January 1836, saw a report of the landlord of the Black Tiger, Henry Tebbutt, being bought up on a charge of harbouring a youth. Maria Harkey (or Starkey) on looking for her son at 12:30 am on a Saturday night entered the Black Tiger, where she thought he would be found. She eventually found him concealed in the kitchen together with four disorderly drunken prostitutes.
At court the mayor as well as fining Tebbutt 40/- plus costs. Tebbutt was ordered to pay Maria Starkey compensation.
The mayor then addressed to the landlord, telling him that this highlighted what was wrong with many beer shops in disregarding the law – harbouring known prostitutes, serving ale after official closing time and allowing youths to drink till late. The mayor threatened Henry Tebbutt if he appeared before him again on a similar charge ‘the full weight of the law will be brought down on you’.
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