From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 28 December 1867. Price 1d.

ALLEGED THEFT OF A FERRET.

At the sitting of the St. Augustine's Bench, at Canterbury, on Saturday last, a man named Sims was charged with stealing a ferret from the “Chapters' Arms,” Chartham Hatch, belonging to Thomas Beaney, of Harbledown.

The evidence of prosecutor went to show that on the previous (Friday) evening he went to the “Chapters' Arms” with his son. He had a ferret with him in a bag, which he placed under a table in the room where he had his supper. After he had had his supper, he rose for the purpose of leaving, and on looking for the bag containing the ferret he found that it was gone. Sims had been in the room during the evening, and the landlord said that he (defendant) had taken it out of the house. Prosecutor then went for a policeman, and assisted him in searching for the bag from half-past eleven at night till half-past six in the morning. While they were looking for it, defendant brought the bag and the ferret to the policeman.

William Coombes, the landlord, stated that he saw Sims take the bag up from the floor, and hold it up so that almost every person in the room could see it. Thinking that Sims did this for a spree, he did not say anything about it.

In defence, defendant said he picked up the bag near the door of the room, and, not knowing to whom it belonged, took it out of the house, and laid it underneath a hedge.

The Chairman said that as there was a doubt as to whether defendant took the bag with a felonious intent, he would be discharged.

From the Canterbury Journal. Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 17 November, 1883.

SAD DEATH FROM DRINKING VITRIOL.

The East Kent Coroner (T. T. Delasaux, Esq.) on Saturday evening held an inquest at the "Chapter Arms," Chartham Hatch, on the body of George Dixfield Coombs, aged 26 years, whose premature and unfortunate death is rendered still more lamentable by the fact that he was engaged to be married in the course of a few days.

Mr. Holloway was chosen foreman of the jury.

Harry Ernest Coombs. a younger brother of deceased, deposed that on the previous Thursday morning he went in search of his brother to call him to breakfast, but was unable for some time to find him. He at length discovered deceased lying on his back at the bottom of the garden apparently very ill. Assisted by a man named Sims, he carried deceased into the house, and in his brother's bedroom saw the bottle now produced which had contained vitriol, and a portion of the contents of which deceased had applied to the foot of one of his father's horses. Deceased had of late suffered intensely from toothache.

Mr. William Coombs, farmer, said deceased was his son, but had never shown the slightest sign of any intention to destroy himself.

Mr. Charles Holttum, surgeon, of Canterbury, said he was sent for on the previous Thursday to attend deceased. Mr. Coombs had, previous to his arrival, very judiciously administered an emetic of salt and water, which caused deceased to vomit an immense quantity of dark blood, from which it was apparent to witness that her had swallowed some corrosive poison which was, no doubt, oil of vitriol, or sulphuric acid.

Death ensued on the following day. He should imagine that deceased, being almost mad with pain, had attempted to pour some vitriol into his tooth and swallowed the poison. This evidently burnt away the coating of the stomach and perforated it, thus causing his death.

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally killed by having taken oil of vitriol to allay pain he was suffering from a tooth.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 22 June 1907.

DISORDERLY BEHAVIOUR AND REFUSING TO QUIT.

SWINFORD BUTCHER IN TROUBLE AGAIN.

Swinford Butcher, Lewis Butcher, and Frederick Whittaker were charged before the County Magistrates at Canterbury, on Saturday, with being disorderly and with refusing to quit the "Chapter Arms," Chartham Hatch, when requested to do so by the landlord, on June 8th.

Mr. A. K. Mowll prosecuted the defendants, who pleaded not guilty, and Mr. Horace Broughton defended Swinford Butcher and Lewis Butcher.

William Diloot, landlord of the "Chapter Arms," Chartham Hatch, stated that he had been tenant of the house for six years. He had had occasion in the past to inform the three defendants not to come to his place at all. On the previous Saturday the two Butchers came to his house at about nine o'clock. Swinford Butcher asked for 1 half a pint of ginger beer, but witness said he should not serve him, as he was the worse for drink. Witness asked them both to leave, but neither of them left directly. After about half an hour Swinford Butcher went away for about twenty minutes and then returned. When he came back he had his coat and waistcoat off. Lewis Butcher remained in the house the whole time. On coming back, Swinford Butcher held two-pence over the bar for witness to serve him and then got his money bag and held it over the counter, at the same time saying witness was not worth two-pence. About ten minutes later Whittaker came in and soon commenced fighting with Swinford Butcher. They broke a window, one knocking the other against it. Swinford Butcher struck the first blow. Lewis Butcher was going to hit Whittaker, but a man named Wildash kept him back against the door. Witness heard Wildash say "No, no, don't hit him."

In cross-examination, witness could not describe how Lewis Butcher was going to hit Whittaker as Lewis Butcher did not move from his seat.

