Southeastern Gazette, 5 July 1853.

CRANBROOK.

On Wednesday last a young man named Thomas Mills, of respectable appearance, describing himself as a baker living at Maidstone, was charged before the Rev. F. Barrow with stealing a silver watch, and other articles, tho property of Henry Crampton.

It appeared from the evidence that the prisoner hired a bed at the "Red Lion Inn," Biddenden, on the night of Tuesday, the 28th ult., and that the prosecutor slept in the same room with the prisoner. The prosecutor arose about six o'clock on the following morning, and left home to cut some grass for his master’s horse, leaving the prisoner in bed; previous to his leaving his room he had occasion to go to his box, when the watch and other articles were safe. The prosecutor was returning a little before nine o’clock, when he met the prisoner in the direction of Cranbrook, and on being questioned as to his being in such a hurry, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe his face, and with it a part of a neckerchief, which the prosecutor recognized as his, and challenged the prisoner with breaking open his box and stealing his watch, &c. The prisoner at first denied it, but on being questioned further and taken into custody he confessed he had done so. The prisoner was committed for trial.

Southeastern Gazette, 6 September 1853.

CRANBROOK. Petty Sessions.

Thursday. (Before T. L. Hodges, Esq., C. T. Pattenson, Esq., G. R. Stevenson, Esq., the Rev. F. Barrow, and the Rev. J. Deedes).

Richard Body, of Fosten-Green, Biddenden, through Mr. Shepherd, applied for a spirit license; Mr. Shepherd stating that Mr. Body had occupied the premises for twenty-two years and had lately laid out nearly £200 to make the premises suitable for carrying on the business, the house being situate on the high road from Cranbrook to Tenterden, and on the main road from Wittersham and the Marsh. Mr. Body's certificate was numerously and respectably signed, but in consequence of their being already a licensed house on the same road not more than half a mile distant, the application was refused.

Mrs. Elizabeth Harris, of Biddenden, made a similar application through Mr. Case, of Maidstone. Mr. Shepherd opposed the application, and as it appeared that the back of the premises seeking a license adjoined those of the "Red Lion Inn," the application was refused.