Maidstone Telegraph, 24 October 1868.

PENSHURST DISORDERLY CONDUCT IN A BEERHOUSE.

William Collins, beerhouse keeper, of Penshurst, was summoned at the Tonbridge Petty Sessions, on Tuesday, for permitting drunkenness and other disorderly conduct in his house, on the 28th September. Police constable Marsh stated that on the day in question he saw a number of drunken men come out of the house stripped, who were going to fight. When they saw him (witness) they went back again. He then went into the house, and there were about twenty men drunk some of whom were going to fight. Witness spoke to defendant twice, but he declined to interfere. Defendant debied the policeman's statement, and called his sister, Charlotte Collins, who deposed that although two lads stripped to fight there was no fighting actually took place. There was no drunkenness in the house. Superintendent Dance said the house was exceedingly badly conducted, and nine times out of ten when he visited the house he found the landlord drunk. The Bench inflicted a fine of £2 and costs, and told defendant if ever he came before them again he would lose his excise license.