From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 28 September 1861.

Fatal Attack by Irish Hop Pickers at East Farleigh, near Maidstone.

On Saturday night last an alarm in disturbance to place in the village of East Farleigh, in the course of which a man name Reynolds, otherwise Bennett was so severely and savagely beaten that he has since died. Our readers are no doubt aware that a large number of the hop pickers in this locality are Irish, and of course of conduct they sometimes resort to upon the slightest interruption. On Saturday night a large number of these Irish pickers were drinking at the "Bull Inn" in the village, when a row took place between them and some of the inhabitants. The house, which is well conducted, was closed at 11 o'clock, but the quarrelling was continued for some time outside and some half dozen of the Irishman it is said fell upon Bennett who is an agricultural labourer living in the neighbourhood, and beat and kicked him in the most brutal and shameful manner. A man who was with him and interfered with them was also attacked with similar violence, but Bettett was at length taken away from his assailants and went to his home. He got up the next morning and walked as far as the "Bull," but complained greatly of pains in the head and chest and returned home again. Shortly afterwards Mr. Stokoe, a surgeon residing at Coxheath was sent for and did all that his skill would allow to subdue the alarm in symptoms which had set in. The man, however, grew rapidly worse, lingering till Monday afternoon, when he died of the injuries he had sustained. His head was in a most frightful state and is chest was very black from the blows and kicks which he had received.

We are happy to say that some of the fellows are in custody, having been taken before the magistrates of the division and remanded till after the coroner has held an inquest.

The Inquest.

On Thursday at noon a coroner's inquest was held at the "Horse Shoe Inn," East Farleigh, before J. N. Dudlow, Esq., county coroner, upon the body of George Reynolds, otherwise Bennetts, age 45, whose death resulted from the effects of violence. The jury, after viewing the body, return to the "Horse Shoe," when the coroner briefly addressed them - defining the law relating to manslaughter. The following witnesses were then called.

Arthur Lovelock, labourer, living at East Farleigh, said, I knew the deceased, who was 45 years of age, and a labourer. On Saturday night, the 21st inst., I was at the "Bull Inn," East Farleigh, with him. There were also some Irishman there. We left at 12 o'clock. I, George Reader, and the deceased came out together, and as soon as we got out, Bennett was knocked down. No words had passed. He was knocked down by some one. I don't know by whom; but when he was down, I saw Sullivan and Charles McCarthy, kicking him. I could not see where they were kicking him. There were, I should say, half a dozen around him, but I did not see any of the others kick him. I don't know the names of the others. I said "don't kill the man." and directly I said so, Sullivan knock me down. A young man came along and took them off me. I then got up and ran about 8 rods, when two of them overtook me and knocked me down again. When I got out the second time I went back to the deceased, who was then standing near the "Bull Inn." We stood talking there about half an hour. The parties who assaulted us had then left. Deceased said twice "I shouldn't care if I was not more hurt than you are." He bled very much from the forehead, over one of his eyes. He did not say any more to me. Deceased then went down to the outhouse again. I did not see him knocked down more than once. Deceased was dryer to J. Ellis. Esq.

By a juror:- The men who kicked the deceased had shoes on. I did not see any sticks in their hands. There was no quarrel in the house that I know of. Reader "shucked" up with his trousers, and Charles McCarthy and Sullivan said they would take his life for its. I told Reader what they said.

George Reader, labourer, East Farleigh, deposed that he was at the "Bull Inn," on Saturday night, the 21st inst. There was no row or quarrelling that he heard. He left the house about 12 o'clock, with Lovelock - the deceased being closely behind them. When they got outside the "Bull" he saw Charles McCarthy, John McCarthy and Timothy Sullivan. There were other persons standing around, but he could not say who they were. Some person, he could not say whom, nnocked the deceased down, and Timothy Sullivan and Charles McCarthy kicked him while he lay under the stool. Deceased was kicked about the body. He did not see any other person kick him. The last witness said "don't kill the man," and Sullivan directly struck him. He did not see the deceased get up, for he started for assistance, and on his return he saw Charles McCarthy and Sullivan, running after Lovelock, who they overtook, and Sullivan again got him down. A young man pulled them off Lovelock and they then went away. The afterwards saw deceased who pointed to his left eye, where was a gash, and said "I have got a cut over my eye, and I feel stiff and sore on my chest." The man who kicked deceased wore "heavy spiked shoes," and they kicked him very severely. He did not see any person excepting Sullivan and Charles McCarthy kick or ill-use the deceased.

