PETERSFIELD
PETTY SESSIONS, Tuesday.—Present: Sir J. Clarke Jervoise, Bart., M.P., and Major Briggs.
— WHO SHOULD BE SUMMONED.—John Guy Fairbairn and Thomas James, as two of the trustees of the British Schools, were summoned by the churchwardens and overseers of the parish of Petersfield for the non-payment of a poor rate, amounting to 8s., made on the 1st of October last. Defendants pleaded non-liability, on the ground that they were not trustees. Mr. Josiah Gosden, assistant overseer, proved the rate, and handed in a list of the trustees of the school, in which list the names of the defendants appeared, stating that such list had been furnished to him by one of the body of trustees, but whose name he was not at liberty to mention, and not being provided with evidence to prove the trusteeship of defendants he asked for an adjournment, which was granted. Mr. Minty, who attended as churchwarden, and who is also a member of the Assessment Committee stated that every school in the Union had been rated, as the rating would not otherwise be valid, and Mr. Gosden added that every school except this had paid the rate. Defendants said the objection was not to the amount of the rate but they were summoned as trustees, and they denied their liability. Adjourned. (15-Dec-1863 rate has been paid ending litigation)
—STEALING BOOTS—James Harris, a discharged sailor, was brought up in custody charged with stealing two pairs of new half boots, value 13s. 6d., the property of John Cross, from a shop in the High-street, Petersfield. It appeared from the evidence that Mrs. Jane Martin, who has charge of the shop, placed the half boots in question on tacks outside the shop door, about five o’clock on Friday afternoon, and missed them about six. P.C. Henry Elderfield met prisoner near the Drum, in Chapel-street, soon after six o’clock, with a pair of half boots in his hand and asked him where he got them. He said he bought them on the Hard at Portsmouth. Elderfield thinking he looked rather bulky about the waist, opened his coat and found another pair of boots tucked under the waistband of his trousers. He took him to the police station and proceeded to make enquiries, and on going to the shop of complainant Mrs. Martin at once missed the half boots, and accompanied him to the police station, and identified those found on prisoner as the same. Prisoner elected to be tried by the Bench, and pleaded guilty. Six weeks’ imprisonment with hard labour.