South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 13 June 1848.

DARTFORD.—Petty Sessions, Wednesday.

(Before the Rev. R. Davies.)

William Martin otherwise William Johnson, otherwise George Turner, was charged with stealing a copper warming-pot, the property of Mr. George Waller, the landlord of the "Bull's Head," Dartford.

The prisoner was likewise charged with stealing a copper stew-pan, a copper saucepan, three pieces of lead pipe, a brass cock, two bells, and a quantity of brass wirework, the properly of Mr, George Evitt, landlord of the "Coach and Horses," in Spittal-street, Dartford.

Richard Lillywhite, constable of Dartford, deposed that at about half-past seven o’clock last night he was informed that a man was offering a copper warming-pot for sale, with the initials "J. W" on it. I went over to the shop of Robert Johnson, a marine-store dealer, where I saw the prisoner, and Thomas Waller, the son of Mr. G. Waller, who stated that was his father's property. Witness took the prisoner into custody, and on making inquiries found that he had been lodging at Mr. Evitt’s, the "Coach and Horses," who had lost several articles. Mr. Evitt identified several other articles left by the prisoner at the shop. At Mr. Weekes's in the High-street, they found a copper stew-pan, which Mr. Evitt said was his property.

Committed for trial at the next Sessions on both charges.

South Eastern Gazette, 18 October 1853.

Petty Sessions, Saturday. (Before Sir P. H. Dyke, Bart, J. Malcolm, O. Smith, H. Johnston, and J. Chapman, Esqrs.)

William Clay was charged with stealing a knife, the property of Mr. John Martin, who keeps the "Bull’s Head," in this town.

Prosecutor stated that that morning, between nine and ten o’clock, he missed a white-handled knife from the taproom. A man named Ward, who lodges at his house, accused the prisoner, who then took the knife from his pocket. Prisoner said he did not know that he had the knife.

John Ward corroborated this evidence.

Richard Lilly white, police-constable, produced the knife, and said on searching him he found two others.

Committed for trial.

South Eastern Gazette, 25 October 1853.

William Clay, 38, for stealing a knife, value 1s., the property of John Martin, at Dartford. The prosecutor keeps the "Bull's Head" public-house at Dartford and on the evening of the 15th October the knife was in his tap-room, where prisoner was sitting. It was afterwards missed, and prisoner was accused of stealing it by a person named Ward, which he denied, and said he had only one, but on Ward telling him to feel in his inside coat pocket he produced the knife, which he said he had put in his pocket by mistake. A constable was sent for, and he was given into custody, when he threatened to "do for" the prosecutor as soon as he was set at liberty. Two other knives were found upon him.

Prisoner said he took the knife up in a mistake for his own, as he was intoxicated.

Six weeks' hard labour.

South Eastern Gazette, 1 January 1856.

Dartford. The late fatal prize fight.

The adjourned inquest upon John Jones, who was killed in a pugilistic encounter with another prize-fighter named Madden, in the Kentish Marshes, near Long Beach, a fortnight back, was held on Thursday last, before C. J. Carttar, Esquire, Coroner, at the "Bulls Head Inn," Dartford. Upon the formal occasion the enquiry was principally of a preliminary character. It was proved that deceased and Madden and gone down by steamboat to the neighbourhood of Dartford, and that a ring was formed on the Marshes, when the fight took place, which ended in the death of deceased. The only additional witness that the police have been able to obtain was Alexander Finley, a publican, in Bear Street, Soho, who said that no person was present in the ring but the combatants and the four seconds. It was a fair stand up fight. At the last round Jones got off his second's knee laughing, blows were again exchanged, and Jones suddenly fell, but witness did not know what made him fall. He was lifted up senseless, and the fight was declared to be at an end. The coroner having briefly called the attention of the jury to the fact that had been laid before them, they retired, and after about an hour's deliberation returned a verdict of manslaughter against Michael Madden, as principal in the first degree, and the same verdict against the seconds, Thomas Sayers, James Massey, Jeremiah Moore, and a man only known as Sweepy, as accessories. The coroner at once issued the warrants for the apprehension of the accused men, and bound the witnesses over to appear at the next Maidstone assizes.