The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-15 00:00:00

SURREY SESSIONS.

The Sessions for the Eastern Division of the county
of Surrey commenced yesterday, before R. Hedger,
Esq., Chairman, and a full Bench of Magistrates. •
There were forty cases in the calendar, but none of
them were for crimes of any magnitude.
A letter was read from the Under-Secretary for the
Home Department, notifying the approval of the rules
and regulations for the government of the gaols by the
Marquis of Normanby, hat suggesting that the pro-
posed dietary table of the House of Correction was too
low, and directing the Magistrates to give it their fur-
ther attention.

William Terry was indicted for feloniouily stealing,
at ChoViam, in the county of Surrey, on the 11th of
August, several trusses of straw, the property of Vin.
Goodchild and others.

Mr. CIIAMEERS appeared for the prosecution, and
having stated the case to the Jury, called
Win. Goodehild, who deposed that he was a farmer
and butcher at Chubham. He had some land and a
barn at Borough-hill in the neighbourhood, from which
much straw had been taken away. The prisoner never
applied to him for the loan of any straw, nor hud he
any authority from him to• take any from the barn.
Cross-examined by Mr. WALLINGER--- He had a
person named Aldridge in his service for about fifteen
months. He discharged him lately because he and his
fellow servants could not agree. There were two keys
to open the barn. They ought to have been hung up
at home.

Re-examined—He used the straw at Chobham, and
Aldridge used to bring it. Sometime in August he
gave permission that the prisoner should have one of the
keys, but he had no right to keep straw there or take
any from it.
H. Aldridge was then called. He had been discharged
now about six weeks. About the time of the Ascot
Races, the prisoner said people were always borrowing
his cart, which stood in an open shed. Would he ask
his master to allow him to put it in his barn, and then
they could not see it ? Witness gave him the key, and
he believed the cart was put in. In August he was
passing past the prisoner's house when he called him and
said he had got a paper to appear before the Bench
about four trusses of straw, which he had taken from
Mr. Goodchild's barn. He then asked him to go up
and say that he had asked him (witness) to ask his
master to lend him the straw till lie got some from
Farmer Egles, when he would repay it. Witness re-
fused, because he could not swear to it. The prisoner
said he would not be required to swear to it, and it
would make it light for him. Witness bad never given
him leave to take any straw.
Cross-examined—Tne prisoner was the keeper of a
beer-shop, and was in the habit of breaking horses.
Witness never knew that Mr. Eyles was in the habit of
upplying the prisoner with straw, and that he was out
of it for some time. The prisoner told him so when he
showed him the paper. The prisoner bled a horse for
Mr. Goodchild, and it was after that that lie applied for
leave to put his 'cart in the barn. He had often been
sn his-company, but upon his oath he never spoke to
him about borrowing any straw.
Mary Roberts—Resided close to the barn. in sues
tint/. She knew the prisoner, a:id saw him, on the Ilth
iof August, open the barn, take down one truss of straw
lock up the barn, and take the straw home. This was
about seven o'clock in the morning. She did not speak
to him, but sent word of the fact to Mr. Goodehild.
James Roberts, the husband of the last witness, cor-
roborated her testimony. Witness asked him if the old
man had sold him the straw. He said "No ; they
chopped and chMiged about ; when be got some from
Eyles, he would repay it ;" and that story he repeated
becore the Magistrate._

The prosecutor said he had known the prisoner about
five years. He had a wife and family, and had some-
times bought a joint of meat of him.
Mr. WALLINGFIt then addressed the IJury for the
prisoner, and contended that there was no felonious in-
tent in the taking, fur it was taken openly, and on being
challenzed lie immediately stated his intention of replacing
the straw whenever he was supplied by the farmer with
whom he usually dealt.
A. gentleman who had known the prisoner for 20
years gave him a good character for honesty during that

period.
The CHAIRMAN having summed up, the Jury after
considerable deliberation, returned a verdict of—Not
Guilty