From the Maidstone and Kentish Journal, 6 November 1871.

BEARSTEAD PETTY SESSIONS.

Alleged beer house offences.

Thomas Ashdown, beer house keeper, of East Farleigh, who was represented by his wife, was summoned for having his house open during prohibited hours, for the sale of certain articles, to wit, potatoes, on Sunday, August 15th.

P.S. Smith said that about 11:50 he went to the back door of defendants house where he saw the landlady washing up some plates. A man was standing close by with a pint pot, and witness was about to look into it when the landlady emptied the contents down the sink, but witness tasted the reminder, and was sure it was beer. Directly afterwards another man came round, and when he saw him he asked for or some potatoes, which Mrs. Ashdown sold him, and for which she received money, but under the man's coat witness saw a pint bottle, and, in answer to a question put to him, the man said he bought it for some beer. Witness and found out that the man who had the beer occasionally lodged at the house, but he did not know if he was lodging there the night previously. Defendants wife denied that she received any money for the potatoes. The bench said they would dismiss the case, but she must understand that she had a very narrow escape, and that she must not even sell potatoes on Sunday.