From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 14 July 1939.

Ducks stolen at Adisham

Cyril Morgan (25), a miner living at Aylesham, was summoned for stealing two Aylesbury ducks, value 10s. the property of William Tull, licensee of the "Moor's Head," Adisham, on 8th July.

Defendant pleaded guilty.

Inspector Tebay said the defendant was in the "Moor's Head" from 8.30 till 10 p.m. . At 10.35 p.m. P.C. Wissenden saw defendant acting suspiciously at the rear of the premises. He went towards him, and defendant ran away, but P.C. Wissenden caught him. When asked to account for blood on his jacket, defendant said that he had cut his finger, and, in fact, the finger was bandaged. P.C. Wissenden found two freshly killed ducks, and questioned, defendant said, "I saw them running on the road and caught them and screwed their necks." Inspector Tebay added that defendant was a miner living at Milner Crescent, Aylesham. He drank rather a lot. He had a wife and two children. On 16th June he was fined 10s. for committing a nuisance, and on 23rd June he was fined 10s. with 12s. costs for being drunk and disorderly.

Defendant said that he would never have done such a thing had he not had so much beer in him.

P.C. Wissenden, in reply to the Chairman, said that defendant had been drinking, but was not drunk.

Defendant was asked to pay the value of the ducks, 10s. and 8s. costs, and also agreed to be bound over for two years, a condition that he should abstain from consuming intoxicating liquor and not enter premises at which intoxicating liquor was sold.

The Chairman said that the magistrates congratulated P.C. Wissenden.