Newspaper Stories 1920-1929 - Hartley-Kent: The Website for Hartley

The Home Secretary has issued a certificate under the Children Act 1908, that the premises known as Fairby Grange, near Fawkham, Kent, are fit for the reception of girls sent to a reformatory school, the number of inmates not to exceed 20.

Kent and Sussex Courier 27.1.1922 Problems of Juvenile Offenders - meeting at Tunbridge Wells

A demand for a proper Children's Court was made at a public meeting, held at the Town Hall, Tunbridge Wells, on Saturday, under the auspices of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, to discuss the problems of juvenile delinquncy.

Councillor Miss A Scott who presided, remarked that the meeting was opportunely held, for a Tunbridge Wells they now had a policewoman and a woman probation officer, while upon the county bench they had Miss Alice Puckle.  In the new Chief Constable (Captain Hector) they had one who realised tha the glory of the police force was not so much in catching criminals and putting them under lock and key, but rather the prevention of crime and the extension of a helping hand to men and women to becoe good citizens.  Tehre was a avery real need, however, for a real Juvenile Court, quite apart fro the ordinary court, with special magistrates who would take a personal interest in the cases they might have to deal with and to whom the excellent Probation Officers (Mr G H Rogers and Miss Florence Owen) could frequently report.  There was also a need for a special home for juvenile offenders, and one such had just been established in Kent at Fairby Grange, which should do a work of tremendous usefulness.  The National Council of Women Workers was urging the Home Secretary to set up a special committee to consider anew the question of the treatment of juvenile delinquents along new reformative lines.

Miss Grace Costin, Warden of Fairby Grange School, said the best description of a juvenile delinquent was that of "a kid that had been found out", given by a young offender.  There were a very large number of uncaught juvenile delinquents, and very few people could say they had never taken anything which did not belong to them.  She confessed that he had - and stuck to it!  In the minds of youngsters there were very good reasons for theft, gnerally to satisfy the craving for amusements.  Few stole for the love of stealing.  She did not feel that those cases could be dealt with in reformatory schools on present lines, and she thought the sentences were too long.  The juveniles sent to a reformatory fo a lengthy period had a deep seated idea that it was unadulterated punishment and not an effort to reform them.  She wuld suggest sentences of 6 months to a year, certainly never more than 2 years.  Ultimately she felt they would not want reformatories, but would substitute them with a system whereby child offenders would be taken away from a bad environment and placedout among decent families.  It was no good putting juveniles who had done about the same thing together.  Miss Costin proceeded to detail the ideals and methods at Fairby Grnage School, which was a new experiment in penal reform.  Here they endeavoured to create the family spirit, giving to the girls trust and responsibility.  If the venture was ultimately found not to prove a financial success she hoped it would be a spiritual and moral success, which would make it well worth while.  Love was the great power, and without the love of God there could be no permanent good done.

The Rev F G Knott, in proposing a vote of thanks, said the speaker had held up a glorious vision of women's work, while Miss Hughes MA in seconding, remarked that there would be great hope for the future of all children if they were brought under similar kindly influence as as Fairby Grange.

The motion was carried and Miss Scott was also thanked for presiding.

Four acres planed orchard land; about 900 trees; part of gentleman's small holding; mile Fawkham Station; in charming village abutting on main road; frontage 340 feet on private road; water supply; most suitable erection bungalow; only wants seeing; low price; including crop apples if sold immediately - Apply, The Limit, Hartley, Kent.

Many old friends of Mr Ernest Gee (formerly of Chesham and now of Hartley Grange, Longfield Kent) will be glad to hear of his poultry show successes in his first year at the Kent shows.  At the Kent county show he had a 1st, 2nd and vhc; at Gravesend, two firsts, a third and a fourth; Faversham, two firsts and a third; Dartford, two firsts; Canterbury, first, second and third; and with seven birds at Olympia last week he was awarded three thirds, two fourths, a reserve and a vhc.

Two youths named Henry George Payne and George Thomas Cracknell, said to have no fixed abode, were charged at Dartford Police Court on Saturday before Alderman J Lawrence Mitchell (in the chair), Messrs F S Putland and A J Penney, with shop breaking at the Hartley Co-operative Stores on the night of April 15th-16th, and stealing tubes of soap, boot polish, tooth brushes, knife polish, candles and an attache case etc.