James Reader, labourer, said he was at the "Bull Inn," Farleigh, on Saturday. There were several persons there, among whom was deceased. There were several Irish there. There was no real or disturbance. He had no words with anyone. He went to the candle to get a light to his pipe when some persons snatched the candle from his hand and he left the house at once. He did not expose his person to the woman who were present. He did not see anything of a row, nor was there any quarrelling inside the house. He did not see anyone interfere with the Irish party. He left the house at about half-past eleven. John King, after the candle was taken from him, told him that they the Irish party intended to do for him, and King persuaded him to go home, which he did. He saw the deceased next morning when he (deceased) said he was going home. There was a cut on deceased's forehead, but he (deceased) said he didn't feel much of the cut he felt most of it in his left side, where he had been kicked. Deceased did not say who kicked him. Deceased was perfectly sober on the Sunday morning when he saw him, but on the Saturday night he was neither drunk nor sober. He had been drinking with the a lot of others.

Richard King, labourer, East Farleigh, said he did not hear or see anything of the row at the "Bull Inn," but immediately afterwards he was close under a wall near the house when two men, who he believed to be Sullivan and Charles McCarthy passed him. They said, "We've done for one and will do for another." There was no quarrelling before he left the house. He told the last witness (Reader) that one of the men (neither Sullivan nor Charles McCarthy) had said he would do for him "Reader).

Mr. Stokoe, surgeon, deposed that on Monday afternoon about five o'clock he was called in to see the deceased, who was then in a dying state. Deceased was rapidly sinking, and died about seven o'clock on the same evening. he told him (witness) that he had been very much knocked about, and complained of severe pains in the pit of the stomach, the chest, and the head. On making a post mortem examination he found the chest and back, down as far as the lions, very severely injured. There was a great deal of extravagated blood among the muscles of the chest - evidently the result of great violence. The nasal bone was fractured on the left side. The head was very much bruised. He had no doubt the death resulting from the shock to the nervous system, caused by the violence which had been spoken of.

The jury, without hesitation, returned a verdict of "Manslaughter against Charles McCarthy and Timothy Sullivan," and the coroner made out of the warrant for their commitment.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 14 December 1861.

Manslaughter at Farleigh.

The following is the only case of importance which we admitted in our assizes report last week.

Timothy Sullivan, 23, labourer, and Charles McCarthy, 24, labourer, two determined looking Irishman, were indicted for the manslaughter of George Bennett, at Farley, on the 21st of September. Mr. Russell and Mr. Addison appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Ripton for the prisoners.

Mr. Ribton said that the bill for murder had been thrown out by the grand jury, and he understood the prisoners were now to be proceeded against on the coroner's inquisition, and he wish to call his Lordships attention to the Lord Chief Justice having within the last 12 months strongly condemned prosecuting under such circumstances.

His Lordship said he was quite aware of it and as Mr. Ribton stated, but he did not know why the grand jury has thrown out the bill, and did not think therefore, he ought to stop the case.

The Clerk of Arraigns said that the grand jury originally marked on the bill that it was thrown out because three material witnesses were not present. One of them, the surgeon, had since attended and been examined, but the other two was still absent.

The case was then allowed to proceed, and Mr. Russell having addressed the jury for the prosecution, asked the following witnesses:- Arthur Lovelock, residing at East Farleigh, said on Saturday, 21st September, I was at the "Bull Inn," East Farleigh. I saw both of prisoners there, a man name Reader and the deceased. They were drinking and singing. McCarthy then said, "If Reader is not off I will do for him." I heard no quarrelling. I left about 12 to go home. I saw Bennett when I got outside. I saw him knocked down but I did not see by whom. When he was down I saw the prisoners kicking him. I did not see anyone else kicking him. There were several other person standing around. The kicking lasted several minutes. I said, "Don't kill the man;" and Sullivan knock me down. I saw Bennett's face when he got up. It was bleeding very much, and there was a cut over the Eye.

