Kentish Gazette, 16 July 1844.

Determined Suicide.

An inquest was held on Thursday morning, at the "Harrow," at Brompton, before John Hinde, Esq., coroner, on view of the body of William Bagshaw, who had destroyed himself on the previous day by jumping down a well. It appeared that the deceased kept a boy's school in Ordnance-place, Chatham. On complaining to some of his neighbours of being ill, he was advised to go home to his father, who is a paper-maker, residing at Manor-street Brompton. On Wednesday morning, whilst conversing with his mother, she thought his manner more strange than usual, and called in Holloway, the policeman, who, after conversing with him a short time, advised his mother to send for Mr. Weeks, the surgeon, who promptly attended, and advised that he should be closely watched, but did not think it necessary for him to be placed under restraint. It seems, however, that shortly after Mr. Weeks and the policeman had left the house, he took the opportunity upon his mother’s back being turned, to rush into the washhouse, in which the well is situated, and throw himself headlong into it. His mother, upon hearing the door slam, followed closely after, but not in time to save him. She immediately gave the alarm, assistance was procured, and he was got up quite dead. The jury returned a verdict of "Temporary insanity," which it seems was chiefly induced by delirium tremens. The well is between 130 and 140 feet deep.

Kentish Gazette, 17 March 1857.

STEALING FROM THE PERSON.

William Laho, 21, and James Wood, 20, soldiers, for stealing a purse containing 70s., the property and money of William Wardle Wenn, from his person at Brompton, on the 20th April.

The prosecutor is a sawyer, and on the day in question he was passing through Brompton on his way to Dover. He met Laho, and went with him to the "Harrow" public house. They were joined by Wood. It was about eight in the morning, he fell asleep after he had been there an hour. When he woke up the prisoners had left, and his purse and money were gone. They were safe half an hour before he went to sleep, when he pulled his purse out to pay for some drink. He went to look for the prisoners, but could not find them, he found his purse in the yard of the "Harrow." He went into East Kent, and returned about ten weeks ago to Brompton. From information he received he went to the Engineer Barracks and identified Laho. He then went to Fort Clarence and identified Wood. He said to Wood, "How do you do? Have you seen me before?” He said, "Yes." In answer to another question, he said he had seen him last year at the "Harrow." Witness then said, "You were a good friend to rob me." Wood said he had taken £3 10s. from his pocket. On the way to the station-house Laho said, "You make so much row about being picked up; you look as if you could afford to lose a few pounds. If we had not robbed you some one else would. I can plead guilty and get turned up for it."

Sergeant-Major Reid, of the Royal Engineers, stated that he went to the guard-room on the 17th December, having been sent for by the prisoners. Wood said he had stolen £3 10s. from a civilian at the "Harrow on the 20th April. Laho came out and told him the same.

Edward Tyler, policeman of Brompton, stated that he apprehended Laho about the 3rd January. Witness then corroborated the prosecutor's statement in most points as regarded what Laho said on the way to the station-house.

In answer to Laho, witness said he told him he would plead guilty if he thought he should get his discharge from the service. He did not say that Wood was innocent.

Mr. Francis addressed the jury for Wood, and urged the improbability of the prosecutor being able to identify Wood from any other soldier after a lapse of nearly a year, he never having seen him before the time of the robbery, according to his own evidence. The admission made by Wood might have been made in order to escape the military punishment he was then undergoing.

Laho handed in a written defence, in which he said it was hard that he should be punched for a few foolish words he had made use of to escape military punishment. Wood was innocent of the charge.

The jury found both prisoners guilty, and they were sentenced to six months' hard labour.