Southeastern Gazette, 5 July 1853.

Saturday. (Before Capt. Burton, E. R. Coles,. S. Steele, J. L. Levy, and W. Manclark, Esqrs.)

William Filer was charged with an assault on the person of William Sedge.

The complainant deposed that he was a coal porter and resided at Gravesend. On Wednesday night last, at about twelve o’clock, complainant went into defendant’s beerhouse in Crow-lane, in company with a companion, and whilst there engaged a bed. On retiring they had to pass through a room before they reached their bed-room, in which they found two men lying on the bed and two under the bed. Complainant, not thinking himself safe, attempted to pull one of the men out, when he was set upon and beaten by them, and during the scuffle the landlord came in and struck the complainant, and immediately after he saw the landlord put his hand into his pocket and instantly he felt a blow on the head as if stabbed; he then became insensible.

A certificate was put in from a medical man describing the injuries complainant had received.

The evidence of complainant was fully borne out by that of his companion, and the magistrates inflicted a penalty of £5, inclusive of costs.

Capt. Burton said from what they had heard to-day, they would never think of renewing defendant’s licence.

Southeastern Gazette, 13 September 1853.

This being the adjourned meeting for renewing licenses, an application was made by Mr. Lewis on behalf of Mrs. Cooling, to transfer the license of the "Maidstone Arms," Crow-lane, to her.

Mr. Lewis said applicant had kept a public-house at Sheerness for twenty years, and she assured the bench the house would be conducted on a very different principle to what it has hitherto been.

Capt. Burton was decidedly against the license being renewed, which led to a rather warm altercation between the magistrates. The license was ultimately granted, the only dissentient magistrates being Capt. Burton and Dr. Drawbridge.