From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 2 August, 1873.

ALLEGED ASSAULT

Mary Ann Macey, landlady of the "Brickmakers' Arms," West Street, was summonsed for having on the 17th of July assaulted a young woman named Penn, who had been living with Mrs. Macey as a servant. The case was to have been heard last Thursday, but the defendant was unable to attend in consequence of illness.

Mary Ann Penn deposed: I am a single woman and live with my mother, I was servant at Mrs. Macey's on the 17th of July. On that day she sent me on an errand, and I was gone too long for her. On my return she called me upstairs, and I went up crying, being told that I should catch it. When I got up she told me to give her the change, and when I did so she tried to get hold of my hand, but I snatched it away. She told me to pack up my clothes, and I went into my room to do so, then she came into the room where I was and struck me over the head with her hand two or three times till I got away from her and went downstairs. I never gave her any impudence. It was a little before 12 o'clock when I went for the errand, which was to get a piece of pork, from Mr. Williams's the pork butcher, and I ran all the way there and was back again at 12 o'clock.

Cross-examined by Defendant: It was not ten minutes to ten when you gave me the money to go for the pork. It was about eleven, and I went directly. You were ill at the time, and was in bed when I went and also when I returned.

Defendant declared that what the complainant had stated was all false. She went for the port about ten minutes to ten, and did not get back till a little before twelve, and she then said to her "You are a naughty girl. This is not the first time the men (meaning her son and a lodger) have had to have bread-and-cheese for their dinner in consequence of your not coming home with the meat in proper time." Complainant always took two or three hours to go on an errand, and she had several times shielded her. She was a very wicked young woman, and had other faults besides not speaking the truth. She never struck her at all.

Complainant said: I swear that she struck me - I would not come into Court and tell such a lie about my aunt. Two girls who were living in the house were upstairs, and looked into the room and saw her strike me. As I was going downstairs I said "Now you have hit me Mrs. Macey, I will summon you." The girls were on the stairs then, and they must have heard me.

Defendant said the two girls were engaged preparing dinners.

The Magistrates sent for the girls, but only one was forthcoming. On being sworn she said: My name is Mary Ann Nicholls. I live at the "Brickmakers' Arms," and was there on the 17th of July last. I know Mary Ann Penn, and she was there that day. She went at ten minutes to ten to get some pork. I know the time because I looked at the clock. I am the cook. She did not come back till ten minutes to twelve. She brought some steak in her hand. She took it upstairs. I did not hear anybody tell her that she would catch it. I afterwards saw her come running downstairs. I did not go upstairs myself till after she was gone out of the house. If she has said that I was upstairs looking in at the door before she left, it is not true. I was in the passage when she came downstairs. She was crying, but I do not know what for. I did not ask her. I have seen her cry several times before. The other girl was in the bar all the time the complainant was upstairs.

Complainant adhered firmly to her statement that both witness and other girl were upstairs.

The Magistrates, however, decided to dismiss the case.

BEER HOUSE OFFENCE

Mary Ann Macey, the defendant in the above case, was then charged for having her house open beyond the proper hour on the night of the 28th of July.

Defendant said there were four or five men standing at the bar holding "a great strong argument," and although she several times asked them to go they would not. Nothing was drawn after hours, and she repeatedly asked the men to leave.

In answer to the Magistrates defendant said she could not saw whether it was a political or religious discussion - but it was a great strong argument they were having.

P.C. Pettit said: Last Monday night at a quarter to twelve I saw Mrs. Macey's door open. I went in and saw five or six men standing at the front of the bar. There was a jug and a glass of beer standing on the counter, and Mrs. Macey had got a quart jug of beer in her hand and was carrying it through the bar door. I told her she must know she was doing wrong, and that I should report her. I was passing the house again at a quarter to one o'clock, and I heard a man and woman talking in one of the lower rooms. I had to knock three times before I could get admittance, and then I found Mrs. Macey alone. She told me that her son had gone to bed.

Defendant said the beer she had in her hands when the constable entered had been paid for by one of the men when he came into the house earlier in the evening, and was for him to take home for his wife's sipper.

After a consultation, in which the Mayor took no part, Mr. brown and the Magistrates could not altogether look over this case, although they had viewed it as favourable a light as they could. The hour at which the house was open was considerably beyond that allowed by the law, and such offences must be checked. Defendant would have to pay a fine of 10s., including costs, and the magistrates would forebear to endorse the license on this occasion; but if defendant should be found guilty of a second offence of this kind, the license would be endorsed, which would be a serious affair for her.

The money was paid.