From the Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 5 February 1859. Price 1d.

HIGHWAY ROBERY.

At the Magistrates' clerk's office, Saturday, before Captain Robinson, Thomas Whines, and James Bird, were charged with a highway robbery, and stealing £2 6s. 4d., the property of William Dafter, on Friday night last.

It was given in evidence that on the night in question the prisoner and the prosecutor, who are hawkers, were together at the “New Inn,” East Farleigh, they were drinking in that house from about 5 o'clock until after nine, and during that time the prosecutor paid for most of the beer &c. Whines was seen during the Evening to put some tobacco in a glass of gin and water, which he gave to the prosecutor, who after drinking some of it, was very bad for a time. He was also seen to put him hand in prosecutor's pocket, the prosecutor himself remarking upon it. The prosecutor then took out his money, which was in a bag, and gave it to the landlord, for him to keep, but Whines persuaded him to have it back, and the landlord, after counting it out, gave him a piece of paper, shewing the amount, and the bag and money. They left the house together, came as far as Rayfield's beer-house, which was closed, and the prosecutor, who was what was termed fresh, was lifted from the donkey cart, fell into the road, and was robbed of his money; the prisoner leaving him in the road, he managed to get home, and gave information to the county police.

The prisoner was apprehended on Saturday morning, at the “Fortune of War,” Upper Stone Street, Maidstone. They denied all knowledge of robbery, but were committed for trial at the Assizes.