Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 29 January 1857

Temple Cloud.

Petty Sessions were holden at the Court House before Captain Scobell, M.P., and other Justices, Tuesday week.

Thomas Burge, licensed seller of beer at Midsomer Norton, attended to answer the information of the sergeant of police for keeping open his house for the sale of beer after the hour of eleven o'clock at night. It appeared, from the evidence, which occupied a considerable time, that the police had received several complaints against the defendant for not keeping order, &.C., in his house, and they accordingly watched the house, and, about half-past eleven night, the witness, one of the police, knocked at the door but could not for some time obtain admittance. When he did so, he found three men down stairs, and about 25 above, but the beer and cups had been removed. The judgment of the Court was deferred to the next Petty Sessions.

Joseph Ashman the ostensible occupier of the Pelican Inn, at Chew Magna, was summoned for keeping open his house on Christmas Day during the hours of Divine service. The defendant stated that he had disposed of the business long before Christmas to person, named Smith; but how he came to allow the transfer days to pass, or the using of means to prevent a forfeiture of the license, he (defendant) was unable to account. He was fined 50s. and 6s. 6d. costs.

George Oakes, a licensed seller of beer by retail, of Litton, was fined £2 and 6s. 6d. costs, for keeping open his house for the sale of beer after the hour of ten o'clock at night.