Southeastern Gazette, 11 January 1853.

Embezzlement at Chatham.

James Wills; 29, for embezzling certain money, which he had received for and on account of James Budden, his master, at Chatham. Mr. Rose prosecuted; Mr. Horn defended the prisoner.

The prisoner, it appeared, was put into the "Golden Cross" beer-shop, Rochester, to manage the business, the agreement between them being that the prisoner should pay on each morning the sum received during the previous day. On the 4th October, prosecutor saw him in Rochester, while on an omnibus, and asked him what he had received on the previous day. Prisoner said he had received 19s. He, however, afterwards sent prosecutor a ticket, his usual mode, on which he stated that he had received 14s. 6d. This excited prosecutor’s suspicions, and he accordingly sent down a person named Saunders to take charge, Wills removed him by violence away from the bar, and on that day Saunders saw 10s. taken, for which prisonor returned a ticket of only 3s. 6d., and on a subsequent day Saunders saw him receive 8s. 6d. of which he only accounted for 5s. 9d. After that he continued receiving money for some days without returning any account whatever to prosecutor.

Mr. Horn contended that no case of embezzlement had been made out, it being merely a question of debtor and creditor.

The jury found the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to six months’ hard labour.

South Eastern Gazette, 4 October 1853.

County Petty Sessions.

Wednesday. (Before Capt. Burton, Dr Drawbridge, and E. R. Coles, Esq.)

George Burns, keeper of the "Telegraph" public house, Saint Margaret's, was charged, under the information of Superintendent Tuff, with allowing dryers persons to assemble in his house and there play certain unlawful games of cards, called "all fives."

Mr. Stevenson, who appeared for the defendant, said Mr. Burns was at present absent for a few days, and his wife was conducting the business during his absence. As he appeared for him he hoped the Bench would allow the case to proceed.

Richard Sands said he was lodging at the "Golden Cross," and was a surgeon. On September 16th he went to Mr. Burns house, the "Telegraph," at St. Margaret's, and saw Mrs. Burns. Mr. Jennings and Beany fell out in the tap-room. Four men were playing cards in the tap-room, at "all fives." They were ten minutes at the game. Never saw any money staked, and just as they commenced the row Mrs. Burns said she would not draw any more beer. The four men were drinking beer. Mrs. Jennings brought it in. Did not see where the cards came from.

Cross examined:- They were not playing when I first went in. I was there about an hour. I heard Mrs. Burns say she would not draw any beer. She took the cards away out of the room, and then the row commenced. Jennings fetched the beer. Did not see Mrs. Burns at all while they were playing.

Captain Burton said it was no used to ask him any questions, as they could get no answers.

Mr. Stevenson submitted that there were no evidence to show that his client allowed cards to be played in the house, but, on the contrary, what had been done was against the wife's consent.

Capt. Burton said he believed there was a great deal of card playing going on in the house. The witness evidentially would not know anything, and the case was dismissed, solely from want of evidence. As to the witness Sands he hoped on another occasion he would remember the obligations of an oath.