From the Kent and Sussex Courier, Friday 10 April 1874.

Permitted drunkenness.

William Chantler, landlord of the "Rock Inn," Chiddingstone, was summoned for permitting drunkenness in his house on the 8th ult.

Mr. Palmer, who appeared for the defendant, asked for an adjournment, as the summons was only served at mid-day on Saturday, and he had not had time to procure any witnesses for the defence.

Superintendent Dance then ask that he might be allowed for his witnesses expenses, but Mr. Palmer objected to that, and the Bench said they would adjourn the case for a week, the costs to abide by the issue of the case.

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 17 April 1874.

Chiddingstone. Serious charge against a Publican.

William Chandler, landlord of the "Rock Inn," Chiddingstone, was summoned for unlawfully permitting drunkenness in his house and premises, at Chiddingstone, on the 8th ult.

Mr. Palmer defended, and pleaded not guilty.

Henry Gibb, laborer, of Chiddingstone, said he was at the "Rock Inn," on the 8th ult. He went there about 8 o'clock, and remained there nearly an hour. He there saw John Demeza, Harry Jenner, Seale, and several others. John Demeza was drunk, and sitting on the floor. He could not say that Demeza was noisy, or what beer he had had. He saw him there when he went to the house, and left him there. He was sure Demeza was drunk, and during the time he saw him drink liquor of some sort, but did not see him served. Demeza was drunk he knew, because he was spitting in his hands, rubbing it on the bricks, and then on his trousers. When he got up he attempted to sit on the form, but in doing so he nearly fell against witness, and then sat on the floor. There was no quarrelling going on.

In answer to Superintendent Dance, he said he thought there were about 14 or 15 people in the house. He did not see a man named Child's there.

By Mr. Palmer:- Knew a man named May. Was here a short time since to give evidence for May when Demeza charged May with assaulting him that his public-house. Believed May was at Maidstone, "entertained at the expense of the County." Knew a man named Jenner, who would no doubt be able to judge whether a man was drunk or not. Did not take any notice of what Demeza was talking about, but he believed they were talking about the Laborers' Union. Did not hear Demeza say that if the labourers would stick together they would soon make the farmers go on their knees to them.

By Superintendent Dance:- Jenner said the Demeza was drunk, and had as much as he could carry. Could not say whether he saw the landlord or not.

Thomas Childs said he went to the "Rock Inn" at about 9 o'clock, on the 8th ult., and remained there until closing time. He saw there Demeza, May, Hazelden, Coulstock, and others. Demeza was drunk, and used a deal of bad language. Did not see anybody but Demeza drunk. When it in the road Demeza offered to fight anybody for half a crown. He and Gibb were in the house the same time, but did not speak. Did not see the landlord.

By Superintendent Dance:- Have been subpoenaed to attend this day. Believed Mrs. Chantler brought the beer. Did not hear any quarrelling inside the house; it was all on the High Road.

By Mr. Palmer:- Gave evidence in favour of May when he was charged with assaulting Demeza.

P.C. Kelway, stationed at Penshurst, said that on the 14th ult., he went to see defendant respecting a man named Demeza being knocked about on the previous Sunday night.

Defendant said the row did not occur in the house but outside, and when witness said he had heard that Demeza was drunk, defendant said he knew he had had too much, but not so much that he could not walk away. He (Demeza) came just about opening time (6 o'clock), and remained until closing time (10 o'clock). There was, he added, a likelihood of a disturbance in the house between a soldier and another man, and he stopped it.

Mr. Palmer, in defence, said the defendant had kept this house for several years without any complaint having been made against him; in fact, it was one of the best conducted houses in the county of Kent, and he could prove it. This all arose out of a brutal assault upon a man by somebody, and when that case was heard the witnesses Gibb and Childs gave evidence in favour of a man named May, who was charged with assault on Demeza, possibly with the intention of procuring an acquittal. It was this evidence that the police had taken up, and of course the witnesses had to make the same statements. The fact of the matter was, a conversation was going on respecting the Laborers' Union, and no doubt there was not a very great diversity of opinion. Demeza seemed to be the leading spirit in the matter, and in order to enforce his remarks not being one of the first of orators - said to his companions that if they would all hold together they would soon have the farmers on their knees begging them to come to work. Suiting action to his words, he went down on his knees. That was all the falling that took place, and when the man got up he merely knocked the dust off his knees. A great many orators - not, perhaps, in the House of Commons - might be said to be mad because they gesticulated in a certain manner, and this man was said to be drunk because he dropped on his knees to show how the farmers would act if the men stuck together.

Defendant, on being sworn, said he had kept his house for 6 years, and had worked for the Streatfeild family for 32 years, 14 years of which time he had been head-keeper. He had never been summoned before. Demeza was not drunk; he only went on his knees to say that if the labourers stuck together farmers will go on their knees and ask them to go to work for them. When Demeza got up he brushed the sand of his knees.

By Superintendent Dance:- Demeza spent about a shilling in the house, but could not say how much beer he drank. Had been cautioned for permitting drunkenness.

Funny Everest said she was at the house at about 7 o'clock, and left at about 9 o'clock.

She denied that Demeza or anyone else was drunk in the room. Demeza said, "Brethren, if you stick together, the farmers will have to go on their knees like this to you." Demeza then fell on his knees and got up quickly, which he did not think a drunken man could have done.

Samuel Everest and Edward Seale gave corroborative evidence.

Mr. Palmer said he had several more witnesses to call.

The Bench said they were of opinion that there was not sufficient evidence to support the case, and therefore they dismissed it, leaving each party to pay their own costs, for there were certainly grounds for the police taking the matter up, and it seemed defendant had been warned before.

Superintendent Dance:- There was a remark made at the time the assault was heard, and therefore I felt it my duty to bring the case forward.

Mr. Palmer. I have 5 more witnesses to call.

The Chairman:- We don't want them.

From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 19 August 1874.

Licensing Business.

This was the day appointed for the licensing business, and Superintendent Dance laid before the Bench his annual return, showing the manner in which the various public and beer houses, &c., had been conducted.

He complained of the "Crown" beer house, Capel; the "Three Oaks" beer house, Hadlow; the "Kentish Arms," Paddock Wood; "Rock Inn," Chiddingstone; "Henry the Eighth Inn," Hever; "Railway Bell," Tonbridge; and a beer house at Matfield, kept by John Pearce.

The Bench gave a caution to each of those complained of, and the Chairman pointedly told Mr. Chantler, of the Rock Inn," Chiddingstone (where on Sunday night, 8th March last, a number of labourers, their wives, and other persons, assembled to discuss and make arrangements relative to the Labourers' Union), that he would not vote for the renewal of his licence, as it was a very bad case.

Kent & Sussex Courier 17 March 1916.

THE TONBRIDGE TRIBUNAL.(FOR EXEMPTION FROM ACTIVE WAR SERVICE).

Includes:- John Sherwood, 31, "Rock Inn," Chiddingstone, claimed as a licensed victualler, farmer of 26 acres and a market gardener. His widowed mother looked after the inn.

The Military Representative said the farm was in good order and the market garden was excellently cared for. The Advisory Committee recommended exemption, conditional upon applicant remaining in the same occupation.

Temporary exemption for three months, 13th June.