'Deal Walmer and Sandwich Mercury' 8th February 1868

COUNTY POLICE COURT

CAUTION TO CARTERS AND OTHERS. - William Allen, a labouring man, appeared in answer to a summons charged with removing sand from that part of the Sand Hills[1] belonging to Sir Walter James, the local Lord of the Manor of Northbourne.

Defendant was before the Magistrates upon a similar charge early in the past year, but as that was his first appearance the case was not then pressed against him and he was dealt with leniently.

Mr. Mercer, Sir Walter James's steward, reminded the Magistrates of the above fact and said that he should now ask them to visit the offence with a severer punishment.

P.C. Ralph deposed: On the 29th of last month I was on duty near Sand Hills. I met the defendant with a horse and cart, and as I noticed that he appeared to have a heavy load and that it was covered over with seaweed. I asked him to let me see what he had got. I then removed the seaweed, and found that the cart contained sand. I traced the cart down to the Tenant Hills[2], and afterwards told the defendant that he had been cautioned about taking sand before. He said he knew he had, but other people took it away as well as he. Where the cart had passed there was a sign-board prohibiting the removal of sand.

Mr. Mercer was then sworn, and said: I am Steward for the Lord of the Manor of Northbourne, and the spot mentioned by the last witness as that from which Allen took the sand belongs to the Manor. The defendant had no leave from me to remove the sand, and a caution board has been erected at the place for several years past. The defendant was summoned before the County Magistrates on a former occasion for a similar offence, and I remember that he then stated, as an excuse, that he could not read. A small penalty only was therefore inflicted.

Defendant denied that he had been anywhere near the Tenant Hills, and said that he had taken a load of brick-rubbish down, and brought a load of sand back which he had taken from the road. Other people were doing the same thing all day long.

P.C. Ralph was quite certain that the sand had been obtained from the hills, and said he could produce a witness who was present when he traced the track of the defendant's cart-wheels.

The Magistrates fined the defendant £1, and the costs, 10s., or in default one month's imprisonment.
Defendant pleaded for time, and was allowed a month to pay the money in.

Note:

1. Sand Hills and Tenant Hills lies on the coast between Deal and Sandwich Bay.

2. Ditto.