Kentish Gazette - Saturday 29 June 1776.

To BE SOLD BY AUCTION.

On THURSDAY, the 4th Day of July, 1776, at the "Golden Lion," in Brompton, near Chatham, between the Hours of Four and Five o'Clock in the Afternoon precisely.

ALL those four Freehold Messuages or Tenements, with the several Yards and Gardens thereto belonging, with their Appurtenances, the one of them the "Green Dragon," and the others close adjoining; situate in Gillingham in the County of Kent; and now in the several Occupations William Newnham, John Simson, James Basset, and Bennet Davis, under several reserved Rents, amounting to 16l. 5s. a Year.

For further Particulars enquire of Mr. DIXON, or Mr. HICK, in Rochester.

Kentish Gazette, 30 May, 1806.

DIED.

At Brompton, on Friday last, Mr. Palmer, landlord of the "Golden Lion" public-house.

He was about five feet ten inches high, and in circumference, supposed the largest, and most corpulent man in this county.

From the Kentish Gazette, 3 October 1843.

PROVINCIAL INTELLEGENCE. A SOLDIER SHOT BY A COMRADE.

CHATHAM. Sept. 26.

An inquest was held this morning at the "Golden Lion Inn," Brompton, before Mr. J. Hinde, coroner, on the body of Corporal Henry Donelly, of the 58th Regiment, who was shot dead by a soldier of the same corps, on Saturday afternoon, the 23rd inst. The inquest room was crowded with civilians and military. The jury having been sworn, repaired to K house, 5 room, in the Artillery barracks, and took a view of the body; it was lying on a bed, and presented a most awful spectacle, being covered with gore; the right eye being forced out of the socket by the force of the ball, which appeared to have entered under the left ear. The body was dressed in regimentals. On the return of the jury to the jury-room, the colonel of the regiment, Lieut. Colonel Wynyard, with Major Bridge, Captain Nugent, and Lieutenant and Adjutant M'Lorie, were present to watch the proceedings, also Dr. Chisholm R.E. The prisoner was brought into the inquest-room by an escort under the charge of the Serjeant Major, and placed before the Court.

The first witness examined was Thomas M’Connell; he said:— "I am a private in the 58th Regiment of Foot, stationed at Brompton Barracks. I was in the barrack-room No. 5, on Saturday afternoon, the 23rd instant, when about 20 minutes past 3 o'clock. Corporal Donelly came in and sat down at the table and began to eat his dinner; Corporal Henry Lowrie came into the room at the time and said, "Donelly, well you are returned." The deceased replied, "I am my boy, and I am for Dublin tomorrow morning." Corporal Lowrie made some reply which I did not hear. Corporal Lowrie walked up betwixt the bed of the deceased and Private David Burridge’s bed, and took hold of a firelock which was resting against the wall of the room; the fire-lock belonged to a recruit. Lowrie cocked the piece and put it up to his shoulder and fired it; the gun he pointed towards the deceased, who fell with his head on the plate that he was eating from; the bullet entered the head and came out at one of the eyes and was lying on the cloth of the table after he discharge of the musket, which had a percussion-lock. There were several other firelocks in the room. It is a common practice with the men, when non-commissioned officers are absent, to snap caps off, although there is a positive order against it. The deceased and Lowrie were generally on good terms together, and I never heard of their having at any time had a quarrel. Corporal Lowrie was not quartered in the same room with the deceased. As soon as the corporal was shot, I ran out of the room frightened, and culled out "Murder" and, seeing Major Bridge, I told him what had occurred. In about 10 minutes I returned to my room. The deceased placed his musket in the place that Lowrie took it from. It is not usual for firelocks to be brought into the mess-room loaded; it is contrary to general orders. The deceased knew his gun was loaded, as he had just come off duty from an escort, entering the back way instead of the front, as he ought to have done, and reported himself to his superior officer, or to the officer on guard; if the deceased had done so, the charge of the piece would have been drawn."

