From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 30 November 1867. Price 1d.

INFORMATION AGAINST AN INNHOLDER.

At the St Augustine's Petty Sessions, on Saturday, Edward Philpott, landlord of the “Hampton Oyster Inn,” Herne, was summoned for keeping his house open during prohibited hours on Sunday. A police-constable deposed that about 11 o'clock on Sunday morning he entered the defendant's house dressed in private clothes, and asked for a pint of beer. Philpott's wife said, " I cannot serve you, I'm afraid.” Whereupon witness, having observed two men drinking in an adjoining room, asked what they were about. Without replying to his query she produced a pint of beer, for which he paid. Mr. Plummer (one of the magistrates) observed that it was the duty of the police to prevent the commission of the offence, and not, as in this case, to induce persons to commit them. The clerk thought the offence had been compromised by the act of the constable in taking the beer. The constable said that there were other persons in the house besides those whom he saw drinking. The chairman said the magistrates had determined on dismissing the case, and they were desirous of expressing their wish that policemen should not be in future sent to innkeepers' houses dressed in plain clothes. They at the same time cautioned the defendant as to the future conduct of his house.