From the Kent and Sussex Courier, 2 January, 1880.

REFUSING TO QUIT.

Henry Towner, Walter Norman, and Edwin Bowles was summoned for being disorderly, and refusing to quit the "Loggerheads Inn," High Street, Tonbridge, when requested to do so by Mr. John Potter, the landlord, on the 26th December.

Mr Warner appeared for the defendant Norman and pleaded not guilty. The other defendants also pleaded not guilty.

Complainant said the defendants called at his house at nine o’clock and stood in the bar. Henry Towner asked if he was going to treat him with a Christmas box, as he had only seen him about once during the year. A man who stood in the bar told him to give him threepenny worth of what he liked, and Towner then commenced talking to a man names Parkhurst, and wanted to toss or bet him for £20. Four young men were talking about a game of bagatelle, when Norman went into the bar parlour and commenced quarrelling. He pulled off his coat and wanted to fight. He told Norman he could not allow such conduct, and if he did not desist and leave the house he should send for a policeman. He refused to go, and then Towner went into the parlour. He commenced using abusive language and Bowles also became noisy. They all refused to leave, and when he told them he should summons them, they said they did not care, they had plenty of money. Norman sat down on the table. He took hold of Norman and attempted to put him out. The defendant resisted very much, and the company in the room assisted him in putting them out. He tried to close the door on them, but someone, whom he believed to be Towner, kept his foot in the door, and prevented him doing so. The defend then pushed back into the bar parlour, and commenced fighting amongst themselves and the company. He (witness) rushed out of the room to prevent their getting amongst the glasses in the bar. His wife went to them and put them out. She asked them to remain and have their names taken, but they went away.

By Mr. Warner: Mrs Potter turned out to be the better “man” He did not think the defendants were drunk. The company in the parlour were not drunk. None of the company except Segor, a lodger, had been in the house above five minutes when the defendants called.

Alfred Wheeler, a man employed at the timber wharf, gave corroborative evidence, and said that Bowles called out if he could not play billiards, he could fight. He did not see any of them with their coats off, and he denied pushing a stick in Towner’s face. He heard the landlord order the whole three out of the house.

Mr. Warner submitted that there was not sufficient proof that the defendants had been guilty of misconduct. According to his instructions there was a general free fight in consequence of a sort of rivalry which existed between Tudely and Tonbridge. Tudely succeeded in getting rather the best of the free fight, and the combined forces could not turn the defendants out. In face, it took the valiant arm of Mrs. Potter to turn them out, which she did single handed.

The Chairman thought that amounted to a plea of guilty.

The defendant Norman said he went to the house when Wheeler said, “What do you Tudely boys know about billiards?” That led to a fracas, and attempts were made to turn them out.

The defendant Towner was called, but the Bench did not think it necessary that he should give evidence, and Mr. Warner withdrew him.

Supt. Burns said Bowles bore a very good character, but the other two were a complete nuisance when they came into the town. They had never been convicted.

The Bench fined the defendants 2s. 6d. each and costs.