Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal - Friday 21 November 1794.
To be let or sold.
The brewhouse and premises, situated behind the "Swan
and Mitre," Bromley, in the county of Kent.
The unexpired lease of about 33 years. Capable of wetting 5 quarters
of malt at a brewing; casks, copper, plants, &c. To be taken at a fair
valuation. Possession may be had immediately. Apply for particulars to
Mr. Samuel Fish, at Bromley.
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Maidstone and Kent Journal, 24 November, 1891.
Alleged Theft Of A Watch.
John Byron, 22, of 2, Moorham's Cottage, Park Road, Bromley, labourer,
was charged with stealing on the 12th inst., a gold watch and chain, and
pencil, value £25, the property of James William Ellis, of the "Swan and
Mitre Inn." He pleaded not guilty.
Mr. Ellis said about noon on the 12th instant he went upstairs and found
the articles missing from his bedroom and sent for the police. There
were eight workmen engaged at work in the house on that day, painters,
plasterers, and carpenters. He asked them to consent to be searched, and
they were searched in his presence. The articles were not found. This
was about 12.25 noon. He acts 1.30 o'clock searched the water closet, in
presence of Sergeants Allcock and Forrest. At 3 o'clock the search was
the also resumed, but the watch was not found. He examined the feed
cistern of the water closet under the eaves of the roof, and pulled out
a piece of paper from under it. Prosecutor had left the watch and chain
on a stand at his bedside. The search resumed at 3 o'clock, but nothing
was found.
The prisoner was working about the house and was up and down the stairs.
Prisoner had occasion to go into the room next to prosecutors bedroom.
In answer to Mr. Gregory, who defended, the prosecutor said the closet
was at the back of the house and in the yard; it was open to the public.
Thomas Brown, foreman to Goulder Glascoy, contractor, Croydon, said he
kept observation on the water closet from 4 to 5:10 p.m. and no one
entered it but the prisoner. He went in about 5 o'clock and came out in
about 3 minutes. Witness was in the closet when Sergeant Forrest
searched, and found the watch under the eaves immediately afterwards.
Witness had searched the water closet thoroughly at 4 o'clock, including
the eaves where the watch was found, and it was not there then.
In answer to Mr. Gregory, witness said prisoner and two others were in
the closet between 3 and 4 o'clock, and he could not say why he had not
mentioned this. Witness was working on the roof of the building from
4:10 to 5 p.m. He could see the water closet easily from the roof. The
cloth produced was left hanging in the mess room sometime during the
morning, when he last saw it.
P.S. Forrest proved finding the articles in question.
Detective Smallgrove proved apprehending the prisoner and corroborated
as to the search, in which he assisted. When charged, prisoner said "I
know nothing about it."
Mr. Gregory suggested that the jury would not convict; the prosecution
had spotted their man, and had tried to bring the crime home to him.
Smallgrove, when he went first to the premises, had remarked "I know who
stole the watch," and then tried to bring home the case to the
defendant. Why should the prisoner be selected - a hundred persons had
access to this place. The prisoner had been searched at noon, and he had
not then possession of the watch, nor was he in the place where it was
found.
The Chairman stopped Mr. Gregory, and said the charge would be
dismissed.
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