From a local paper, 6 February 1864.

Thursday:- Before Robt. Tooth, Esq., (Chairman), Captain Pattenson, Captain Oakes, and E.R.R. Stevenson, Esq.

CRANBROOK PETTY SESSIONS.

Complaint against a Beehhoose Keeper.

John Goble, beerhouse keeper, of Rolvenden, was charged by Supt. D. Ovenden with selling beer on Sunday, Jan. 10th, after 10 o’clock at night, viz., at 20 minutes to 11 o’clock.

P. C. Alfred Barns deposed that on the day named he visited defendant’s house. On going into the back yard he saw a man with a bottle under his arm which contained beer. The man told him he had been to defendant’s to get the beer, and was going to take it home for his wife's supper. The back door was standing open when witness went into the yard, but it was afterwards closed.

Defendant said he had drawn no beer after 10 o’clock, at which time he closed his house, and he should have been in bed had it not been that his wife was going to bake on the next day, and he was waiting while she laid the bread leavening.

Supt. Ovenden, in reply to the Bench, said he knew nothing against the conduct of the house previous to this complaint.

The Chairman said an offence against the Beer Act had been committed and proved, the full penalty for which was 40s.; but as it appeared to be the defendant's first offence, and as no flagrant circumstances attached to the matter, the Bench would inflict a fine of 10s. only, and 11s. costs.

The money was paid.

(The chairman of the bench in February 1864 was Robert Tooth Esq, a local hop merchant and until 1846, owner of the Baker's Cross Brewery, Cranbrook, which later became Sharpe & Winch. A year or so after John Goble was fined by the bench, Robert Tooth was financially ruined by the collapse of the London bank, Overend & Gurney, in which he had invested heavily. Rory Kehoe)