Superintendent Fowle said the prisoners were only arrested at Gravesend the previous night, and he had not completed the case.  He asked for a remand till Tuesday.

Detective-Sergeant Stutchfield said he arrested the two at Gravesend the previous day, and Payne made a lengthy statement.  He went to a house in Queen Street and recovered articles produced in court.

The two were remanded as requested by the police.

When the pair were brought up on Tuesday, Mr A M Fleet was in the chair.  It was stated that the stolen property was valued at 30 shillings.

William Charles Wise of Melba, Hartley, secretary to the Hartley Co-operative Society, which is registered under the Friendly Societies Act, said he closed he stores about 4.30 on the night of April 15th.  On the following morning he found things lying on the floor of the shop, and then noticed that other things had been taken away.  He subsequently discovered that a window at the side of the store had been broken and a pane of glass removed.  He reported the matter to the police, and on the morning of the 19th he was shown an attache case and a number of other articles by Superintendent Fowle, which he identified as having been stolen.

Albert Alfred Holder, of 53 and 54 Stonebridge Hill, Northfleet, a restaurant keeper, said at 5 o'clock on the morning of April 16th, the two prisoners came into his shop and asked for tea and bread and dripping.  The attache case (produced) was beside them while they ate, and Cracknell asked him if he would buy some candles and matches, and showed him the contents of the case, offering to sell the whole for 9 shillings.  Witness became suspicious at this, and sent for the police.  Nobody came, however, and with a view of holding the prisoners, witness bought 3 or 4 candles.  He kept them about three quarters of an hour, and in the course of conversation they said they were waiting for someone to open in Northfleet so that they could sell the things.  Ultimately the two left his shop.

Cracknell: Do you mean to say you sent for the police and they did not come? You did not send for them.  You might as well tell the truth.  Why did they not come?

Witness: That is their business not mine.

It was explained that a messenger sent by witness for the police went to the wrong house, and as a result the police never got the message.

Edward Adams, 41 Queen Street, Gravesend, said on the night of April 14th Cracknell came into his shop with another man, a local shopkeeper, to buy goods.  The other man bought a razor, and gave it to Cracknell.  On the 15th they came to the shop again, and the tradesman made further purchases.  On the 16th both the prisoners came to the shop with the attache case produced.  Cracknell said he was going away, and asked him to buy the case and contents.  Witness looked at the contents and said, "It is a funny collection for you to have," adding that he already had plenty of stock of that kind, and Cracknell said they wanted 10 shillings for the things, and witness asked where they came from.  Cracknell said they had been bought from time to time from men in public houses.  Witness ulitmately bought all that was offered for 5 shillings.  On the evening of the 18th a detective of the Gravesend police came to his shop, and he gave up the articles.

At the conclusion of witness's evidence Cracknell said he would like to see witness after the court.  The clerk remarked that he dare say the police would allow him an opportunity.

Detective Sergeant Stutchfield said on the afternoon of the 18th he went with Superintendent Fowle to Gravesend , and later in the day he arrested Cracknell and told him he would be charged with shopbreaking.  He replied, "I am innocent."  A little later he saw Payne in the Market Place, Gravesend, and questioned him.  He replied, "I will tell you the truth," and went on to say that he met Cracknell, who said he knew where he could lay his hands on some ready money.  He was hard up at the time, and had no tea, and said, "All right.  Where is it?"  Cracknell said where it was, and about 9.45pm they set out to walk to Longfield, and then to the Hartley Stores, where Cracknell took a window out and they got in.  He also said where the stuff had been sold.  About 10.30 on the same evening witness went to 41a Queen Street, the residence of the witness Adams, and was handed the case and articles (produced).  He charged both prisoners at Dartford Police Station, and they made no reply. On the morning of April 19th he served Cracknell with a copy of the statement made by Payne and Cracknell made a statement (produced), in which he said Payne agreed to go to Hartley to "do a job".  They broke the window together, adn Payne went in and handed the stuff out to him.  They shared the proceeds.  The statement continued, "I should not have done it, but I was down and out.  I was waiting for a ship, and should have got it on Wednesday, but I could not go on till then on nothing."