Francis Gallagar, private of the 38th Regiment, sworn:— The deceased (Corporal Donelly) went with me in the morning of Saturday last as an escort to Maidstone Gaol, for the purpose of bringing a prisoner to the barracks. The deceased with myself arrived at head quartets at a quarter past three o'clock, having first delivered the prisoner over to the main guard at Chatham barracks. The deceased and myself belong to the 5th room. We both entered by the back way, being the nearest. The deceased and myself were both sober. The charge of my gun was not drawn, as the deceased would not give me time to do it, and I took it into my room with me, which was contrary to general orders. The first thing we did on entering our room was to take off our accoutrements. The deceased put his firelock down by the side of the door-post, on the right hand side, and I put my fire-lock down against the window; there were several other firelocks in the room at the time out of the arm rack. The prisoner came into the room, and spoke to me for throwing about my bed on the floor. The prisoner afterwards went towards the door, and said to the deceased, "Where have you been?" The deceased answered him by saying, to "Maidstone, for a prisoner from gaol, and I'm off for Dublin to-morrow morning." The prisoner said. "Ah, it is you that has the luck, and not me.'' The prisoner then took up the firelock that stood behind the door, saying, "I have a great mind to shoot you, Donelly;" and putting the musket up to his right shoulder in the usual way, and pointed it towards the deceased, who was sitting at his dinner, instantly discharged it. The head of the deceased immediately fell on the plate. I directly went to the deceased, who, on lifting up his head, in a faint voice said, "I am dead;" and died instantly. The prisoner Lowrie after he fired the gun lowered the piece, and said, "Dear me, I did not think it was loaded," and appeared much affected, staggering against the wall of the room. I thought he would have fainted. The prisoner is a good natured man, and was on good terms with the deceased. It is against the regulations of the service for firelocks to be loaded in the soldiers' rooms. It is a custom with the young soldiers to snap off the caps with their muskets at candles when the non commissioned officers are not present. I firmly believe the prisoner did not know the musket was loaded when he took it up. The prisoner, ever since I have known him, has conducted himself in a quiet and friendly manner with his comrades.

By a Juror:— It is not usual for caps to be on the firelocks when not loaded; a cap might remain on if a man, on drawing the charge, forgot to take it off. I knew the deceased's firelock was loaded, but the instant the prisoner took up the gun he fired it off. There was not time for me to speak out.

The prisoner, notwithstanding he was cautioned by the coroner, said that the witness had said that he took the firelock from behind the door, which was not the truth; when he look up the gun he saw a cap on it, but he did not think it was loaded when he presented it.
The Jury found that the deceased was accidentally shot by the prisoner, who did not know that the gun was loaded; and they added that due caution had not been taken by the proper authorities on the arrival of the escort.

The Coroner trusted that the present inquiry would act as a warning to the prisoner for the remainder of his life; and also that all soldiers would take warning and not play with the firearms entrusted to their care.

The prisoner, who was much affected during the four hours’ inquiry, was released from custody.

The deceased had been four years in the regiment, and was 22 years of age.

From the Kentish Gazette, 21 April 1846.

April 18th. An Alleged Murder of a Wife by her Husband.

A coroner’s inquisition has been sitting at the "Golden Lion Inn," Brompton, for two days, on the body of Mrs. Ann Allpress, a married woman, and whose death, it is alleged, has been caused by her husband, William Allpress, alias Butcher. The jury first assembled on Tuesday, the 14th instant, when the evidence was sufficient to warrant an adjournment to Friday the 17th; and the coroner, J. Hinde, Esq., ordered Tyler, the policeman, to take the husband of the deceased into custody, and keep him confined until the jury assembled again. The inquisition was resumed at ten o'clock on Friday morning, and owing to the number of witnesses, the Court was occupied nine hours. It appeared that the deceased and her husband lived in Broad-alley, Brompton; that about twelve o’clock on Saturday night the 4th instant, the deceased went to the "Dolphin" Public-house, a short distance from her home, to fetch her husband, who was in the tap-room drinking; the room was full of men and women; the husband refused to go home, and drove the deceased out of the tap-room, giving her several blows, and kicking her; that on the deceased’s arrival at her lodgings she was insensible, and appeared as if she was tipsy, and with the assistance of the landlady’s daughter the deceased was put to bed. The husband of the deceased came home shortly after, and the inmates were roused by the deceased’s running from the room covered with blood. She died in the landlady’s bed in a few hours.

A verdict of Manslaughter was returned, and the prisoner, who is 28 years of age, was committed to Maidstone gaol for trial. Deceased was a native of Chatteris, Cambridgeshire, and the prisoner of Warwick.

South Eastern Gazette, 29 May, 1860.

Death From Opium At Brompton.

An inquiry was commenced at the "Golden Lion," Hotel, High-street, Brompton, on Friday evening last, before T. Hills, Esq.; the coroner, and a respectable jury, of which Mr. Death was the foreman, touching the death of Mr. Alfred Porter Fowler, a young man aged 24, who died a few days previously under circumstances which had created a great deal of excitement in the locality. Mr. G. B. Acworth, solicitor, attended to watch the inquiry on the part of Dr. Burton, the medical man who attended the deceased up to the time of his death.

