Kentish Gazette, 27 February 1849.

HUNT - TAPPENDEN.

Feb. 26, at the parish church, Ashford, Mr. John Joy Hunt, of the "Bricklayer's" Arms Inn," to Miss Eliza Tappenden, both of Ashford.

Kentish Gazette, 26 October 1852.

Wholesale Smashing.

Charles Noakes, 22, whitesmith, Charles, Shopcott, 25, tailor, and Robert Saunders, 24, labourer, were charged with uttering certain counterfeit coin well knowing it to be counterfeit at Ashford, on the 28th August last.

Noakes and Shopcott pleaded guilty, the other prisoner not guilty. Saunders was then placed upon his trial, when Mr. Dawson fully explained the nature of the case to the jury, and Mr. Horne examined the following witnesses, who deposed as follows:—

Mary Hunt, lives with her brother at the "Bricklayers Arms" at Ashford. The prisoners came to the house on the 28th August. Saunders' wife engaged two beds for them, and said they were all one party. They left a bundle and went out; that was about eight. Noakes and Shopcott returns about 9.

By the prisoner:— I can't say how the woman was dressed, but I think I should know her again. My sister told me the woman's name was Saunders.

Sarah Hills, the barmaid at the "New Inn," Ashford; on the evening in question Saunders and Noakes came for 2 cigars, and gave in payments a 5s. piece. She put the coin into the till; afterwards took it out upon hearing bad money was passing hearing, and gave it to Mrs. Tatnell.

By the prisoner:— I can't say which prison have gave me the money. The prisoner then applied for the witness's deposition before the Magistrates to be read, as he contended that she had made a different statement on a former occasion; but upon referring to them it was evident he had mistaken the witness.

Mrs. Tatnell, landlady of the "New Inn," Ashford, deposed to the last witness giving her a bad crown piece from the till. She looked at it, thought it was a good one, and returned it to the till; in an hour afterwards took it out again; it was the only crown piece in the till at the time.

By the prisoner:— Did not see you in the house that day.

Henry Epps gave the crown piece to Superintendent Gifford.

The superintendent procured the coin in question. Apprehended Noakes and Shopcott the same day. Asked them about the basket left at the public house, but they denied all knowledge of it. There was a drinking cup, a check, and several shirts in the basket. Witness took out two of the shirts and began kicking them about the room. Two of the prisoners then said:— "You ----- they are our shirts you are kicking about."

Hunt deposed to the prisoners leaving the bundle at the house. A great number of other witnesses were examined, connecting the prisoner with the others in the uttering of the base coin.

The prisoner, in proclaiming his innocence, complained that the money found in his possession, and which was the produce of the sale of his goods, had been kept from him, and that he was therefore prevented from obtaining the assistance of counsel to defend him. He had made repeated applications for it to the master of the prison.

Mr Fenn, the master of the goal corroborated the prisoners statement, and said that he had written to the Superintendent (Gifford) for the money; but he refused to give it up. After a short consultation between the magistrates, the Chairman inquired if the prisoner had anything further to urging his defence. He replied by throwing himself upon the mercy of the court. The Chairman then summed up, and with respect to the detention of the money found on the prisoner, and the committing magistrates were of opinion that it was the produce of fraud, and that therefore it would have been highly improper had allowed such money to have been applied by the prisoner in defending himself against the charges brought against him. That was the magistrates impression.

The jury after a brief consultation, found the prisoners guilty.

Twelve calendar months House of Correction, hard labour.

The three prisoners, come up with the addition of Catherine Saunders, were then charged with stealing a silver drinking mug.

William Pennington, Esq., stated that he had in his possession on 27th August a drinking cup. He used it last on Barham Downs; and when on his road home with his carriage he was told by his butler of it being taken. He had since compared the cup with another in his possession, and they corresponded.

John Joy Hunt, landlord of the "Bricklayer's Arms" public house, said that all four prisoners came to his house on the day in question, when the female asked him if he could accommodate them with two beds. On being told that they could be lodged, the female prisoner consigned the basket into witnesses hand, and he gave it to his sister, who placed it in the back kitchen. The cup was afterwards found in the basket.

Several letters for handed in, showing a correspondence they were carrying on with a gang in and around Chichester.

The jury, with little deliberation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty in the instance of the female prisoner, and the male prisoners guilty.

Four calendar month House of Correction, hard labour, from and after the expiration of their previous sentence.

