Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald 28 January 1882.

DEATHS. BLEAN.

January 25th, at the "Royal Oak Inn," Blean. Mr. Robert Eyers, late of the "Red Lion Inn," Bridge, aged 36 years; much respected.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 14 July 1894. Price 1d.

T. F. HINDS, RED LION, BRIDGE, V. F. T. GREEN, CARRIER, CANTERBURY.

This was a claim for £27 5s. 2d. value of a horse and for keep of another one.

There was a counter claim for £5.

Mr. H. Broughton for the plaintiff and Mr. R. M. Mercer for the defence.

Thomas Lister Hinds, landlord of the “Red Lion Inn,” Bridge, deposed that on Sunday, 3rd, June, defendant drove over to see him and defendant said he thought he had a horse that would suit witness, witness went and looked at it and said he would show it to the gentleman, but he would have no transactions on Sunday, he should want a warrantee. But if he came over on the Monday he would take his (witness') chestnut and witness would give him £5. Defendant borrowed witness's chestnut to drive home with. On the Monday his man tried the bay horse, and he came back shortly afterwards and said something to witness. In the evening defendant came over to see him bringing the chestnut, and witness went to see him and said “You take your horse away, please, and leave mine here, for it's not sound anywhere.” Defendant jumped up in his trap and drove off. He wrote to the defendant asking him to return the chestnut and take the other away. His wife was the only one present when he had the conversation with Green. Not receiving the horse, he took out a summons. He valued his horse at £18. He kept Green's horse from the 3rd June to the present day, and charged 15s. a week for its keep. For the hire of his horse he would charge 18s. a week.

By Mr. Mercer: He bought the chestnut from Mr. Burrows. On the 3rd June he lent defendant the horse. Hills was out with the horse when defendant called when he came back. Green drove the chestnut back with his consent. Witness did not say he would pay the £5 if defendant called for it on the Monday. On the Monday defendant did not ask for the £5, witness told him to leave his horse behind.

Martha Hinds deposed that she was the wife of the last witness. On the 3rd June defendant came over to Bridge and plaintiff refused to deal on a Sunday. Defendant offered to leave his horse to be tried and to drive the chestnut horse back. She then corroborated what the last witness said about the meeting on Monday.

By Mr. Mercer:- Her husband was to pay £5. He made no arrangement about defendant coming over to fetch the £5 on Monday.

George Noble deposed that he was driver to Mr. Hinds. He corroborated the evidence of plaintiff.

Edward Taylor, servant in the employ of Mr. Hinds and Daniel Davidson also corroborated.

F. T. Green deposed that he was a carrier plying between Canterbury and Sandwich. He had known Hinds for some time. In May he spoke about this horse, which he said was going to Slater's, but which was not sold. On the 3rd June he went over, and plaintiff said he had bought the horse, but he could not see it as it had gone put. He wanted to know how much witness would take in exchange for his horse. Plaintiff went inside and wrote he would give £5 and take the bay, and witness was to have the chestnut. He saw Hills come back, and witness went and looked at the horse and said he would have it, and the chestnut horse was then put in witness' cart. Plaintiff told him to come over on Monday for the £5. When he went over on the Monday he asked for the £5.

By his Honour:- He valued the chestnut at £12 or £13, and his own horse at £17.

Frederick Hills deposed that he was over at the “Red Lion” at Bridge, on the 3rd June. He understood there had been a deal.

John Carey deposed that on the day in question, when Hills and he got back from the drive, the chestnut horse was put in Green's cart.

His Honour gave judgment for £12 or the return of the horse, £1 5s. for its keep, and £3 for the hire of the horse, or a total of £16 5s., to be reduced to £4 5s. if the horse was returned within a week, and costs. The counter-claim would be dismissed on plaintiff undertaking to return the defendant's horse.

From the Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 2 February 1901. Price 1d.

SUICIDE OF A NEWSPAPER BOY

The East Kent Coroner (R. M. Mercer, Esq.) held an inquest at the “Red Lion,” Bridge, on Saturday, touching the death of George Frederick Rye.

William Rye identified the body as that of his son. The deceased was sixteen years of age and worked in the village.

Thomas Philip Harvey stated that he was a gardener in the employ of William Perry, of Bridge. At 1.5 pan. on the 25th inst. he saw the deceased near the gate leading into Mr. Perry's premises. He was then returning to his work. Witness spoke to him and the deceased then appeared all right and said “How is the governor to-day?” About 2 p.m. he went into the meadow at the back of Mr. Parry's house and saw the deceased lying near the fowl ran. Witness did not go near him, but went and asked Mr. Perry what was the matter with “George.” Mr. Perry went out to him and came back and said deceased had shot himself.

William Perry stated that he was a grocer at Bridge. At about two p.m. on the day in question the previous witness came to him and said “What is the matter with George.” Immediately he went to see what was the matter and found the deceased lying partly on his back and partly on his right side with a wound in his throat and witness' gun by the side of him, apparently dead. "Witness sent at once for Dr. Moorhead and the police. The gun was always kept in a shed. There were six cartridges kept there also. The deceased had no right to go into the shed only by witness's order. He had kept the gun in the shed for about two years.

P.C. Wells, stationed at Bridge, stated that he was called to the deceased by the witness Harvey. Witness saw the deceased lying in a meadow at the back of Mr. Perry's house. He examined the body and found a wound under the lower jaw and at the top of the bead. The skull was shattered in pieces. He was quite dead. The gun was lying about two feet from the body on the left side, with two cartridges in if. The right hand one of which had recently been discharged. Witness searched the clothing and found two pennies, a pocket knife, an empty money purse, a note, pencil, etc. In the shed where the gun was kept witness found a watch and chain, and a collar and necktie, belonging to the deceased. The letter which was found on the deceased, was as follows:—

Dear Mother,—I have shot myself with Mr. Perry's gun at twenty to two. I have left my watch and chain to G. Page, tell father he can have my money purse, tell Tommy he can have my collars and tie. I have been a very bad boy. Don't put yourself out about me.— Yours truly, G. Rye.— The Lord gave and the Lord hath taken away.

It appeared the lad had for three or four years delivered the newspapers in the locality for Mr. Ladd, newsagent of Canterbury. Deceased got wrong in his accounts by about 10s. and another boy was appointed to take his place some few days back, but notwithstanding this the deceased went to Bekesbourne station as usual and dispossessed the other lad of the papers and delivered them himself as usual till the day of his death.

The Coroner summed up and the jury returned a verdict of “Suicide during temporary Insanity.”