KIDDLEY WINKS, ALPHINGTON, 1833.

At the Castle of Exeter:  "John Rugg, of Ide, complained of Mr. J. Way, a respectable farmer, of Alphington, for an assault, arising from the following circumstance....He was employed by Mr. Way, to hoe a field of turnips which Mr. Way stated to be eight acres, he was to have four shillings an acre and a gallon of cider per acre for his labour.

"In the course of the performance of the work, Rugg discovered, or was informed, that the field was nine acres, of which fact he informed Mr.Way,  but, however contented himself to complete the job as if it was only eight acres, as he stated.

"On the Saturday after the work was finished, and wages paid, Rugg being at Alphington, and having refreshed himself in one of the "Kiddley Winks" in that village, he invited a pot companion, called Shobrook....to call with him at Mr.Way's and drink the 'ninth gallon' of cider for the turnip hoeing.

"Shobrook waited otside Mr.Way's door and Rugg went in and demanded the cider, in very improper and abusive language.  Mr. Way would not give him the cider, and ordered him to leave the house, when he refused to go.  Mr. Way then used force to get him out, and in doing so, or from Rugg's own conduct, he having been a 'little sprung,' he got his clothes badly torn, and his face and head considerably bruised, which made them bleed profusely.  He was confirmed in the latter by Shobbrook; and Mr. Way called witnesses to prove Rugg's improper behaviour in the house.

"But the Bench were unanimous in opinion that Mr, Way had used more force than was necessary, and therefore convicted him of the assault, and fined him 20s. to cover costs, 7s.6d. of which they allowed Rugg for lost time, and 2s.6d. to Shobbrook." 

Good for the unanimous Bench, I think, not to find for the respectable Farmer Way but for the improperly behaving turnip-hoer, Rugg.

The jolly expression being a little sprung  which I am taking to mean being a little tipsy (bur which, I learn from the internet, now has another meaning)  doesn't appear in my Oxford Dictionary of Slang.  

But I chiefly blogged this for the sake of Kiddley Winks which is a sweet and early usage for the newly created (1830) beer-houses which were licenced to sell beer only, but where a wink in the taproom might favour you with smuggled brandy. 

Source: The Exeter and Plymouth Gazette,  2nd November, 1833.