Prisoners were committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

Cracknell said he was the oldest and would "take the job on his own and let this boy go free."  He added, "It can be done."

The younger prisoner (Payne) was admitted to bail on the application of his stepfather, who is an employee of the Gravesend Corporation.

The first municipal convalescent home for mothers and babies in this country was officially opened on July 26th by Mr Wheatley, Minister of Health.  Fairby Grange which is at Fawkham, Kent, was given to Bermondsey Borough Council a year ago by Dr Alfred Salter, at that time MP for Bermondsey.  The Minister, in his opening speech, spoke of the cooperative spirit which is beginning to characterise public life today.  The fact that the ratepayers of Bermondsey had realised that a farthing rate was being well spent in providing convalescence for mothers who would not otherwise be able to take a holiday showed that they had realised it was the business of the community to attend to the affairs of its weaker members.  The attitude of the Ministry of Health was sympathetic towards all schemes likely to further maternity and child welfare, which he considered to be the cornerstone of public health work today.  In welcoming Mr Wheatley, Mrs Salter, the chairman of the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee, said that Bermondsey was proud of the fact that the maternal mortality per 1,000 births for last year was 1.37.  Although the infantile mortality was still very high, 76, yet it was the lowest Bermondsey had reached.  Ten years ago, before the first health visitor was appointed, it was 159.  The home is a comfortable 16th century manor house standing in 23 acres of ground; it has all modern conveniences, and is well adapted to accommodate 16 mothers and babies.

John Henry Hensman, Woodcroft, Hartley, was summoned by his wife for persistent cruelty.

Mr Norman T Baynes, for complainant, said the parties were married at Brondsbury in September 1909, and there were 3 children.  They first lived at Harrow, where the husband was a jeweller.  The wife was an expert worker of a knitting machine, and ultimately defendant started manufacturing underwear on an extensive scale at Hither Green, where he employed a number of girls to operate knitting machines.  At one time he was making £60 profit weekly.  In 1922 the parties purchased a house at Longfield.  The husband was now in financial difficulty.  Trouble between the parties became acute in 1923, and since then defendant has been guilty of repeated acts of cruelty towards his wife.  On May 15th, on account of defendant's cruelty, the wife lefet the house at Longfield and went to live with her mother at Chesham, Berks.

Gertrude Lena Hensman said the first act of cruelty was in November 1923.  Her husband kicked her while she was sitting in a chair because she complained that he came home late.  He purchased a motor car about that time.  On March 4th 1924, defendant gave her a black eye without any cause at all.

The Chairman: No quarrel?

Complainant: I do not quarrel.  She added that she continued to live with defendant until May, but then, on account of his cruelty, she went to live with her sister at Dulwich.

Answering further questions, complainant said that her husband ill treated her almost every other day.  On one occasion he got hold of her and banged her head against the wall.  On May 10th he punched her on the mouth, causing it to bleed, because she would not consent to go to Australia with him.  Once he set fire to a newspaper which she was reading, and at another time set fire to a table cloth.  He also smashed crockery, furniture, and a manicure set, and other things belonging to her he put in the copper.  The house was in her name.

Herbert Henry Meddick, Longfield, Hartley, a neighbour, said on one occasion he saw complainant with her face badly discoloured.  On several occasions he had noticed tht she had been ill treated.  She seemed to be in fear of her life.  Witness and his wife met complainant on the road one night.  She said she was frightened to go into the house.

Clifford Henry Hensman, the eldest son, said he was living with his mother at Chesham.  Last Christmas night, on returning from a party, his father tried to throttle his mother and hit witness about the face.  He used to kick her legs and make her cry.

