Southeastern Gazette, 8 February 1853. (Gravesend)

Friday, (Before J. Saddington, Esq., Mayor, and C. Spencer, Esq.)

James Lodge was taken up on suspicion of stealing some money from the person of a drunken man named Nye, in the house of Mr. Barker, the "Bricklayer’s Arms," in Stone-street.

William Luxford, railway-porter, deposed to being in the tap-room with prisoner and other men, amongst whom was a man, whom he since learnt was named Nye. He saw Nye, who was very drunk and laid down on the settle, asleep apparently; after a short time he observed Lodge move the tables and proceed to the spot where Nye was, when he knelt down and said to some one near the door, "It’s under him," meaning, as witness supposed, his pocket was under him. Prisoner then said he must use a knife, the other man observing what a while he was about it. Prisoner tried to cut the pocket, but could not, and asked if any one had a sharp knife, but no one offered one, and Lodge immediately cut the pocket, when he heard something of money. Prisoner after a short time, offered to share something which witness declined.

John Britton, a driver, was in the house at the time, and saw prisoner and complainant there; the latter was very drunk. He heard Lodge ask for a knife, and heard him afterwards cutting something, and said to some one present that he had taken that man’s watch, who replied that he thought it was money. He afterwards called the waiter out of the bar, and told him of the affair, when prisoner offered a sovereign to say nothing about it, which he declined.

My. Eliefson, potman at the "Bricklayer’s Arms," corroborated this evidence.

Charles Nye, the prosecutor, said he lived at Blue Bell-hill; he went into the "Bricklayer’s Arms" at about half-past five on Wednesday evening, and had in his pocket, in a bag, 19 sovereigns and some silver in the other pocket. After being there a short time, and partaking of some beer, he felt himself come over very drowsy and laid down; when he awoke he was asked to feel in his pocket and see if his money was all right, when he discovered that it was all gone; he thought this was about eight o’clock.

Police-constable Dunn said he took the prisoner into custody at the "Bricklayer's Arms," when he put his hand into his pocket and withdrew it closed. He then said "I shan’t go," turned round and ran away, but witness pursued and overtook him, when he sat down on the coping stone. He then tried to make his way to the burying ground adjoining, but was tripped up by witness, who saw him put something in his mouth, when he seized him by the throat and threatened to choke him if he did not spit out what he had; he kept his mouth shut more than a minute, when he spat something out of his mouth, which sounded like money, and witness then took from the same hand the six sovereigns and a sixpence produced. When at the station the prisoner said he had six sovereigns, and that money he had earned in the summer. When searched, two shillings, four sixpences, and other monies were found on him.

After the usual caution prisoner said he had nothing to say further than that he did not have the man’s money. He was fully committed for trial.