Frederick Baggs landlord of the Alton-ale-house, Stone-street, was summoned for keeping his house open for the sale of liquors during prohibited hours on Sunday.—P.C. Kissock proved finding two men belonging to the town drinking in the defendant's house at 11.20 a.m. on Sunday.—Defendant stated that he believed the men to have come from the train, and admitted that he kept his door open on the arrival of the 11 o'clock train on Sunday mornings, thinking he had a right to do so.—The magistrates told the defendant that he had acted wrong in opening his doors during prohibited hours on Sunday, and fined him for the present offence 5s. and costs.

STEALING A TEA POT.—At the Gravesend petty sessions, on Monday, John Brewer and Mary Brewer, brother and sister, were charged with feloniously stealing a tea-pot, value 5s., the property of Mr. Frederick Baggs, landlord of the Signal Tavern, Stone Street, Gravesend. The prosecutor said the prisoners came to his house on Saturday last, and after they had left he missed the tea pot, which had been left out in the yard after having been cleaned. He found the prisoners at the railway station, with his property secreted in a bundle. He took them to the station-house and gave them in charge. The mail [sic] prisoner said he did not take the tea pot from the house. He knew nothing whatever of the theft. His mother gave him the tea pot to put in the bundle. The female prisoner said the bundle belonged to her, but she offered to let the prosecutor look at her bundle. The superintendent asked for a remand, and said he should be able to find the mother of the prisoners.—Remanded till Wednesday.

BURGLARY AT PORTSMOUTH.

At the borough Police Court on Saturday, William Taylor and Michael Moran were charged with burglariously entering the dwellinghouse of Robert Harmsworth, grocer, with intent to steal therefrom.

The prosecutor said he was a grocer, and about 5 o'clock that morning (Saturday) he was awoke his man, named Jacob Baggs, who sleeps out of the house, calling out "Tom!" meaning a boy in the house. Mr. Harmsworth opened the bedroom door, and called out "Hallo, there." Prosecutor ran down the stairs, and found that Baggs had a man, the prisoner Taylor, secured on the stairs. He then ran to the station for a policeman, whilst Baggs was holding the prisoner. He  noticed that there was a deal of blood about Baggs, and also in the passage. Police-constable Hulbert came back with him, and the prisoner was given into custody. [ . . . ]

Jacob Baggs, the foreman of the prosecutor, living at Southsea, said that at five minutes past 5 that morning he went to his master's shop to commence work. When he got there he found the front door about two inches open and saw the prisoner Taylor inside, with a poker in his hand. Before he could seize him prisoner struck him and said, "Look out for yourself, for I shall kill you." Witness bled very much, but got hold of the prisoner, and during the tussel the poker (produced) fell from his hand. He called for assistance, and his master came down. He did not see Moran there at all. Taylor said to him that there were two more men who had been in the house all night, and that they were going along outside. He did not see them, as the door was shut. [ . . . ]

Police-constable Bound said that soon after 5 that morning he was at the station, when Mr. Harmsworth came there. In consequence of what he said the officer went to his house and found the prisoner Taylor there, leaning back on the stairs, the man Baggs having hold of him. Baggs said in the prosecutor's presence, "I found the man in the house, and he struck me over the head with this poker." [ . . . both prisoners committed to the assizes, where Moran was acquitted and Taylor sentenced to four months' imprisonment.]

ASSAULT ON GAMEKEEPERS.—Two young men, named Wm Lambert and Richard Thorn, were charged with assaulting Jacob Baggs and Edward Peckham, at Chilworth, on the previous day.—Jacob Baggs, a gamekeeper in the employ of Mr Fleming, stated that he was on his employer's land, between 10 and 1 o'clock, and saw a number of young men, including prisoners, trespassing on the land, which was enclosed. He warned them off, and went to the other end of the wood, and again saw the prisoners in the company of about twenty others. They went out into the road, followed by witness and an assistant, and upon this Lambert drew a knife and stabbed at witness in addition to hitting him on the thumb with the stick produced, leaving a mark. The other prisoners threw stones.—Thorn denied that he threw any stones.—In answer to Thorn, witness said he was one of the party, though he would not swear that he threw stones.

After other testimony, Lambert was fined 20s and costs, Thorn 10s and costs

DEATH OF MRS. H. STEVENS.—Much sympathy was extended to Mr. H. Stevens and family last week when it became known that the death had taken place of Mrs. Stevens, which occurred somewhat unexpectedly last Tuesday morning. Deceased, who was 59 years of age, had been ill about a month, but was much better and her recovery was looked for. The rupture of a blood vessel in the head brought about the sudden end. The family are much respected in the town, where they have lived for nearly a quarter-of-a-century. Mr. Stevens, during this period, has carried on business as a nurseryman, fruiterer and florist at Ockenden Nurseries, and is a sidesman at the Parish Church. There are five sons and two daughters. The funeral took place at the Parish Church on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of many sympathising friends. Prior to the arrival of the cortege the organist, Mr. C.G. Herbert Young, played the following voluntaries:—Marche Funèbre et Chant Séraphique (Alex. Guilmant), Funeral march, "Erotica," (Beethoven) and "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (Handel). [list of those present in the church . . . ] The coffin was preceded into the sacred edifice by the choir, with Mr. W. Knight bearing the processional cross. The Rev. Canon WILSON (Vicar) conducted the service, which included the hymn "My God, my Father, while I stray," and the 90th psalm, "Lord, Thou has been our refuge," whilst the lesson was read by the Rev. S.G.C. STARKY. The "Nunc Dimittis" was chanted as the cortege passed down the church, and the organist played "O Rest in the Lord" as it left the building. The family mourners were Mr. Stevens (husband), Messrs. A.J. Stevens, J.H. Stevens, S.S. Stevens and A.H. Stevens (sons), the Misses Mary and Violet Stevens (daughters), Miss Baggs (sister), and Miss Stevens and Mrs Sanger (sisters-in-law). The hymn "Abide with me" was sung by the choir on the way to the graveside, where the VICAR read the interment prayers. On the coffin lid, which was covered by a full-length cross from the husband, family and sisters, was the inscription:—

ALICE CLARA STEVENS.

Died 8th February, 1921,

Aged 59 years.

Other floral tributes were sent by [listed . . . . ] Mr. Stevens and Family desire, through this medium, to thank the many friends for kind expressions of sympathy in their sad bereavement.—ADVT.