William Wildash, labourer, of Chartham Hatch, stated that he was in the "Chapter Arms" on the previous Saturday evening, when be saw the two Butchers come in. He heard Swinford Butcher ask for half-a-pint of ginger beer, and he heard Dilnot say "I won't serve you, get out of my house.” Swinford Butcher was almost drunk, but witness did not see anything wrong with Lewis Butcher. Witness heard Dilnot aay to Swinford Butcher that he should not serve him with any beer and he left the house. Lewis Butcher stopped in the house. When Swinford Butcher came back at about ten minutes to ten he was strip shirt. He struck Whittaker. They fell over and broke a window Lewis Butcher did not try to fight, and all that witness said to him was "You had better keep away from them." He did not try to get away from witness at all.

Edward Nevard, a fruit grower at Howfield, stated that he was in the "Chapter Arms" on the previous Saturday evening. At about five minutes to ten Swinford Butcher came in in his shirt sleeves. Witness heard Dilnot order him out. Butcher, who made no reply, bad bis hands over the counter. Just before ten o'clock witness saw two people struggling on the floor.

James Linch Bird, labourer, of Chartham, stated that he went to the "Chapter Arms" at about nine o'clock on the previous Saturday night. Swinford Butcher came in and asked for a glass of beer, but the landlord refused to serve him and wanted him to go outside. Witness did not see anything of the fight as he left the house before Whittaker came in.

The Bench considered there was no case against Lewis Butcher and discharged him.

Mr. Broughton, in his address to the Bench on behalf of Swinford Butcher, said that Whittaker was the aggressor. Swinford Butcher tried to got out of the house, but was prevented by Whittaker.

Swinford Butcher gave evidence on oath and stated that on the previous Saturday night when he went into the "Chapter Arms" for the second time it was between 9.30 and 10 o'clock. He went there to see a woman about pea-picking. He had previously been to the woman's house and was told she was at the "Chapter Arms." He saw her there. Whittaker was also there, and while he was speaking to the woman Whittaker came across to him and said "You are Swin Butcher, take that," giving him a blow with his fist in the face. Whittaker struck him a second time, and witness then said to Whittaker, "You come outside and I will fight you." Witness's brother was present and saw Whittaker strike witness. Whittaker also struck witness's brother, saying "You are his brother; you take that." Whittaker afterwards pushed witness's brother through a pane of glass. Whittaker took hold of him by the throat. They afterwards went out and fought.

In cross-examination, defendant said he had his coat and waistcoat on when he went into the house. Neither he nor his brother went into the house more than once that night. Whittaker knocked him down in the tap room, and his desire was to get outside the house and fight Whittaker.

Mr. Mowll:— Were you and your brother going to fight?

I should hare been killed had it not been for my brother.

Did your brother "save your life "inside the house or outside?

Outside, in the tumble.

Were you sober or drunk when you went in?

Suppose I say I was drunk.

Mr. Broughton:— You had had something to drink?

Yes.

And you think that Mr. Dilnot was really justified in not serving you with the drink?

Yes, sir.

Mr. Mowll:— Has not Mr. Dllnot told you that he will not have anything to do with you?

About five months ago, but I have been there continually since.

Lewis Butcher, a hawker, who stated that he went into the "Chapter Arms" about 9.30., corroborated what his brother had said about the assault by Whittaker both on himself and on his brother. When Whittaker struck witness the second time he punched his round and knocked witness and another man in the bar against the door, smashing the glass. He did not hear the landlord ask anyone to leave the house.

Whittaker, upon being asked whether he would like to give evidence on his own behalf, said "Yes, and I will speak the truth." In the witness-box he said he was a labourer, and he went into Mr. Dilnot's house on the night in question and asked for a glass of beer. As it was close on 10 the landlord refused to serve him. Swinford Butcher said "You are Whittaker, you are fit for the Asylum," and stuck at witness. Witness then looked after himself, and he had another turn at Butcher outside. If witness had not looked after himself Butcher would have taken advantage of him.

The Chairman:— Has Dilnot refused to serve you on the premises before?

He did not want me to come inside, but I have had beer at the backdoor and drunk it outside.

The Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. O. E. Kingsford):— Did Mr. Dilnot tell you to go outside?

When I had Butcher on the floor, because he bit my finger.

In reply to Mr. Mowll, witness said the landlord had refused to serve him in the bar because he was interfered with on another occasion.

The Bench decided to convict both Swinford Butcher and Whittaker and asked Superintendent Jacobs if anything was known of either of the defendants.

The Superintendent said Whitaker had hitherto borne a good character, but there were twenty four convictions against Butcher. When free from the drink he was all right, but when in drink he was a perfect nuisance.

Mr. Broughton:— I think both my friend Mr. Mowll and myself can endorse that.

Mr. Mowll:—I certainly can.

The Bench decided to fine Swinford Butcher £5 and the costs or one month's hard labour, and Whittaker 30s., including costs or seven days'.

All three defendant's were then summonsed for disorderly behaviour on the highway, and to this Swinford Butcher pleaded guilty and Whittaker and Lewis Butcher not guilty.

After hearing the evidence the Bench dismissed Lewis Butcher and Whittaker, and in fining Swinford Butcher a further 10s, and 1s. costs, or seven days', reminded him that drink was his greatest enemy but if he would not keep away from it he must put up with the consequences.