From the Kent Herald, 16 September 1824.

Shocking Inhumanity.

On Friday last, the Coroner, T. T. Delasaux, Esq., took an inquest upon the body of an unknown wayfaring traveller, who was found exceedingly ill upon the road, in the parish of Kennington, near Ashford, on the 4th instant, by William Peters, a carpenter. Peters with a feeling of humanity that reflects credit upon him, assisted the poor outcast towards the village of Kennington, but when within three quarters of a mile of the place, he could proceed no further. The Assistant Overseer, Mr. Epps, was then sent for, who directed the bystander to convey the poor man to the public house called the "Golden Ball," in Kennington, kept by a person of the name of James Cutbush, and desired that he might have every assistance which his case required, and that he, Mr. Epps, would indemnify the landlord (Cutbush) for the trouble and expense he might be at. Some gruel was then given to the poor wretch, as he laid upon his back in the room, but he could not take much as he was too exhausted. About this time, the landlord, Cutbush, arrived, and in the most inhumane way, turned him out of his house. But, fearful for those who possess, in a common degree, the feeling of men, will not give it credence we will relate, in the words of the witnesses, the inhumane conduct of this James Cutbush towards the unhappy wretch who lay expiring at his feet.

James Peters, of the parish of Kennington, a carpenter, deposed that he saw the landlord of the public house take the deceased by the collar of his coat, and swing him over his shoulder, and carried him towards the stable; but before he reached that, he fell off the back of the said James Cutbush, unto and against the ground, and cried out in consequence of the fall! That I then ran out, and said Cutbush should not abuse the deceased while I was there. That I was then upon the point of leaving, when the said James Cutbush came and said to me, "you think there is something the matter with this man?" I replied in the affirmative but he said he is nothing but an imposter, and that was the very way such people went about the country and robbed houses, and that he should not stay there. Cutbush was told that if the deceased robbed his house, the loss he might sustain would be paid him.

William Peters, fully corroborated the above, and further stated, that while in the stable, a glass of brandy was procured, and given to the deceased by William Brenchley and paid for by him. That I was hired to attend and sit up with the deceased. But that after he had been in the stable a short time, the said James Cutbush pulled him (the deceased) up, and turned him off his premises. That he was then without his shoes, and which I took up and carried after him!

Mr. E. Epps, blacksmith, the Assistant Overseer, stated that he directed the landlord, Cutbush, to receive the deceased and afford him aid, and that he as Overseer, would see him paid every expense that he might be incurred.

Mr William Whitfield, surgeon of Ashford, said that he saw the deceased on the fourth instant, and that he found him recovering from an epileptic fit. That I directed him to be kept quiet, at the Inn, stating my conviction that in a few hours he would be able to proceed on his journey. That I am decidedly of opinion that the deceased ought not to have been compelled to leave the place under his unfavourable appearances. "But that I am able to say that his leaving the said house that night, did not have in his leaving the said house that night, did not hasten his death!

Mr. Edward Vincer, (assistant to Waldish, surgeon of Wye.), saw the deceased on Tuesday the 7th when he was in a state of insensibility. That he died on the following morning about 6 o'clock and in a few hours afterwards he opened the body, which appeared perfectly healthy, but having no sustenance whatsoever, except a small quantity of gruel which was administered to him the previous evening; and that I am unable positively to assert the cause of death of the said deceased."

We have shewn how the poor, wretched creature was expelled even from the stable of the unfeeling Landlord, and that too not withstanding the Overseer had promised payment. It is difficult to believe there are such ------ in the world, and sure we are, we do not envy this purse-proud Landlord the feelings which will and must assail him to the latest hour of his existence. But there we cannot trust ourselves to comment. After the poor wretch had crawled away from the premises, he lingered somewhere, it is not known where, till the 7th instance, when he was found under a hedge in the parish of Wye, and conveyed to the workhouse class="address"of that parish, where he met with every humane treatment which his unhappy situation could require. But nature was exhausted, and he expired on the following morning.

We are gratified to find, that the Coroner did his duty for upon his arrival on the Tuesday, he adjourned the inquest to obtain the fullest possible evidence. The Coroner reprobated in a forcible manner the brutal conduct of the Landlord, and pointed out to him that he was compelled by law to receive a guest who stood in need of shelter. The only excuse the landlord had to offer for his conduct, was that he thought the deceased was an imposter! Fie upon it. The Jury after a patient investigation, considered the evidence of the surgeon did not go far enough to show that the deceased's death was hastened by consequences of the forcible expulsion from the "Golden Ball" by the landlord thereof, and they therefore returned a Verdict - That the deceased died by the visitation of God. It is only fair to say, that Cutbush expressed regret for his conduct and paid all the expenses incurred by the parish of Wye, in consequence of his illegal conduct. The deceased appeared between 40 and 50 years of age - dressed like a sailor, but had nothing about him to show who or what he was.

Kent Herald, 21 April 1825.

On Friday last, a fire was discovered at the "Golden Ball," near Ashford. It originated in the interior of the house, and destroyed a bedstead and furniture, and other properties; and, but for the prompt activities of the people on the spot, the house would have been destroyed.