Southeastern Gazette, 6 September 1853.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS

Mr. Stephenson, for Thomas Hayes, applied for a license for the "Elephant and Castle" beer-shop, situate in the Luton-road. The application was unopposed, and the Court granted a license.

South Eastern Gazette, 31 January, 1860.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.

Monday. (Before the Mayor, W. Gladdish and T. H. Baker, Esqrs.)

Edward Wood, labourer, William Brenchley, caulker's apprentice, and Henry Meekiff, shipwright’s apprentice, all employed in Chatham dockyard, were charged with several assaults.

The prisoners were at the "Elephant and Castle" public-house, Luton-road, and having imbibed a quantity of beer, next commenced drinking rum, after which a quarrel commenced, and they began breaking up one of the spirit measures. Mrs. Baines, the landlady, went into the room to ascertain their reason for destroying the measure, when they commenced an assault upon her. On hearing her cries, her husband went to her assistance, and was immediately knocked down and severely beaten. His wife, on attempting to rescue him, was forced by one of the prisoners against the fire, and it appeared to be a miracle that her clothes were not set alight. The scuffle caused two men, named Wilkins and Whale, to go to the assistance of the landlord and his wife, when they were also assaulted.

Mr. Gladdish said the assault was far too serious for them to deal with, and committed all the prisoners for trial, but agreed to accept bail, in default of which they were locked up.

South Eastern Gazette, 12 March, 1860.

SECOND COURT. (Before Gathorne Hardy, Esq., Chairman.)

Violent Assault at Chatham.

Edward Wood, Thomas Brenshley, and Edward Mackiff, were charged with assaulting John Baines, landlord of the "Elephant and Castle," Chatham, on Sunday, the 23rd of January last. Mr. Barrow was for the prosecution, and Mr. Biron for the prisoner Mackiff.

Eliza Baines, wife of prosecutrix, said the prisoners were at her house on the above day, between five and six o’clock. She served them with some rum, and afterwards observed that the measure had been broken. A quarrel ensuing, her husband was called in, and the prisoner Wood then knocked him down, and pulled out a quantity of his hair. The other prisoners joined in the assault.

John Baines, the prosecutor, corroborated his wife's statement, as also did Robert Wall, and William Robert Wilkins, one of them stating that he burnt the hair which was pulled out.

Mr. John Steddy, surgeon, of Chatham, examined the prosecutor, and found his system had received a severe shock, and there were several patches on his head where the hair had been pulled out. He displayed symptoms of incipient congestion of the brain.

Mr. Biren:— That’s rather a tall phrase, isn’t it? [a laugh]?

Witness:- The symptoms certainly were such.

Wood was convicted, and fined 10s., in addition to a fortnight’s imprisonment; the other prisoners were discharged.

South Eastern Gazette, 4 April, 1860.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS. Wednesday. (Before J. Smith and W. H. Nicholson, Esqrs.)

Henry Leonard was charged with stealing some, fowls and eggs from the "Elephant and Castle" beerhouse, Luton-lane, Chatham.

The property was stolen between six and eight in the evening, but the only thing to criminate the prisoner was that he was seen near the fowl-house just before the fowls were missed, the prisoner afterwards eating some eggs in the beerhouse.

Mr. Smith said the circumstances were rather suspicious, but the prisoner would be discharged.