William defaulted on his payments

[Fidgetsmum]

My great-grandfather, William Austen, appeared in Court in Maidstone sometime between about 1901 - 1904 ish. He'd leased three buses and defaulted on the payments. He was by all accounts, a fairly eloquent individual and decided to defend himself. Everything was going quite well until they broke for lunch, at which time William repaired to a local hostelry and, to cut a long story short, arrived back at court slightly less eloquent and thus lost his case!

I've no idea which court he may have appeared in, Magistrates, Assizes, Quarter Sessions or whether it was a private prosecution.

I'd be grateful is someone could suggest which court it might have been and what would be the chances of finding any record?

[salcat]

How about the local papers? There may be reports of the case, especially if he was fairly well known in the area. Then that would tell you which court it was in and you would know where to look for trial records.

HTH

Sally

[kcapes]

Hello
I had a relative who stole bread and got four months hard labour, was tried at Chatham Magistrates but sent to Maidstone Prison then to Oakwood Mental Hospital where he died poor chap. There was the Maidstone Magistrates used to be by the old Maidstone Police station near the bottom of Gabriels Hill and the Crown Court was in County Hall, both are in one building now. But you can look at all records at County Hall Archives subject to closure laws, I did it was brilliant. Where did he live.

[Fidgetsmum]

Hello
There was the Maidstone Magistrates used to be by the old Maidstone Police station near the bottom of Gabriels Hill and the Crown Court was in County Hall, both are in one building now. ... Where did he live.

William lived in Bower Street, Maidstone.

Certainly the old Assizes and Quarter Sessions have long since been relocated to Maidstone Crown Court in Barker Road, but I thought the Magistrates Court was still in Palace Avenue, (at least, judging by the number of 'a certain type of person' who gather outside its frontage). I worked in that 'old' Police Station next door for 8 years - the facade may be old but believe me, a several-million pound refurb., and refit has ensured the inside is very 21st century!

[Peter Goodey]

I thought the Magistrates Court was still in Palace Avenue

True.

[brianb]

Have you tried the London Gazette, covers more than just London and a brief search revealed a few William Austins (sorry didnt get around to reading them all).

Brian

http://www.gazettes-online.co.uk

[Peter Goodey]

I'd be grateful is someone could suggest which court it might have been

County Court, I would have thought.

[Fidgetsmum]

County Court, I would have thought.

In the words of John Cleese ...... but, of course