From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 19 October 1867. Price 1d.

ASSAULTING A PUBLICAN

At the County Police Court, Canterbury, on Tuesday last, William Adams of London, was charged with assaulting James Wanstall, landlord of the "Half Way House" on the Canterbury road, and also with breaking a window at the house. The prisoner had been lodging at complainant's house, and being a noisy, troublesome fellow the landlord determined to get rid of him. On telling him he must go the prisoner committed the assault complained of and broke a square of glass. He was given into the custody of P.C. Munns.

Committed for 14 days' hard labour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 July, 1868. Price 1d.

COUNTY POLICE COURT

Arthur Finn, 16, a waggoner's mate, employed by Mr. Knight, at Old Park, was charged with stealing two pigeons, the property of Mr. Frederick Arter, of the "Half-way-house," Womanswould.

Frederick Arter: I live at the "Half-way-house," in the parish of Womanswould, and am a farmer. I have been in the habit of keeping pigeons in my stable, and saw some young men there a fortnight ago. Since then they have been left in charge of a boy named William Dunn. On Saturday last two of the pigeons were lost. I believe those produced are the same. Their value is 1s. 6d.

William Dunn: I am in the service of Mr. Frederick Arterm and have charge of his pigeons. On Saturday morning the prisoner came to my master's stable, and put his horses there. After that he went into the house. When in that stable prisoner talked to me about the pigeons, asking where they were kept, and where it was they had their young ones. I told him they had them all over the loft. Some time afterwards the prisoner and another man again came to the stable and harnessed their horses, and when the horses went away the prisoner remained a few minutes behind. I noticed that when he came out of the stable he appeared to have something under his jacket; and after the waggon had moved away I went into the stable and saw that two of the pigeons were gone. I then ran after the prisoner and asked what he had done with the pigeons, and he replied that he did not know any thing about them. Afterwards I watched the prisoner and saw him go behind a faggot stack, and on going to the faggots I found that he had lain one of the pigeons there. I also, at the same time, saw him take another pigeon from under his smock. I picked both of them up. The pigeons produced are the same.

Prisoner denied that he had one of the pigeons under his jacket. He said that when he went behind the faggots he saw the pigeons there, but he did not know anything about them.

The case was remanded to the next Special Sessions at Wingham, to be held on the first Thursday in August; and prisoner was bound over in his own recognizance's of £10 to appear on that day.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 4 May, 1906. Price 1d.

FOUND NEAR THE HALFWAY HOUSE. SUPPOSED ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

George Hasler, a torpedo man of H.M.S. Pembroke, was found unconscious with a bullet wound in his forehead, in a field just off the highway on the Dover Road near the “Halfway House” to Canterbury, on Monday morning. Lying by his side was a small revolver, still loaded in five chambers, and two had been discharged. Two men found Hasler in the field at once called Police-constable Saunders, and Dr. Wilson, of Bridge, who was sent for gave it as his opinion that the wound was probably self-inflicted. A conveyance was obtained, and Hasler was taken with all speed to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital, where he lies in a critical condition. Hasler comes from a highly respected Ashford family, and his father is a railway guard.

From the Whitstable |Times and Herne Bay Herald, 8 December, 1906.

THEFT OF A HOSPITAL COLLECTING BOX. WINGHAM MAN CONVICTED.

Alfred Tong, labourer, of Wingham, was charged before Mr. F. H. Wilbee (in the chair), Mr. J. Bowes, Mr. A. A. Kemp, and Mr. P. E. Iggulden, at St. Augustine’s Petty Sessions at Canterbury on Saturday, with stealing a Kent and Canterbury Hospital collection box from the “Hallway House” at Womenswould on November 24th.

Mr. Horace Broughton appeared for the defendant.

George Castle repeated the evidence he had previously given to the effect that he kept the “Halfway House” in the pariah of Womanswold. On Friday week he saw the prisoner who entered his house at about eleven o’clock. He called for some beer and bread and cheese. The next day, Sunday, he saw prisoner about 5.55, when he came into the bar. He had more bread and cheese and beer, witness serving him. Prisoner came in by the private bar, and in the course of conversion witness said “Why, you were here yesterday” and he said “No; that was my cousin.” Witness said “You come from Wingham? and he replied “No; from Canterbury.” Prisoner also said be had met his cousin that day in Dover, and they were so much alike that people did not know them apart. His clothes were dirty and prisoner accounted for this by saying he bad had a fall off his bike while coming along. He enquired whether the market vans from Canterbury had gone through to Dover, and witness said he expected they had already gone through. The contribution box in question was standing on the counter in the private bar, in which the prisoner then was. After talking to prisoner for some few minutes he left the bar and went into a private room. He was only gone five minutes, as he heard his puppy whining in the bar. When he returned to the bar he found the bar door open and the prisoner gone. He had left half his beer, and the contribution box he missed about ten minutes afterwards. No one had entered the private bar in the meantime. The box could not be seen from where it stood in the private bar, by anyone in the public bar. The pieces of box now produced belonged to the box missing from his house. He then gave information to the police. There was more in the box than they had ever had before judging from the weight, and 10% was taken from it last week. On both occasions prisoner entered by the private bar.

