From the Maidstone Telegraph and West Kent Messenger, 18 December 1869.

CHARGE OF INDECENT ASSAULT.

At the Bromley Petty Sessions, last week, Joseph Tytheridge, who keeps the “Fox and Hounds” beershop, Chislehurst, was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Weedon. Mr Alsop appeared for the defendant.

The complainant, a modest looking girl, who gave her evidence in a moat straightforward manner on being sworn, deposed that she was servant to Mrs Butterfield, residing at Chislehurst, and the defendant kept a beershop there.

On Thursday, the 25th of Nov., about a quarter to nine o'clock in the evening she went to defendant's house to fetch her mistress’s supper beer, and when she got there the defendant was standing outside the tap room door. After he had served her with the beer she wished him good night and went away. When she got home with the beer, her mistress sent her out again to get some sweets for the child, and after she had purchased it, and was coming back, defendant came out of his door and followed her down the street, and said “aint you afraid of being out such a dark night as this?” She said “No, Mr Tytheridge, I am not.” Defendant then took hold of her by the arm and pushed her up against the fence, and committed an assault. He then took hold of her and carried her round to his back shed. She cried out as loud as she could. She then went home and told her mistress directly, who persuaded her to go back and tell defendant she would give him in charge. She went to his house and told him, and defendant said it was not him, and he called several men out of the parlour, who corroborated his statement. Mr Alsop cross-examined the complainant, who said she could positively swear it was the defendant who had assaulted her, she had known him 12 months, and could not be mistaken. She had been living with Mrs Adams as servant for a year and a half. She was 18 years of age, and had lived in Chislehurst nearly all her lifetime. When she was 13 years of age she left her home for two or three days, and Slept outside on the Common; that was through her aunt’s behaviour. She had never before complained to the police of similar assaults to this.

By the Bench:- She was quite certain the defendant was the man who assaulted her. Mrs Butterfield said the complainant was her servant and on the evening of the 25th of Nov. she sent her out to get some beer from the defendant's house about a quarter to nine o’clock, and on her return she again sent her out to get some sweet stuff for the child, which had got the whooping cough. She was away about ten minutes, and directly she got home with the sweets she said defendant had assaulted her; she was crying bitterly.

By the Bench:- Complainant has lived with me a year and a half, and she is a most sober, honest, and clean servant Mr Alsop then, on behalf of the defendant, made a strong appeal to the magistrates to dismiss the case, and said, on behalf of the defendant he should call four witnesses to rebut the evidence given, and if he should fail to make it clear that the case could not be dismissed without the Slightest stain on the defendant’s character he should ask the Bench to allow the case to go for trial.

Mrs Sarah Dean, a married woman, residing at Chislehurst, said she remembered on the night of the 25th November going into defendant’s house for some beer. Defendant’s wife was in bed, as she was poorly. The complainant was in bed when she went in, and Mr Tytheridge was serving her with beer. After complainant was served she went away. Witness was served and went out after. Defendant let her out and fastened the door after her. She left him standing at the bar. There were some men in the bar parlour at the time. She went up the lane (the defendant’s house being at the corner) to leave the beer at a friend’s house, and then went to her own home which is the third door from the defendant’s. She did not hear any screaming.

John Fletcher, of No. 19, Sandwich-street, Euston-road, on being sworn, said he was in defendant’s house on the night in question, sitting in the bar parlour. He did not see the complainant come in, but he heard her voice. He also heard Mrs Dean come in. After they had left defendant came into the parlour, and sat by the side of witness. There were four other persons in the room. In about ten minutes after the complainant came back and knocked at the door, and defendant went and opened it. Complainant then accused defendant of committing an assault upon her.

By the Bench:- She said he took I her up in his arms, assaulted her, and took her up to the shed. He (witness) said it was a mistake, it was none of them, for defendant had not been out of the room. Defendant had not been out of his sight since the time he had let out Mrs Dean.

In reply to the Bench witness said he was a foreman working for Mr Sanders. The defendant came and sat down by his side directly Mrs Dean went out.

In reply to Mr Latter witness said defendant did not get up from the seat after Mrs Dean had left until complainant came up to the house again.

By the Bench:- Complainant did not leave the house until two or three minutes before Mrs Dean, and when she came back the second time she talked about giving the defendant in charge for the assault.

Amos Wrackham, living at 194, Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, and Thomas Vinall stated they were in the room at defendant’s house on the night in question, when the complainant came in for the beer. They corroborated the evidence of the last witness.

Police constable George Tagg, 265 R, was also called for the defence, but could prove nothing more then that when complainant was thirteen years of age she had on two or three occasions Slept on the Common or in sheds. She had never made any complaints of being indecently assaulted before. This being the case, the magistrates retired to consult, and on returning, they committed the defendant for trial at the ensuing Quarter Sessions, allowing bail himself in £50 and two sureties in £25 each.