Kent Times, 17 May 1862.

SEVENOAKS. The Navvies Again.

On Friday the 9th inst, at the Magistrates’ Clerk's office, Thomas Whitley, John Williams, and Isaac Waters, labourers employed on the railway, were charged before Nelson Rycroft and M. Lambarde Esqrs., with having stolen a quantity of men's clothing the properly of John Norman, at Shoreham, on the previous evening. It appeared that the complainant was an inmate of the Sevenoaks union-house, and had been on a visit to his friends at Maidstone. On his return he called at Otford, and sat drinking in two of the village public-houses with several navigators until the evening About seven o'clock Norman and the prisoners were in the "Woodman" tap-room, and the former went out for a short time, leaving his bundle, which obtained stockings, two light coats, a razor &c., in the room. When he returned the bundle was missing, and on speaking to the prisoners, who were still the only occupants of the room, they said that a woman had taken the bundle away. Information was given to Booker, the parish constable, the policeman stationed in the village having taken other prisoners to Maidstone, and he spoke to the men about the clothes, but they denied all knowledge of the affair. Previous to this, however, a labourer mined Gillham had seen the prisoner Whitley leave the tap-room, and go to a barn close by, and conceal some clothes, which he took from under his coat, and when he had heard of the robbery he told what he had seen, and the concealed property proved to be a part of the prosecutors bundle. A second portion was found hidden in the stubble a short distance from the barn; but the remaining portion of the clothes had not been recovered. Whitley admitted that he had taken the things, but it was a drunken concern altogether. Williams and Waters were discharged but Whitley was committed for trial.

Caution to Publicans.

Supt. Colman then said that he had a charge against the prisoner Williams. He want in the "Horns" beerhouse at Otford on the Wednesday, called for two pots of bear and some tobacco, and refused to pay for them after being supplied. It was a common practice for the navvies to do so, and the prisoner had money, as 9d. was found on him when he was apprehended. Mr. Rycroft said they did not want to go into the case, but the prisoner might take it as a warning, and tell his companions that if they were brought up on such a charge, they would be severely punished.