Defendant, who admitted certain acts of cruelty, said friction was caused in the first place through a relative of his wife who was interned during the war, and for whom he held goods and money.  The knitting business had failed and he was a bankrupt.  He disagreed with his wife, who was of German origin, on the bringing up of the children.  A good deal of trouble was caused by his wife, trying to instil into the minds of the children ideas he did not approve of.  When his wife left the house she sent three men to take away the furniture.  Some money he had in a wardrobe was also taken.  He had found a purchaser for the property at Longfield and his wife would get the money from that after a mortgage had been paid.  He was working as a farm labourer and was paid 8d an hour.

The Bench granted the wife a separation and custody of the children, and ordered the defendant to pay 15 shillings (75p) a week.

The Chairman said if the circumstances changed it was open to either of the parties to apply to the court for a vacation of the order.

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In small, well timbered park; in excellent condition and well fitted.  Chestnut Avenue Drive with lodge.  300 feet above sea.

Lounge, hall, 3 reception, 12 bed and dressing rooms, each with lavatory basins, 2 bathrooms, domestic offices, electric light, central heating, independent hot water system, company's water.

Outbuildings, garage, chauffeur's rooms, beautifully kept park like grounds.  Orchard, kitchen garden, tennis court with pavilion, farmery, pasture and arable.

Freehold for sale privately or by auction later, at a bargain price, with 22 or 76 acres.

Expert Coaching for all examinations for army, navy, universities and professions.  Many successes.  Prospectus from Mr J R Stickland MA (Cantab), Wrangler, "The Old Downs", Hartley, Longfield, Kent.

Three months after his marriage, Ernest Backhouse, a jockey employed at the Grays Stud Farm, Westerham Hill, was killed as the result of a motorcycling accident about half a mile from the farm on Sunday while on his homeward way after having finished work for the day.  Mr Backhouse was a successful steeplechase rider, and it will be remembered that on the occasion of the recent gymkhana in Sevenoaks he was one of the riders in the incident when a horse dashed into a motor car.  At the inquest on Wednesday, held at the Three Horse Shoes, Knockholt, a verdict of 'Death by Misadventure' was returned by the jury, who made strong protests against the speed of motorcyclists generally in the village.

Mr H B Sewell was the Coroner, and Mr H Bond was elected foreman of the jury.

Outlining the story of the accident, the coroner suggested that eh jury migh wish to adjourn after hearing what evidence was available.  There were not witnesses present who had acutally seen the collision, as teh two men involved with the deceased in the occurrence were in Bromley Cottage hospital and one of them at least had said he remembered nothing of the accident.

Evidence of identification was given by Mrs Matilda Backhouse, The Woodlands, Hartley, Kingsdown, who said her husband had had this motor cycle for about 4 months and knew the road well.

William Alfred Hawes, head lad at Grays Farm, said the accident happened about half or three-quarters of a mile from the farm, at a very nasty bend.

Replying to a juryman, he said there was practically no view at all at the bend.  He had himself had a narrow escape there about 5 weeks ago when he was riding a horse and a motor car came round the bend, knocking him and the horse right round.

William Grayland, 14 Morat Street, Brixton, said he was cycling along Grays Lane with several members of a club, and when about 200 yards from the bend a motor cycle passed him with a pillion rider on it.  He could not say definitely, but he thought the speed was about 36 mph, although it was difficult to guess and he might have overestimated it.  He passed a remark about it at the time that he thought the cyclist was going fast.  He heard no sound of a collision, but when he reached the bend he found deceased lying just behind his machine on his near side of the road.  On the other side of the road were the other cyclist and the pillion rider lying on the ground but in a sitting position on the cycle.  They were both unconscious.  Backhosue was still breathing.  He knocked at two or three cottages for help but got no response, and someone summoned an ambulance.  The surface of the road at this point was quite good.

Frank William Austin, New Cross, corroborated this evidence up to a point, but estimated the speed of the motor cyclist with the pillion rider at 20 mph.  About 4 yards separated the two cycles.

Replying to a juryman, witness said the machine ridden by Backhouse was nearest Westerham Hill and the other one on the Knockholt side, but made no answer to a suggestion that the machines might have bounced backward after the accident.

PC Parris said the width of the road at this spot was 14 feet.  The cycle ridden by the two injured men was 6 feet from its near side, and there were skid marks from a point where the road was 12ft 4in wide, commencing 4ft 4in from the offside and running 43ft 4½in up the incline and finishing 6ft from the near side.