The Coroner informed the jury that it was not his intention to go into the evidence at any great length that evening, his object being to enable the jury to view the body, in order that he might give the necessary certificate for its interment. He then proposed to take the evidence of one witness, and afterwards adjourn the inquest till Monday. The jury were then sworn, and having viewed the body the following evidence was taken:—

Mrs. Susan Nelson, wife of Mr. Nelson, auctioneer, Bvompton, deposed:— The deceased was assistant to Messrs. Lacy and Copland, army contractors, and was 24 last February. He had been laid up for about a fortnight, during which time my daughter was his principal nurse, attending him all the day, and the young men at night. I went in occasionally to see him. On Tuesday night last my daughter was with him till nearly 11 o’clock, when she left him pretty well. I did not see him an Tuesday night, but on Wednesday morning I was called up about 3 o’clock to see the deceased. My daughter and I went immediately, and I remained with him till 7. I found him rather worse and restless. We gave him nourishment, but there appeared to be a change in him, which was the reason we were called by the young man who gave him his medicine.

I gave him his medicine as directed, but he still appeared restless; I continued to give him his medicine up to 6 o’clock, when he went off into a doze, and at 7 o'clock I left him asleep. I was soon called back again, and found, him much worse; in fact, I never saw such a change in so short a time; it was wonderful. Deceased was struggling a great deal, and very feverish. I sent for Mr. Burton, the surgeon who had been attending him, but he did not come; I then sent a second time and he came. Deceased, was still very restless. Mr. Burton ordered some coffee tabs made directly, which was done, and deceased took a small portion of it. Mr. Burton then fetched Mr. Weekes, surgeon, and they gave him something warm, — I suppose to make him sick, but it had no effect on him, The stomach-pump was then used, but also without effect. I then laid the deceased down on the bed, having supported him as long as I could, and he expired instantly. He died between half-past 8 to a quarter to 9., As soon as my daughter and I went in we gave him a pill, at 3 o'clock, and he had one every hour afterwards up to 6 o’clock. There were two pills then left in the box, but as I found he was getting much worse I would not give them to him.

I have not got the pill-box, but I read the directions on it several times; they were, "One pill to be taken every hour." When I went in to the deceased the second time, he was struggling as if in convulsions, which I supposed was the effect of his medicine. He knew me perfectly well for two hours, and was sensible, but not able to speak. Dr. Martin was sent for and arrived a little after 8 o’clock, — about half an hour before deceased expired. Dr. Martin ordered mustard poultices to be applied, but they had no effect. All three medical men remained with deceased till he died, and during the time they, were there spoke to each other about the medicine which had been given to him. Mr. Burton had attended the deceased through the whole of his illness.

By the Foreman:— The deceased had an attack of quinsey last winter, but he was generally very healthy. Mr. Burton attended him then, and he was quite satisfied with him.

By Mr. Acworth:— I cannot say whether deceased had an epileptic fit before he died. I have seen convulsive fits but not epileptic fit.

At this stage of the proceedings the further investigation of this extraordinary case was adjourned till Monday morning, at half-past 10.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.

The inquest was resumed yesterday (Monday), and a number of witnesses were examined. Mr. Hawkins, barrister, instructed by Mr. G. B. Acworth, attended to watch the case on behalf of Dr. Burton; and Mr. Wates, of Gravesend, on behalf of the friends of the deceased.

Miss Martha S. Nelson, to whom the deceased was about, to be married, and who attended him during his last illness, spoke of the medicine administered to him by Dr. Burton. When last sent for, the doctor, noticing the sufferings of his patient, exclaimed, "What an aas I was to give him that opium," and afterwards "What a fool I was to give him that opium." He then fetched Dr. Weekes, and Dr. Martin was also sent for.

By the jury:— No one else was present in the room when Dr. Burton used the words she had stated.

Dr. William Burton stated that the deceased had been suffering from rheumatic fever and was treated accordingly. In order to compose him witness gave, him draughts composed of half a grain of acetate of morphia, half a drachma of tincture of henbane, with camphor mixture. Some days he took one draught and sometimes two in the day. On the day previously to the death, witness administered quinine, and a composing draught of 2/3 of a grain of acetate of morphia, 40 minims of tincture of henbane, and 15 minims of colchicum; and the same day sent him three pills, each containing 1/2 a grain of opium. On Wednesday morning, at 1 o’clock, he was sent for; there was then no apparent effect of the opium. Witness sent another, draught and six pills, one to be taken every hour. The draught consisted of 1/2 a grain of acetate of morphia, 1/2 a drachma of tincture of henbane, with camphor. The pills were each composed of 1/3 of a grain of opium and one of calomel. About seven witness was sent for, before he was up, and went to deceased in about a quarter of an hour after. He was very restless, but wanting to doze. He saw at once it was the excitement produced from the opium, and ordered him strong coffee, and three emetics of sulphate of zine. Mustard poultices were applied and the stomach, pump, but deceased died in convulsions.

By Mr. Wates:— The deceased undoubtedly died from the effects of opium given to relieve his pain. The certificate he gave was that he died from rheumatic fever.

