12 July 1791.

Insured:- James, Richard and George Best, Kent Brewers.

The Sun in the Wood, Brompton, Henry Stroud, victualler.

Chatham News, Saturday 5 September 1863.

A water case.

Mr. Samuel Munn, baker, Brompton, was summoned on a charge of unlawfully taking a quantity of water belonging to the waterworks company, on the 22nd of August.

Mr. Bassett appeared for defendants; and Mr. Bolton, Secretary, attended to watch the case on the part of the company.

Mr. W. B. Love, collector for the Water Company, knew the defendant; he was not supplied with water by the company.

William Osborne said he was at Brompton on the 22nd, between 7 and 8 o'clock; saw the defendant's lad go round from Mr. Munn's house with a cart; he went to Middle Street and up Broad Alley towards Wood Street; he went into the back gate of the "Sun in the Wood;" he (witness) went to the bar of the "Sun in the wood," and saw Mr. Munn's cart go in the yard; saw the boy drawing water from the Company's tap into a pale; he threw it on the card, to wash it; drew another pale; asked him who ordered him to wash the cart with the water; he said Mr. Munn; the cart had been drawn round by the boy; told Mr. Munn that he (witness) had got him again; he begged that he would say nothing about it, as it would get Mrs. Palmer into trouble; it was not a public water tap.

By Mr. Bassett:- The boy did not say he was employed by Mrs. Palmer, but by Mr. Munn; Mr. Munn used to keep a pony at Mrs. Palmer's; he (defendant) had told him that he paid one shilling a quarter for the use of the water to Mrs. Palmer. Mr. Munn was not present when the water was drawn.

By Mr. Bolton:- Knew the cart belong to Mr. Munn.

Mr. Bassett address the Bench, and called Henry Gilbert, 16, who said he was employed by Mrs. Palmer, landlady of the "Sun in the Wood," Brompton; on the 22nd Mr. Munn's cart was in the yard, and Mrs. Palmer told him he might clean the cart; Mr. Munn did not tell him to take the water; Mr. Munn did not tell him to clean the cart; Mr. Munn keeps his pony at Mrs. Palmers.

By Mr. Bolton:- Took the car to the yard without telling Mr. Munn what he was going to do; Mr. Munn helped him to push the cart into the yard; he was not present when he washed the cart; received no wages from Mr. Munn; Mrs. Palmer paid him 2s. a week, and gave him permission to wash the cart.

Mr. Bassett said that was the case; when Mr. Bolton said the evidence of the last witness had so taken him by surprise that he wished to produce further evidence.

Mr. Bassett said in that case he should also claim to produce another witness; and if Mr. Bolton persisted in bringing further evidence, he would ask for an adjournment.

During a conversation Mr. Bassett discovered that the witness, Mr. Bolton was about to produce had been in court during the proceedings, when his witness (the boy) has been ordered to leave the court; he thought this witness ought not to be heard.

Adjourned till next Monday.

Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser, Tuesday 15 April 1890.

A complainant to pay costs, or go to prison.

On Wednesday, at the Borough Police Court, James Edward Cranham, a Metropolitan Police Constable, Charles Burrows, County Police Constable, and Henry Bladon, a private in the Royal Marines, was summoned for assaulting Edward Cranham, father of the first name defendants.

Mr. G. Clinch appeared for the defence.

Complainant, a bricklayer, living at 11, Albert Terrace, Shooter's Hill, said that on Sunday, 23rd March, he went to the "Railway Bell," where his wife lived. It was about 20 minutes or quarter to ten in the morning. As he was going in the door he was met by his son, and knocked back into the road. Then the other defendants attacked him and they "had him for over a quarter of an hour before he managed to get down to the station, knocking and kicking him about the road." They were all alike. Two railway porters then assisted him, and the defendant's ran away.

Complainant, cross-examined by Mr. Clinch, said that up to October last he kept the "Sun in the Wood" public house, Old Brompton, but was "sold out." Since that time he had not seen his wife, and had not allowed her a penny towards the maintenance of herself and children. On the day before the occurrence in question he found out where his wife was living, and going there he told was told to leave the house. On the Sunday he was perfectly sober. He threatened to strike his little girl with a twig; she called him an old beast.

Mr. Clinch, handing complainant a book; What is that?

Complainant:- A book showing bets on horse racing. It shows losses but not wins (laughter).

Yes:- here is a win of £3.

Mr. Clinch:- Is not that how you lost your money while at the "Sun in the wood?"

Complainant:- No; you will find wins on every page.

Mr. Bewley (magistrate's clerk):- Why, on every page is it "Lost, lost, lost!"

Mr. Clinch describe the proceedings as an impudent attempt to get men convicted for assault, under false pretences. Complainants wife and two daughters have been turned into the street to starve for all the complainant cared. Mrs. Cranham was supported by her friends for some time, and then Mr. Winch kindly put her into the "Railway Bell" to enable her to own her own living. Directly she was pulling herself around, the complainant visited the house and created a disturbance; and he (Mr. Clinch) contended that it was a justifiable act to eject him from the premises. No more force than was necessary was used.

Mrs. Cranham, who appeared very much upset, bore out Mr. Clinch's statement as to being left homeless and penniless by the complainant in October, and she saw no more of him until 22nd March, when he went to her house and created a disturbance. A policeman was sent for and he left, but came again the next evening and tried to force his way in. Witness did not see him ejected, as he was in the back-parlour.

The bench dismissed the case, with costs, and Lieutenant-Colonel Sankey said he thought complainant ought to be ashamed of himself to put his head inside a Court of Justice.

The costs amounted to £1 15s, including the fare of Burrows, from Herne Bay, and Cranham, from London.

Complainant said he had not the money, whereupon the Chairman said he must go to prison for 14 days in default.

The Bench granted Mrs. Cranham a protection order.

Ultimately, the complainant made arrangements for the payment of the costs.