From the Kentish Gazette, 12 May 1846.

STAPLEHURST. In Re Isaac Beeman, Hop Factor. Boro'.

An important meeting of the creditors was held on the 1st instant, at the "South Eastern Hotel," Staplehurst, pursuant to notice, for the purpose of receiving and investigating the report of the committee appointed to examine the accounts, &c. and we are enabled to give the following detailed statements of the proceedings. The meeting was numerously attended, and Mr. Wickham, of Goudhurst, was elected chairman.

The report of the committee, stating they had carefully examined the accounts and found them substantially correct, and that the offer of 5s. in the pound was more than could reasonably be expected to be realised by any other mode of settlement, was read.

A detailed statement of the accounts, liabilities, and assets, was produced, and all the books of account, including the daily cash and bankers' pass book, with the ledgers, were laid on the table for inspection, and the clerk and accountant were present to give any explanation required.

Mr. Piercy, Mr. Beeman's solicitor, opened the business of the meeting.

Mr. Bryant, of Hawkhurst, as chairman of the committee, stated they had performed the important task committed to them with great anxiety to arrive at a correct and just conclusion, and they firmly believed the report presented by them was correct, and the composition offered beneficial to the creditors; that in such numerous and heavy transactions, some errors might be discovered, and some transactions appear not free from blame or indiscretion; but the accounts on the whole appear to have been well and correctly kept, and the deficiency of assets clearly accounted for by too extensive and incautious credit, which he had no doubt would operate as a useful lesson for the future, and he thought it right to add that every facility had been given by Mr. Beeman and his clerks, during the investigation, who had throughout shown much anxiety to have every transaction fully examined.

Mr. Beecham, solicitor, of Hawkhurst, then stated that at the request of the committee he had examined the books with the statement prepared by the accountant, which had evidently been made out with great care and correctness; that he had checked the entries from the daily transactions into each account sufficiently to satisfy himself of their general accuracy. He produced a list of every debtor and creditor, and a particular statement of all the liabilities and assets, with a reference to each account. He (Mr. B.) was satisfied the statement was correct according to the books, which would easily he proved by any creditor examining his own account, which he requested some of them would be kind enough to do, in order to test the statement to that extent, and he assured the meeting he thought the report of the committee fully justified.

Many of the creditors then examined their accounts, and the result was satisfactory.

Mr. Piercy then gave a statement of the recent receipts and payments, showing that no undue preference had been given, and that the payments to the planters had exceeded the receipts.

The Chairman then enquired whether any gentleman present wished any further explanation; if not, he should put the resolution, that the offer made at the first meeting to pay a composition of 5s. in the pound, by two instalments at three and six months, to be secured by the joint and several notes of Mr. Tooth, Mr. Oxley, and Mr. Beeman, subject to the report of the committee (which had been read), be confirmed and accepted.

The resolution was accordingly put and carried unanimously.

An agreement which had been prepared to carry out such arrangement, provided the same was executed by all the creditors within one month from that day, was then signed by all the creditors present, except two or three, who, from particular circumstances affecting their individual cases, required further time to consider.

Southeastern Gazette, 11 January 1853.

Petty Sessions, Thursday. (Before W. P. Croughton, Esq., chairman, the Rev. F. Barrow, and M. Tweedie, Esq.)

George Bennett v. James Fuller.

This information charged defendant with wilfully and maliciously breaking a pane of glass at the "South Eastern Hotel," of which the complainant is the landlord.

Complainant deposed:— On Friday evening, the 24th December, between ten and eleven o’clock, the defendant came into my house, following a gentleman and lady from the station. The defendant keeps horses, and he was soliciting the gentleman to use his conveyance in the morning. He was a little intoxicated and was troublesome, and I three times civilly requested him to leave the house. He refused to leave unless I supplied him with some brandy and water. I told him he was not in want of it, and desired him to come in the morning if he wished to see the gentleman. He refused to quit and was an annoyance, and I then put him out of doors, when he deliberately thrust his arm through a pane of glass in the hall window, which cost 6d. to replace.

Defendant stated it was nothing but jealousy, and that complainant’s men often insulted him. He denied breaking the window, and said that nine out of ten words of defendant’s statement were false.

The magistrates convicted defendant in the damage and costs.

Fuller v. Ballard.

This was a charge of assault, and arose out of the last case. The complainant stated that on the evening of the 24th December last a gentleman and lady came off the mail down train, when he and the defendant, who is in the employ of Mr. Bennett, followed them, touting for the job of providing them with with a conveyance. On witness arriving at the steps of the hotel, the defendant swore he should not go any further, and struck him twice in the chest.

The defendant said that on the train in question arriving, the station-master called him into the station, and said the gentlemen wanted beds for the night and a carriage in the morning. He took them to the hotel, and the complainant followed, and was about to follow the gentleman into the coffee-room, when he (defendant) put up his arm to prevent him, but denied having struck him.

This being corroborated by a witness named Alchin, the case was dismissed.

Southeastern Gazette, 18 January 1853.

PIGEON SHOOTING.

A GRAND MATCH will come off at the "South Eastern Hotel," Staplehurst, on Friday next, the 21st inst., between four of the best shots in England. For £20 a side, at 21 birds each, usual bounds, l 3/4oz. shot.

Barber will supply the birds. Shooting to commence precisely at Twelve o clock.