The coroner: Your suggestion is that the accident took place 6 feet from the near side of the man going towards Westerham Hill? - Yes

It would be 8ft from the other man's near side? - Yes.

So they were getting near the centre of the road when the impact took place? - Yes.  there is no clear view of the road at that point.  The hedge hangs 2 feet over the road.

There was no skid mark on the deceased's side? - None.

Did you see the damage to the respective machines? - They were both as if they had hit absolutely head on.

So that with a very little more they would have cleared?  They did not come on wheel to wheel? - The front mudguard of deceased's machine was bent right down on the wheel.

Which rider would be on the rise? - The deceased on the rise, going down.

PC Tough, Westerham Hill, said he was cycling from Knockholt, when he met Mr H S Moore of Cutham Grange, with two injured men in his car and advised him to take them to Bromley Hospital.  He had since learned that the driver was Frank Arthur Buron of East Dulwich, and the pillion rider Charles Arthur John Norman of Peckham Grove.  He then met Mr Hawkins, of Scotts Lodge, with the deceased in his car, and he ahd the body brought to the Three Horse Shoes.  He had since seen the driver (Burton), who was suffering from concussion and remembered nothing after entering Grays Lane, and the other man remembered nothing at all.

Replying to the coroner, witness said the rider Burton appeared to have been trying to avoid Backhouse.

Dr Henrietta Broderick expressed the opinion that deceased had been thrown from his cycle and his head had come in contact with the ground, causing fracture of base of the skull.  His left jaw was fractured, and he had a compound fracture of the right thigh.

The coroner said he did not think it was necessary to adjourn the inquest, but it was for the jury to decide.  There was no suggestion of criminal negligence, and it was difficult to get the exact speed, as the two witnesses had differed on that point.

A juryman said he thought the fact that the cycle skidded 43 feet going uphill showed they were going at a good speed.

Another juryman said he was there to protest against this tremendous fast driving.

The coroner said they must keep to this particular case.  The only object of an adjournment woudl be to see whether they could get that they were driving at an excessive speed.  They had been told that the inured men remembered nothing about it, and they were sure not to say they were going at an excessive speed.

A juryman: Was it a Club on trials?

PC Tough: No.

Mr Bond: Is there anything to be gained by an adjournment?

A juryman: It's quite clear to my mind.

The jury, having agreed on a verdict of 'Death by Misadventure,' Mr Sewell expressed sympathy with the widow and relatives.

Mr Bond said no words cold express what the jury felt in this matter, and on their behalf he epxressed sympathy with Mr Backhouse and other relatives.  Referring to the question raise dby Mr Gorham (speed of motorcycles in the village), Mr Bond said the whole of the jury protested against the excessive speed at which motorcyclists tore through the village and along the lanes.  They were all right all the time the police were in view, but the moment they got out of police range they went like mad and cared for nobody or anything.  When the police were not there the roads were unsafe for man, woman or child.  the jury considered something should be done but did not know what.

A juryman suggested that there should be a danger signal at this bend.

Mr Bond went on to remark that if anyone saw a hedge which required trimming they had only to bring it to the notice of the Parish Council and it would be attended to.

Beatrice Davies Cooke, secretary of the Association of Perpetual Adoration, sought possession of the Sacristy Cottage, Hartley from John W Almond, acting sacristan.  It was stated that the cottage was the property of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark.

It was stated that defendant, an under gardener, left the employ of the association in June and refused to leave the cottage held under a service tenancy.

Miss Cooke said, as an act of grace, she gave defendant 3 weeks' notice instead of one.

Defendant said the plaintiff was not the owner of the property.

Witness said she had given the cottage to the diocese and the gift would be accepted when vacant possession could be obtained.  So far the property was still hers.  It was true defendant came from Manchester to work at Hartley, and it was no matter of hardship for plaintiff, who was losing no rent.

His Honour: It seems a great pity that defendant left Manchester.

Defendant: I quite agree with you sir.

His Honour said defendant had no sort of claim to the cottage.