In reply to the Superintendent, witness stated that owing to his son having received benefit from the hospital his daughter made it a practice to put something in every week, and customers often put some of their change in. His grand-children used to put farthings in. Among the. Among the coins found on prisoner was a George IV penny, which they used to use for a musical box. This his daughter gave to the children to play with, and one of them put it into the box.

William Henry Willmore stated that he was a groom, at present staying with the last witness. On the Friday in question he saw the prisoner go into the private bar. They had a conversation together, prisoner asking witness whether he knew Harris, of Wingham. Witness said “No,” and in reply to a further question said he did not know Long, of Wingham. Witness told him he did not know much of Wingham, and prisoner said “Then you don't know us.” Prisoner treated witness and several others in the bar. Prisoner told witness he was going to Dover, and later witness saw him start off on his bicycle in the direction of Dover. The next (Saturday) evening witness saw prisoner come up to the house from the direction of Dover, and enter by the private bar. Witness bade him “Good-night,” as he was on his way to Dover. Witness was certain it was the same man on both days.

P.C. Binfleld stated that at 7 p.m. on the 21st of November, from information he received respecting the robbery, he proceeded to Wingham and instituted enquiries. About 6.15 he saw prisoner standing in the road near the “Lion Hotel”. Witness asked him his name, and he replied “Long.” Witness asked him whether he was cycling on the Dover Road that evening, and he replied “Yes, I rode from Dover to-night." Witness asked him if he called in at the “Half-way House,” and he said “No; the last house I called in at was the ‘Eagles.” Witness then asked him if he had a drink at the house he called the “Eagles” he said, “I had a glass of ginger beer there, but what do you want to know for?” Witness said “There is a hospital box missing from the “Halfway House.” How much money have you on you?” He said “I don’t know and handed witness a quantity of money, mostly in coppers. Witness said “How do you account for having so many coppers in your possession?” He said “I have taken them in change. I have treated several people to-day and kept getting Change.” Witness and prisoner went into the “Lion” stables, and he placed the money on a box, used as a table, and placed his hand on top of the money. Witness said to Long “Have you among this money a large coin?" and he said No.” Witness showed him the large coin produced, and asked him how he accounted for its possession. He said “I suppose I must have taken it among other change.” Witness then asked Long if there were any farthing amongst the money, and he said “No; there isn’t any.” Witness replied “There are two,” and showed them to him. He said “I did not know that I had them.” Witness asked Long if he had any more farthings on him, and ha said “No; not one.” Witness then searched him and found in the ticket pocket of his jacket three more farthings. In his waistcoat pocket he found two more farthings, and asked prisoner to account for them. He said “I didn’t know that I had them.” Witness then counted the money, and found 17 pennies, 21 half-pennies, 7 farthings, two sixpences, and the large coin referred to. Witness then charged prisoner with stealing the hospital box and its contents from the “Halfway House.” He said I should not think of doing such a thing.” Prisoner's clothes were very dirty, and he asked him where he got all the mud from. He said he got it through riding his bicycle. Witness brought the prisoner to the police-station. On the 25th of November witness made search for and found the broken hospital box. Some of the pieces were lying on a field of green peat and other pieces on a piece of ploughed land adjoining the highway leading from the Dover Road, in the direction of Wingham, and about a mile from the “Halfway House.” One piece of box was pressed into the ground and under this he found two sixpences and 3 1/2 in coppers. This was on the ploughed land.

Beside this piece of box on the soft ground was the impression of a bicycle wheel, and also the foot-print of a light boot. No nails were shown, and it was a pointed toe boot size and similar to the one worn by prisoner. Witness took the pieces of the hospital box to Mr. Castle and he identified them as parts of the missing box.

In reply to Mr. Broughton, witness said he searched as he went along the road, in different fields and the woods.

William Hobbs, landlord of “Moor’s Head,” Adisham, said he first saw prisoner on Thursday morning, 23rd, and he saw him again on the Friday and Saturday following. On the Saturday he first saw him about one o'clock. Prisoner was waiting for the Dover train and treated several in the bar. He saw him again shortly after six in the evening when witness gave him some oil for his bicycle lamp. On this occasion prisoner also stood treat. Prisoner spent about 1s. 2d. altogether in his house.

Mrs. Page, butcher, of Wingham, gave evidence to the prisoner coming into her shop on the Saturday in company with a salvation Army officer, when he paid 9 ½ d. in coppers for a pound of meat.

Henry Champ, landlord of the “Ship Inn,” Wingham, said prisoner came into his house on Saturday night and treated several at the bar paying for the drinks with coppers.

Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, gave evidence, stating that he had only lately left the 2nd Battalion “The Buffs" after serving in South Africa. He arrived home on November 19th and was supplied with a ticket to Adisham and 10s. On Thursday he went to Preston to get his settling-up pay amounting to £2 15s. 5d. On Friday he gave his mother £1 1s. 6d. to keep for him, and borrowing a bicycle went to Dover. He stopped at the “Half-way house” for a drink and bread and cheese. When leaving Dover he fell off his machine in crossing the tram lines and had to return home by train. On Saturday he got the £1 1s. 6d. from his mother and went to Dover to get his bike back and pay for it. On the way back he again called at the “Halfway House” but he saw nothing of the hospital box. On leaving the “Halfway House” he did not get off his bike till he got to the public-house near Adisham Station. He absolutely denied any knowledge of the box or that he had seen it before.

In reply to the Superintendent, defendant said he could only account for the farthings found in his possession by the fact that he saved them for his little brothers and sisters. He denied that he had said to anyone that in leaving the “Halfway House” he saw someone tiding a bicycle with something like a cigar box under his arm.

Mr. Broughton on his address to the Bench suggested that the large coin found among prisoner’s money might just as well have got into the till and been given in change as that the grandchild put it into the collection box.

Defendant’s mother gave evidence to her son having saved his farthings for the children.

The Bench said they had decided to convict prisoner, and Mr. Broughton then asked that he might be bound over under the First Offenders Act.

The presiding magistrate said this practise of stealing collection boxes was becoming all too prevalent in the district and the Beach notified on the last occasion that they intended to put a stop to it. In view of defendant's previous good character, however they would only fine him 20s., including costs, or fourteen days’ imprisonment.

Defendant's father paid the money.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 November, 1924. Price 1½d.

LICENSING

An occasional licence was granted to Mr. Hopkins, of the "Halfway House," for a farm sale at Denton on November 19th.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 6 May, 1927. Price 1½d.

THREE PARTS MOPPED AT THE HALF-WAY HOUSE

Harold Horace Barnes, Woolage, pleaded not guilty to assaulting and beating James Henry Cotton and Albert Hughes and with using threats to John Henry Hughes, who asked that the defendant should be bound over.

Thomas Henry Cotton, 18, Firs Road, Woolage Village, a miner, said: On April 24th, at 9.30 in the evening, they were having a drink at the “Half-Way House.” Defendant came up and said, “You're sitting there like three Lords.” (Laughter.) “I could put all the three of you through the window.” Defendant's brother later said, “Come on Tommy (to witness) we're waiting on you.” The landlady telephoned the Police at Bridge. When the Sergeant came he went towards their home, and they followed. They went up to the path to the house, when Barnes suddenly sprang out and hit Albert Hughes. He then hit witness in the eye.

Albert Hughes, 18, Firs Road, Woolage, a miner, said: As he turned the corner the defendant hit him in the head and knocked him down. That was the last he saw of him as he went into the house dazed.

Lord Fitzwalter: What did he do it for?

I don't know. We had not had a quarrel.

John Henry Hughes said that after they had all got in the house defendant said that next morning they “had got to have the same what Cotton had.” Witness had to stay from work the next morning because he was afraid of what defendant would do.

Defendant, giving evidence on oath, said he believed he got a “bit merry” at the “Half-way House.” He could not remember threatening anyone there, and he could not remember anything of the other occurrences.

William Shaw, 6, The Place, Woolage, said they were about “three parts mopped” at the “Half-way House,” and he did not know anything about it. He stated that what took place near their home was a bit of a scuffle.

Cotton: Who struck you?

Not you, but your landlady did with her umbrella. (Laughter.)

Defendant was fined £1 on each of the first two summonses and bound over on the third for 12 months. He was allowed a month in which to pay.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 October, 1933. Price 1½d.

BIG FIRE NEAR HALFWAY HOUSE

Shortly before midnight on Tuesday, P.C. L. Seymour, stationed at Barham, discovered that the barn at Ropersole Farm, Barham (which is behind the “Halfway House”, on the Canterbury road) was blazing fiercely. He awoke the tenant, Mr. G. F. Collard, and telephoned for the Bridge Fire Brigade. Mr. Collard and the Constable rescued four calves from the adjoining cowsheds, which were soon after enveloped in flames. The glare from the burning thatch of the barn and buildings was seen for many miles around. The fireman, under Chief Officer S. Gilbert, arrived, and with the little water available damped down the stables and the granary, and also stopped the flames from reaching the house of Mr. Collard, which was within twenty yards. The only water available was that from a small rain water tank and from a shallow pond, so little could be done to save the barn and its contents of unthreshed oats, barley and wheat. A farm wagon, a cart, an old engine, and several agricultural implements which were in the barn were totally destroyed. The damage to the contents is estimated at £400. The buildings were the property of Messrs. B. J. and J. Austin, of Grasmere Lodge, Thornfield Avenue, Chesterfield. Besides the assistance rendered by P.C. Seymour, valuable help was rendered by Sergt. Castle. The fire was extinguished by 1.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

From the Dover Express, 20 October, 1933.

LICENSING MATTERS.

The "Halfway House," Womenswould, was transferred from John Sidney Whitlock to Ernest King.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 13 October 1939.

Albert Gordon Harold Betteridge, "Halfway House," Womanswould, was granted a possession order in 21 days, in respect of a cottage in the occupation of Jack McLaughlin.