South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 25 March 1862.

Herne. Charge Against A Publican. Contradictory Evidence.

Alfred Taylor, landlord of the "Blacksmiths' Arms," was charged at the St. Augustine's Petty Sessions, on Saturday last, with having his house open for the sale of beer at half past 11 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, 16th March.

P.C. Beeching deposed that he entered the defendant's house at the back way, when he saw the defendant coming from the tap-room with a quart of beer in his hand. He was going, apparently, to the cellar. Before getting into the house he heard the defendant say to his wife. "The policeman is coming."

In the room from which the defendant came witness found two men. A quantity of beer had been slopped on the table. He wished witness not to take any notice this time, and it should not occur again. Witness afterwards searched the stable, in company with Sergeant Hayward. K.C.C., and found about ten or a dozen men, but he could not discover any beer. One of the men in the house was a foreman on the railway, but witness did not know the others.

Sergeant Hayward, K.C.C., said he visited the defendant's house with the last witness, and found 12 persons in the stable, three parts of them smoking. On going into the house, he heard the defendant admit that having drawn the beer, and expressed the hope that they would look over it, and it should not occur again. Did not see any beer. The constable (Beeching) went in at the back, and witness at the front.

The defendant said:- The contractor hires my stables, and they are in possession of his men. I have nothing to do with them. All I did was this, I gave one of the men the foreman a glass of ale, but the other had nothing at all. The pot and glass were never on the table, nor were they in my hand when the policeman came in. What the constable has sworn to is very false.

Beeching recalled:- I could see the pot containing the beer, as the defendant was hurrying with it from the room; it was nearly full.

Henry Smith, on the part of the defendant, said he was a farrier, and went to look at the horses, to see if they were fit for work. Having done so, he went into the defendant's house to see "our gaffer," and while there the two policemen came in. Did not see any beer; none was had while he was there. Stopped about 10 minutes in the house.

By the Bench:- Did not hear the landlord say anything about not mentioning about the beer.

Beeching recalled:- The witness Smith was one of the men he saw in the room. Was quite positive the pot had beer in it, as he saw the froth as well as the beer.

Defendant was fined 2s. 6d., costs 13s. 6d. Captain Slarke stated that his house was becoming quite a nuisance.

South Eastern Gazette 13 January 1863.

ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.

James Thomas was charged with stealing from the person of John Burrett, on the 4th November, at Herne. The prosecutor went to sleep about 9 o'clock in the morning of the day in question in a stable at the "Blacksmiths' Arms," Eddington. He had three sovereigns and a half and some silver in a purse in his pocket at the time. The prisoner was seen to put his hand into the prosecutor's pocket, and take something out.

Four months' hard labour.

Kentish Gazette 10 January 1865.

PUBLIC HOUSE OFFENCE.

John Rose, landlord of the "Blacksmith's Arms" public house, Eddington, Herne, was charged with allowing gambling in his house.

The defendant admitted the charge, but pleaded that he was not aware but that he might have a raffle. It appeared that at Christmas he had a raffle for a pig, twenty-one subscribers at 1s. each, and Mr. Walker stated that he kept both the pig and the money.

Fined 10s. and 15s.6d. costs.