Kentish Gazette, 20 June 1854.

Sevenoaks. Sudden Death.

An inquest was held at the "Dorset Arms," on Tuesday last, before Mr. Wildes, on the body of John Weaver, a labourer. It appeared that the deceased went to his work as usual on Monday morning, and about seven o'clock the same morning, George Ashdown saw the deceased lying on the ground. He went up to him and immediately hastened for medical assistance, but human aid was of no avail. He had for many years past been subject to fits.

Verdict—"Died from a fit of apoplexy.

From the South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 1 September, 1857.

SEVENOAKS. PETTY SESSIONS. FRIDAY.

(Before Earl Amhurst, in the chair, W. B. Northey, C. R. C. Petley, and J. Rogers, Esqrs.)

This was the annual licensing day for the renewal of the licenses to the houses in the division. There were no complaints against the houses in the division. There were no complaints against any house but the "Dorset Arms," Sevenoaks, against which certain grave charges were made in anonymous letters, which, however, were not entertained by the magistrates, but as the landlord had been cautioned at the last licensing day, the Superintendent Handley, K.C.C., spoke of the house as a very disorderly one, the license was suspended until the next bench day. All the others were renewed.

From the South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 27 July 1858.

Sevenoaks. Assaulting a Police Superintendent.

Richard Gunter, landlord of the "Dorset Arms" public house, Sevenoaks, was last week charged before C. R. C. Petley and J. Rogers, Esq., with assaulting James Haudley, superintendent constable of the Sevenoaks division, in the execution of his duty. Mr.
Rogers (Tunbridge) appeared for the defendant, and requested that the case might be adjourned, as his client had only received the summons between 5 and 6 o'clock on the previous evening, and there had not been time to prepare the defence or communicate with witnesses whose evidence was material to the case. The magistrates consented to this request.

South Eastern Gazette, 21 August, 1860.

A Dishonest Lodger.

Ann Dobbs, a tramp, was charged before C. B. C. Petley, Esq., on Tuesday, with stealing a knife, the property of Richard Gunter, of the "Dorset Arms" public-house, in this town. It appeared that the prisoner had lodged at the prosecutor’s house, and after she had left several knives were missed. P. C. Bayford apprehended her about eight miles on the London-road, when one of the missing knives was found on her.

Remanded.

South Eastern Gazette, 4 September, 1860.

Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 8th September 1860.

Ann Dobbs, who had been under remand for over a fortnight on a charge of stealing a knife, the property of Richard Gunter, of the "Dorset Arms," Sevenoaks, was cautioned and discharged.

South Eastern Gazette, 4 September, 1860.

A Lamentable Case.

On Monday, before Arthur Pott, Esq., and Major Scoones, Michael Grant, in the employ of Mr. Mark Dadson, baker, of this place, was charged with unlawfully wounding Henry Stevens, a painter, under the following circumstances.

It appears that the prosecutor, a very steady and industrious man, in following his business has occasionally to be from home, and during these absences an improper intimacy ensued between the prisoner and Mrs. Stevens. This came to the ears of the prosecutor, and on his meeting Grant in the street on the previous Thursday evening he spoke to him about walking with his wife. Grant made an evasive reply, the question was repeated, and the prisoner, finding the facts were known, attempted to run away, but the prosecutor, no doubt in a state of great excitement, struck him and he fell. A fight followed and the parties separated. Prosecutor went home, and on his coming out of the house again he saw the prisoner and his (prosecutor’s) wife going towards the bridge. On the following morning Stevens, accompanied by his child, the wife not having been home, went to the "Dorset Arms" public-house, and left there in company with a furniture broker named Shrubsole. As they were going along towards his house they met Grant, and Shrubsole wished to know what was the matter with him, as he had black eyes. Words then ensued, and the two parties were again preparing to fight, when Stevens was struck with a stick on the head by prisoner. He also struck him on the head a second time with the stick, so that Stevens, who tried to get at him, became so exhausted with the loss of blood that he was unable to do so, and he was at last taken home insensible.

In answer to Mr. Rogers, who appeared for the prisoner, Stevens said that he was struck six or seven times, and every time he got near him he had a blow, all of them being on the head. He did not attempt to strike Grant until he was struck. He was not quite sure that it was his wife whom he saw with the prisoner going towards the bridge, but he was told it was.

Mrs. Walter and Mrs. Dickenson, who were standing near at the time of the assault, corroborated the prosecutor’s statement as to the blows on the head, but Shrubsole, who was actually with the parties, was unable to say so much, and in reply to Mr. Sagers said that in his opinion the blows were given in self-defence.

Henry Day assistant to Mr. Parker, surgeon, who was called in to attend the prisoner, said that when he got to his house be found him exhausted from loss of blood. On his examining him he found two contused wounds on the head, with a cut in the centre of the one behind; that in front appeared to be torn or lacerated. He believed that he was in a state of danger at the time and he had attended him since. The wounds appeared to have been done by a stick, similar to one which was produced.

From the evidence of Edward Laws, who lives at the "Dorset Arms," it appeared that the prosecutor’s wife accompanied her paramour to that house after the affray in the street, and shortly after they left by the back way, the prisoner carrying with him a piece of iron about half a yard in length.

Information of the dastardly affair having been given to Superintendent Dance, that officer, accompanied by Thirkell, 173 K.C.C., went in pursuit of the prisoner, who, fearful of the consequences, had decamped, but was found about four miles from the town in a stable at Golden-green, and the stick produced, which the prisoner had used on the head of the prosecutor, was found by his side.

Committed for trial at the next quarter sessions, but bail was accepted for his appearance. It appears that the prosecutor had about £100 in the bank, which his wife had drawn out, no doubt intending to depart with her Irish paramour. On the husband going into the upper part of the house to search for it, he found that the drawers were quite empty, the whole of his linen and clothes having been removed. Fortunately, however, he recovered the money, but the other property has not been found.