Kent Times, 12 April 1862.

Breach of the Publichouse Act.

Thomas Streeter, publican, Brenchley, was summoned, at the instance of Supt. Dance, to answer to the charge of having opened his hoaee at illegal hours on Sunday, the 30th March.

Mr. Hogers defended.

P.S. Mayne deposed:- On the 30th March last about half-past four in the afternoon I visited the "Maidstone Road Inn" near Paddock-Wood, I found the house open and on going in I saw a man ordering beer at the bar. The landlord had his hand on the beer engine, apparently going to draw, but as soon as he saw me he turned away. I then went round to the side of the bar and then saw four men, three glasses full of beer or ale and also a glass and a pint jug which contained a small quantity. I then said to the landlord "What time do you open your house on Sunday afternoon?"He said at 5 o’clock." I said "Then why is it I find your house open, these four here, and that quantity of beer out at half-past 4 o’clock?" To this he replied, "I did not know but what I might open it when I came out of church." One of the men said he was a traveller from Wateringbury and had a horse and cart the stable. The other three I know by sight but not by name.

By Supt. Dance: There were four men. The landlord also said one of them was a traveller but gave no account of the other three. By all appearance two of them had been in the house for some time.

By Mr. Rogers:- I saw three glasses on the mantelpiece. The man who sat opposite the jug and a glass on the table said he was a traveller. The door was ajar when I went in. I believe the church service was over. The other men were sitting on a form near the Mantelpiece. I do not know the landlords son-in-law.

Mr. Rogers having addressed the Bench, called the following witnesses for the defence.

John Barden of East Peckham, son-in-law to the defendant said:- On Sunday week I went to the afternoon service at Paddock-Wood church and I had to pass my father-in-law’s home. On my return from church I went to see him. It was then about half-past 4 o'clock. I went in at the back door because the front door was locked. A man named Driver was in the bar parlour, and I saw a female standing in the passage near the front door. Driver was drinking a glass of ale. I asked my father-in-law to give me a glass and he drew a pint and had a glass himself. We put the glasses on the mantelpiece. I did not pay for the ale. I afterwards saw these men come in at the front door and it was then about 20 minutes to 5. The defendant refused to draw ale for one man who asked for it, saying it was not time to open, it was about 5 o’clock when he started away.

William Driver, of Yalding, employed as cooper by Mr. Jade, Wateringbury, said he drove his aunt to Paddock-wood on Sunday, the 30th of March, and went to the defendant's house to put up his horse. The defendant unlocked the front door. It was then about four o’clock. He and his aunt went into the house, when defendant drew a pint of ale for them; His aunt stopped at the front door to look for her sister, who had gone to church. He saw his aunt leave the house, and immediately afterwards three men came in. They asked for a pint of beer, and he heard defendant refuse to supply them, giving as his reason that it was not opening time. He remained until six o’clock.

Thomas Hunt, a labourer at Brenchley, stated that on Sunday week he went to the Paddock-wood church, and that in returning home he called at the defendant's house with another man. They asked for some ale, which defendant refused to draw, and told him to leave.

The Bench said they did not think there was evidence upon which they could convict, although the officer was justified in doing as he had done.

The decision was received with applause in court, which was immediately suppressed.