Southeastern Gazette, 26 July 1853.

Robbery with Violence at Dartford.

Joseph Warrener, 25, was indicted for assaulting Timothy Sullivan, and stealing from his person, with violence, a basket, a handkerchief, and other articles, his property, at Dartford. Mr. Bodkin was for the prosecution.

Julia Sullivan, daughter of prosecutor, who lived at Littlebrooke, deposed that on Saturday night, the 25th inst., she saw her father at a beer-shop, and gave him the basket produced, containing a handkerchief (in which was some bread), and sugar and tea. She left him at about half-past ten. Saw him again about three o’clock in the morning. She was then in a barn about a mile from the beer-shop. Her father came in there about three o’clock in the morning without the basket, and dreadfully knocked about. He was afterwards removed in a cart to the workhouse and remained ill for some time.

Timothy Sullivan, carpenter, who appeared with his head tied up, deposed that he was at the "Crispin" beer-shop on the Saturday night in question, and received the basket produced from his daughter. He left between nine and ten o’clock, and went towards Littlebrooke. On the road he was attacked, beaten severely by some men, and pulled to the ground. Prisoner pulled him down. They then continued to beat him, and rendered him senseless. He pretended to be "kilt." When he got up he missed his basket. He then went to a barn, and on the following morning was taken to the workhouse.

Cross-examined by prisoner:— Had been drinking but was not drunk. I believe there were four men, and think a woman was standing near. You struck me first.

In answer to further inquiries he stated that one of them came back after leaving him, and pumped on him, making use of some such expression as "That will do," but being very deaf, he could not hear distinctly.

Phoebe Whitbread stated that she was at Blackman’s public-house, in company with two men named Green and Browning. She left and went along the road towards a lodge in which she slept, and saw prisoner and prosecutor talking together. She had heard a noise before she got to the place where the parties were standing, but heard no noise as she passed. The prisoner shortly afterwards came to the lodge. He had a basket, and a handkerchief, containing bread, which he said he had picked up on the road, but which he meant to take back to master Sullivan. The two men went into the lodge with her. Warrener left the house shortly before them.

Thomas Farrant, a shepherd in the employ of Mr. Soars, deposed to finding a basket and the things in it in a barn in which the prisoner and other persons were allowed to sleep on the morning of the 28th.

Frederick John Thatcher, inspector of Hartford police, deposed to going to Mr. Sears’s lodge, and finding the prisoner there, accused him of the robbery, and took him into custody, when he made no reply. Took Green, Browning, and the woman into custody also, who were brought before the magistrates and discharged. Prisoner afterwards said he could not see how it could be done; he picked the old man up, whom he found lying down, and he struck him. He (prisoner) then struck him once and knocked him down.

Mr. Westwood, surgeon, deposed to examining prosecutor’s injuries, which must have been occasioned by repeated blows, of a very violent character.

The jury found the prisoner guilty, without hesitation, and his Lordship sentenced him to fifteen years’ transportation, observing that it was one of the most barbarous outrages he ever heard of.