Kentish Gazette, 15 April 1851.

EAST KENT SESSION.

George White, 30, convicted of having, on the 5th of April stolen a cloth, two pieces of meat, and a piece of liver the property of Robert Bean, at Ashford.

G. Barns deposed of having seen the prisoner go out of the "Fountain" public-house, Ashford, with the articles stolen.

A Constable of Ashford said, he went to the "Saracens Head Tap," and was told by the landlady that prisoner was a "good-for-nothing fellow," and had brought the articles there, but did not say whether for sale or not.

Prisoner, in defence, said he was requested by a man unknown to him, to take the goods to the "Saracens Head Tap," which he did, but found no owner.

Two weeks' hard labour, and once whipped.

Kentish Gazette, 05 April 1864.

The remanded case of pot stealing.

Thomas Finn and George Webb, the two young men remanded from Thursday on a charge of steering a pewter pot, value 2s., the property of Mr. Joseph Pomfret, landlord of the "Fountain Inn," Ashford, on the night of the 24th of March last, were again brought up.

The parties pleading drunkenness, and was sentenced to be imprisoned for 21 days with hard labour.

Kentish Gazette 05 December 1865.

ASHFORD PETTY SESSIONS. THE FELONY AT THE FOUNTAIN.

Frederick Sinclair, a travelling hat-cleaner, belonging to Kennington, Surrey, who had been staying at Ashford for some time past, was brought up in custody, charged with stealing a flat iron and a quantity of knives and forks, the property of Mr. Samuel Brown, the new landlord of the "Fountain Inn," Ashford.

It appeared that on November 23rd the "Fountain Inn" changed hands, and that an appraisement took place between the incoming and outgoing tenants. The articles were placed out on the tables, and the house was in considerable confusion. The defendant had been lodging at the rear of the inn for some days, and took advantage of the confusion to place the articles he was charged with stealing in his bundle, and leave the town. They were, however, missed, and information having been given to Superintendent Dewar, he went in pursuit, and apprehended the prisoner at Hamstreet, with the articles in his possession.

The prisoner was further charged with stealing a hat, value 4s. 6d., the property of Mr. Joseph Pomfret, the late landlord of the "Fountain." It appeared that Mr. Joseph Pomfret had hung his hat up in the bar, and the prisoner took it down, telling the waiting woman who saw him with it, that he was going to clean it. The hat was also recovered by Superintendent Dewar, and identified by Mr. Pomfret.

The Bench convicted the prisoner, and sentenced him to six weeks' imprisonment with hard labour for each offence - three months in all.