From the Kent Herald, 7 November 1833

Boxley. Robbery and Attempt at Murder.

A most diabolical attempt was made on Wednesday last, on the life of Mrs. Whatley, who keeps a beer shop at Roseacre, Boxley, - within three miles of Maidstone.

It appears from the account of the intended victim and other person's, that about three o'clock in the afternoon of the day a strange man entered and called for a pint of beer and pipe of tobacco, which was supplied to him, and which he said he would pay for, when his master, whom he expected, arrived. A fisherman came in and also drank a pint of beer, but observed that the stranger held a newspaper, which he was reading, so as to hide his face. A woman, who appeared to have been Hawking clothes lines, then joined the latter, and they had five pints of beer between them. The man called for another pipe of tobacco, and while Mrs. Whatley was filling it she was struck senseless by a blow on the head from behind. Shortly after that, an old man, a neighbour, who was newly blind, entered and called for some beer. Some motion of Mrs. Whatley, however, directed his attention to the spot where she lay; and supposing that she was in a fit, he lifted her onto the settle. He then tried to enter an in a room, but found the door fastened, and left the house for a few minutes to call a female from an adjoining house. When they returned together they found the above door standing open. It was furnished with neither latch nor bolt, so that the person who had struck Mrs. Whatley were supposed to have been holding it, when the old man tried it. On the alarm being given, the first attention of the neighbours was of course directed to Mrs. W. whose skull was found to be slightly fractured, and to have received two severe cuts on other places, apparently with the poker which was found near her, very much bent. A search was instantly commenced, but no tidings of the persons could be found. Mr. Sanders, the surgeon of Maidstone, who called in and paid the poor woman every attention, who was long before she recovered her senses. The wretches took from one of her pockets about 25s. In silver, and a bad crown piece. By the lightest accounts we find that the poor woman is doing well, but is far from being out of danger.