South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 13 June 1854.

Public house and beer house information.

The following publicans and beer sellers, at Chatham, were charged, at the instances of Superintendent Everist, with keeping their houses open for the sale of beer after the legal hour of 11 o'clock at night.

John Newing, of the "London Tavern," fined 10s. and 20s. costs;

.....

From the Kentish Gazette, 11 August 1857.

County Bench, Wednesday August 5.

(Before J. Smith, Esq., T. H. Day, Esq., Rev. G. Davies, and Major Boys.)

James Slow, a pensioner and waiter at the "London Tavern," High-street, Chatham, was charged with assaulting Mr. Dadd, and biting the constable’s fingers.

Fined £2 9s., and in default he was committed to Maidstone gaol for six weeks.

South Eastern Gazette, 13 November, 1860.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.

MONDAY:— Before the Rev. J. J. Marsham, T. H. Baker and J. Foord, Esqrs.)

George Monrowe and Thomas Whitley, two men having the appearance of railway labourers, were charged with assaulting Mr. Slingsby, the landlord of the "London Tavern," High-street, Chatham.

The prisoners entered the bar of the public-house in a state of semi-intoxication and commenced a disturbance with those there. Ther also stole a few cigars from a case on the counter, and carried off a glass containing some spirits.

Monrowe was discharged, and Whitley committed for fourteen days.

South Eastern Gazette, Tuesday 29 March 1864.

Charge of embezzlement by the treasurer of a Druids Lodge.

The County Magistrates of Rochester were engaged some considerable time on Wednesday last, in the investigation of a charge preferred against Samuel Slingsby, who had been apprehended on a warrant emanating from that Court, charging him with having, as treasurer of No. 17 lodge of Druids, held at the accused late public house, the "London Tavern," High Street, Chatham, misappropriating the sum of £34 6s.; Mr. Hayward appeared for the prosecution, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Terry, the barrister.

Mr. Heywood, having explain the object of the prosecution and the charge against the accused, proceeded to examine the several witnesses, from whose evidence it appeared that the "lodge," or society, was duly enrolled, and therefore the present proceedings were adopted.

The prisoner was treasurer of the lodge until the 31st December last, at which time he was found to be indebted to the funds £34 6s. He was then dismissed from the office of treasurer. For some time afterwards the accused refused to render any account, but ultimately he appeared to have admitted the balance due from him, and gave up the bankers pass-port. It was his duty to have handed over to his successor any balance he might have held, but he failed to do so, telling his successor that he would "see him -------- first." He ultimately admitted having kept the balance stated, and offered to refund the sum by instalments of 5s. weekly, but this offer was refused, and the present proceedings taken against him. It also appeared that a former treasurer of the lodge, the funds of which appeared to be in a most confused and unsatisfactory state, had embezzled a sum of £13, but had not been prosecuted.

Mr Terry, on the part of the prisoner, contended that the magistrates had no jurisdiction in this case, which was clearly one for the County Court.

It was ultimately arranged for the case to stand adjourned for a week, and if the amount owing were paid by the prisoner the prosecution would be abandoned.

The defendant was then liberated on the same amount of bail as before.