CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON PETTY SESSIONS. -

Wednesday.

Before Capt. J.H. Waller, M.V.O. (in the chair), Mr. Samuda, Mr. Vernon Watney, and Lieut.-Colonel Dillon.

Sent for Trial.- George Huckins, labourer, of Ramsden Heath, was summoned for stealing 1½cwts. of potatoes, value 5s., the property of Edwin Pratley, at Finstock, on March 26th.- Edwin Pratley, of Leafield, said he sent his brother, Charles Pratley, to pick up some potatoes from his allotment at finstock on March 25th. He subsequently gave information to the police that some were missing.- Caleb Dore, of Finstock, said that in the evening of March 26th he saw Huckins come on the allotment, lift up a sack of potatoes on to his back, and go away with them. He afterwards told prosecutor's brother what he had seen.- Richard Dore, brother of the last witness, corroborated.- P.C. Best deposed having searched the defendant's premises, but failed to find the potatoes.- Asked if he desired the case to be dealt with summarily, defendant said, "If is is to be settled in my favour, I will have it decided here."- (laughter).- Defendant was committed for trial at the next Assizes, bail in £10 being granted.

LOCAL.

County Quarter Sessions.- The following Quarter Sessions for the County to be held on Tuesday next before Sir William Anson, Bart., M.P.:- George Huckins, 25, labourer (postponed from last quarter), charged with stealing in the parish of Finstock 1½cwt. of potatoes, the property of Edwin Pratley.

COUNTY QUARTER SESSIONS.

TRIAL OF PRISONERS.

finstock man found not guilty.

George Huckins, 25, labourer, against whom the Grand Jury found a true bill at the last Quarter Sessions, was indicted for, on March 26th, at the parish of Finstock, stealing 1½cwt. of potatoes, the property of Edwin Pratley.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Ernest Walsh was for the prosecution, and explained that prisoner was committed for trial at the Trinity Quarter Sessions. On the day of the Sessions a so-called certificate was handed in, and was to the effect that prisoner was suffering from illness. The Bench issued a warrant, but on the same night the police found the prisoner had disappeared from that part of the world where he was most likely to be found, and he was not traced until September 17th, when he was handed over by the Gloucestershire Police.

Edwin Pratley, Leafield, said last Good Friday he had some poratoes in an allotment field at Finstock, and he sent his brother Charles to gather them. From what his brother told him he went to P.C. Best and he accompanied the constable to prisoner's house. The officer searched the house, but did not find any potatoes.

Charles Pratley, Finstock, spoke to missing 1½cwt. of potatoesfrom his brother's allotment.

Caleb Daw, Finstock, labourer, said he remembered March 26th last.-

Counsel: Of what particular time on the 26th are you speaking?

Witness: Of no particular time- it was my birthday- (laughter). Proceeding, witness said his garden adjoined Pratley's allotment. At 8.30p.m. on the 26th March he was standing in his garden, when he saw the prisoner go to the allotment, and afterwards take up a sack of potatoes and make off in the direction of his home.

Prisoner said witness had given evidence against him because he had a grudge against him; he (prisoner) owed witness' brother half-a-sovereign. He alleged that witness and his brother fetched the potatoes.

The prosecutor, in reply to the Chairman, said he had not reason for letting prisoner go away with the potatoes.

Prisoner: Because he wasn't there.

Richard Daw, labourer, Finstock, gave corroborative evidence. Asked if prisoner owed him 10s. witness said he had mentioned nothing about that. If prisoner owed him money, why didn't he pay it?- (laughter).

P.C. Best spoke to searching prisoner's house on Easter Monday, and said he found no potatoes.

Prisoner, on oath, said he did not go outside his house on March 26th, but went to sleep from 6.30p.m. until 8.45, when his wife called him. That case was the result of a grudge Daw had borne against him.

Cross-examined: The villlagers said that Daw took the potatoes. He did send a certificate on the day of the last Sessions that he was suffering from tonsilitis. On the night of that day he was out poaching. He was fined £5 for the offence. He was obliged to go out because his children were crying for food. He did leave that part of the country afterwards.

Counsel: You keep them pretty busy down there?

Prisoner: They want something to do for their money.

The Chairman, in addressing the jury, said the case turned on the evidence of the Daws. He did not think any evidence had been given to show that they were not worthy of belief.

The jury found prisoner not guilty, and he was accordingly discharged.