History of Dover

William Wilfington, a man in the employ of Mr. Gill, marine store dealer, was brought up and charged with obstructing High Street, Charlton in a state of drunkenness and with assaulting Police Sergeant Geddes in the execution of his duty.

Geddes stated that early on the preceding morning he was in High Street, Charlton, persuading a drunken man to go home when the defendant who was also intoxicated came up and interfered and wanted to take the man in the opposite direction. He endeavoured to separate them when the defendant turned and struck him. On taking him into custody for the assault he became very violent and it was found necessary to convey him to the Station House in a cart. On alighting defendant kicked him in the side and upon the hip. In cross examination by the defendant Geddes denied striking him in the eye or under the ear but admitted that the defendant might have sustained some injury by falling to the ground in the course of a struggle which took place before he could be apprehended. The defendant was fined 8s and 9s costs. (1858)