From the Kentish Gazette, 7 July 1857.

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS.

Monday. [Before the Mayor and S. M. Latham, Esq.]

William Marsh, the landlord of the "General Blucher" public-house, Commercial Quay, was summoned for an infringement of his license by having his house open at an hour on Sunday morning not allowed by law, viz., at two o’clock.

I was on duty on the Commercial Quay, near the "General Blucher." I had just previously had an intimation that I should see something there; and I saw defendant come from the rear of his premises with a pot of malt liquor in his hand, which he gave to two men who were standing near, and they drank it. I asked Marsh if he knew what he was about, and that it was Sunday morning. He said he knew perfectly well, and that he was only going to feed his dogs. I saw him go back into the yard of his premises, with the empty jug in his band. I am quite certain it was beer or malt liquor, as I turned my own light on the jug and looked into it. I have no witnesses of what I saw, as I was alone.

For the defendant the following were called:—

Frederic Ellis, labourer:— I lodge at the "General Blucher," and remember Marsh coming home at two o'clock on Sunday morning, the 21st inst. I admitted him into the house. No beer was drawn after half-past 10 on the previous night. I should have known if any had been drawn, as I closed the house myself. The jug that Marsh had contained gruel, barley meal and milk, which he was going to give to a dog; there was no beer in it. I mixed it myself, and handed it to defendant, and saw him give it to the dog. I was with the defendant until he went to bed, and am certain that he gave no beer to any one.

Robert Wade, bricklayer:— I live in the Military Road, and was present with Marsh on the morning of Sunday, the 21st when the policeman was there. Neither defendant nor any other person brought beer out to me while the constable was there, nor did I have any. I heard Marsh say to Wellard as many as half-a-dozen times, "Come back, and look into the jug," but the officer refused to do so. The jug contained gruel, and Marsh said he was going to give it to a dog that was ill.

Henry Batchelder, bricklayer, corroborated this evidence.

The bench dismissed the case, and reprimanded the constable, on the ground that he had not acted with the propriety he ought to have done.