WITNEY.

PETTY SESSIONS.- Dec. 14th.

Before the Revs. W.S. Bricknell and R.C. Baker, P. Southby, Esq., and Capt. Waller.

Charge of Trespassing.

Michael Pratley, Mark Harris, and Walter Harris, all of Hailey, were charged with trespassing on land in the occupation of Thomas Painting, at Hailey, on the 22nd of November.

Mr. Wall appeared for the defendants, and pleaded not guilty.

Frederick Habgood deposed: I am a farmer at Hailey. On the 22nd of November I met the defendants on the road leading from Poffley-end to Ramsden. They went across Mr. Hudson's field as though they were going to Hailey, but when they got half-way across they turned off, and went over Mr. Painting's land. They had a dog with them and each carried a gun. It was between eleven and twelve o'clock.

Cross-examined: I saw them shoot when they got on Micah Harris' land. There is a road to his house, but it would be about three-quarters of a mile farther than going over the field. I do not know if the defendants are related to Micah Harris. They were walking in single file, and I did not see them try for any game there.

Case dismissed.

WITNEY.

PETTY SESSIONS. - Thursday, December 13th.

Before the Rev. W. S. Bricknell (chairman), Rev. R.L. Baker, P. Southby, Esq, and Captain Waller.

game trespassing.

Michael Pratley, Mark Harris and Walter Harris were summoned charged with trespassing in search of game, on the 22nd of November, on land the property of H.C. Townsend, Esq., of Witney.

Mr. Wall defended.

Mr. Frederick Hobgood, farmer, living near Hailey, said he met the three defendants on the road, leading from Poffley-end to Ramsden. They went into the field belonging to Mr. Townsend, walking over Mr. Panting's land. This was at 20 minutes to 12. Each had a gun and a dog.

Cross-examined by Mr. Wall, he said they would have been obliged to have gone three-quarters of a mile if they had went any other way.

The case was dismissed.

WITNEY.

A Serious Accident- On Tuesday last two brothers, Messrs George and Michael Pratley, of Hailey, met with a serious accident. It appears that the unfortunate men returned from their work with their horses in the evening, and George was un-harnessing a mare, when he received a serious kick in the chest, which felled him to the ground. The other man then ran to his brother's assistance, and he also received a kick from the same horse, and he too fell to the ground. George Pratley, who is much more severely injured than his brother, lies in a precarious condition at his own home; he is under the care of Mr. Hyde, while Michael Pratley, who escaped with a few bruises, is progressing favourably under the care of Mr. Batt.

WITNEY COUNTY COURT - MONDAY.

Before his Honour Sir Thomas Snagge.

a mysterious signature.

The other Hailey case was that in which Fanny Dyer, spinster, of Hailey, claimed from George Collett, ex-police constable, Woodstock-road, Witney, £10 10s. for a half-year's rent of house, buildings, and land at Hailey; Collett counter-claimed from Miss Dyer 14 guineas for use and occupation of a shed, namely £11 14s. and proportion of rates, or in the alternative, £11 14s. damages and a further sum of £3 damages. Mr. Ames (instructed by Messrs. Ravenor) appeared for Miss Dyer, and Mr. A.H. Franklin (Oxford) for Mr. Collett. Mr Franklin said the question was whether a certain shed was included in the "take."

Miss Dyer said she let the premises in question to George Collett in 1899. Collett took possession before the agreement was signed. The premises let in the agreement consisted of "the lands and premises lately occupied by Ernest Saunders." It did not include the shed which she had lately had in her occupation. When a man named Pratley occupied the premises there was no shed, nor was there a backway into the premises at all. The shed was erected when Saunders took possession, but he never had use of the shed.

Michael Pratley having been called to speak as to the shed.