From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 7 January,1860. Price 1d.

MAIDSTONE PETTY SESSIONS

(Before T. Allen and C. Ellis, Esqrs.)

Ann Chatfield, a destitute looking woman, was charged with wilfully breaking two panes of glass, at the “King's Head” public house, the property of Mr. Dunk, on the 29th inst.

It appears the prisoner, who has been previously convicted no less than twenty-five times, for disorderly conduct and window smashing. On the evening in question prisoner went into the tap-room of the “King's Head Inn,” and annoyed Mr. Dunk's customers by drinking their beer. She, however, was put out of the house, but in about ten minutes she again returned, and on again being ejected by the landlord, she smashed two panes of glass, doing damage to the amount of 2s. 4d.

Police-sergeant Hills said she was a very troublesome customer, and had frequently been in custody at the police station.

The prisoner was ordered to pay the amount of the damage 2s. 4d., and 6s. costs, and in default was committed for a month.

Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 18th August 1860.

Coroner's inquest.

On Thursday and inquest was held at the "Kings Head Inn," before the Coroner, T. Kipping, Esq., upon the body of an aged man named Edward Oliver, who was found in the river Medway on the previous day.

The deceased was 70 years of age, a leather currier by trade, and had been many years a resident of Maidstone. The following was the evidence elicited.

Mr. William Pellat, bootmaker, living in High Street, deposed that on Tuesday morning last, about 7 o'clock, he left his house, and on walking over the bridge he stopped opposite Mr. Bunyard's flower garden, when, on turning round, observed deceased walking up the Tunbridge Road. He observed no difference in his manner than usual. He appeared to be in good health. Witness had known him for many years. He thought he was somewhat eccentric in his manner, but did not think he was a man likely to destroy himself. Of late years he believed deceased had not had constant employment, but had worked occasionally for Mr. Jennings, in Stone Street.

James Davies deposed that on Tuesday morning he went to Mr. Beckett's Lower Fant house, and upon returning home he came by the River Medway. On the first fence beyond Mr. Brooks's Oil Mill he saw hanging a coat and hat, and a pair of shoes was lying near them. Witness recognise the hat as the one that had been worn by the deceased. This was about 8 o'clock in the morning. Witness then proceeded up the High Street and gave information to the police.

P.C. Brooks deposed that on Tuesday morning last from information received, he proceeded to the place described by the last witness, where he found deceased's coat, hat, and shoes.

John Simmonds, labourer, living in the Man of Kent yard, said that on the previous afternoon, about 4 o'clock, he, with other parties, was dragging the river and found the body of the deceased just above the Oil Mill, and it appeared to have been at the bottom of the river. Deceased was dressed in a pair of knee breeches, gaiters, and a black sleeve waistcoat and stockings, but had no coats, shoes, or hat on. Witness accompanied the body to the above named house. A piece of cord and a pair of spectacles were found in deceased's coat pocket.

Police-sergeant Hills also disposed to being with the boat when the body of deceased was found, and upon searching it he found in the pocket a knife, two tools used by curriers, and two small screws. Witness saw deceased on the previous Sunday, when he asked him if it was true that Larking have made off with himself. On being answered in the affirmative, deceased put up his hands and said "Dear me, what a shocking thing it is from an to commit suicide." He also saw him in Stone Street about half an hour afterwards, talking to a man about William Larkin, repeating the same observations that he had made to witness.

Sarah Oliver, the daughter of deceased, said that he left his home early on Tuesday morning last, but she did not know at what time. On the previous evening he had taken tea with her and complained very much of his head. He retired to bed about 8 o'clock, saying that he felt very strange. He bade her goodnight and she did not see him afterwards. Witness sat up somewhat later than usual, as she observed her father looked wild and appeared to be in a low strange way. He was in the habit of walking out early in the morning and witness was not uneasy about his absence. He had mentioned to witness the suicide of William Larkin, and appeared to be slightly affected by it, saying that he was gone.

The Coroner observed that the evidence was of a slender nature, but from the circumstances of the hat, coat, and shoes having been found in the position in which they were would rather lead to the inference that he had thrown himself in the water after taking them off. There was no evidence to show that he had met with any violence, but the jury thought it necessary he would adjourn the inquest for further investigation. From the evidence it would be for them to consider where the deceased had been thrown in the River, or whether he had destroyed himself. If they arrived at the latter conclusion to say in their verdict what state of mind he was in at the time.

Verdict, "That deceased destroyed himself whilst labouring under a temporary fit of insanity.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 9 March 1861.

Stealing Coals at East Sutton.

William Underdown, George Winn, and Joseph Horton, for stealing two and a half cwt of coals, value 3s., the property of William Day, their master, at East Sutton, on 31st January. Mr. Addison was for the prosecution, and Mr. Francis for the prisoner.

William Day, coal merchant, living at Maidstone, said prisoners were in his employers as carmen. On the 27th January he received an order for 10 tons of coal from Sir. E. Filmer, Bart. The prisoners took the coal, having each a ton. There was one hundredweight to go to a Mrs. Reeves, which were in Underdown's cart.

