Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 27th October 1860.

Maidstone Petty sessions.

Walter Potter, a labourer, was charged with assaulting Richard Anderson on the 28th July last.

Mr. Monckton, who appeared for the complainants, said it was an assault rising out of a strike amongst bricklayers labourers in July last. The defendant was one of the parties employed by Messrs. Sutton, Water, and Goodwin, and the complainant was also in their employ. It was, however, quite unnecessary for him to go into any details with regard to the strike. But on the 28th of July, the strike having taken place on the 27th, Anderson (the complainant) went about half past 4 o'clock into the "Prince of Wales" public house. The defendant and a man named Sharp were there. Potter you some offensive expressions towards complainant with regard to the strike, saying there is the ----- who would not strike for 6d a day. Complainant said he did not know anything about it; he then left the house and crossed over to the "Elephant and Castle" opposite. Defendant and Sharp followed, the former striking him on the head with a stick. He then went into Mr. Hamilton's shop, when defendant again followed him, striking him again with stick.

Richard Anderson (complainant) was called, and corroborated the above facts.

The defendant was also charged with having on the same day assaulted William Startup, a labourer in the employ of Messrs. Sutton, Water and Goodwin.

The complainant (William Startup) said that whilst he was in the "Prince of Wales" public house, the defendant struck him five or six times over his back with a stick and afterwards kicked him.

The prisoner, who pleaded guilty to both charges, was further charged by Mr. John Goodwin, builder, with having on the 27th and 28th of July used threatening language to other persons in the employment of Messrs. Sutton, Walter, and Goodwin.

Mr. John Goodwin, partner in the above firm, said that on Friday the 27th of July, about three o'clock, he was at the building of St. Paul's (now in course of erection), when the defendant and 8 others, who are employed at the building, came up to him and asked him for an advance of wages. He (Mr. Goodwin) said that he had already given them an answer, and told them that he could not afford to give them anymore wages. The defendant then said to the men you have got your answer, when they threw down their hods and left their work. They then proceeded to the building of the new Baptist Church, King Street, where a number of labourers were employed, and finding they were not willing to join them in their strike, after using abusive and threatening language. Potter to a stone at a labourer named Lepper, which struck him on the arm.

The prisoner was ordered to pay for the assault on Anderson a fine of 20s. and 8s. 6d. costs and default 14 days. For the assault on Startup 20s., with 7s. 6d. costs, and in default 14 days hard labour, and for the information laid by Mr. Goodwin, he was ordered to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for 6 weeks. On his being asked if he would pay either of the fines, he said, "he will go and step it out."

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 26 October 1861.

Maidstone Petty Sessions. Saturday.

Before the Mayor (C. Ellis, Esq.), and H. Argles, Esq.

Alfred Waters, 29, married, who described himself as a "carver and gilder," from Holborn, London, was charged with being in the house of Mr. F. Down. landlord of the "Prince of Wales," for an unlawful purpose on Thursday evening.

From the evidence it appeared that on Thursday night, shortly after 8 o'clock, the prisoner, in company with another man, called for some drinks at the bar of the house. They then left, but returned a few minutes afterwards. Mr. Down thought they looked rather suspicious characters, and said to his wife, "I'll get a candle and see if the things are alright upstairs." Immediately afterwards he heard a very low whistle, and on getting at the bottom of the stairs met the prisoner quietly sneaking down. Prosecutor caught hold of him, saying, "Oh, you vagabonds, I thought you were up here," whereupon the prisoner feigned drunkenness. A police constable having been sent for, the prisoner was immediately sobered on his arrival. On searching him there was found in his pockets a bunch of skeleton keys and an iron jemmy. A chiffonier in one of the rooms upstairs had been unlocked, but only three cigars were missed.

The prisoner pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3 months' hard labour. The money found on the prisoner was ordered to be appropriated towards his maintenance while in gaol.