CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY

SESSIONS.- Wednesday.

Before the Rev. T. Harris (chairman), Rev. W.E.D. Carter, J.F. Penyston, Esq., and Capt. Waller.

The Pitch and Toss Nuisance.- Jesse Shayler, Victor Pratley, Thomas Walton, and Frank Hadland, all of Fawler, were charged by the police with playing at pitch and toss in the public highway, at the above mentioned place, on Sunday afternoon, December 1st.- The case was brought before the Court at the last meeting of the Justices, when defendants were present, but was adjourned owing to Sergeant Culverwell (who had met with an injury from a fall) being unable to be present. Defendants did not appear on the present occasion - Sergeant Culverwell stated that he had received numerous complaints of the pitch and toss nuisance, and on the afternoon in question saw a number of youths on the railway bridge, in the parish of Fawler, playing at that game. Not being able, however, to get near enough to them without being detected, witness induced a girl named Fanny Hadland to go up to the bridge, and she now deposed that defendants were the four actually engaged in pitch and toss, and that fifteen or sixteen others were looking on.- The Justices expressed their determination to put a stop to this nuisance, and fined each of the defendants, including costs, 6s. 6d., or seven days' hard labour.

RAMSDEN.

fatal accident.

On Friday, November 3 rd, an inquest was held here, by F. Westell, Esq., (Coroner), on the body of Riley Millin, aged 29 years. The following evidence was taken.

Victor Pratley, of Finstock deposed: The deceased is Riley Millin, of Ramsden, a labourer. On Wednesday evening, about 5o'clock, I was with Mr. Sheldon in his rickyard at Fawler when I heard a team of horses coming down the hill from Charlbury; they came past us. There was a waggon which came first, about 4 chains in front of the cart. The card had two nag horses in it, and was loaded with coal. When the cart got opposite the rick-yard, it gave a bump, and passed the waggon; there was no one with the cart. I went to the road, and there I saw the deceased lying in the middle of the carriage road. I went to him, and it was the deceased, Riley Millen. He was alive, but he did not then speak. John Willoughby, the carter to the waggon then came. Mr. Brown, of Witney, then came along in a carriage. Deceased could not stand, and we put him into the carriage, and Mr. Brown, I believe, brought deceased to Finstock or Ramsden. Deceased said in my presence that the cart had run over him. The waggon was about a chain in front of the place where deceased was found.

John Willoughby, of Ramsden, said on Wednesday afternoon I was driving a waggon from Charlbury, and the deceased was driving a cart. My waggon was about a chain in front of the cart which the deceased was driving. When we got near Fawler Mill, I heard the cart and horses running away, and they frightened my horses. I soon stopped them, and then the horses and cart but no driver came past my waggon. I ran after them, and stopped them, and then went to see where the deceased was, and I found him lying in the road. Victor Pratley was with him. I did not hear him say that the cart had run over him.

A verdict of accidentally killed was returned.