WITNEY.

result of nutting.

Lancelet Pratley, Edward Pratley, Robert Coldicot and William Shayler, young men of Leafield, were summoned for damaging underwood at Chasewoods, the property of Frederick William Buckingham, value 5s.

Frederick William Buckingham deposed: On Sunday, September 15th, my man and myself went to Chasewoods in the afternoon, about 3-30. I heard someone breaking the wood, we went in and caught them in the act of breaking down some wood. They were gathering nuts. I estimate the damage at 5s.

Lancelot Pratley, in the employ of prosecutor, deposed: On the 15th September my employer and myself were walking in the wood, between 3 and 4 o'clock. I saw the defendant, they were gathering nuts. There was a lot of damage done to the wood, but I did not see the defendants do any.

By the Magistrates Clerk: I am related to defendant, Edward Pratley, and I was godfather to Lancelot Pratley.

Frederick William Buckingham, re-called, stated that he was quite sure he saw all the defendant's, except Coldicott, breaking the wood.

Fined 10s. or seven days.

Defendants were removed in custody.

CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS - Nov. 18th.

Before Canon Carter (chairman), Captain Waller, C. Samuda and J.B. Bowen, Esqs.

A Batch of Offences.- Edward Pratley, a young man and a labourer, living at Leafield, was charged with four separate offences, committed on the 28th of July and the 18th of October respectively. Defendant could not be served with summonses for the July offences until recently, having been away from Leafield. He pleaded guilty to all the charges.- P.C. Havell gave evidence respecting a charge of drunkeness, and also of using obscene and abusive language on the highway, both offences being committed at Leafield on the 28th July. Witness said he saw Pratley come out of the Fox publichouse, and commence making a disturbance, so he went across the Green and cautioned him. He was drunk and using very bad language. Witness took him down towards home after a while, and when near the church met defendant's mother, to whom her son made use of the language complained of.- P.C. Grimshaw proved the other cases, one of drunkeness and the other an assault on the police. He stated that on the 18th of October, about 9.40p.m., he was on duty in Leafield in company with P.C. Sirman, and heard a disturbance on the Green. It was caused by Pratley, who was offering to fight anyone there. Witness went up to him and requested him to go home, when defendant deliberately struck him in the face. With the assistance of P.C. Sirman, he was then taken home. He was shortly afterwards out again, commencing the same conduct in the street. He was drunk.- For the offence committed in July, Pratley was fined 15s. or seven days, and for the October offence, 30s. or 14 days. As he was unable to pay he was committed to Oxford for 21 days' hard labour.

WITNEY.

PETTY SESSIONS.- Thursday.

Before J.F. Staples Brown (in the chair), W. Smith and E. Tarrant, Esqs.

Alleged Game Trespass.- Edward Pratley, labourer, of Leafield, was summoned by F.W. Buckingham, of Chasewood, Hailey, for trespassing in the daytime, on land in his occupation at Hailey, on the 17th March, in search of game.- Defendant did not appear.- Two previous convictions were recorded against the defendant, who was fined 15s.- Mr. Smith did not adjudicate in this case.