Drunkeness and indecency (1866)

Post date: Mar 23, 2013 5:21:42 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 11th August 1866:

John Hammond labourer, was summoned for having been drunk at Wateringbury, on the 15th July. Defendant did not appeal. Mr John Beadle deposed that on the night of the 15th July he had occasion to go between eleven and twelve o'clock to Homewood's beer-shop, at Pysen Well, where he believed the defendant spent the the greater part of his time. He saw the defendant lying on a bank outside the house, and he (defendant) very much abused him, as he had often times done before. He believed defendant was drunk, but would not swear he was. The Bench dismissed the case.

SUICIDE. Emily Stone, a prostitute, was summoned for riotous behaviour in the public streets, at Wateringbury. Defendant did not appear, and Supt. Hulse said she was dead, having been found hanging that morning. The Bench would remember that she was brought up some time since for grossly indecent conduct with two men, and the police were directed to look after her. She was of very drunken habits. The information was consequently withdrawn.

David Hook, a young man, was charged with having been drunk and disorderly at Wateringbury, on the 29th July. Supt Hulse said the defendant was with the woman Stone, acting most improperly, and shouting and making a great disturbance. He had before been convicted. He was sentenced to seven days' hard labour, without the option of paying a fine. ......

NETTLESTEAD. Suicide. —On Monday last the quietude of this little village was disturbed by the discovery that a woman named Stone had committed suicide by hanging herself. It appears that she has led a very depraved life, and at the time of committing the rash act she was under a warrant to appear at the Mailing sessions to answer a charge of riotous conduct in the public streets, at Wateringbury. This appears to have preyed somewhat on her mind, and on Monday morning last her husband left the house shortly before six, and proceeded to his work, leaving the deceased then alive. About hour or two afterwards the little girl of a next door neighbour went into the house of Mrs Stone for the purpose of seeing if she was up, and on the little girl proceeding up stairs she saw the deceased hanging by the bed post, with her legs upon the ground. She instantly ran and gave the alarm, and deceased was cut down, but not before life was quite extinct. The coroner for the district held an inquest on Tuesday, at the Hop-pole, when a verdict of temporary insanity was returned. The funeral took place on Wednesday, at Nettlestead church, when, we understand, the Rev Mr Cobb did not read the usual burial service.