From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 26 October, 1889.

A PUBLICAN FINED.

Albert Steed, landlord of the "Grape's Inn," Northgate, was summoned for selling liquor at a quarter past seven o’clock on the morning of Sunday the 6th October.

Inspector Farmery deposed that from something he saw on Sunday the 29th September about 8 a.m., he and Sergt. Sinclair watched the "Grape's Inn" on Sunday the 6th October. A little before 7 a.m. he saw a man named Lawford walk up Northgate and turn into New Ruttington Lane. A few minutes afterwards he returned with a wicker basket and stopped directly opposite the "Grapes Inn." About a minute afterwards the door was opened by the landlord. They had a conversation and Lawford offered the landlord the basket which he appeared to refuse. The landlord then closed the door and Lawford walked up Northgate to the end of Ruttington Lane. There were two men at the end of Ruttington Lane and three others at the bottom of Union Street with whom Lawford conversed. Between 7 and 7.15 Lawford passed and re-passed the public house three times and was carrying the basket on his shoulder. At 7.15 he again stopped opposite the public house. The landlord came to the window, removed the green blind and looked up and down the street. He then opened the door and placed a bottle which was in a sack in the wicker basket. Lawford than walked hurriedly away towards Ruttington Lane. Witness stopped him and asked what the basket contained. He replied "beer." Witness took him back to the "Grapes Inn" and knocked at the door, which was opened by the landlord. Witness said "What account do you give of supplying this bottle of beer during prohibited hours?" He said "it was ordered last night." There was a quantity of froth on the bottle as if it had been newly drawn.

Mr. Mercer said that he would admit that the beer was handed out, and, under these circumstances, Sergt. Sinclair was not examined.

Addressing the Bench for the defence, Mr. Mercer said the offence was "sale" during prohibited hours. There was no offence, and it was thoroughly well laid down, if the defendant could prove that the liquor was sold before the prohibited hours commenced. To order the beer simply would not be sufficient, but he could prove that it was not only ordered but paid for, drawn and set apart on the evening of Saturday. There were, it seemed, certain allotment gardens in the neighbourhood in which depredations had been carried on and the persons owning them had united and sat up on several nights watching for the thieves one of whom had been caught and sentenced to three months' imprisonment. On Saturday night the beer was set aside in readiness for the four men, who had paid 8d. apiece. Although, perhaps a suspicious case the Bench would, he thought, consider the explanation satisfactory.

Defendant was then sworn and gave evidence in support of Mr. Mercer's statement. He said he had had a licence for three and a half years and had been never in trouble before. On the Saturday night four allotment holders named Lawford, White, O’Brien, and H. Curtis were in his house. They purchased two gallons of beer and Lawford said he would call for it at eleven o'clock. Witness drew the beer but it was not fetched before dosing time. Witness a short time afterwards thought he would take the bottle to O’Brien's house, but as there were a lot of people in the street he simply went over and said he would pass it out to them at seven o'clock in the morning.

Replying to the Superintendent, defendant said Curtis did not fetch a bottle of beer from his house on the previous Sunday morning. A man did not come in to the 29th Sept. and drink a glass of beer at the bar. As Lawford had not a bag with him when he first came to the house, witness found one in which to place the bottle.

Lawford deposed that he promised to call for the beer, but when he went back the house was locked up and the lights were out. On the way to the allotment gardens O’Brien told him defendant had said that if he (Lawford) called at seven o'clock in the morning he would give him the bottle.

By Supt. Peacock:- He did not see Curtis come away from the "Grapes Inn" with a bottle in a sack on the previous Sunday.

Henry White, a labourer residing in Clyde Street, corroborated .

The Bench having deliberated in private the Chairman announced that in their opinion tha case was proved. It was a very strange thing that when defendant found the beer was not called for, he should go across to O'Brien, whose house was a very short distance from the "Grapes," and make the arrangements alleged, whereas he might have taken it across if it had been paid for as was stated. Defendant would be fined 20s. and 18s, costs, in default 14 days' imprisonment.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 26 October, 1889.

BRUTAL ASSAULT.

Benjamin Pitcher was charged with and pleaded guilty to assaulting William Smith with an iron hook, which he had in the place of an arm, at the "Grapes Inn" on the 12th October, and was fined £1 and 10s. 6d. costs or in default one month's hard labour. It seems the quarrel arose over a bet.