From the Southeastern Gazette, 1 May 1866.

Preliminary Notice of Sale.

Messrs. COBB HAVE received instruction from the Executors of the late Mr. Joseph Ashley, to SELL by AUCTION, in the month of June, at the “Sun Hotel,” Chatham.

The valuable FREEHOLD and LEASEHOLD PUBLIC-HOUSES, BEER-HOUSES, TRADE PREMISES, DWELLING HOUSES, &o., viz;-

The "Cock" Public-house, in the High-street, Rochester, with shop adjoining, and cottages and garden in the rear.

The "White Lion," High-street, Chatham.

The "Wellington," on the New-road, Chatham.

The "Hen and Chickens," Luton, Chatham.

The "Hook and Hatchet," Chatham.

The "Three Brothers," Slicketts-hill, Chatham.

The "Prince of Wales," Hards Town, Gillingham.

The "Lord Nelson," Brompton, Chatham.

The "Plough and Chequers," Gillingham.

The "Red Lion," Snodland.

The "White Horse," and land (at Poundgate), in the parish of Laddesdown.

The Residence of the late Mr. Ashley, with spacious trade premises, in the High-street, Chatham. Also, an improved Rent on Leasehold Property adjoining. The Dwelling-house, No. 24, Gibraltar-place, Chatham.

Two Houses adjoining the Luton-road, called St. Leonard’s Ville. Nos. 1, 3, 5, and 6, Bethesda-place, Henry-street, Chatham. Nos. 1 and 2, Providence-place, Henry-street, Chatham. Nos. 24, 52, and 53, Henry-street, Chatham. Nos. 8, 40, and 41, Newnham-street, Chatham. Leasehold Shop and Dwelling-house, adjoining the “Wellington” Public- house, New-road, Chatham.

SHEERNESS AND ISLE OF SHEPPEY.

The "White Swan," High-street, Blue Town, Sheerness.

The "Crooked Billet," Eastchurch.

Further notice as to time, &c., of sale will shortly issued.

Particulars in the meantime may be obtained of Messrs Acworth and Sons, Solicitors, Star-hill, Rochester; of Messrs. Morris, Stone, Townson and Morris, Solicitors, Moorgate-street Chambers, London; and of Messrs, Cobb, Surveyors and Land Agents, 26, Lincoln s Inn-fields, London, and Rochester, Kent.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 10 July 1866.

Setting a Hay Stack on Fire.

At the County Police Court, on Wednesday (before W. H. Nicholson, Esq. and Captain Savage), James Macdonald, John Barnett, and James Chambers, privates of the 77th Regiment, were brought upon remand, charged with maliciously setting fire to a hay stack, value £175, partially insured, the property of Robert Crittenden, on Sunday morning, in the parish of Chatham.

The prosecutor stated that he was owner of a farm in Chatham parish. At about twenty minutes before ten o’clock on Sunday morning he was called up, and found his hay stack on fire. It was worth £175, and was partially insured.

George Gransden stated that he lived on the Beacon, Chatham. At about one o’clock on Sunday morning he was going to cover some bricks in the brickfield where he worked, when ho perceived a light in the valley about a mile from the Beacon, in the direction of Mr. Crittenden’s stack. Seeing the light increase he told his mate, and they both went to the prosecutor’s house, and called him. They went to the stack, but could not put it out.

Mr. William Mercer Hollands stated that he kept the “Hook and Hatchet Inn,” about one mile and a half from Luton. On Saturday evening about half-past eleven, the prisoners came to his house; they had some drink and left a little before twelve. As they were starting one of them asked witness for some lucifers; witness gave him a box to take some out of. Did not know how many he took, and heard no conversation between the prisoners. About ten minutes past twelve, witness saw the prisoners standing by a barn in the road to Chatham.

P.C. Barnes, 186, K.C.C., was on duty at half-past two o’clock on Sunday morning in the High-street, Chatham. He saw the prisoners together near the Military-road; they came up the street. Witness told them to go to the barracks, which they did.

