From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 10 October, 1869. 1d.

KEEPING OPEN AFTER HOURS

R. Garrett, landlord of the "Anchor," public-house, West Street, was summoned for having his house opened after 11 o'clock on Sunday night last.

Defendant admitted that his house was open after the hour stated, but said he was only supplying lodgers and travellers as far as he was aware.

P.C. Spicer deposed: I went to the "Anchor," public-house, West Street, on Sunday night about 20 minutes past 11 o'clock. I heard a noise inside and tried the door, which was fastened. I knocked, and I then heard them say, "There's the police." Mrs. Garrett came to the door and asked who was there, and I replied, "police." The door was then undone, and I went into the tap-room where I found seven or eight persons, townspeople. There were also two people standing at the bar, drinking something that had the appearance of porter. There was only one glass containing beer on the tap-room table. One of the persons was a lodger in the house, but the others were not, and when I ordered them to leave the house they did so.

In defence, Garrett said the reason of his house being open was that he was expecting the return of his lodger by the last train, he having that day gone to Wingham, and whilst so waiting a man and his wife, who told them they had just come by train, came to him for some porter, and whilst he was serving them some six or seven more people rushed in. He thought the persons were going to take the porter home, as they lived near, but instead of that they drank it at the bar, and whilst they were there the others got in. He was under the impression at the time that they had all just come by the train, which was very late at night; although he had since found out that one or two of them had not.

The Magistrates said that as that was the first case of the kind that had come before them they would not inflict the full penalty. They regarded the landlord, however, as in every way responsible for the manner in which his house was conducted. They would inflict a penalty of 10s., including costs, and hoped that it would prove a warning to others as well as defendant.

Mr. Garrett asked the Clerk to give him a receipt so that he might exhibit it in his bar, to let the public know what he was fined for; but this, of course, was not complied with, and defendant was informed that printed notices would shortly be served on all the publicans.