Kent Herald, 11 December 1845.

Fatal occurrence.

An unfortunate accident took place at Halling, near Rochester, on Wednesday se'nnight, by which an individual lost his life.

From some unexplained cause a man in the Coast Guard service, named M'Cullen, has for some time past been annoyed by labourers employed in the lime-works there, and one of them named Peters, was a short time since brought before the magistrates and bound over to keep the peace towards M'Cullen.

On Wednesday week M'Cullum was at the "Plough" public house, in that village, when George Peters, a cousin of the man under recognizances, repeatedly held a candle to his face, and attempted to burn his whiskers, when the latter at length pushed him away, and he fell backwards on a stone pavement, where he remained for some time in a state of insensibility. He, however, rallied after this time, walked a distance to the lime-works, and returned next day to the public house and partook of some beer. He then returned to the lime-works, and remained there in an ill state of health until he was removed home and placed under the care of Dr. Perfect, of Town Malling, but he died on Wednesday, after great suffering, and has been buried without an inquest having been held. He was a single man, about 40 years of age.