Opening hours (1862)

Post date: Mar 27, 2013 4:53:23 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph, 6th December 1862

Samuel Fagg Horton, Wateringbury, beer-house keeper, was charged with refusing to admit the police into his house when required, and for keeping his house open for the sale of beer after ten at night and before five in the morning.

Mr. Goodwin was for defendant. It appeared from the evidence of Sergeant Fisher that on the night of the 28th of October last, between twelve and one, he went to the house of the defendant and knocked for admission. Defendant came to the door and inquired who was there, and upon being answered " the police," pretended to be undoing the door, but ultimately walked away without doing so, saying "he shouldn't open the door for the b...police.' Sergeant Fisher, after being kept outside for nearly a quarter of a hour, was ultimately admitted, when he found four men in the taproom, and a quart pot containing beer stood on the table. Defendant told him the men were lodgers, and that had given them the beer. Two witnesses were called by Mr. Goodwin to prove that the men were lodgers, and that defendant had given them the beer for minding his house.

The magistrates, however, being of opinion that the case was fully proved, fined defendant, who had been previously convicted, the penalty of £5, including costs.