PETERSFIELD.
PETTY SESSIONS, TUESDAY.—Present: Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), J. Waddington, Esq., Capt. Sandeman, and J. D. Lewis, Esq.
Wm. LANGTREE appeared upon summons charging him with leaving his wife and child chargeable upon the general fund of the Catherington union. Mr. Field, of Gosport, appeared for defendant. Mr. Thomas James, relieving officer, supported the charge, but informality appearing, the case was dismissed.
BREACH OF CONTRACT—Mr. Thomas Amery, dairy farmer and cowkeeper, of Steep, charged HY. BOURNE, his servant, with non-fulfilment of his contract.
Complainant deposed to having made an engagement with defendant about two months before the 23rd of last October to look after cows and do any work upon the farm, and the wages agreed to was 14s. per week, subject to a fortnight's notice on either side. On Wednesday, the 23rd of Oct., at breakfast time, being the usual day of payment, the defendant refused to go on with his work till his wages was paid. When complainant told him he should be paid within half an hour, and that if he did not go on with his work trimming mangolds with the other men he should not be allowed to do so afterwards. Defendant at once left his service, saying he would not strike another stroke.
From the evidence it appeared that the defendant had sued complainant for a fortnight's wages in the County Court on account of his dismissal, when complainant having allowed judgement to go by default, had been mulcted in the sum of £2 1s. 8d., including costs. He now claimed £1 10s., the loss he had sustained from defendant's refusal to fulfil his contract.
In reply to the Chairman as to how he arrived at the sum of £2 10s., complainant states that he included the expense which he had been pit to in the County Court; upon which he was informed that the bench could take no cognizance of this. The claim was, therefore, reduced to 8s. 4d., and the magistrates adjudged defendant to pay 8s. 4d., and costs, 13s. 6d.
The hearing of the case occupied the attention of the magistrates for a great length of time, during which it appeared that four other's accompanied the defendant in his demand for payment, but were not included in the charge.
DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT.—HENRY PORTER, a labourer, was charged by P.C. Charles Abraham, with being disorderly and using disgraceful language—shouting and swearing—in Buriton-street, on Sunday evening, the 15th instant, and was fined 1s. and 5s. costs.
The Chairman, in addressing the defendant, appealed to his better feelings as a man, strongly advising him to abstain from a repetition of such gross impropriety of conduct, at the same time telling him that Mr. Soames (the clerk) had kindly volunteered to forego his portion of the costs in the hope that it would be a warning to him and others for the future.
STEALING A MACKINTOSH.—PETERSFIELD—. WM. ANDREWS, an assistant to the engineers employed in the Ordnance Survey stationed in this town, appeared on remand, under bail, charged with stealing a mackintosh, value 10s., the property of Mr. George Shotter.
The prosecutor deposed to being a cattle dealer, living at Midhurst; that he was at Petersfield market on Wednesday, the 11th instant, and called at the Volunteer Arms on his return from Alresford about eight o'clock in the evening, giving his mackintosh, being very wet, to Mr. Bailey, the landlord, who hung it up on a door in the passage. Prisoner and several of his comrades were upon the premises. About half an hour after Mr. Shotter, who was leaving, enquired for his mackintosh, when it was found to be gone.
William Bailey deposed to being the landlord of the Volunteer Arms. Recollected Mr. Shotter giving him the mackintosh about eight o'clock in the evening, when he hung it on the door in the passage. Mr. Shotter, who was leaving, enquired for his mackintosh, and when, upon going to the place where he had hung it up, found it was gone. He then made an enquiry two or three times in the smoking room adjoining the passage, where the prisoner and his companions were sitting, but could get no information.
Henry Shepherd deposed to being the ostler at the inn. Saw the prisoner, upon leaving the house, with a soldier's great coat which, in pulling up, exposed the mackintosh hanging below, and afterwards saw the prisoner in the square, when he had the mackintosh on.
P.C. Rodaway was informed of the case, and upon going to the prisoner's lodgings found the mackintosh folded up and placed upon a box in his bedroom. The prisoner acknowledged taking the mackintosh, but said he did not do so with a felonious intention, which was taken as a plea of not guilty, the magistrates had no option but to commit him for trial at the quarter sessions in April.
John Stone, a sapper, deposed that in passing the coat in the passage, he said "’twould be a lark to take it," and upon leaving the house the prisoner was wearing his (witness’) great coat, but when he overtook him between the railway and the Drum, he handed witness the coat saying "It is no good for you to get wet." "I've got a coat I borrowed of Mr. Bailey, which I must return in the morning." A similar remark was made to Randall, a sapper and fellow lodger, upon his reaching home. The prisoner, who was a respectable looking young man, evidently appeared to feel the serious position in which he had placed himself, said he could bring witnesses, and produce good certificates of character, and was committed, and the several witnesses bound over to appear.
AN "INEXPRESSIBLE" THEFT.—PETERSFIELD.— Stephen Kedge deposed—I am manager to Mr. Ayling. I hung a pair of cloth trousers out on Monday, the 23rd, and about three o'clock in the afternoon I missed them. Their value is 18s. 6d. I then went to the superintendent of police.
William Woods deposed—I work for Mr. Crafts, at the Dolphin. I was at the stable door about half-past two. I saw the prisoner come away from Mr. Kedge's, towards my door along the road; he then made a stop, and turning back to the shop; there were two or three boxes standing there. I saw the prisoner take something off one, double it up, and put it under his coat. Just as he got near where I was he pushed it further back, and doubled his coat over.
John Bennett deposed—I am superintendent of police. From information I received I proceeded on to Gravel-hill, and met the prisoner coming out of the tap room of the Coach and Horses. I asked him what he had got about him, or if he had a bundle. He said "no." I opened his coat and felt him about, and found something under the waist of his trousers. I then pulled out these trousers. Prisoner said he picked them up on the road. I then charged him with stealing them from Mr. Ayling's shop, and took him into custody.—One month's imprisonment with hard labour.
The chairman, in passing sentence, told the prisoner that he had rendered himself liable to six months imprisonment, but from the trousers being exposed outside the shop, and took the opportunity of advising Mr. Kedge to be careful of the coming review, when so many travellers would be passing.
TRESPASSING AND SETTING SLIPS AT CHALTON.—GEORGE MARSHALL, who did not appear, was charged by Alfred Hoar (keeper to Sir J. C. Jervoise), with trespassing in search of game at Chalton, and driving "Cherry Tree Row" with a stick towards the end of the same, where a slip was set, and the keeper was concealed, on the 7th instant. A previous conviction was proved, and he was adjudged to pay a fine of 30s. and costs 10s., or two months’ imprisonment with hard labour.