Kentish Gazette, 23 September 1851.

Faversham.

On Monday evening, Thomas Arnold, labourer, and William Scott, rag and bone gatherer, were brought before T. Barnes, Esq., one of the Borough magistrates, charged with stealing four ducks, on the previous Saturday night, the property of Mr. Thomas Carr, miller, from a lodge belonging to his premises, situate on the Ospringe Road. It appeared that the thieves were disturbed in their operations by a person named Hart, who was returning home, and passing prosecutor’s premises, heard a suspicious noise, when he immediately alarmed Mr. Jones, landlord of the "Ship Inn," Ospringe, and they secured the prisoner, Arnold, with the ducks. Scott, who is better known by the name of Lankey escaped, but was apprehended in the course of the day by Peane, the constable of Oare. On searching the prosecutor’s duck-house, it was discovered that it had been broken open, and four ducks taken away; he now positively swore that the ducks produced were his property, and that he locked them up securely on Saturday night. On being called on for their defence, the prisoner Arnold, said he was led into it by Lankey, alias Scott, and that he had no hand in taking the ducks, and did not go near the lodge by some rods. Scott said he knew nothing at all about it, he was very drunk on Saturday night, and recollected nothing after 12 o’clock until Sunday morning, when he found himself in the "Brents," where he had been sleeping. The prisoners were both committed to take their trial at our next Quarter Sessions.