Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Monday 13 September 1869.

Violently Assaulting the Police.

John and Thomas Pearson, brothers, were brought up, the first named charged with assaulting David Whiffen, Jun., and also with violently assaulting Police-constable Fitch, and the last name charged with attempting to rescue his brother, and likewise with assault in the same Police-constable.

The charge against David Whiffen, landlord of the "Parrs Head," High Street, was first gone into.

Complainant stated that on Tuesday evening between 8 and 9 o'clock, the prisoner, John Pearson, was in his bar with a number of other people. There was a quarrel, and the prisoner began to fight another man. Complainant endeavour to stop the row, and while so engaged, he received a blow on the face from the prisoner, which caused the blood to flow freely. Complaint then gave prisoner into the custody of the police. For this offence, the Bench ordered prisoner to pay a fine of 10s. and costs, and default 7 days' in prison.

The next charge was then proceeded with. Police-constable John Fitch stated that about 9 o'clock on the previous night he was called into the "Parr's Head," and the prisoner John Pearson was given into custody by the landlord. The bar was full of people at the time, and when witness attempted to remove the prisoner, he was obstructed and assaulted. The prisoner John struck him several times on the face and kicked him, and the prisoner Thomas tried to rescue his brother, and also kicked and struck the constable several times. Police-constable Flynn deposed that he went into the "Parr's Head" to assist previous witness. He had great difficulty in reaching Police-constable Fitch, because there were several persons who seemed determined that the prisoner John Pearson should not be removed to the police station. He saw both prisoners strike Police-constable Fitch. Additional assistance was afterwards given by Police-constable Richards, and they managed to get the prisoner John into the street. There was a mob in the street, and some persons called upon the mob to prevent the prisoners being removed. Two men from the Town Pier afterwards gave assistance, and they got the prisoner into the police station. William Barfield, a man employed on the Town Pier, and John Treadgold, London, Tilbury, and Southend Railway porter, were afterwards called into the witness box, and gave corroborative evidence as to the mob, and the difficulty the police experience. Both witnesses rendered assistance to the police. Superintendent White said that he was at the police station when the prisoner was brought in; Police-constable Fitch's face was covered with blood.

The Mayor told the prisoners that they had rendered themselves liable to a fine of £20 or 6 months' in prison. The Magistrate had decided to inflict upon the prisoner John Pearson a fine of 40s. and costs in default 28 days imprisonment, and to fine Thomas Pearson 20s. and costs, in default 14 days in prison.