Canterbury Journal, Kentish Times and Farmers' Gazette, Saturday 6 November 1847.

Highway robbery in the open Street of Canterbury.

A serious charge, amounting to a capital offence, arising out of a trumpery affair, was heard by our city magistrates yesterday.

William Hills, nothing but a boy, apparently about 17 or 18 years of age, and lately waiter at the "Citizen of the World," was charged with having stopped one William Kenzie, of Fordwhich, on the highway, and with violence robbed him. It appeared, according to Kenzie's statement that it was at the "British Oak" public House, in Union Street, on Wednesday evening, where he saw the prisoner and another young fellow, who wanted to lay him a wager, but with which he refused to comply, whereupon they were somewhat insulting. He left to go home to Fordwich shortly before 9, and about half way down Union Street was overtaken by the two, each of them seizing him on either side by the collar of his gabardine, and striking him several times on the head. In the scuffle is gabardine was torn off and he escaped, making his way to the first house in which he saw a light, pursued by the two "footpods," one of whom encouraged the other with the words "Go it, and catch him if you can." As soon as he arrived at the house mentioned, the pursuers turned back. The prisoner was apprehended the following evening; whom he most positively identified, as he said he should be able to do his companion, though he had never seen them before that evening. He added that it was perfectly sober - no threats we used towards him, nor was any of his property taken except the gabardine.

Prisoner, when apprehended, set up an alibi, stating that he was at Littlebourne a distance of between 3 and 4 miles at half-past 9 o'clock; and, he now, in defence, said that he was at the "British Oak," where he saw the prosecutor, about 8 o'clock on the evening in question - that's when he went home, his mother requesting him to go and meet his father, which he did, on Littlebourne hill; and that he knew nothing of the matter attributed to him.

It appeared to be the deposition of the bench to commit the prison for trial, but they merely remanded him till Monday, the efforts might in the interim be used to apprehend his coadjutor.