By Mr. Ribton:- There was seven or eight person standing round. I knew that originally there were several others charged with the offence.

Re-examined:- There are about 10 other Irishman with the prisoners at the "Bull," and about 7 or 8 outside.

George Seager, labourer, residing at East Farleigh, said:- I was at the "Bull Inn," at East Farleigh, on the night in question, with several others. There were about 10 Irishmen there. There was no quarrelling. At about 12 the landlord turned us out. The prisoners and their parties were out first. I went out with Bennett and others. The prisoners was standing outside, and McCarthy asked us if we thought it was a mainly action for Reader to do has he had done. We answered we thought it was not. Soon after someone knocked Bennett down, and the prisoners began kicking him. I went for help, and heard the kicking going on as I left. Bennett afterwards overtook me. He had a cut over his eye, which was bleeding very much. I soon afterwards separated from Bennett and never saw him again alive. He was in good health before going to the "Bull" that night.

Richard King left the "Bull" on the night in question just before Bennett. He subsequently heard the prisoners come along the road, and one of them said, "We have done for one man, and we will do for another."

Cross-examined:- That was all I heard them say. The prisoners followed Reader and me out.

Ann Baker, mother of deceased, said:- My house is about a mile from the "Bull." Deceased lived with me. I heard deceased come in about 10 o'clock on Sunday night, but I did not see him till the following morning. He complained of pain and said he had been much ill-used. He asked for water, and when I took it to him he said he could not see the pot in which it was. He complained of pain all over his body. I sent for a surgeon.

John Robert Tapsfield said he was at the "Bull" about 1 o'clock on Sunday, and saw Bennett there. Deceased's face was all over blood, and he complained of a great deal of pain in the chest. He groaned a great deal.

By Mr. Ribton:- He had no beer there. He called for a pint afterwards, but did not drink it.

Paul Henry Stokoe, surgeon, at East Farleigh, was called in to see deceased on Monday. Deceased was lying on the bed at his mother's house. He complained of pain in the pit of his stomach, and general soreness. He said his head and face were very tender. His face was much swollen. The skin over both eyes was scratched. There was a clean cut incised wound over his left eye about three quarters of an inch in length. There was another scratch or cut on the nose. The whole of the scalp was very much swollen, and in a pulpy state. The chest was in the same condition. The skin of the chest was raised like a blister. Deceased was in a dying state. This was about 5 o'clock, and he died in the course of the evening. He was continually calling out "I shall die, I shall die."

By the Judge:- I firmly believe the deceased thought he was dying.
Examination continue:- He said he had been knocked about by some men at the "Bull." I do not know whether he said when. After he died I made an examination of the body. Under the cut over the bone of the left eye I found extravasated blood. The brain was perfectly sound and healthy. There were serious injuries on the chest. All his internal organs were healthy. The back was in the same state as a chest - the surface was much bruised, and also the tissues as far as the bone. The injuries were sufficient to cause death. I believe that death was caused by the shock to the nervous system.

Superintendent Maloney, K.C.C. saw the prisoners in custody on the 24th September. Witness told them he charged them with killing George Bennett, and gave them the usual caution. Sullivan said he remembered striking some one once, and McCarthy said he kicked Bennett once.

By Mr. Ribton:- Sullivan charged two other men with assaulting Bennett. I apprehended these men, but there was no evidence offered against them, and they were discharged. These were the two witnesses subpoenaed, but who have not attended. I should suppose there would be about 1,000 hoppers about the "Bull" on Saturday night during the hop picking season.

James Reader, examined by Mr. Ribton, said that Bennett slept with him on Saturday night at the hop-oast, and that they were both drinking together the next day.

By Mr. Russell:- I did not see him on Saturday night when he returned from the "Bull," as it was dark. I saw him early the next morning, and his face was then covered with blood.

This concluded the evidence, and after Mr. Ribton and had addressed the jury for the defence, his Lordship summed up, carefully going through the evidence, and concluding by remarking that if the jury believe that the prisoners had kicked the deceased in the manner spoken of in the evidence, and the violence had caused deceased's death, they had no alternative than to find them guilty of manslaughter.

The jury after a very few minutes consultation, found both prisoners Guilty, and they were sentenced to 12 months' hard labour.