The Rev Father Hoare said he was in charge of the church by order of the Roman Catholic Bishop of Southwark, during the great strike.  There was a very great scandal existing in the parish, and Miss Davies Cooke _______

His Honour: Oh, I am not going into that.  It is nothing to do with the case.

Witness: Then may I have an adjournment.

His Honour: Yes.  But the man cannot continue in the house, and if the bishop wishes, let him communicate with the court.  It is very undesirable for this court to have anything to do with troubles of this or any other church.

The case was adjourned until the November court.

The funeral of the late Mr Wilfrid Harold Walkate, who died on Monday in last week at Maple Tree Farm, Botley, at the age of 24 years, took place at Chesham Cemetery on Friday.  The service was conducted at Chesham Parish Church by the Vicar, the Rev E A Theobald, after which the body was conveyed to the cemetery...... It is of intereset to note that decesaed was a Lay Reader at Chesham Parish Church for about a year.  Before that he was a Lay Reader at Hartley, Kent, where he was also Sunday School Superintendent.  It was a great ambition of his to become a missionary, and with that end in view he passed a number of examinations.  He was, however, unable to realise his ambition owing to heart trouble.  He first came into the district some ten years ago, and during this time he made himself popular, especially in the Amersham Hill district.  A prominent member of the Westbourne House Lawn Tennis Club (Amersham) he was the recognised MC for the dances arranged by the club.  He was at home for 5 weeks prior to his death, and was under the care of Dr Cunningham.... (details of wreaths etc).

When Waggon meets Lorry

Messrs Martin and Stilles, haulage contractors, Strood, sued William Sale of Hartley, for £3 17s 6d damages.  Mr N Haynes appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr H Goff for defendant.

The action arose out of a collision between the plaintiff's steam waggon and defendant's lorry, damage being done to the amount claimed.

William Russell of Rochester, said on July 15th 1926, he was driving a steam waggon along Watling Street towards Crayford, and was going about 7mph.  A motor lorry, coming in the same direction as private motor, passed in the opposite direction.  The lorry struck the cabin of the steam waggon in passing.  It was not true that he turned out of his course - he kept on a straight one.  The mark of wheels pointed out after the accident was not witness's.

In reply to Mr Goff witness denied that he swerved out.

Alfred Culley, mate to last witness, said they were about 18 inches from the kerb, and teh other lorry cut in and caught their cab.  He turned too sharply as he passed.  If he had kept straight on he would have had plenty of room.  Russell did not swerve at all.  There was plenty of room for defendant to pass.

William Sale of Hartley, said he was travelling along Watling Street, and as he was going to pass a steam waggon he gave warning, but driver of the steam waggon swerved out.  After he had passed he glanced round and saw plaintiff signalling to him, and he stopped and went back.  He did not feel any impact, and showed plaintiff how his wheel marks came out, and thought it was because there was a bad patch in the road.  His own wheel marks shewed a straight course.  It was not because he cut in, but because plaintiff turned out.

Judgement was given for plaintiff.

At the Greenwich Police Court on Thursday, Frederick Christopher Chuter, Little Downs, Hartley, Kent, was summoned for neglecting to stop his motor car at the request of a police officer at New Cross Road.  Defendant was also summoned for driving in a manner dangerous to the public.

Mr H L Tatham defended.

PC Weeks 769M, said that on October 27th, outside New Cross Gate station, he was assisting pedestrians to cross the road, and was on the tram track wehn defendant's car was about 100 yards off.  Witness signalled to him to stop, but he made no attempt to do so, and came on at from 10 - 15 mph, nearly knocking down a lady.  Witness shouted to defendant to stop, and he looked round, but kept going, and witness took the number of the car.

Cross examined: There was not a stationary tram car ahead of defendant, who could not help seeing him, although he might as he said, have had his eyes on the people on the pavement.

Harry Wing, 133 St Donatts Road, New Cross, said he saw the officer in the centre of the road, with his hand up.

Flora Young, 6 Eddystone Road, Crofton Park, said the car ran between witness and her mother in law when the constable's hand was extended.  The officer called out "Stop" but the driver went on.

Kate Young, 6 Eddystone Road, gave similar evidence.  She said defendant seemed to have slowed up, but went on.  It was a miracle that she and her daughter in law were not both knocked down.

