PETERSFIELD.
Agent—Mr. G. DUPLOCK.
PETTY SESSIONS.—TUESDAY.—Present: The Hon. J. J. Carnegie (chairman), and J. Waddington, Esq.
EBENEZER DURMAN, DiSTRICT SURVEYOR OF HIGHWAYS v. CHARLES PARR.—In this case a summons had been issued charging the defendant with obstructing a certain highway known as Puland-lane, in the parish of Sheet, by erecting hurdles around a piece of waste land. Complainant informed the magistrates that since the issuing of the summons the obstruction had been removed, and the defendant was thereupon merely adjudged to pay the costs, 7s. 6d.
AN EJECTMENT CASE.—Mr. Blackmore, of Alresford, as agent for Lord Hylton, applied for a warrant of ejectment, to recover possession of a house and premises situate at Langrish, in the parish of Eastmeon, held by Hori Berriman, as a yearly tenant. Defendant (who is very deaf) was accompanied by his nephew, Robert Stephens, who assisted him in his defence. It appeared from the statement of Mr. Blackmore, supported by the evidence of of Mr. William Carter, jun., sub-agent to Lord Hylton, that defendant has occupied the premises for about 19 years, and has paid his rent half-yearly at Michaelmas and Ladytide. The notice served on defendant was a notice to quit at Michaelmas last, to which he objected, on the ground that his tenancy commenced at Midsummer, and not at Michaelmas. It appeared that in 1849 he entered upon the premises, on the 24th of June, and at Ladytide, 1850, he paid the rent for three-quarters of a year. Mr. Blackmore contended that the yearly tenancy commenced at the previous Michaelmas, and that the additional quarter was merely a broken period anterior to the actual commencement of the tenancy. The receipts from 1850 to 1868 were produced, and showed that the payments had been made at Ladytide and Michaelmas in each year. Mr. Blackmore called Mr. John Stubbs, who deposed as follows: I am the incoming tenant of a farm at Langrish. Hori Berriman occupies a piece of land, of about nine acres, in the middle of the farm. I have spoken to him about a notice to quit, when he said "It is no good, as I took it in the year, and not at Michaelmas. I paid 3l. for the odd time up to Michaelmas, and then went on the same as the rest." —William Turtan deposed to hearing this conversation between the last witness and the defendant, when the latter said he paid 3l. for the odd time up to Michaelmas, and then paid the same as the rest.—Defendant was sworn, and deposed that he took the house and a portion of the land on the 24th of June, 1849, at a rental of 10l. a year, that he let the house the next day to John Etherington, that it was then found that the land was not enough to give him a vote for the borough, and he took another field called Harvey's meadow at an additional rent of 3l., that the previous tenant was obliged to leave.—The magistrates having conferred for a few minutes, the chairman said as the case involved a very important principle they would prefer taking time to consider before adjudicating upon it, and the case was accordingly adjourned.
PUBLIC-HOUSE OFFENCE.—James Hall landlord of the "Five Bells" public-house, at Buriton, was charged with selling beer at an illegal hour, on Sunday, October 25th. — P.C. Charles Abrahams deposed to entering the house by the back door about eight minutes before twelve o'clock, and finding a young man, named Isaac Powell, in the tap-room smoking a pipe, and with a jug containing beer before him on the table.—The defence was that Isaac Powell was a lodger, and evidence was adduced to establish this. — This case was also adjourned.
TRESPASS IN PURSUIT OF GAME. — John Ewens, Thomas Waite, and Henry Waite were charged with trespassing in search of rabbits, on land in the occupation of George Green, at Soul Farm, in the parish of Steep, on Friday, October 23rd.—Henry Waite succeeded in establishing an alibi, and was discharged; the other defendants set up the same defence, but failed, and were convicted and fined 5s. each with 6s. 3d. costs. Thomas Waite asked the chairman if he could not take the case to a higher court, and on being told he might, expressed his determination to do so, adding that he was "as innocent as a child just born into the world."
IN POSSESSION OF GAME. — George Voller, of Chalton pleaded guilty to a charge of having unlawfully in his possession one pheasant and two rabbits. — He was met by P.C. Henry Grant in a highway leading from Chalton to Blendworth, on Tuesday, October 20th, carrying a basket over his shoulder. Grant, having some suspicion as to the contents of the basket, searched it, and found a pheasant and two rabbits, which defendant said he had "picked up." — Fined 2s. 6d. and 9s. 6d. costs.