Bristol Mercury - 12 June 1858

William Vokes, John Sweet, John Wellish, James Andrews, and Robert Gallup servants or labourers in the employ of Mr. Richard Lewis of Clutton, brewer, were severally charged with stealing from the brewery, on the night of the 4th of Juhne, a quantity of beer of the value of 7s 6d, the goods and property of the said Richard Lewis. The prisoner Robert Gallop was admitted to give evidence and from him it appeared that the cellars had for some time been systematically robber by means of a false key, which was hid in a hole under the manger of the stable. All the prisoners knew where to find it, and always replaced it there when they had served their purpose. The thieves got access to the cellars by unlocking a coal-house, then ascending to a room up over, getting through the trap door in the roof, and by means of a rope one of the prisoners was let down into the cellar, who unfastened the brass tap by means of a wrench. The beer was then taken up in buckets, and what was not consumed (it is believed) was sold, as upon searching the prisoners' houses a number of bottles apparantly used for such a purpose were found. After the beer had been drawn up from the cellar, the man was drawn up also, the trap door was replaced, the coal-house door was locked, adn the key placed under the manger for the others to take when wanted. The prisoners were all convicted and sentenced to five calendar months imprisonment with hard labour, at Shepton Mallet.

George Webb, of Clutton, recently in the employ of Mr. Lewis, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing two buckets of beer, on the 25th of May last, of the value of 7s 6d, the property of his master, and was sentenced to two calendar months imprisonment, with hard labour.

John Rawlins, a beerhouse keeper at Chew Stoke, was fined 15s, and costs for keeping open his house on Sunday morning for the sale of beer,

Samuel Robbins, the keeper of the Britannia Inn at Chilcompton, was fined £1 10s, and costs for permitting drunkenness in his house.

James Knowles, of Midsomer Norton, was summoned for refusing to admit the constable into his house, the Greyhound Inn. The case was dismissed for want of proof of his refusal.