Dr. A. Martin, who had been called to see the deceased about half an hour before he died, believed death resulted, from accumulated effects of opium. His own opinion was, after hearing the evidenoe of Dr. Burton, that he was perfectly justified in pursuing the plan of treatment he did.

Professor A. S. Taylor, M.D., of Guy’s Hospital, after commenting on the evidence given by Dr. Burton, said his opinion was that the symptoms were those of poisoning by opium, but of a peculiar character, convulsions rarely or never occurring in adults. Another peculiar circumstance was that the deceased should have died from so small a quantity of opium, and given over a period of four hours. The smallest single dose of opium known to kill a man, out of a number of cases, was four grains, but the deceased died from less than two, administered in four doses. The whole evidence showed that the opium did not act, on deceased as it did on other persons, for at eleven, o’clock he took a grain and a half without any perceptible effects. He attributed the fatal effects te the accumulation of opium in the system, its effects being aggravated by the nature of the disease under whioh he was labouring. Dr. Burton was fully justified in prescribing the drug to relieve the severe pain, and in continuing the use of it when he found that the first doses had no effect. He acted also with the greatest prudence in reducing the dose to a third of a grain per hour, whereas most practitioners would have been inclined to have given a muck larger dose from the absence of any effects. A dose usually given to adults is from half a grain to two grains, which, is an average dose.

By Mr. Wates:— He considered death to have arisen from the effects of opium. He should not have given such a certificate as that produced. They had cases almost daily where doses of chloroform would kill one man which another might take with impunity.

The verdict was as follows:— "We find that the deceased Alfred Porter Fowler died from the accumulated effects of opium administered to him in the treatment of rheumatic fever, and that we consider, from the medical evidence, which has been produced, that Dr. Burton was justified in following out the treatment in the way he did, and exercised more than ordinary skill."

The inquiry then terminated, having lasted about five hours.

East Kent Gazette, Friday 26 July 1957.

Publican’s car ride cost him £80. INVOLVED IN TWO ACCIDENTS.

A BROMPTON publican, who was involved in two accidents between Rainham and Gillingham within a few minutes of each other on 20 May, was fined a total of £61 with £19 7s. 9d costs, by Chatham magistrates on Wednesday last week.

He was 65-year-old Beunos Ayres, of the "Golden Lion," public house, High Street, Brompton, and he was convicted on two summonses alleging careless driving and was disqualified from driving until he passed a driving test.

He was fined £20 for driving without due care and attention at High Street, Rainham, at about 3.20 p.m. on 20 May; £5 for failing to report an accident; £5 for failing to stop after an accident and £1 for failing to notify the change of ownership of a motor vehicle, and ordered to pay £15 11s. 9d. costs.

He was also fined £20 for careless driving at Watling Street, Gillingham, at about 3.25 p.m. on the same day; £5 for failing to report an accident and £5 for failing to stop after an accident, with £3 10s. costs.

Outlining the cause for the prosecution in the first case, in which Ayres pleaded not guilty to careless driving and to failing to report or stop after the accident, and guilty to the notification of ownership offence. Mr. John Newey said the summonses arose out of an accident at Rainham High Street.

A Mr. White had parked his car on the near side of the road facing towards Gillingham. Another car, driven by Ayres, came from the direction of Sittingbourne and struck White's car a glancing blow as it passed.

Ayres did not stop, not did he report the accident. The parked car had damage to its off side mudguard and door.

Evidence in support of Mr. Newey's opening statement was given by Peter White, of Palmerston Road, Chatham: Mrs. Dorothy Sutton, of Weston Road, Strood; Mark Henry Shepherd, of Beatty Avenue, Gillingham; Gerald Field Marshall, of Stanton Road, Wigmore; Frank Horace Fuller, of Coronation Crescent, Margate; and P.C. Arthur Brayley.

Remembered slight accident.

P.C. Brayley said he saw Ayres in Brompton High Street on 4 June and Ayres made a statement to him. In it he said he remembered being involved in a slight accident soon after leaving Key Street.

Evidence was also given by Anthony John Jenkins, of the motor vehicle registration department of Kent County Council.

In evidence Ayres, who was defended by Mr. David Knight said he had been driving for 16 years without an accident or conviction. he had no recollection of hitting a car in Rainham High Street.

Some weeks before the accident he had had a nervous breakdown, but felt all right on the day of the accident. He was practically a teetollar and had not had anything intoxicating to drink that day.

Ayres pleaded guilty to all three summonses relating to the second accident.

Mr. Newey said it occurred some minutes after the first one, at the junction of Watling Street and Eastcourt Lane. In passing a vehicle in front of him. Ayres crossed the white line and was involved in a slight collision with a car going towards Sittingbourne.

He did not stop, nor did he report the accident to the police.

For Ayres, Mr. Knight said it was clear he thought there was room for him top pass the vehicle in front of him when there was not. When he realised his error it was too late.