1863

John File, sen., and John File, jun., appeared to summonses, the former for assaulting Mr. Thomas Bourne, of Elham, and the latter for assaulting Mr. D. S. Cresswell, of the same place.—The evidence shewed that on the 18th June, about half-past 10 at night, Mr. Bourne was on his horse near the Rose and Crown Inn, Elham, when John File, sen., went up to him, and after referring to some reports alleged to have been circulated by Bourne, he began to abuse him, and caught hold of him, and pulled him off his horse on to the ground, and thumped him on the ground; he cut his head upon, and both his hands and bruised him. Just at that time Cresswell came up and going up to File pushed him off Bourne. File then tried to strike Cresswell, and as the latter was endeavouring to ward off his blows, File's son came behind him and struck him on the side of the head and knocked him down.—The bench fined the elder defendant 5s. and 13s. 6d. costs, and the younger one 10s. and 13s. 6d. costs.—An application by John File, sen., that Bourne should find a sureties to keep the peace, was dismissed.