From the Kentish Gazette, 29 January 1856.

A Tipsy Customer.

Complaint was made of Stephen Hunt, of the "Ship," Seasalter, who was stated by Mr. George Harrison, of Harrietsham, to be so drunk on the 16th inst., as scarcely to know what he did. Witness and another person were coming from Whitstable to Canterbury in a light cart, and were passed by defendant in another, who acted in so strange a way by preventing their passing him as to occasion their horse to run twice into the hedge. Defendant was fined 5s. for the offence, and costs £1 1s. 3d.; which having been paid, the bench were about to take the information of Mr. Harrison for an obstruction of the highway, but the penalty already inflicted being severe, they thought on reconsideration that it would be too vindictive to proceed further, and more especially as another case would be brought against him for injuries sustained by a poor man on the same occasion. Mr. Harrison also stated that he had no wish to press his complaints - he hoped that the penalty would be a warning against a recurrence. It appears that when ahead of complainant, the defendant ran over a poor man named Couter, and severely injured his arm and back, for which an action is to be brought into the County Court, unless the man be compensated.