From the Kentish Chronicle, 21 January, 1860.

ST. AUGUSTINE’S PETTY SESSIONS. Saturday.

(Before W. Delmar, and W. Slarke, Esqrs.)

ASSAULT.

William Cobley was charged with assaulting Edward Hovell, at Whitstable, on the 11th instant, the defendant did not appear.

P.C. Smith, K.C.C., proved the service of the summons. He served the summons personally, and he told him he did not intend to appear. Complainant, on being sworn, deposed that he keeps the "Hoy Endeavour" public-house at Whitstable. About eleven o’clock, on the night of the 11th, a female was in the same room with a countryman who was the worse for liquor. Complainant saw her attempt to put her hand into the man's pocket, on which he took hold of her and proceeded to put her out by force. While so engaged the defendant came and seized hold of both him and the woman, and threw them down in the passage. The man struck him once or twice and the woman pretended to go off into hysterics. In consequence of the disturbance created he could not get his house cleared till about one o’clock the following morning.

Mr. Superintendent Walker stated that the complainant always evinced the greatest anxiety to keep his house in an orderly and creditable manner.

The Bench fined the defendant £2. and expenses, or one month’s imprisonment in default.

The defendant afterwards appeared before the court, and stated that he was not able to be present when the case was called upon, owing to the train from Whitstable being behind its time. He alleged that he never interfered with the landlord but when the woman went off in hysterics he endeavoured to aid in her recovery by throwing water in her face. He wished the Bench to instigate the penalty and allow him some little time to pay it.

Mr. Delmur said the Bench could not alter the decision, but they would allow the defendant a week to pay the fine.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 4 February, 1860.

Robert Sayer, of Whitstable, was charged with having assaulted Edmund Hubble, landlord of the "Hoy Endeavour" public house, at Whitstable, on the 20th ult. The prisoner and four others came into complainant's house the worse for liquor, and broke a table. On the complainant remonstrating, and requesting to be repaid the damage, the prisoner rushed at him in a very savage manner and struck him severely several times. he pleaded guilty, and was fined 20s. and 7s. costs, or in default fourteen days' imprisonment. The money was paid. There was a second charge against the man for having destroyed the table value 10s., but the evidence not clearly proving that he was the man who actually committed the damage, he was discharged.

From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 25 January, 1862. Price 1 1/2d.

James Goodwin, of Borstal-hill, Whitstable, was charged with assaulting Police-Constable David Hoad K.C.C., in the execution of his duty at Pean Hill on the morning of the 12th inst.

The assault was commuted under circumstances of an unusually aggravated character. It appeared that the officer was on duty at Whitstable on the night of Saturday, the 11th inst., and after visiting several public houses and attending to other duties he returned towards his house between one and two o’clock on the following (Sunday) morning. Three men belonging to Whitstable who had been turned out of the “Hoy” public house at twelve o’clock, also walked along the road towards Canterbury for a distance or two or three miles. When these men met the defendant Goodwin, who was in his cart, returning from Canterbury, at a place near the policeman’s house, they asked him to give them a ride back to Whitstable. He took two of them named William Sandy and Joseph Hoe, into the cart and drove on. Almost immediately afterwards they saw the policeman standing at the side of the road, and the defendant whipped his horse and attempted to ride over the policeman, who, though he was standing close in the hedge, only saved himself by seizing the horse’s head and turning towards the middle of the road. The defendant then turned round his horse and cart in the road and threatening to ride over, drove at him again. This he repented four times, each time threatening what he would do.

William Sandy, one of the men in the cart, was called as a witness in support of the charge, but he hesitated a great deal, and said he did not hear Goodwin use any kind of threatening language towards the policeman. He said “the cart went round in the road, and Goodwill appeared beating the horse; but he did not see him attempt to drive over the policeman.”

In his defence Goodwin said that, after taking up the two men, he was driving on quietly and leisurely towards Whitstable when the policeman stepped out from the side of the road and took hold of his horse's head, he told the policeman to let go the horse and if he wanted to see what he had got in his cart he might examine it. The horse was frightened at being suddenly taken hold of in that manner and turned round ill the road.