Police-sergeant Morgan received information from P.C. Baufield on Sunday afternoon, that a fire had occurred on the road to the “Hook and Hatchet;” the constable gave a description of the prisoners, upon which he went to the Chatham barracks, and found two of them, (Macdonald and Chambers) in the room; was told that they were imprisoned for being out on Saturday night. Witness then charged them with setting a stack on fire on the road from the “Hook and Hatchet,” when they admitted that they were there. They denied asking for lucifers, saying that it was the other one that asked for them, and they refused to give his name. Witness found five lucifers on Chambers; he left the guard room, and came into the High-street, where he met Barnett. Witness charged him with setting a hay stack on fire on Sunday morning, at which he denied all knowledge of it, saying that he was in Chatham all Saturday evening, and that he did not know where the place was. Witness took him into custody, but found 110 lucifers upon him.

P.C. Banfield, 188, was called about three o’clock; on Sunday morning at Luton, where he resides, to go to a stack which had been set on fire; it was a windy night; the stack was on fire on three sides when he arrived. On receiving some information he went to Sergeant Morgan, who accompanied him to the barracks, where he found two men in custody in the guard room for being out on Saturday night. He was with sergeant Morgan when he arrested Barnett in the High-street, On arriving at the station witness searched prisoner, and found a pipe on him. Next morning witness visited Barnett in his cell, who there told him that the fire was quite accidental, and that when he got up the stack was on fire; he also said that he called the other two, when all three tried to put it out, but it was too hot. They then went to Chatham together. Witness then told him that he would bring him before the other two, and he went with witness and in their presence repeated the statement. The others said that it was true.

Captain William Aspin, 77th Regiment, stated that all the prisoners were under his command. They were absent on Saturday night, for which Macdonald and Chambers were in confinement. The prisoners were soon to be sent abroad for foreign service.

The Bench committed the prisoners for trial at the Assizes.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 31 July 1866 Assizes 13.bmp"

Arson at Chatham.

John Barnett, 22, Jas. Chambers, 23, and Jas. McDonald, 20, soldiers, were charged with having set fire to a stack of hay, value £175, the property of James Crittenden, at Chatham, on the 1st July. Mr. Ormerod prosecuted.

The prosecutor deposed to the fact of the fire having taken place on his farm at Luton, and the stack being consumed.

Geo. Gransden stated that he and his mate went to the stack, but could not put the fire out.

William Mercer Hollands, of the “Hook and Hatchet,” about a mile and a half from Luton, said that the stack was about mid-way between his house and Luton. On the evening of the fire the prisoners came to his house about half-past eleven o’clock. They left a little before twelve. As they were starting, one of them asked for some matches, which he gave them. They went away in the direction of prosecutor’s farm.

P.S. Morgan said that from information received he went to the Chatham barracks, and there saw McDonald and Chambers in the guard-room, for absence from barracks the previous night, when they admitted they had been at the “Hook and Hatchet.” They said they did not ask for any matches, but that it was “the other one;” but they refused to give his name. Witness met Barnett in the High-street, Chatham, but he denied that he was at the “Hook and Hatchet.” Witness had found five matches on Chambers, but more on the others.

P.C. Banfield said he visited Barnett in his cell on the Monday, and prisoner said the fire was quite an accident, and he had tried to put it out, but it was too hot, so they all ran away. The other prisoners, on being placed by the side of Banfield, said that his statement was quite true.

Capt. Aspen, of the 77th Regiment, to which the prisoners belonged, said that the prisoners Chambers and McDonald were absent at tattoo at 10 o’clock, and they came in about three o'clock next morning. Bennett was absent all night.

John Wright, turnkey at the Maidstone Gaol, stated that the prisoner McDonald told him voluntarily that he particularly wished to make a statement. He would not suffer for what others had done. On the evening of the fire he was with the other prisoners. Barnett took some hay from the stack, and Chambers lit a piece of paper, and put it to the stack. When he saw it on fire he asked what they were going to do. Barnett said, “Let’s all hook it.” He also stated that they had no pipes, and had no occasion to strike a light.

The jury found the prisoners guilty.

Each five years’ penal servitude.