From the Kentish Gazette, 17 September 1839.

(ANOTHER ACCOUNT).

On Monday last Madame Panormo had announced a concert to take place at the "Sun Inn." However, the awfully sudden death of her husband, which took place that day, deprived the inhabitants of the performance. It appeared that the gentleman's death took place in one of the rooms where he was lodging, which was on St. Margaret's Bank, Rochester, and that he had been in excellent spirits throughout the day. He was watching the arrival of the vans from Gravesend, as his son, who was coming from London to take part in the performances of the evening, was expected by one of them; and having caught sight of him, he exclaimed, "here he is," when he instantly fell down dead. A coroner’s inquest was held on Wednesday, at the "Nag's Head, before R. Hinde, Esq., touching the death of the deceased, when the jury, after a patient investigation, returned a verdict of "Died in a fit of apoplexy."

From the Kentish Gazette, 30 August 1842.

On Saturday an inquest was held at the "Nag’s Head," Rochester, before J. Lewis, Esq., coroner, on the body of John Sindon, an apprentice to Mr. Aldridge, Brompton, who was drowned on the same morning whilst bathing near Gillingham. In about five hours he was picked up by a sapper of Brompton.

Verdict, "Accidentally drowned whilst bathing."

Kentish Gazette, 2 January 1844.

The Rival Coroners. A Double Inquest.

On Friday morning last a man named Patrick Knowlan, a private in the 3rd buffs, was discovered lying dead close beneath the platform of a wharf at the bottom of Holborn-lane, Chatham. It would appear that deceased had mistaken his way and fallen from the wharf which is used for landing coals from the river, a depth of about eight feet, upon the muddy beach below, which was then strewn with refuse coal. There was a large and severe wound upon the left temple, and a piece of coal was sticking in the left cheek close below the eye. The whole left side of the face was much contused. He had evidently, from the state of his clothes, been covered with water, which overflows this spot at the period of spring-tides. Although nothing certain is known, it is generally supposed that he took Holborn-lane for the West-lane which leads to the barracks, and that walking forward in the darkness he fell from the wharf.

Mr. Lewis, the coroner for the city of Rochester, claims jurisdiction over all bodies found in the water at this spot, and as the unfortunate man had evidently been immersed, he thought this a proper case for the exercise of his office, and accordingly summoned a jury to sit upon the body at 10 o'clock on Friday morning; but on his going to view the deceased he found that it was at the "King’s Arms," Chatham, in the hands of Bines, the Chatham constable, as the representative of Mr. Hinde, one of the coroners for the eastern division of the county of Kent, who refused to give up the key of the room, but allowed Mr. Lewis and his jury to view the body. They then returned to the "Nag’s Head," Rochester, and having heard the evidence of John Shepherd, a fisherman, who deposed that a carter going on to the beach for coals at half-past seven on Friday morning found the body as already described, the jury returned a verdict of "Found Dead."

Mr. Himle, the county coroner, held another inquest upon the deceased at the "King’s Arms," and after taking the evidence of William Wittingham, the carter, who found the body, and Frederick Collins, a corporal of the 3rd buffs, who stated that he saw the deceased on the evening preceding his death, and he was then sober, the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." Each of the coroners issued a warrant for the interment of the body. The disputed jurisdiction, it is believed, will now be submitted to the decision of a higher court, in order to settle what is here considered a "vexata questio." (Overrun problem.)

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 25 May 1847.

DEATH.

Bathurst. May 11, Mary, second daughter of Mr. John Bathurst, of the "Nag's Head," Rochester, aged 16.

South Eastern Gazette, 3 January, 1860.

Friday:- (Before the Rev. G. Davies, and J. Hulks, Esq.)

Frederick Scott and John Roberts, two soldiers were charged with burglariously entering the premises of Mr. Hogben, greengrocer, High Street, Chatham, and stealing there from two apples, and a pound of butter. Prosecutor said he was awakened at about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 27th by hearing a noise down stairs, and on hastening down, saw the prisoners at the foot of the stairs. One of them had prosecutors gun in his hands, and the other held a light. He could swear to the prisoner Roberts being one of the men, but was not quite so sure as to the other. It was the prisoner Roberts who had the gun in his hand.

Prosecutor called out that he would shoot them, on which Roberts, said "I will shoot you." They then both ran away, making their escape out of the sitting room window, through which they had entered. On examining the premises he found that the wire blind of the window was broken, and window open. The shutters had been fastened the previous evening. The only things missed were two apples and a pound of butter. Prosecutor heard a third burglar in the sitting-room.

Inspector Checkland said on receiving information of the burglary he examined the sitting-room, and on the floor found the iron heel of a military boot, which correspond with some marks made on the wire blinds of the window.

The next day witness took both prisoners into custody as they were walking in Church Street. They both denied all knowledge of the burglary and wished to be taken to prosecutors house.

Levitt, 20, a city policeman, said he saw the two prisoners and another soldier together at the "Nags Head" public house, the landlord of which called him in to turn them out. They afterwards went into the "Five Bells" public house.

The prisoners were committed for trial.