Joseph Roe, one of the men in the cart was called as a witness for the defence. He said the cart was going along the middle of the road when the policeman took hold of the horse's head. The witness was asked a number of questions by both the Bench and Superintend Walker, but the above was the only intelligible statement that could be got out of him.

Superintendent Walker said he was very much deceived by the first witness, whose evidence in Court was very different from his statement to the police when they called on him to make inquiries. Had it not been for the clear statement made by Sandy to the police he (Mr. Walker) could have brought another very important witness.

The magistrates then retired, and after an absence of about twenty minutes returned into Court. Before the chairman (Mr. Delmar) delivered the decision of the Bench he asked Mr. Superintendent Walker whether the police had instructions to stop carts which were found proceeding along a public road at such an untimely hour, unless there was some reason, beyond the mere fact of the time, to suspect that there was something wrong.

Mr. Superintendent Walker said the police had no such instructions, and added that there was no reason whatever for suspecting the defendant's cart contained anything improper. He said he wished to apply for a remand of the case to enable him to bring another witness. He expressed that wish to the clerk just us the magistrates were retiring.

Mr. Wightwick:- But you do not know what the decision of the Bench may be. There may he no need for an adjournment.

The Chairman said that, before giving the decision of himself and his brother magistrates, he felt it his duty to put the question he had put to Mr. Walker. The magistrates were fully of opinion that the assault had been proved, and the circumstances were such as to render it one of a very aggravated character. They had decided to fine the defendant £2 and the expenses, or in default of payment a month's imprisonment with Lard labour.

On the application of the defendant he was allowed a week to pay the money.

In reply to questions from the magistrates Mr. Superintendent Walker said the Police-constable Hoad was a most truthful and trustworthy officer. So highly was he respected by the farmers and others of his district that they had got up a subscription to present him with a silver watch.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 19 April, 1862.

MONDAY. AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AT WHITSTABLE.

James Warriner, coal heaver, Whitstable, was brought up in custody, on two warrants, charged with having on the 13th February last, assaulted Elizabeth, wife of James Hurrell, and also with having, on the same date, assaulted Richard Hurrell, landlord of the “Hoy Endeavour” public house, father-in-law of Mrs. Elizabeth Hurrell. It appeared that the prisoner went to the “Hoy Endeavour” very much the worse for liquor and created a disturbance. On being requested to leave he became very violent, and used offensive language to the landlord. Blows followed words, and he knocked the landlord down, and struck him repeatedly in the face. He also struck the female complainant such a violent blow on the side as to render her insensible, in which state she remained for four hours, and was obliged to have medical attendance. After the assault the prisoner absconded going away to sea, but on the return of the vessel to Faversham he was apprehended.

The Bench fined the defendant 15s. and £1 5s., for an aggravated assault on Mrs. Hurrell; and 15s., and £1 0s. 6d.

Expenses for the assault on the landlord, and in default of payment one month's imprisonment. The money was paid by a relative.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 29 August, 1863.

DRUNK AND RIOTOUS.

Ann Smith, a tramp, was charged with being drunk and riotous in the High-street, Whitstable, on the preceding evening. P.C. 6, K.C.C., stated that the prisoner smashed some panes of glass in a window at the “Hoy Endeavour,” and threatened to break every window in Whitstable. The woman said she travelled the country with “bitters,” which made people sober, and added that the reason she was drunk was that she had not taken enough of the “bitters.”

Committed for seven days.

From the Kentish Chronicle, 14 May, 1864.

PUBLIC HOUSE OFFENCES AT WHITSTABLE.

John Payn, landlord of the “Hoy” public house, Whitstable, was fined £1 and 9s. costs for allowing disorderly conduct in his house at 12 minutes past 12 o'clock on the morning of Sunday, the 1st inst. The case was proved by Police Instructor Bates, who found about thirty people in the house quarrelling. The landlord was in the midst of them. The defendant admitted that the people were in his house, but said he had done his best to get them out. He did not supply them with anything to drink after a quarter before 12.