South Eastern Gazette,10 January, 1860.

EAST KENT QUARTER SESSIONS.

On Tuesday last these Sessions were held at the Session House, St. Augustine’s, Canterbury, under the chairmanship of J. B. Wildman, Esq.

Stealing a Whip.

John Ross, soldier, for having stolen one whip, value 8s., the property of John Basstook, at Sandgate, on the 7th November. Mr. White prosecuted.

Prosecutor, a fly-driver, deposed that at about 7 o'clock he called at the "Bricklayer’s Arms," at Sandgate. Witness laid the whip on the fly, and when he returned to the fly, the whip was gone.

Sergeant Smith, K.C.C., deposed that on the 7th Nov. last, he rode with the last witness from Folkestone to Hythe. He went into the "Bricklayer’s Arms," and shortly after prosecutor told witness that he had lost his whip. On the next day he found the whip (produced) at the "True Briton," at Sandgate. He then found the prisoner at the "City Arms" beer-house, and he said he had found it opposite the "Bricklayer’s Arms."

Thomas Kemp Stone, landlord of the "City Arms," deposed that the prisoner went to his house on the 8th November, at 5 o’clock in the morning, with the whip in his possession, and which he said he had found. Prisoner asked several persons, while at witness’s house, if they had lost a whip.

The jury acquitted the prisoner.

South Eastern Gazette,10 January, 1860.

EAST KENT QUARTER SESSIONS.

On Tuesday last these Sessions were held at the Session House, St. Augustine’s, Canterbury, under the chairmanship of J. B. Wildman, Esq.

Wholesale Robbery.

George Farmer, Wm. Bover, and James Burns, soldiers, for housebreaking, and stealing two boxes of cigars, 40lb. of soap, 8lb. of tobacco, and 6lb. of candles, value £3 6s., the property of John Stokes, at Shorncliff Camp, on the 18th October, 1859. Edmund Massey, for having received the above articles, knowing them to have been stolen.

Mr. Barrow prosecuted, and Mr. Francis defended the prisoner.

Wm. Bray, assistant to the prosecutor, deposed that on the evening of the 17th October he closed the "Canteen" at 9 o’clock. A cellar opens at the back of the house, the flap of which he fastened. There were about 40lb. of soap, 8lb. of tobacco, and 8lbs. of candles in the cellar; also two boxes of cigars in the bar. On the following day he missed the soap, tobacco, and candles from the cellar, the flap of the cellar had been forced open. The soap produced witness believed was similar to that in the cellar.

Corporal Wrenshaw, 2nd Cheshire Militia, proved that the three prisoners were absent from quarters at the time in question.

Cress-examined:— He could not say whether there were other men absent besides the prisoners.

John Barrett deposed that on the 18th October he was at the "City Arms," at Sandgate, when Farmer and Burns went in. Farmer had some soap, and asked witness to sell it for him. Witness sold the soap to a Mrs. Philpott, end gave the money to Farmer.

Sergeant Smith, K.C.C., deposed that on the evening of the 18th October he went to a Mrs. Philpott’s house, where he found a quantity of soap. The soap was marked similar to that produced by the prosecutor.

Joseph Wood, private in the 2nd Cheshire Militia, saw Bover at Sandgate on the morning of the 18th October, at about 10 o’clock, smoking a cigar, and he had a bundle under his arm.

Mr. Barrow here said he had carried the case as far as he could against the prisoners Bover and Massey, and he did not think it would warrant a conviction. They were therefore acquitted.

The other prisoners were found guilty, and were sentenced to 12 months’ hard labour.