Maidstone Telegraph, Rochester and Chatham Gazette, Saturday 13th June 1860.
Sevenoaks. Attack on the police.
On Wednesday, Henry Fuller, Peter Whitehead, James Bartholomew, and
Henry Greenway, labourers, residing at Sundridge, were charge before W.
Lombard and C. R. C. Petley, Esqs., at the clerk's office, with
assaulting Superintendent Coleman in the execution of his duty at
Sundridge, on the night of the 18th of June.
The Superintendent said that on Monday evening, at about 7 o'clock, he
was driving towards the "Lamb Inn," Sundridge, where there was a club
held, when he saw the prisoner Fuller and another person fighting. He
ordered them to desist, but as they did not, he alighted and stopped
them, and Fuller's friends came and took him away.
Sometime afterwards the publican came to him and wished him to go and
speak to Fuller, as he had come back and was going to fight. He sent
P.C. Martin, but hearing afterwards that Fuller was fighting he went to
the place and found the Constable reasoning with him. He (Mr. Coleman)
told Fuller that if he continued his disturbance he would be locked up.
Fuller then struck the officer a backhanded blow on the breast, and with
an oath asked him what he had to do with it. He then, with the
assistance of Martin, who was the only Constable present, took him into
custody.
As they were conveying him to the cage in the village he was so
exceedingly violent, kicking and fighting, that the Superintendent sent
for the Constable who had charge of his horse and cart, but previous to
his arrival Fuller had kicked the officer in the mouth, and in several
parts of the body.
On the road to the cage Greenaway attempted to rescue the defendant, and
struck Coleman over his arm to make him lose his hold; Bartholomew who
was also guilty of the like conduct.
There was a crowd of persons, and when in the village near the cage
Whitehead come up and, and squaring up to the Superintendent said with
an obscene expression, that he had waited for some time to have a turn
at him, and struck him several times.
There were between 2 and 300 people following, and it was with great
difficulty that Fuller was got into the cage.
The other defendants were apprehended the same night.
The Superintendent's statement was corroborated by the constables, and
it appears also that they had been kicked.
The defendant offered no defence, but expressed a hope that they might
be let off lightly.
Fuller was fined £5 5s., and 8s. costs, or 2 months' hard labour; the
other defendants were fined £2 10s. each, with 8s. costs, or 2 months'
hard labour.
All the defendant's paid the money.
|