From the Kentish Gazette, 2 October 1838.

DEATHS.

Sept. 19, Mr. George Philpott, landlord of the "New Inn," Ashford, after a long and painful illness.

From the Kentish Gazette, 9 September 1845.

On Tuesday last, as Mr. James Palmer, butcher, Mr. Adorns, miller, of Bethersden, and a Mr. Dalton, were returning from Ashford market in a light cart, the horse shied and ran away. The reins unfortunately broke, which threw Mr. Palmer to the ground with such force as to deprive him of his senses, he was taken to the "New Inn," Ashford, where he expired on Thursday night. An inquest was held at the above inn on Friday, when a verdict of Accidental Death was returned.

Kentish Gazette, 26 October 1852.

Wholesale Smashing.

Charles Noakes, 22, whitesmith, Charles, Shopcott, 25, tailor, and Robert Saunders, 24, labourer, were charged with uttering certain counterfeit coin well knowing it to be counterfeit at Ashford, on the 28th August last.

Noakes and Shopcott pleaded guilty, the other prisoner not guilty. Saunders was then placed upon his trial, when Mr. Dawson fully explained the nature of the case to the jury, and Mr. Horne examined the following witnesses, who deposed as follows:—

Mary Hunt, lives with her brother at the "Bricklayers Arms" at Ashford. The prisoners came to the house on the 28th August. Saunders' wife engaged two beds for them, and said they were all one party. They left a bundle and went out; that was about eight. Noakes and Shopcott returns about 9.

By the prisoner:— I can't say how the woman was dressed, but I think I should know her again. My sister told me the woman's name was Saunders.

Sarah Hills, the barmaid at the "New Inn," Ashford; on the evening in question Saunders and Noakes came for 2 cigars, and gave in payments a 5s. piece. She put the coin into the till; afterwards took it out upon hearing bad money was passing hearing, and gave it to Mrs. Tatnell.

By the prisoner:— I can't say which prison have gave me the money. The prisoner then applied for the witness's deposition before the Magistrates to be read, as he contended that she had made a different statement on a former occasion; but upon referring to them it was evident he had mistaken the witness.

Mrs. Tatnell, landlady of the "New Inn," Ashford, deposed to the last witness giving her a bad crown piece from the till. She looked at it, thought it was a good one, and returned it to the till; in an hour afterwards took it out again; it was the only crown piece in the till at the time.

By the prisoner:— Did not see you in the house that day.

Henry Epps gave the crown piece to Superintendent Gifford.

The superintendent procured the coin in question. Apprehended Noakes and Shopcott the same day. Asked them about the basket left at the public house, but they denied all knowledge of it. There was a drinking cup, a check, and several shirts in the basket. Witness took out two of the shirts and began kicking them about the room. Two of the prisoners then said:— "You ----- they are our shirts you are kicking about."

Hunt deposed to the prisoners leaving the bundle at the house. A great number of other witnesses were examined, connecting the prisoner with the others in the uttering of the base coin.

The prisoner, in proclaiming his innocence, complained that the money found in his possession, and which was the produce of the sale of his goods, had been kept from him, and that he was therefore prevented from obtaining the assistance of counsel to defend him. He had made repeated applications for it to the master of the prison.

Mr Fenn, the master of the goal corroborated the prisoners statement, and said that he had written to the Superintendent (Gifford) for the money; but he refused to give it up. After a short consultation between the magistrates, the Chairman inquired if the prisoner had anything further to urging his defence. He replied by throwing himself upon the mercy of the court. The Chairman then summed up, and with respect to the detention of the money found on the prisoner, and the committing magistrates were of opinion that it was the produce of fraud, and that therefore it would have been highly improper had allowed such money to have been applied by the prisoner in defending himself against the charges brought against him. That was the magistrates impression.

The jury after a brief consultation, found the prisoners guilty.

Twelve calendar months House of Correction, hard labour.

The three prisoners, come up with the addition of Catherine Saunders, were then charged with stealing a silver drinking mug.

William Pennington, Esq., stated that he had in his possession on 27th August a drinking cup. He used it last on Barham Downs; and when on his road home with his carriage he was told by his butler of it being taken. He had since compared the cup with another in his possession, and they corresponded.

John Joy Hunt, landlord of the "Bricklayer's Arms" public house, said that all four prisoners came to his house on the day in question, when the female asked him if he could accommodate them with two beds. On being told that they could be lodged, the female prisoner consigned the basket into witnesses hand, and he gave it to his sister, who placed it in the back kitchen. The cup was afterwards found in the basket.

Several letters for handed in, showing a correspondence they were carrying on with a gang in and around Chichester.

The jury, with little deliberation, returned a verdict of Not Guilty in the instance of the female prisoner, and the male prisoners guilty.

Four calendar month House of Correction, hard labour, from and after the expiration of their previous sentence.

At the inclusion of this case, we understand that Mr. Pennington made the Superintendent a present of a £10 note, as a acknowledgement for his efforts in tracing and obtaining possession of the stolen drinking cup.

Southeastern Gazette, 18 January 1853.

The adjourned inquest on the bodies of Charles and John Blackman, two children, who unfortunately lost their lives by eating some cake ornaments, which they picked up in the street, was held at the "New Inn," on Monday, when a verdict of “Poisoned by accidentally taking arsenic" was returned.

