Burglary at King's Head (1858)

Post date: Apr 24, 2012 2:36:3 PM

Extract from Kentish Gazette 22nd March 1859, reporting on the proceedings at the Crown Court:

BURGLARY. John Holmes, 48, was indicted for burglary and stealing quantity of cigars, coat, &c, the property of Elias Luther, publican, at Wateringbury. (The prisoner had been removed to the Lunatic Asylum on Oct. 12th, 1858, and was brought back to the gaol the 10th March.) Mr. F. Smith conducted the prosecution. The prosecutor, landlord of the King's Head, Wateringbury, had seen the things safe the previous evening, when the house was locked as usual, but on going down stairs the next morning he discovered that the house had been broken into during the night, and the articles named in the indictment stolen therefrom. The prisoner was taken into custody a policeman, who saw him coming from the prosecutor's house carrying a short ladder. The prisoner said he was bad in the head at the time, and didn't know what he was about. Guilty; but sentence not passed to ascertain the state of his mind.

The next day the judge conducted sentencing as follows:

In the case of John Holmes (for burglary at Wateringbury), his lordship said he had ascertained that he was not in a fit state for punishment, and he would be discharged on his own recognizances to appear when called upon to receive sentence. If he did not again misbehave himself, he would hear no more of this.—Discharged accordingly,

For picture of King's Head see Wateringbury Hero (1903).