From the Kentish Gazette, 25 June 1839.

DEATH.

June 15, at Faversham, aged 24, Mr. W. Punyer, landlord of the "Two Brewers," leaving a young widow with a blind infant.

Kentish Gazette, 18 June 1844.

DEATH.

June 7, at Faversham, Rebecca, widow of Mr. John Gibbs, many years landlord of the "Two Brewers, aged 90.

Kentish Gazette, 6 April 1852.

About three o'clock in the morning of Monday last, the inmates of the "Two Brewers" public-house were alarmed by the discovery of fire, which had not fortunately got much hold, and was, therefore, soon subdued. The policeman on duty went to call up one of the lodgers by appointment, and fancying his summons was not duly attended to, lingered near the spot, when his attention was excited to a crackling noise that fortunately led to an early discovery. The number of lodgers sleeping over head had a narrow escape from imminent peril, as they might have been suffocated.

Faversham Gazette, 14 June, 1856.

Suicide.

On Wednesday last, an inquest was held at the Guildhall, before Jas. Tassell, Esq., Coroner, on the body of a man named Joseph Elliott, who had drowned himself in the Creek, on the previous evening.

The first witness who was examined was Stephen Godden, who deposed as follows:— I am a labourer, residing at Faversham. Yesterday evening, between five and six, I was on the bridge over the old Creek, opposite Foreman's Hard. A man came up and asked me how deep the water was? I told him about four feet and a half. It was high water. He made answer that it would do, and walked across the bridge. I saw him walk up and down the bridge two or three times — I looked round, and all at once lost sight of him. I was about ten rods off from him. I don’t recollect how he was dressed, he asked me where the deepest part was, and I told him.

James Searle, of the Beresford Coast Guard Station, said, I was coming up the Creek, on the Faversham side, between five and six last evening, I heard a heavy splash in the water; but as there were persons bathing lower down, I did not pay much attention to it. I walked on for about two or three minutes, when I came abreast of the bridge over the old Creek; I there saw a man in the water, and that he was in a drowning state. I went to the Standard and got a boat, but when I got to the place I found the body had sunk. I could see that the man who was in the water, was bald on the top of the head. I have seen the deceased and believe he was the man. It was about high water. I sounded the bottom, and found that there was not more than about four feet of water, except in the place where I saw deceased, and there was there, I believe, six feet, for about three feet wide, I could see that he had his clothes on.

George Jemmett, of Preston, next Faversham, dredger, said, I found the body of the deceased yesterday evening, in the old Creek, about twelve feet from the bridge. He was then quite dead.

Amy Millstead, of Faversham, widow, deposed:- I knew the deceased; I lived in the same house with him. I was at home with him at one o’clock. I went home about that time. I found him sitting in a chair in the lower room, with a rope round his neck, fastened to a large nail in the ceiling. He had not time, I believe, to hang himself. He said to me, “what have you come home a’ready." I asked him what he was doing of, and took the rope off his neck, and from the ceiling. He said he was not doing anything. I told him I had great trouble, and that if he did not promise me that he would not do so any more I would speak to Orpin, and have him taken away. He appeared, after that, to be comfortable — we remained at home until three o’clock, when we came out together. He went up White Horse-lane, and I went down Delo’s-lane. I did not see him afterwards. He has been in the habit of working at Mr. Hall’s, as a bricklayer’s labourer, or any other work. He was brought home in a fit about three weeks since, and he has not appeared right since. He has drank a good deal since. He has been with me six months, and he asked me to be married to him last Michaelmas. I did not promise him. I told him I was going to move, and he knew I had given notice. I was going to Mr. Owen’s, on the Brents. I have never had words with him; and he told me he had got lodgings at the "Two Brewers." He had been drinking all the week, and was drunk on Sunday and Monday, but appeared a little better yesterday. I am not aware that there was any difference in him, further than that since his last fit he had taken to drinking. I gave the rope to Mr. Orpin. He paid me two shillings and sixpence a week for lodgings, and slept in the lower room. I went down West-street with him yesterday, because I had to go that way. He had never told me that he thought of making away with himself.

James Allison, of Faversham, labourer, said:— I was in company with the deceased on Sunday night last, and he said he was uneasy in his mind, and that he wished he was dead. He was a little 'freshy.' I did not ask him what it was that caused his uneasiness.

This being the whole of the evidence that could be obtained to throw any light upon the cause of this rash act, the Coroner proceeded to direct the attention of the jury to the distinction it was necessary to draw between an act of this kind committed wilfully and deliberately, while in the possession of reason, and that done under the influence of temporary derangement. The jury after a few minutes consideration returned a verdict "That the deceased Joseph Elliott destroyed himself in a fit of temporary insanity."