Maidstone Telegraph 23 February 1861.

MAIDSTONE INSOLVENT COURT.

Feb. 20. - (Before J. Espinasse, Esq.)

George Day, of the "Bull Inn," Hunton, Kent, Licensed victualler. Mr. Morgan supported the petitioner.

Discharged forthwith.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 19 October 1861.

Hunton. Fatal Accident.

An inquest was held on Thursday afternoon, at the "Bull Inn," on the body of a young woman named Sarah Hodges, age 22, who had lived with her widowed mother in this village, and who lost her life on the previous Tuesday evening, in a very remarkable manner. The circumstances created a large amount of interest in the neighbourhood.

Walter Reeves, labourer, said:- I know the deceased. On the 7th inst., she left word with her mother that she was going to Dean Street, and that she wished me to go to a meet her in the evening. I did so, and we met near the top of Hunton Hill, about 7 o'clock, it then being dark. I turned back with her to a gate at the top of the hill, on the right hand side, which led into some fields and a hop garden. On coming to the gate deceased said "Let us turn in here," but I said "I don't know much about the way, surely you're wrong." She replied "Oh, no, I'm not; this is the way; I always come this way." We then walked on, deceased leading the way, and when we got some distance down the road she stepped forward and I heard her fall with a tremendous crash onto the road, where she lay groaning. I then stepped on to the bank, and seeing that I could not get down, I ran round as fast as I could. I asked her to speak, but she could not for some little time. She then said, "Pick me up, William, pick me up." I said, "Can't you speak again," but she did not answer me. I then went to a house of a man named Hatch, close to where the accident happened, and Hatch came with a light. After this the deceased breathed twice, and then died. I was so much put out that I did not notice at the time the distance the deceased the fallen. She had not got off my arm when she fell, by her saying she knew the way I let her go first. There was no path there.

Mr. Prout, surgeon, of Yalding, said:- On the night in question he was called to see the deceased, soon after 8 o'clock. He found hey lying in the road quite dead. He examined her, and found she had sustained a fracture of the skull at the top of the head; leaving no doubt she pitched down head first. Finding her dead he did not examine her further that night, but on the following day he found no bones broken.

On the above evidence the verdict of "Accidental Death" was recorded.

Maidstone Telegraph 03 October 1863.

MALLING, WEST. SPECIAL SESSIONS.

These sessions were held at the assembly rooms on Monday, before Col. Fletcher (in the chair), J. Rigge and J. Savage, Esqrs.

Cornelius Shannon, Daniel Lyons, and Mark Sullivan, Irish hoppers, were brought up in custody, charged with a violent assault upon Henry Moseley, at Hunton, on the 24th Sept.

The prosecutor, who is landlord of the "Bull Inn," Hunton, said that on 24th Sept. the prisoners, together with a number of men, women and children, were at his house drinking. One of them called for a pot of porter, with which he served them, and he received a sovereign in payment. On taking in the change, there was a dispute on its correctness, and a witness was called to see it counted out on the table. The witness said the change was correct, and he then received an order for another quart of beer, which he was about to execute, when Sullivan jumped over the table, and caught hold of him, while another person interfered and prevented his getting out of the door. They had a struggle and he at length got out. The scuffle continued both inside and outside the house, and he was knocked about most seriously. He was at length assisted by the parish constable, who was himself knocked down and stunned. The prisoners were at length overpowered and secured.

They were all committed for trial, Sullivan stating that he did not interfere in the row, but that his mother was knocked down and much injured; so much so that she was obliged to be removed to the hospital at Maidstone.