From the Southeastern Gazette, 6 February 1866.

COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.

Wednesday. (Before W. H. Nicholson, Esq., and Captain W. H. Savage).

Elijah Cook, residing at Swanscombe, was charged with violently assaulting Edward Brett, at Northfleet.

The prosecutor, a cab-driver, stated that on the previous Saturday night he drove the prisoner and two other men from Gravesend to the “Leather Bottle” public-house, Northfleet, where he arrived about one o’clock on Sunday morning. The other two men who were with the prisoner paid the witness 4d. each, on which prisoner told the witness to give him the 8d. and he would give him a shilling. Directly, however, he received the 8d. prisoner walked away, and on being followed by the prosecutor turned round and struck him a violent blow on the temple, which knocked him down. Prisoner afterwards stood over him and con­tinued beating him until a police-constable came up.

P.C. Norris, 39, said he was attracted by a great noise at about one o’clock on Sunday morning, and on going to the spot he saw the prosecutor on the ground, and the prisoner standing over him beating him in a very savage manner.

Defendant was ordered to pay a fine of 50s. and 10s. costs, or two months’ imprisonment. The money was not paid.

From the Southeastern Gazette, 3 July 1866.

Assault on a Landlord.

At the county magistrates’ justice-room, Rochester, on Friday last, John Webb, George Spinner, Thomas Worledge, and Frank Reed, agricultural labourers, were charged with a violent assault on Mr. J. Higgins, landlord of the “Leather Bottle” public-house, Northfleet. The defendants came to the house the worse for drink, and demanded to be supplied with some liquor. On the prosecutor, however, declining to do so, they assaulted him in a very savage manner. Webb, who appeared to have incited the others to the assault, was fined 10s. and the costs, and in default 21 days’ hard labour; the other prisoners were discharged.