The New Inn was owned by the Original Gloucester Brewery in Westgate Street. When the brewery and business was put up for auction on 21st October 1848 the New Inn was also offered for sale.
The details of sale read: ‘A public house called the New Inn situate in Quay Street, with a frontage also to Lower Quay Street, and now in the occupation of Mr John Aldum.’
Gloucester Journal, 14th August 1852 – Charge of Stabbing:
John Rodway, aged 22, was charged with having feloniously and maliciously stabbed William Davis, with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm —Mr. Macnamara stated the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Powell defended the prisoner. (The particulars of this case appeared in our last impression)
Wm Davis, a nailer, deposed that on the morning the 4th inst. he was at the New Inn, in Quay-street ; the prisoner was also in company; he was drinking there for some hours; about five in the afternoon the prisoner and another man began to quarrel, whereupon Davis interfered; prosecutor then struck the prisoner, and both went out into the yard to fight, when Rodway struck Davis with a riddle, and afterwards threw a stone at him, and cut his head ; they then struggled together, and both fell down upon the ground, when the prisoner bit his adversary, and tore his arm with his arm with his teeth, inflicting a considerable wound. After they were separated Rodway went away, and prosecutor into the house, but prisoner returned about six o’clock, and on entering the room Davis endeavoured to strike him but was prevented by those present; Rodway then went up to him, and said “What are you going to strike me for?” when prosecutor replied. “For flinging that stone and cutting my head ;” the prisoner then dated Davis to strike him three or four times; Davis, however did strike him, and the prisoner again struck him on the cheek with his left hand, when the prosecutor felt something cut his face, and immediately after the blow was given observed a knife in Rodway’s hand.
John Boughton, a nailer and a fellow workman of the prosecutor, deposed that he met the prisoner while he was coming up the Westgate – street, about half past six on the evening in question; he was drunk and appeared to be in a great passion. He asked him what he had done to his face when he replied that he had been fighting with Davis, and added that he should go down again and “rip him up like pork” Witness answered, “Don’t you go down to the house at all, you had better go to bed and think better of it” the prisoner, however went away in the direction of the New Inn. In cross-examination, this witness admitted that he himself had once been convicted of being an accomplice in a robbery.
Jeremiah Bubb gave similar evidence to the prosecutor, corroborating the main facts in his evidence, but added that, after the blow with the knife had been given, Rodway wiped the weapon with his sleeve, shut it up, and put it in his pocket, upon which the landlord took it from him, and afterwards delivered it to witness, who subsequently delivered it up to the policeman.
The landlord deposed to going into his house and finding Davis bleeding from the effects of the wound. Took the knife from the prisoner, who delivered it up to him.
Mr. Cookson, surgeon, deposed to being called into the New Inn shortly after the disturbance took place, where he found Davis bleeding from an incised wound three and a half inches in length, and so deep that it extended to the jawbone; the gash was of such a nature that it might have been inflicted by such a knife as the one produced, if used forcibly. It was a flesh wound but not of a dangerous nature.
P.C. Strain deposed to apprehending the prisoner, who said, on being told the charge, “I did it, but was aggravated to it.’
Mr. Powell then addressed then briefly addressed the jury and contended that the evidence of Boughton could not be relied upon as he was a convicted felon. He also contended that the injury the prosecutor had received might have been the result of an accident, as he was about to strike Rodway just before, and the prisoner, in endeavouring to ward off the blow, might have struck him with the knife he accidentally held open in his left hand. Several witnesses were then examined for the defence, who gave the prisoner an excellent character, and proved that on the day the offence was committed he had suffered much provocation from the prosecutor – Mr. Sergeant Allen carefully summed up the evidence, and the jury not being able to come to a ready decision retired, but soon afterwards returned into court, and gave a verdict against the prisoner finding him guilty of having wounded Davis, “with intent to do him some grievous bodily harm.”
The learned sergeant in sentencing the prisoner, said it was the most painful part of his duty to see the prisoner, who had borne up to the time of his committing the offence, an irreproachable character, standing in his present situation. He had had been taken from a very useful occupation in life, but by one hasty act of intemperance and passion had committed a crime for which he might be transported. It was clear that if this country was to be governed peacefully and not by the musket or the bayonet, its inhabitants must be restrained from the perpetration of such offences. There were some circumstances in the prisoner’s case which might call for a lenient sentence—the con- duct of the prosecutor himself had subjected him to great provocation, and in some measure, he might be considered as acting in self-defence. He thought on examining the case, his duty would be discharged by inflicting a punishment much short of proscribed by the act of parliament, but he should ill discharge his duty if he did not express his abhorrence at the use of such deadly weapons.
After a few remarks the prisoner was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment.
The above research and information courtesy Dr Martyn Beaufort.