Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 11 May 1878.

A boy drowned in a well.

On Monday the County Coroner, T. T. Delasaux, Esq., held an inquest at the "Palm Tree" on on body of William Thomas Keeler, age 7 years, who was drowned by falling down a well.

It appears that the mother of the deceased went out for a few minutes and left the deceased in charge of two other children, one 3 years old and the other 23 days. On her return the deceased was missing, and on going to the well she saw him at the bottom. She immediately called assistance, and Charles Fagg and Charles Stokes came, and the latter went down, but the rope being rotten broke, and he was nearly drowned. Another rope was obtained, and Stokes succeeded in bringing the deceased up, but he was then quite dead. There were from 40 to 50 feet of water in the well, and when the deceased was first seen by Fagg he was alive, and answered him.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, Saturday 22 June 1907.

Elham. Alleged theft of a bicycle.

Stephen George Gower and Walter Gower, on bail, were indicted for stealing a gentleman's safety bicycle, £35, the goods of Frank Champs, on the 26th of May, 1907, at Alkham.

Prisoners pleaded not guilty.

Mr. R. F. Gibson prosecuted, and Mr. H. C. Dickens (instructed by Mr. Horace Broughton, Canterbury) defended both prisoners.

Frank Champs of Bladden, stated that on May 26th he rode from Sturry to Elham on his bicycle, and stopped at the "Palm Tree Inn." He put his cycle over the fence outside the inn, and went out several times during the evening to see that it was safe. At 10 o'clock he missed it and found the cushion bicycle produced put in its place.

Edwin Martin, landlord of the Palm Tree Inn," Wingmore, Elham, stated that on the day in question the two prisoners called at the house about 4:45, Stephen Gower riding the cushion cycle produced. At about 9:45 the same evening they called again.

Edward Ellis, police constable stationed at Elham, stated that on May 28th he went to the Tanyard at Canterbury and saw Steven Gower. He explained that he had met a man wheeling the cycle who offer to exchange it for the cushion cycle at 7s. He paid 5s., and exchanged. Walter Gower gave the same story, and witness found the cycle in a lock up shed in the garden of the latter's house.

In answer to Mr. Dickens, witness said that he was sure Stephen Gower said to him when first seen, "I know what you come for." He appeared to be very nervous.

For the defence Stephen Gower stated that he was employed in the Canterbury Tannery, having previously been a scaffolder on the cathedral Tower. He had been in the Militia and served in the war, for which have received two medals. He rose to the rank of Sergeant for good service in the field in dispatch carrying. On the day in question he and his brother with a friend cycled to Shorncliffe, and on their return, just before they reached the "Palm Tree," they met a man with the pneumatic tyred machine, who offered to "chop for 7s." After some demur he paid 5s. spares he paid 5s, and then found that the tyres were down, and the handle and the lamp broken. They went and had a drink at the "Palm Tree" and then came onto Canterbury. He denied he said to the constable "I know what you've come for."

Water Gower gave corroborative evidence, and stated that he had been employed at the Canterbury Tannery for 7 years.

Mr. Dickons made a lengthy speech for the defence, and prisoners were found not guilty and were discharged.