From the Kentish Gazette, 25 August 1846.

INQUEST ON THE LATE SIR CHARLES WETHERELL, KNT.

An inquest was held at the "George Inn," Aylesford, on Wednesday afternoon last, before J. N. Pudlow, Esq., one of the coroners for Kent, on the body of the late Sir Charles Wetherell, Knt., whose death on Monday afternoon last, was the result of the melancholy accident already recorded in our paper.

The jury having returned from Preston Hall, the seat of C. Milner, Esq , where the body was lying, tho following evidence was taken:—

Joseph Rudge deposed he was returning to the deceased, who was about 76 years of age. Sir Charles had been to Smarden to view an estate he had thought of purchasing, and slept at the "Star Inn," Maidstone, on the night of Sunday the 9th. On Monday morning he ordered an open fly to proceed to Rochester, expressing his desire to be driven by the lower road, through Wouldham, &c. On arriving at the top of Rocky Hill, Sir Charles changed seats with witness, who was on the box, and witness sat inside. On reaching the back entrance gate of Mr. Milner's park, he felt the horse start forward, and heard Sir Charles say, "Whoa, whoa," when immediately the carriage upset. Witness sprung to his feet immediately, when he found Sir Charles on his back, apparently insensible. A woman having been despatched for a surgeon, he was conveyed to Mr. Milner’s house, Preston Hall, where he remained till his death. The driver was perfectly sober.

Eliza Jones examined:- Was coming from Mr. Milner’s lodge on the day in question, when a carnage passed her. Immediately it had passed her the horse took fright, and the carriage was overturned. By desire of the coachman she fetched Mr. Dennis, surgeon, of Aylesford.

John Brazier, of Maidstone, postboy, stated:— On the rooming of Monday, the 10th, he was ordered out with an open fly to convey Sir Charles Wetherell to Rochester. Sir Charles got outside on reaching Rocky Hill, and witness turned down the lane to Aylesford, and on approaching the back entrance to Sir. Milner’s, the flies being troublesome, the mare got her tail over the reins, and on witness loosening them to disentangle them, the mare naturally slightly increased her pace. This apparently frightened Sir Charles, who caught hold of the off rein, and immediately the horse started, and drew the carriage over a heap of stones lying at the side of the road, when the wheel ran up an iron which supported the railings, and overturned the carriage. Witness fell upon Sir Charles who fell on the side of his head, and upon his back. He appeared insensible, but slightly recovered, and walked across to the lodge gate, when he said, "Let’s go on." He, however, got worse, and was placed on cushions till a surgeon arrived. Witness was confident the accident would not have happened had not Sir Charles taken hold of the reins. Had driven the mare nearly two years; she was perfectly quiet, and stopped on the carriage overturning, though the harness was cut entirely away.

Ralph Dennis, surgeon, of Aylesford, stated he was sent for shortly after nine o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 10th, and on arriving at the Preston Hall back gates, found Sir Charles sitting in the road, supported by cushions—he appeared insensible. There was a considerable wound on the lip, and contusion on the left side of the head and the back. Witness proceeded to Preston Hall, where by the consent of Mr. Milner he was removed. Sir Charles partially recovered sensibility on the fourth day, but subsequently relapsed, and died at twenty minutes past five on Monday the 17th. Considers death to have ensued from concussion of the brain—no bones were broken. Sir Benjamin Brodie, Dr. Taylor, and Mr. Golding attended Sir Charles, but slight hopes were entertained of his recovery.

The Jury without hesitation, returned a verdict of "Death from Conclusion of the Brain, from an accidental fall."

The Jury expressed their high sense of the kindness of C. Milner, Esq., of Preston Hall, whose conduct towards the unfortunate deceased gentlemen was most hospitable.

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 17 March 1857.

Uttering counterfeit coin.

Joanna Sexton, 22, Catherine Driscoll, 40, and Michael Coulter, 37, hawker, for uttering three counterfeit half crowns, well knowing the same to be counterfeit, at Birling, on the 4th and 5th March.

The two females pleaded guilty.

Sarah Bath stated that her husband kept a public house at Mill Hall, near Aylesford. On 5th March, a female went in. She could not say whether it was either of the prisoners. She served her with some bread, &c, amounting to 5 1/2d. She tended half a crown in payment and receive the change. After the woman left, she discovered the half crown was bad. She had received no half crown from anyone else. She gave it to her niece.