Defendant, giving evidence, said he had driven for 18 to 20 years without accident.  On this occasion he was driving a lady to Denmark Hill Hospital, and was going carefully on account of her condition.  He slowed down on seeing the women, and did not see the officer at the time.  The constable did not have his hand up as witness passed, and did not call to him to stop.  As witness passed, he said "Sorry, constable," and passed on.  He had a clear road.

Guy Sinclair Fielden, Greenlands, Longfield, said he was taking his wife to hospital.  Defendant drove carefully.  The first he saw of the constable was when he "appeared from nowhere," and beckoned two ladies across right under the nose of the car.  The constable did not call upon defendant to stop, but said, "What are you doing?" as they passed.

Mr McKenna dismissed the first summons, and on the second fined defendant 30 shillings with 15s 6d costs, the licence not to be endorsed.

"Cook's Croft" made famous by Dick Turpin, is the cause of a dispute between the British ministry of Agriculture and the rector of Fawkham, England.  The land has 2 owners, yet in a sense is no man's land, because it is in no parish, and the rector refuses to collect any tithes from it.  Part of it has been sold and the ministry of agriculture wishes to reapportion it for tithes, but the rector claims that as it has never been apportioned it therefore cannot be reapportioned and no-one can claim it.  In 1700, the spot was called "Three Gates" because of three gates that stood under an old tree in the lonely spot.  Turpin stood under the tree when he robbed the Gravesend coach.

William Edward Barlow, Merton Avenue, Hartley, was summoned by Dartford Rural Council to shew why he should not comply with a closing order made against him on May 3rd 1927.

Mr Goff, who appeared for the council, said the defendant appealed to the Ministry of Health, who upheld the decision of the council.

Mr Leslie V Sargent, Sanitary Inspector to the Rural District Council, gave formal evidence.

The defendant: Why have they made this closing order?

The witness: Because the house was unfit for habitation.

Can I make it fit for habitation? - It is not possible.

Yet my family and I have lived there for 5 years without ill effects? - I don't know.

The clerk: You cannot get behind the closing order.

Alderman Mitchell: You appealed to the Ministry of Health, and they upheld the council's decision.

The defendant: Is it a rule when you make a closing order that it is necessary for you to find other accommodation?

Alderman Mitchell: I am not here to answer questions.

The Sanitary Inpsector said it was not the rule to find alternative accommodation.

The defendant said that when he first went to the place, he put up a temporary building, and afterwards built something better.

The Inspector: I know you built a shack there.

Alderman Mitchell: We have nothing to do with all these questions.  The closing order says you have to get out.

The defendant: Where am I to go?

Alderman Mitchell: I don't know.

The bench made an order for the defendant to quit in 21 days.

Alfred Caller (aged 23), of Longfield was summoned for stealing a packet of cigarettes belonging to Mr David Thomas Robertson Gray, Fairby Stores, Hartley.  Mr Goff defended.

The prosecutor Gray said that packets of cigarettes had been obtained from an automatic cigarette machine at his store by the use of metal discs instead of sixpenny pieces, and he set a trap to find who was guilty of the practice.  He marked a number of packets of cigarettes and placed them in the machine as a means of finding out what coins were put in the machine in exchange.  He identified a packet of Players cigarettes produced as one of the packets he had put in the machine.

Mrs Gray, wife of the former witness, said she watched the machine on the Sunday evening, and on examining it first early in the evening found two sixpences, and on examining it again at 8.30 she found discs.

In answer to Mr Goff the witness said she had not seen the defendant in the shop.

Police Sergeant Nicholls said that in consequence of information received he went ot Hartley Constitutional Club on the evening of April 15th and interviewed Caller, who on being asked if he had any cigarettes on him, produced a packet of Players.  Asked where he had got the packet, he replied "At the Club."  The witness made enquiries and acertained that the defendant had purchased a packet of Gold Flake cigarettes at the club.  Defendant then said he had got a packet of Black Cat cigarettes at the club, and the other at the Hartley Stores, having put sixpence into the machine for it.  The packet was identified by Mr Gray as one of those which he had marked and put into the machine.

