Innkeepers were often required to evict troublesome characters from their premises. They were entitled by the law to do so however using only necessary force in doing so; This law was to Robert Keddie's advantage in 1847 when he was accused of assaulting Henry Reuban a Ginger Beer and cordial manufacturer as he was removing him from the Trades' Arms. Reuban had approached Mr. Keddie in the hope of payment for ginger beer he had supplied to the Inn but was forcibly removed and injured in the process. When Keddie's wife remonstrated with his harsh treatment of so small a man as Reuban, Keddie laughed and said that he had a great mind to kick Reuben as well. Although Keddie was convicted of assaulting Reuban, victory was perhaps hollow for Reuban as the fine imposed was a mere 1/-.

The eviction of another troublesome character -   Pitnacree punt owner Malcolm Turner resulted in a charge of manslaughter against Keddie when Turner was later found dead in a barn at the Inn. There was a lengthy trial and at the conclusion Robert Keddie addressed the court. He stated that he was convinced that the jury would see that there was no foundation whatever for the charge against him, and their verdict would disabuse the public mind of the false and injurious reports circulated against him. He had no hand in the death of the unfortunate man further than filling the glass that made him drunk although he admitted that Turner had died from an injury after a fall on the verandah of the Inn. He reiterated that he was entirely innocent of the charge and criticized the committing magistrate and coroner. When the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty after  twenty five minutes deliberation, loud cheering took place outside the Court causing the Judge to sentence an old servant of Keddie's to 48 hours in the cells for contempt of court. (45)

In November 1849 Robert Keddie was advertising to organize voyages to California. He stated that he would not be able to make Passage money less than £12/10- because agents and ship owners charged most exorbitantly for their vessels as the sailors abandoned them to look for gold on arrival. He vowed to provide a much more liberal allowance of fresh provisions than any of the ships sailing from Sydney  and would charge £20 for the freight of a horse with owners to provide their own groom and fodder. Each passenger was allowed half a ton of luggage free of charge. (48)

(48)MM 7 November 1849