By Mr. Francis:- Could not say how much coal was put up in the carts. Underdown had been in his and his predecessor's employ for 25 years, during which time he borne a very good character. Sometimes prisoners took out small quantities of coal, for which they ought to account when they came home.

By Mr. Addison:- Prisoner had no direction to take coals to a person named Hollands.

John Towne, living at Sutton Valence, said that on the 31st January he was at the "Kings Head" public house, when he saw Underdown go up the yard and speak to a person named Hollands. He afterwards saw Horton take a bag of coals from the van, which Underdown took to Hollands's house. Winn then gave Horton a bag of coals out of the cart, and he took it into the house.

Henry Towne, ostler at the "King's Head," gave similar testimony.

John A. Hollands, living at Sutton Valence, said that on the day in question Underdown came to see him and asked him if he wanted to buy any coals. Witness said he did not. Underdown then said I have got some I brought down the road for a woman who has not got the money to pay for them, and you shall have them for 2s. 6d. and a pot of beer. Witness gave Underdown the money and an order for the beer.

P.C. Coppinger said that on 2nd February he saw Winn, who said he took some coals to Sir. E. Filmer's on the 31st, but he did not leave any at Hollands's nor did he see anyone else do so. Horton told witness the two bags were left at the "King's Head," one by him and one by Underdown. Horton afterwards said he did not know the quantity left at Sir. E. Filmers's, but he thought there was a bag too many. Witness then spoke to Underdown who said he did not leave any colds at Holland's. Witness then apprehended Underdown on suspicion, when he said it was a foolish start altogether, and it was done not to get "the man" into a row with his master, as when he got to Sir. Edmund Filmer's he found there were two bags too many; that he got three shillings for the coals, and had three or four pots of beer, the rest of the money being shared amongst them; and that they were all alike. Winn was present when Underdown said this and remarked "All I know about it is that I done some of the beer."

Mr. Francis submitted that there was no case to go to the jury, inasmuch as there was no evidence to show that the coal delivered to Hollands either belong to Mr. Day, or to Sir. E. Filmer.

The Chairman, however, came to the conclusion that the case must go to the jury.

Mr. Francis then addressed the jury, and was about to call witnesses to character, when the Chairman said he thought there was no necessity, as there was no doubt that prisoners have formed unexceptionable characters.

The jury acquitted the prisoners, on the ground urged by Mr. Francis.

From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, 24 August 1861.

Coroner's Inquest.

An inquest was held on Friday, at the "Kings Head," West Borough, Maidstone, before T. Kipping, Esq., coroner, on the body of a man, unknown, and apparently about 50 years of age, who was killed by the 11 o'clock p.m. train from Strood, near the Allington cutting, on the previous night, (recorded in our columns last week.) Christopher Cockfield, engine driver, on the South Eastern Railway, and living on the Kingsley Estate, Maidstone, said that on the previous night about 5 minutes to 12 o'clock, he was driving the goods train from Strood to Maidstone, and on arriving at "Sill's crossing" (a public footpath across the railway) he felt the ballast flying underneath the tender of the engine, but took no notice of it, as he thought it was some stones on the crossing.

The driver of another engine attached to the same train, however, on coming to the crossing sounded his whistle, and they stopped the train, when, at about 12 yards from the crossing, witness found the body of the deceased, quite dead, and bleeding from the back of his head. The head was lying towards Aylesford and the feet towards Maidstone, between the rails over which the train passed. Witness also found a basket on one side and a hat on the other, and a large flannel jacket near the crossing.

The stones were dragged off the middle of the line for about 5 yards, as though the body had been pushed along by the train. They then put the body into the guards van, and brought it to Maidstone. Witness examined both engines, but found no marks on either of them.

George Richards, Stoker, living in Maidstone, and who was on the train in question, gave confirmation evidence, adding that he found a hole in the palace, about 7 yards from the crossing, and which appeared to have been made by deceased's head, as there were some hair on it.

Mr. Elgar, one of the medical officers of the parish, said he was called to see deceased at between 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning, and he found an incised scalp wound on the right side of the head, five or six inches in length; there was also a jagged contusion wound over the left temporal bone. He found no fracture of the limbs, but was not able to examine them minutely, as deceased clothes were not taken off. The injuries to the skull he believed to have caused death.

As the body has not been identified, the inquest was adjourned to that day week.

Deceased was a short, stout man, with an ordinary labourer's smock, corded trousers, and two flannel shirts, one of which appeared to be a military shirt.

Since the inquest the address of "Edward Waterman," of East Malling, has been found in deceased pockets.

An adjourned inquest was held at the "Kings Head" in the West Borough, when it appeared from the evidence of William Nobbs, and inmates of Malling Union, that the deceased's name was Edward Waterman, whose age was 48, and had left the Union on the 14th inst. It appears that it is a practice in the Malling Union when a person first becomes an inmate to place in his clothing the name and place of abode, and the paper found on a deceased pocket was that written by the porter of the Union.

This being the whole of the case, the jury returned an open verdict.