The defendant, in evidence, said he went to Gray's shop at 10 minutes to seven and put sixpence into the slot of the cigarette machine, and got the packet of Player's cigarettes.

The defendant was fined 20 shillings.

William Edward Barlow, Ebbflow, Merton Avenue, Hartley, described as a watchmaker, sued William Sale or Hartley for £100 damages for personal injuries.

The case was a running down act at Longfield, the collision being between a pedal cycle and defendant's motor lorry.  Plaintiff was coming out of Merton Avenue in the direction of Longfield, and came into collision with the lorry, which was going towards Hartley.

Plaintiff said on January 4th he was cycling towards Hoseland Hill on the left hand side of the road, which was quite dry.  As he got to the end of the road he saw a lorry, and as he got to it it branched off from the bank.  Witness had his right wrist injured, and he was off work some 3 months.  In reply to Mr Goff, witness said he had done watchmaking for years, and had just done two clocks for the KEC (=Kent Education Committee?).  He had earned £14 in one week.  He had done road making, indeed, anything he could get.

Dr Marsden said he attended to defendant, who had a broken wrist; he had had nothing to do with him before.

William Sale described how plaintiff came into his lorry, struck the mudguard and struck the fence, and witness stopped and got out to see to plaintiff.  The Avenue was not a made up road, but a landway; there was a bank 4 feet high, and a slope down to the road.

His honour gave judgement for the defendant, saying there was no evidence of neglect on behalf of defendant.

In the first Mr Williams, husband of the plaintiff, said he excavated some flints on his wife's property at Hartley in 1926, and in January last sold some to defendant.  When the bill was sent in he received a letter from defendant from which he gathered that something had been said about the ownership of the flints.  He asked Mr Edmed if someone had told him the flints were not his to sell, and he replied that they had.  he made out the bill in his own name subsequently to that.

Mr Goff, for the defence, claimed that the plaintiff did not in fact sell the flints.

His honour said the evidence was unsatisfactory.  The goods were said to have been sold by the plaintiff, but he was not satisfied they were, and the bill was made out in Mr Williams's name.  Judgement would be for the defendant.

The defendant Strickson did not appear.

Mr Williams repeated his evidence in the last case, and replying to his Honour said the doubt as to his wife's ownership arose when someone went to see one of the purchasers of flints and said they belonged to a bank which held a mortgage.

Mr Puckridge, for plaintiff, claimed that as the flints were excavated and lying on the ground at the time the mortgage was executed, they were not affected by the mortgage.

His honour remarked that the point was open to doubt, and he would require to have it fully argued before agreeing.

In the third case Mr Puckridge, a solicitor, went into the witness box and said he acted for Mrs Williams at the purchase of the property and the execution of the mortgage.  It was within his knowledge that Mr Williams did the business on behalf of his wife, and often signed his own name.

Mr Goff said Liverpool and Martins Bank, who held the mortgage, were of opinion that the case was trivial and did not wish to go on with it, but they were joined as third party.  They did not wish to claim the flints sold.

Mr Lynds said he treated with mr Williams for the purchase of his flints and the bills were made out in Mr Williams's name.   He had heard the property was Mrs Williams's.

Mr Puckridge said Mr Lynds had been asked if he knew he was receiving stolen property, and advised not to pay Mr Williams as he might have to pay again.  He felt assured that on another occasion he would be able to convince his honour that when the flints were dug up prior to the mortgage they were separated from the freehold.

His honour said he was now satisfied that the plaintiff in the cases was the owner of the property, and in view of the fact that the bank did not make any claim for the flints sold, judgement would be against Messrs Strickson and Lynds.

Reduced to ashes after escape of three occupants

Three people had a narrow escape when a house almost entirely built of wood was reduced to ashes by fire yesterday morning.

The house was occupied by Captain Flear, headmaster of St Michael's School, Hartley (Kent) who was awakened by smoke and fumes to find the house already ablaze.  He immediately warned two members of the school staff sleeping in the house and the three made a hurried exit.  In a short time nothing remained but two brick built fireplaces and chimneys and a heap of ashes.