At the inclusion of this case, we understand that Mr. Pennington made the Superintendent a present of a £10 note, as a acknowledgement for his efforts in tracing and obtaining possession of the stolen drinking cup.

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 5 July 1859.

ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.

Ann Wise was charged with stealing 4s. 11d. from the person of Martha Buchanan, at Ashford.

Mr. Russell appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Ribton for the defence.

Martha Buchanan was the wile of John Buchanan, a waggoner at Chartham. On the 13th June she went to the "New Inn" public-house, at Ashford. Had known the prisoner from a child. Prisoner came in while witness was in the house. Witness had her purse in her pocket about seven o’clock, when at the railway station, which was just before she was at the public-house. There was about 4s. 6d in the purse. Prisoner came into the public-house, and asked witness to stand something. Before she could answer, prisoner put her hand in witness's pocket, and ran away, and witness ran after her. She ran into a cottage. Witness went to the police, and the prisoner was arrested in the house of a Mrs. Brown. She was lying on the bed, up stairs.

Cross-examined:- It was about half-past seven in the evening when I lost my money. I bad been shopping all day. I had been in a public-house (the "Red Lion"), where I had a glass of ale. I also went to the "Bricklayers' Arms," and had some ale and meat with a friend. I went to no other public-house until I went to the "New Inn." No one eles saw the prisoner put her hand in my pocket that I am aware of.

George Bish, a fruiterer, at Ashford, was at the "New Inn" on the night in question. Saw the prosecutor and prisoner in the inn. The prosecutor met Mrs. Buchanan coming out of the public-house, and she said she had lost her purse. He went to the bar and had some gin and water. He was there about five minutes, when he went into the parlour, and saw the prisoner sitting there with other witnesses.

Re-examined:- Was quite sure that prisoner was in the parlour of the "New Inn" after Mrs. Buchanan had left.

Mr. Ribton said he really thought it was useless to go on further with the case.

Mr. Russell said he had another witness to call.

Jane Leman lived in Gravel-walk, Ashford, and Mrs. Brown lived next door to her. Saw Mrs. Brown and another girl go past the house on the night in question. Did not see Ann Wise until she passed in company with an officer.

The Court, at this point, stopped the case, and a verdict of "Not Guilty" was returned.

From the Kentish Gazette, 25 October 1859.

POLICE COURT.—Wednesday.

DRUNKENNESS.

Thomas Marsh, pork butcher, New-street, was charged hr P.C. Skelton with being drunk and disorderly on the previous night.

The wife of the defendant attended, and crying said she wished to be protected from her husband. If he was willing to sign the pledge and forsake the bad company he kept, she was willing to live with him; but he spent his money among disorderly persons, and on the previous night was at Mr. Hunt’s with a most disgusting character, which was a cruel thing for a man who had a wife and three children.

The Magistrates said that unless she could prove that her husband ill-treated her, he could not deal with the complaint.

The constable deposed that Mr. Hunt of the "Bricklayer's Arms" came to him at the lock-up, and asked him to come to the defendant, who was in New-street, very drunk. When the constable got there he found the defendant had laid himself down in a cart; but he got out again and ran down the town two or three times, hallooing and making a great noise. Upon the constable coming to him to take him into custody, he struck him with his fist two or three times.

The defendant said he had been along with his wife's father and mother on the previous day, who had brought several hogs to market; after they were sold he became a little merry and overstepped the bounds of prudence: he went then to lie down in his waggon, but some men called him out, and being in liquor he did so; but he was very sorry now for his misconduct.

Mr. Hunt stated that the defendant came into his house about half-past 10, having been there previously with his father-in-law as he had stated, and had some liquor for which he did not pay. As defendant was very tipsy and had five sovereigns in his possession, he was apprehensive that be would lose it, and sent for the constable to take care of him; but before he arrived he had induced defendant to entrust him with it. It was little more than a push that defendant gave the constable.

Mrs. Marsh said Mr. Hunt sent for her first, and her husband would not give her the money or come home.

The Magistrate told the defendant he was perhaps not aware that by the local act any person might be fined £5., or sent to prison for three months for drunkenness in Ashford, and this fine bad been inflicted. He would be fined in the mitigated penalty of 10s., and if he abstained from getting drunk, and behaved differently to his wife, the constable would not press the charge of assault at the Petty Sessions.