Kentish Gazette, 13 April, 1792.

On Thursday last John King, John Cooke, alias James Fowkes, and Robert Dowson, were committed to Maidstone gaol, by Richard James Esq; charged with feloniously striking, assaulting, and presenting a pistol at John Hutson, of Wateringbury, butcher, on Monday evening the 2nd inst., about 7 o'clock at May Hill, near Wrotham, with an intent to rob him. The villains struck Mr. Hutson on the head and hands with a bludgeon, and one of them attempted to seize the bridal of his horse, but missing that, caught hold of the martingale, and by that means pulled the bit out of his mouth, who instantly set off full gallop with his rider, and was providentially stopped at Wrotham Heath Gate. Mr. Hudson then gave the alarm, at the "Wheatsheaf" public house, and two persons set off in pursuit of the robbers, who soon caught up with them, but being unarmed, and one of the villains firing a pistol at them they returned without securing them. On Wednesday, however, they were taken at Seal, and Mr. Hutson, attending to identify their persons, were committed as before. It was very fortunate Mr. Hutson escaped without being robbed, as he had upwards of £300 in his is possession at the time. It is strongly suspected that they are the same footpads who robbed and fired at Captain Dempster, near Dartford, some short time since.