From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 7 January,1860. Price 1d.

ANCIENT DRUIDS INN. Brewer Street, Maidstone.

Edward Deall, Jun., begs to acquaint his friends and the public generally, that he has taken the above house, the business of which was formerly carried on for many years by his father. The Ales &c., will be found first rate, and the stock of Wines, Spirits, &c., of the very best quality.

E. D. Jun., hopes by strict attention to the wishes of his customers to ensure liberal support.

A free and easy, every Saturday Evenings, which professional gentleman are engaged.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 23 February 1861.

Coroner's Inquest.

An inquest was held on Wednesday last, at the "Ancient Druids Inn," Wheeler Street, Maidstone, before the coroner T. Kipping, Esq., touching the death of Robert Woodman, supposed to have died from the effects of poison.

The first witness examined was deceased's wife, Sophia Woodman, who deposed that she lived in Carey Street, and that deceased was her husband. During the last 3 months her husband had been suffering from ill health and had been in a very weak state. He had been in the employ of Mr. Mills, egg merchant, in whose employ he had been for about 16 years. He died on the previous Sunday, at 11 o'clock at night. He had not previously been under any medical advice. She further stated that she left home about 2 o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and returned about 7. Her husband pressed her to take the two youngest children to Farleigh, and to return about that hour. She went to see an intimate friend, Mr. Judges. Before going out she locked the back door on the inside, and took the key of the street door with her, leaving her husband in bed. He had frequently laid down during Sunday afternoon, more particularly if he was going in the country on the following day. Upon her returning home about 7 o'clock she lighted a candle and proceeded upstairs. On opening the stair door she heard a peculiar noise, and on going to the bed, she saw that her husband was black in the face and breathing with great difficulty. She immediately called in a neighbour, and sent for Mr. Saunders, surgeon. Before he arrived, she found in a jacket pocket of deceased two vials, one full and the other nearly empty. Neither of the bottles were labelled. One was filled with laudanum and the remaining portion of the other bottle contained camper and laudanum. Her husband appeared to be in a state of stupor and never rallied. Had not seen the bottles in his position before. He had not been in the habit of taking laudanum. He had had a great trial with his children, and deceased has said he would make off with himself. His family were composed of two sons and three daughters. In June last he attempted to destroy himself in the washroom. He, on that occasion, between 5 and 6 o'clock in the morning, went into the attic, got a piece of rope and proceeded to the wash house. Witness jumped out of bed and followed him, when she found the door locked but upon his hearing her he came out, and subsequently admitted to her that he was going to hang himself, but would find an easier death. He had since been in a very strange way, was exceedingly bad-tempered, and would accuse her of many things which she had not the least idea of. He had suffered of late very much from indigestion.

Mr. Saunders, surgeon, deposed that on Sunday evening last, shortly before 7 o'clock, he was called to the house. On arriving there he found deceased insensible, and it was quite impossible to arase him. From his appearance witness thought he had taken opium. He enquired of his wife whether she was aware that he had been taking anything. She then produced the bottles, one of which contains camphor and opium and the other tincture of opium. From the appearance of the bottles produced, deceased had taken from the one that contain camphor and opium. Enough of which had been taken from the bottle to cause death. He found it was impossible to get deceased to swallow anything and introduced the stomach-pump, but found no trace of the poisonous liquid. He afterward try to administer some strong coffee and ammonia, but to no purpose. Deceased never rallied and expired about 11 o'clock that night. He had no doubt that death ensued through taking laudanum.

Mr. Price, chemist deposed that he knew the deceased. He had occasionally been to the shop and he had sold him powders composed of calomel and jallup, and also laudanum. About 3 or 4 times during the last 12 months he had purchased laudanum and had bought an ounce and a half at a time. On the previous Friday he purchased of witness same quantity. Witness knew nothing about the bottle containing the tincture of opium. Deceased told witness that he purchased the laudanum for an old lady, one of his customers.

This was the whole of the evidence, adduced the coroner having briefly addressed the jury, the following verdict was returned:- "That deceased destroyed himself while in a state of temporary insanity."