Kentish Gazette, 19 March 1844.

CANTERBURY PETTY SESSIONS. (Guildhall.)

(Before the Mayor and Magistrates.')

March 10.— At the opening of the court, a letter from Sir R. England, colonel of the 41st Light Infantry, enclosing one to him from the officer in command of the regiment, at Canterbury, to the Mayor, was read by the clerk, complaining of the conduct of the landlord of the "Duchess of Kent" beer-shop, in Northgate-street, in consequence of his harbouring the men of the above regiment when absent from their duty without leave; and also, with having secreted two men from an escort sent to take them into custody by allowing them to go to his apartments up stairs, from whence they escaped by the window; and also, of his refusing to permit the piquet pursuing them on their retreat without a police-officer, when, by the time a policeman could be procured, the escape had been effected. The Mayor sent for the landlord, E. Redman, who said that he gave the corporal and one man permission to go up stairs, but refused to allow the whole of the piquet to do so. W. Mount, esq., who presided in place of the Mayor, said that many complaints had been made as to the manner in which the business of the house in question was carried on, and warned Redman to be more cautious in future as to the company he entertained, or he might subject himself to the penalties provided by the law for the government of beer-shops.

William Montford, a private of the above regiment, was charged with having illegally pawned the watch of John Dennis, a comrade, and was convicted both on the evidence and his own admission, and fined in the penalties of £5 5s., in addition to £1 and costs, amounting in the whole to £6 14s., and in default of payment was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment and hard labour.