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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 27 September, 1856.
TRANSFER OF LICENCES. Sept 25.
Present - Sir T. M. Wilson, Bart., chairman; General Angerstein,
Captain Hossett, Al;derman Eagleton, T. Lewin, Esq., J. Sutton,
Esq., and Coles Chile, Esq.
This being the annual licensing day for the hundreds of Blackheath,
and Little and Lessness, there was an unusually large attendance of
applicants for spirit licences, numbering 60; of which Greenwich
numbered 9; Saint Nicholas, Deptford, 1; Saint Paul, Deptford, 6;
Lewisham, 4; Lee, 1; Charlton, 1; Woolwich, 20; and Plumstead, 14.
Greenwich.
Mr. Bristow supported, and Mr. James opposed the application of Mr.
John Leach, "Robin Hood and Little John." Licence refused.
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From the Borough of Greenwich Free Press, 26 September 1863.
A Scene at the "Robin Hood and Little John."
At the Greenwich Police Court, on Tuesday, James Way, a master-butcher, of
Straights Mouth, and James Tamplett, of Roan Street, Greenwich, appeared in
answer to summonses, charging them with assaulting Mr. Robert Blair, secretary
to a society held at the above named ale-house in the Greenwich Road.
Mr. Carttar appeared for the complaints, and Mr. Moss for the defendant.
The complainant said:- About nine o'clock in the evening on Monday week last,
the defendants came into the societies room and put in a form of application for
a loan. I do not remember the amount. I explained to them that it was necessary
to pay the inquiry fees, mentioning it at the application would be attended to
in due course. The defendant Way refused to pay the fees, saying:- "You know me,
I am a respectable man I let him (meaning Tramplett) have the money to night and
I will be surety." I told him (Way) that it was customary to pay the inquiry
fees before the loan was advanced; and that even an application from the Lord
Mayor of London would not be entertained if he had not complied with the rules
of the society. The defendants then became very noisy, and Way exclaimed:-
"You've got no money to lend; I have plenty, and will lend him the money myself
- you are only a set of imposters." I requested them to leave the room, and was
about ringing the bell for the landlord to eject the parties from the house,
when he (Way)called me "a b----- fine fellow." and struck me in the mouth,
cutting one of my lips in two, and filling my mouth with blood. I closed with
him, and whilst we were struggling, he upset a table containing between £50 and
£60 pound. In counting up the money, 14s. was discovered to be missing. I gave
him no provocation whatever, and never saw him before.
Mr. Ridgway, Newton Place, George Street, Greenwich said he was present on the
night in question, and heard the defendant apply for a loan. As they declined
paying the preliminary expenses, he requested them to withdraw quietly, and when
they both became very violent, and he received a blow in the eye from Tamplett.
In answer to a question from Mr. Burcham (who set for Mr. Traill) witness said
that Way was very much intoxicated.
Mr. Alfred Tuke, news agent, Trafalgar Road, East Greenwich, confirmed the
statement made by the previous witness; and added that the defendant way used
most disgusting epithets.
This closed the complainants case; and Mr. Moss then called Mary Leach, wife of
William Leach, landlord of the "Robin Hood and Little John," who stated that she
heard the bell rung which communicated with the room in which the disturbance
took place. On entering, witness saw Blair strike Way in the face. Why returned
the blow. She was desired to fetch her husband to clear the room of intruders,
but answered that she could do that herself. A general melee ensued, witness
left the room to call in the "bobbies" three of the combatants being covered
with blood.
Cross-examined:- Blair was the first aggressive. The defendant Way was neither
sober or tipsy.
Mr. Carttar:- I will call another witness if your worship wishes it? We are
already three to one.
Mr Moss:- I admit that - but your witnesses are all money lenders. - (Here,
here, from several seedy looking individuals.)
Mr. Burcham said there was no occasion to call any more witnesses, for he had
already made up his mind on the matter. Here are two men, his worship went on to
say, going to this society's meeting - one wanting to borrow a loan, the other
offering himself as surety. The enquiry fee is very properly demanded by this
complainant, but the defendant Way, who calls himself a respectable butcher,
(and I do not say that he is not) finds his respectability called in question,
and, smarting under that impression, begins to abuse the secretary, who desires
him to leave the office, which he refuses to do. My view of the case is, that
the secretary then went to ring the bell for assistance, when Way attempted to
stop him, and struck him in the mouth. According to his own witness' statement
Way went there in inebriated, and being refused a lone, determined to have his
full fling at the society by making scurrilous remarks. They must each be -----
Mr. Moss: Fined one shilling each, I suppose? My clients are very poor men.
The Magistrate:- As all events Way did not say so when he offered himself as
surety. They will each pay a fine of 10s. and costs, or in defaults they are
committed to seven days imprisonment at the House of Correction.
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