South Eastern Gazette,10 January, 1860.

Alleged Fabricated Account by a Publican.

An action was yesterday tried in the County Court, brought by a private of the 53rd Regt., named Gillespie, against Mr. Coveney, of the "Royal Engineer," Brompton, to recover the sum of £2 under the following circumstances. The plaintiff said he had just arrived from India, and went into the defendant’s public-house, having £2 11s. 6d. in his possession. After drinking there for some time during the evening, he found that he was too late to return to his quarters, and therefore remained there all night, giving defendant’s wife two sovereigns to take care of for him. On the following day he asked the landlady to give him back his two sovereigns, but she refused to do so, stating that he had spent it all in what he had, and was moreover indebted to her in the sum of 1s. 2d. This, however, plaintiff said could not have been the case, as he paid for everything he had out of the 11s. 6d. in silver which he had. The defendant's wife now handed in a "little bill" amounting to £2 1s. 2d., containing the items complainant had had at the house. His Honour, after pursuing it, said he had no doubt it was altogether a fabricated account, and he should therefore give an order for immediate payment, allowing plaintiff all his costs.