South Eastern Gazette, 12 June, 1860.

HOATH. The Victualler, and his Friends.

At the St. Augustine’s Petty Sessions, on Saturday last, George Oliver Groombridge, landlord of the "Admiral Rodney" public-house, appeared to answer an information preferred against him by Superintendent Walker, for having his house open for the sale of beer during the proscribed hours on Sunday, the 27th May. Defendant said that two captains had been staying with him, who asked him to let them have some beer. Witness said he hardly knew how, as it would not do to let his "missus" see him, but he took a jug, went down into the cellar, bored a hole in a cask with a gimblet, and drew out about a quart of beer. He then took it and stood it on the green, but was not paid.

In answer to the Bench, Sergeant Mayhew, K.C.C., said that one of the men present was a Whitstable man, and the other two had been lodging there on the previous night. The house had not been complained of previously.

Defendant said he had been 17 years in the house, and no charge had ever been brought against him before. He knew he had done wrong now, and ought not to have drawn the beer. He had told his "missus" that he should plead guilty, and pay the expenses of his folly.

Fined 5s. and 14s. costs, the Bench telling the defendant that he had rendered himself liable to a penalty of £5.

From the Kentish Gazette, 11 April 1865.

Yesterday. (Before Wm. Delmar, Esq., G. T. Tomlin, Esq., and Peter Marten, Esq.)

Thomas Cullen was fined 5s. and 13s. costs, with the alternative of imprisonment for 21 days, for creating a disturbance in the "Admiral Rodney" public house, Hoath, on Saturday night, and resisting the police when called in to clear the house.

From the Kentish Gazette, 16 May 1865.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S PETTY SESSIONS.

Tuesday. (Before Wm. Delmar, Esq., and G. T. Tomlin, Esq.)

ASSAULT ON A LANDLORD AND WILFUL DAMAGE IN A Public House.

James Poole, George Poole, John Stannard Harrison, George Holborn, Thomas Holness, William Johncock, and Charles Carter, were brought up in custody, charged with having on the 6th instant, at the "Admiral Rodney" public house, Hoath, wilfully broken a number of glasses and damaged other property, and also with having assaulted James Scott Poole, the landlord.

Mr. Delasaux appeared for the defendants.

The two charges were taken together.

The complainant deposed:- About a quarter past 10 o’clock on Saturday night the prisoners and a number of other men came to my house and went into the tap room. I served them with two quarts of beer, which they paid for. They afterwards ordered two more quarts of beer which I took into the taproom, but they then said they had no money. I took it back. They then began to abuse me, and asked me to trust them. A few minutes after the prisoner George Holborn came to the bar door, asked for a pint of beer, and tendered a shilling in payment. I served him and gave him 10d. change. George Poole came afterwards and said I had not given the right change. I said I had given the right change, and added that if he would come in the morning when he was sober I would explain it, but I would have no dispute with him then. All the prisoners appeared to have been drinking. George Poole put his foot in the bar door to prevent my shutting it, but I pushed him away and slammed the door too. His finger was jambed in the door, but I did not hurt him intentionally. George Poole then went into the tap room and a few minutes afterwards all the prisoners rushed back to the bar with their coats off and their sleeves tucked up. They exclaimed "Out you go," and proceeded to break everything on the tables and to turn the company out of the bar. The company resisted, and a general fight ensued. I tried to get into the bar, and was struck four or five times while making the attempt. George Poole, James Poole, Holborn, and Castle, all struck me. I struck James Poole, who stood at the door of the bar, with a lemonade bottle which I had in my hand. At that time my wife was screaming in the bar and my property was being destroyed by some of the defendants. I got into the bar, but was pulled out again by four or five of them. I ran out of the house by the front door, and round to the back, from whence I succeeded in getting in again. All the defendants had then gone into the tap-room. At half-past 11 I went and told them to go, and after some time got them out, but they remained hanging about the house and using threatening language to me and to the company in the bar till a quarter past one o’clock. The affray lasted over an hour and a quarter. One of the party brought a sack of shavings into the house and said it was to set the place on fire. I had property destroyed to the value of £1 at least.

The complainant was cross-examined by Mr. Delasaux, but adhered to his statements.

Corroborative evidence was given by the wife of the complainant, and by Messrs. George Page and Win. Marsh.

For the defence Mr. Delasaux called Mr. James Sladden, of Hoath, farmer, who gave all the defendants a good character. The magistrates convicted all the defendants and fined each of them £1 2s. 6d., including costs, or imprisonment for 21 days, for the assault, and 12s. 6d., including costs, or imprisonment for 7 days, for the wilful damage.