Southeastern Gazette, 11 January 1853.

WEST KENT QUARTER SESSIONS.

This Session commenced on Tuesday Inst, before the Earl of Romney, chairman, and the following magistrates:—Hon. and Rev. Sir F. J. Stapleton, Bart., Rev. J. Deedes, Capt. Marsham, J. ’Espinasse, A. Akers, E. Burton, W. W. T. Baldwin, D. Scratton, C. G. Whittaker, and W. Leo, Esqrs.

Uttering Counterfeit Coin at Dartford.

William Mills, 74, was indicted for having in his possession two counterfeit half-crowns, and four counterfeit shillings, well knowing the same to be false and counterfeit, and with intent to utter the same. Mr. Deedes and Mr. Massey Dawson prosecuted.

George Whitley stated that he lived with his father, who kept the "Smiths' Arms," Dartford. On the evening of the 7th October, the prisoner came into the house and called for a quartern of rum, which was supplied him, and, in payment, he tendered a counterfeit shilling, which he (witness) marked. A policeman was sent for, and the half-crown was given up to him.

Richard Lillywhite, constable, deposed to receiving the shilling from the last witness, in the prisoner's presence. The latter denied all knowledge of its being counterfeit. Witness searched him, but finding no more bad money upon him, he was liberated.

Frederick John Thatcher, superintending-constable, deposed that on the 27th November he saw the prisoner at the railway station, Dartford, with a bundle, when he said he was waiting for the train. Witness asked him what money he had in his possession, when he gave him three sixpences, which he had in his hand at the time. Witness then told him he must search him, when prisoner said "Very well," and witness proceeded to do so. Perceiving him put something into one of his trousers pockets, he asked him what he had got there. Prisoner said "Nothing," and witness then felt in his pocket, and took out a skin. Before looking into it, witness asked what it contained, to which prisoner answered "tobacco." On looking into it, witness found four counterfeit shillings, and two counterfeit half-crowns, each of them wrapped up separately in a piece of blank paper.

William Dann, silversmith, at Maidstone, proved the whole of the coins produced to do counterfeit, but all of them had been made with the greatest accuracy.

Prisoner denied knowing that the coins were bad, and said that he took them in payment for some fowls which he had sold. His eyesight was bad, and he could not tell whether the money was good or bad.

Eighteen months' hard labour.

South Eastern Gazette, 4 October 1853.

Petty Sessions. Saturday. (Before Sir P H. Dyke, Bart., F Dashwood and J. Chapman. Esqrs , &c.)

Assault With Violence.

John Brown und John Grimsden, two Crayford brickmakers, were charged with violently assaulting Henry Blake, a labourer who was employed as night watchman by Mr. Barnes, the contractor for laying the stoneware pipes for the Dartford Local Board of Health.

Prosecutor deposed:- On Saturday night, the 24th inst., I was going home to the "Smith's Arms", in the Waterside, when I met the two prisoners, who are strangers to me. Without saying a word Brown hit me in the face, which knocked me down. Grimsden then stepped back and kicked me in the face. I did not then recollect anything more until the policeman came up. I was then taken to the surgeon's. My jaw was dislocated and my nose fractured. I afterwards went to the infirmary at the union-house.

Superintendent Thatcher proved the apprehension of the prisoners, and that there was a great deal of blood on the ground and spattered on the wall.

Joseph Harrison a chimney-sweep on the Waterside, who was sitting at his master's door on the Saturday night, saw the assault committed, and said that Grimsden kept hitting Blake when he was down, and that the prosecutor gave no provocation.

Mr. John Westwood, assistant to Mr. Tippetts, the medical officer of the union, proved that the prosecutor's jaw was dislocated and his nose smashed in when he examined him in the surgery on the night of the affray.