Ann Constable, niece to the last witness, stated that Sexton was the woman who was served by her aunt with the bread. She took the half crown which she received from her aunt to her uncle.

Stephen Bath stated that he received a half crown from the last witness, and gave it to the constable. From what his niece told him, he went in the direction of Aylesford in search of the woman who had passed it. He saw the two female prisoners ahead of him. His niece pointed out the woman who had passed the half crown, and then he sent her back. He continued to follow the woman. He saw the male prisoner sitting by the roadside, and, on being joined by the woman, they all three walked away together towards Aylesford.

Henry Hilton, constable, apprehended the prisoners.

Thomas Groombridge, baker, Aylesford, stated that on 5th March Driscoll went into the shop and bought a loaf of bread, and paid for it with a bad half crown.

Three months' hard labour each.

South Eastern Gazette 26 May 1857.

MARRIAGE.

May 21, at Wormshill, Kent, by the Rev. R. J. Dolling, Mr. G. W. Fuller, of the "George Inn," Aylesford, to Mary Ann, fourth daughter of the late Mr. John Hollands, farmer, of Hollingbourne, Kent.

South Eastern Gazette, 14 February, 1860.

AYLESFORD. Suicide op a Soldier.

An inquest was held at the "George Inn," on Thursday last, before N. Dudlow, Esq., coroner, and a jury of which Mr. Wagon was foreman, to enquire into the circumstances by which John Mortimer, aged about 30, a soldier in the 6th Dragoon Guards, the depot of which is at the Cavalry Depot, Maidstone, met with his death.

Robert Broomfield, aged about 9, residing at Aylesford (who was not sworn on account of his youth), said that between three and four o’clock on Thursday afternoon he was going from the above place to Allington-lock, and when a short distance beyond the Forstall, he saw a soldier walking up and down the towing-path. After he had passed him a short distance, he saw the deceased take off his cap, and deliberately walk into the river. Deceased rose once, and then went down again. There was no other person near at the time. Witness met his uncle, (a lock-keeper named Aldridge) about three minutes afterwards,, and told him what he had seen. Aldridge replied, "Was he drowned?" and then went on towards Aylesford without taking any further notice. When witness got opposite Sills’s wharf, he called out to some boys who were breaking stones there, but they did not believe his statement. His uncle also did not seem to believe what he said, nor did he ask him where it was he had seen the soldier walk in. When deceased passed witness he looked very pale.

P.C. Dean, K.C.C., stationed at Aylesford, said he received information of the occurrence on Wednesday morning, about nine o’clock, when he went to the Aylesford National School, and saw the last witness, who accompanied him to the spot where he had seen deceased walk in. On making a search he found a military cap on the bank; he also observed some footmarks there. He then, in company with Provost-sergeant Waters, went to Allington lock, and procured a boat and the drags; and after dragging for about twenty minutes, they found the body of the deceased near to the spot where the cap was lying. The water was very low at the time.

William Bird, a sergeant in the 6th Dragoon Guards, said that deceased had been a private in the regiment for upwards of four years. He had recently returned from India, where he served through the whole of the mutiny war. Deceased had not been wounded, but had suffered a great deal from ill-health. When in India he exhibited symptoms of insanity, and while coming down the river Ganges he threatened several times to destroy himself, and a guard of three men was placed over him; it, however, ultimately, became necessary to lock him up in a cabin by himself, where he was kept for several days. When they arrived at Calcutta, he was put into hospital, where witness left him, and he did not see him again from that time till he arrived in Maidstone in the month of August last. Since then deceased had exhibited similar signs of unsoundness of mind, but witness saw him on the night of the 3rd inst., when he seemed to be quite well. He came from Leeds, in Yorkshire, and on Friday he received £5 and a furlough for a week. This was made out for London, but he only went as far as Chatham. He was addicted to drink, and when he was picked up no money was found upon him.

Several of the jury thought that the conduct of Aldridge was very censurable, in which the coroner concurred. After a brief discussion, the jury returned the following verdict, "That deceased drowned himself while in a state of unsound mind." It is supposed that deceased, having spent the whole of his money, was returning to the barracks at the time that he resolved upon committing the rash act.