From the Kentish Gazette, 21 July 1857.

Magistrates' Clerk's Office.

Monday, July 13. Before N. Toke, Esq.

Jane Stanley was charged with stealing two sovereigns from the person of William Prebble, and Ann Wise with being accessory to the robbery.

William Prebble deposed:— I am a pensioner from the 23rd Fusiliers, and live in the New Town. On Wednesday last I came to Ashford to receive my pension. Afterwards between five and six o’clock in the evening, I went to the "New Inn," and on coming out I met a young woman named Mary Warner in the street, and she asked me to come into Jane Stanley’s house. I went in with her, but do not remember how long I stayed, and then went to the "Eight Bells." After I came out of the "Eight Bells" my mother met me, and she found I had been robbed, but I did not discover this myself until the next morning. The property stolen from me consisted of a £5 note, two sovereigns, eight or ten shillings in silver, a Crimean medal, and some papers.

P. C. John Antonio said, on Wednesday afternoon I was sent for to the "Eight Bells" beershop, and there saw the prosecutor lying down in the taproom drunk. I lifted him up and searched him, but found nothing upon him. Afterwards, upon receiving information that the man had been robbed, I went to the house of the prisoner Stanley, and asked if she knew anything about the money or papers belonging to the prosecutor. She said she did not, but I might search her house. I searched but found nothing. I then went to Mary Warner’s house and searched but found nothing there. From further information, I went again to Mary Warner on Saturday, and she gave me a sovereign, as having been taken from prosecutor.

Mary Warner, wife of Edward Warner, labourer said, I was standing at the door of Jane Stanley's house in Gravel Walk, between five and six o’clock in the evening, when the prosecutor came up. He asked me if I lived there; and I said I did not, but he could come in if he liked.

He did so, and sent for some spirits, and we remained there together about an hour and a half. During the time Jane Stanley came in, and brought some gin and ale. Ann Wise afterwards came in, and we were all four in the room drinking for some time. Prosecutor gave me 5s. and also gave Jane Stanley some money for drink. I then went into my own house, leaving him with Jane Stanley and Ann Wise. I came back some time after, and he was still in the room with them. I saw that his trousers pockets were turned inside out, and accused them of robbing him. They said if he had been robbed it was by me. We then went all four to the "Eight Bells," and we (the women) left him there. He had his papers and medal in his pouch safe when we left him. Mr. James afterwards sent for Mrs. Stanley, and I was in her house when she came back. She showed me two sovereigns, and said she had them of prosecutor. She gave me one; and said she should not give Ann Wise a halfpenny. I did not see the £5 note; but it might have been among the papers.

The prisoner Stanley said she did not know anything about it; all the money she had from the prosecutor was given to her by him.

Wise said she only came in to have some gin, and was not upstairs with them at all.

The magistrate said, that although he had no moral doubt of the robbery, yet there was not sufficient evidence to convict the prisoners if sent to the Sessions, and they were consequently dismissed.

Kentish Gazette, Tuesday 5 July 1859.

ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON.

Ann Wise was charged with stealing 4s. 11d. from the person of Martha Buchanan, at Ashford.

Mr. Russell appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Ribton for the defence.

Martha Buchanan was the wile of John Buchanan, a waggoner at Chartham. On the 13th June she went to the "New Inn" public-house, at Ashford. Had known the prisoner from a child. Prisoner came in while witness was in the house. Witness had her purse in her pocket about seven o’clock, when at the railway station, which was just before she was at the public-house. There was about 4s. 6d in the purse. Prisoner came into the public-house, and asked witness to stand something. Before she could answer, prisoner put her hand in witness's pocket, and ran away, and witness ran after her. She ran into a cottage. Witness went to the police, and the prisoner was arrested in the house of a Mrs. Brown. She was lying on the bed, up stairs.

Cross-examined:- It was about half-past seven in the evening when I lost my money. I bad been shopping all day. I had been in a public-house (the "Red Lion"), where I had a glass of ale. I also went to the "Bricklayers' Arms," and had some ale and meat with a friend. I went to no other public-house until I went to the "New Inn." No one eles saw the prisoner put her hand in my pocket that I am aware of.
George Bish, a fruiterer, at Ashford, was at the "New Inn" on the night in question. Saw the prosecutor and prisoner in the inn. The prosecutor met Mrs. Buchanan coming out of the public-house, and she said she had lost her purse. He went to the bar and had some gin and water. He was there about five minutes, when he went into the parlour, and saw the prisoner sitting there with other witnesses.

Re-examined:- Was quite sure that prisoner was in the parlour of the "New Inn" after Mrs. Buchanan had left.

Mr. Ribton said he really thought it was useless to go on further with the case.

Mr. Russell said he had another witness to call.

Jane Leman lived in Gravel-walk, Ashford, and Mrs. Brown lived next door to her. Saw Mrs. Brown and another girl go past the house on the night in question. Did not see Ann Wise until she passed in company with an officer.

The Court, at this point, stopped the case, and a verdict of "Not Guilty" was returned.

South Eastern Gazette, 9 September, 1862.

Licences.

This was the annual licensing day. The landlords of the "Marlborough," "New Inn," and "Fountain," all in Ashford, were cautioned by the bench respecting their allowing prostitutes to assemble in their houses.