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From the Kentish Gazette, 11 August 1857.
Magistrates' Clerk’s Office.
Yesterday week — Before the Rev. N. Toke and W. H. Carter, Esq.
Wm. Westcott, carpenter, was charged with threatening to shoot a
young woman named Catherine Andrews.
The prosecutrix said defendant was in the habit of coming to her
father’s house — the "Rose and Crown;" and on the previous day he
was there, and she thought his behaviour strange, and observed a
pistol in his pocket. Having heard that he had threatened her, she
was very much frightened. She knew of no reason why he did so, and
he had never threatened her to her face. He had never kept company
with her.
Richard Foster said he saw defendant on Saturday with the pistol,
and when he asked him the reason why he had it he would not tell. On
Sunday he saw him sitting on a stile loading the pistol; and he
afterwards fired it off, and put it in his pocket. From the remarks
he had made, he apprehended danger to the plaintiff.
Another witness deposed to the defendant having said that the
plaintiff and a young man named Russell was very thick together, but
it would not be for long.
George Andrews, brother of complainant, gave similar evidence.
Police-constable Antonio said he was sent for to the "Rose and
Crown," where he found the defendant and, upon searching him, found
a flint-lock pistol and some powder and bullets in his pockets. The
pistol was not loaded. Defendant afterwards offered him 5s., and
then a sovereign, to throw away the bullets.
The defendant said be borrowed the pistol of a young man, as he
intended walking to Maidstone, and wished to carry it with him for
protection. The furthest object from his thoughts was to do injury
to the prosecutrix.
Mr. Toomer, schoolmaster, said he knew the defendant, and believed
him incapable of doing anyone an injury.
The magistrates dismissed the case; but cautioned defendant as to
his future conduct, and ordered him not to go to Mr. Andrew’s house
again.
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