, and Mr. William Lellyett, of Havant, deposed that the right of shooting over the ground in operation belonged exclusively to his (witness’s) father, and that New had no authority whatever to give any one permission to shoot rabbits.—Defendants were adjudged to pay 14s. 3d. each, including costs.