From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 9 July, 1869.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A SOLDIER

An enquiry was held before the borough coroner, W. H. Payn, Esq., and a Jury, of whom Mr. Hatton Brown was chosen the foreman, on Saturday morning last, at the "Albion Inn," Hawkesbury Street, on the body of James Pain, a private of the 97th Earl of Ulster's Regiment, stationed at the South Front Barracks, Western Heights, who had dropped down dead while being escorted to the guardroom.

The body having been viewed, the following evidence was taken:-

Job Tucker, a lance corporal of the 97th Regiment, stationed at the Western Heights, said: The deceased was a private in the regiment to which I belong. I was ordered on Wednesday to take charge of the deceased, who was then a prisoner in the South Front Guardroom, in order that he might be examined. I had with me at the time two men and another prisoner. It was about half-past twelve when I took the deceased to the doctor's quarters. After the doctor had examined him I was taking him back to the guardroom, when, after he had returned about half-way, he dropped into my arms, and in a few minutes expired. The deceased was not handcuffed, nor did he have a stock on. he was wearing only a shell jacket, and when I unbuttoned that, life appeared to be extinct. On the way to the doctor, he had stopped and complained of a pain in the chest; but said that it was nothing more than he usually felt when walking up hill. he was a prisoner because he had deserted from the regiment. No one was speaking to him at the time he dropped down.

By the Jury: The first time I saw him was on the morning on which I took him to the doctor. I do not know how long he was to be imprisoned. I was ordered to take him into custody. The man was examined inside of the doctor's room, and he did not tell me anything of what the doctor had said.

Thomas Brown, a hospital sergeant of the 97th Regiment said: The deceased was brought to the hospital on Wednesday last, the 30th June. I first saw him on the ground, where he fell, at about a quarter past one. A man belonging to the escort came to the hospital, and informed me that the deceased had fallen down, and felt very sick. The man said a stretcher would be required, and I procured one. I found the deceased lying on his back, and he appeared quite dead. I did not notice any marks of violence upon him. I ordered him to be taken to the hospital. I had known the deceased previously in India for some years, and he was at the time a fine healthy man. I never heard of his complaining of ill-health, though I did not consider him a temperate man.

By the Jury: He was only once in hospital while in India. I do not know with what complaint. I do not think he has been in hospital while in England. I don't know how long he has been in the guardroom.

Surgeon Joseph Henry Porter, of the 97th Regiment: On Wednesday last Sergeant Brown called my attention to the deceased. I proceeded to the hospital, and found the body in the dead house. I examined the body externally. I observed no marks of violence. I am of opinion that he died from internal rupture of the chest, which might have occurred through the exertion of walking up hill, and which would cause death.

By the Jury: I should think the deceased's weakness of the chest was constitutional. I believe he has only been in the guardroom of the regiment two or three days.

It appeared that the deceased had deserted from the 97th Regiment some two years ago, and had enlisted in the 19th Regiment. It having been heard that the deceased was in the regiment, he had been fetched back a few days before his death to his former regiment, and had been sentenced to a course of imprisonment. It also transpired that the deceased was taken by the escort to Dr. Scanham, of the 4th King's Own Royal Regiment, stationed at the Grand Shaft Barracks. Dr. Scanham, through he carefully examined him, could find nothing to justify his admission to hospital. Dr. Scanhan who was present, said the deceased did not complain to him of any great pain.

The Jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural Causes."

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 September, 1875.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A SOLDIER

An inquest was held at the "Albion Inn," Hawkesbury Street,  on Wednesday afternoon, on the body of Thomas Cuthberton, a corporal of the 104th regiment, who died suddenly the previous day.

Charles Headey, colour-sergeant in the 104th Regiment, quartered at the Grand Shaft Barracks said: The deceased was a corporal in our regiment. He was supposed to be in good health, and always attended to duty. He was 38 years of age. His habits were regular. Yesterday the deceased came to me in the barrack-room after we had marched from the brigade parade ground beyond the Castle and asked me to give him a penny to get a pint of beer as he did not feel very well. About five minutes after he returned from the "Canteen" to the barrack-room and lay on his bed saying he did not feel very well. He lay there about two minutes when he exclaimed, "Oh Charlie, Charlie, I do feel so bad." I sent at once for a doctor. The doctor arrived in less than three minutes and the deceased only gasped twice after the doctor came and then died. I had been bathing his head with water. We had not marched very quickly from the parade ground, but the sun had been very hot. He was in full dress but not heavily loaded.

Surgeon-Major Lucus George Hooper, of the 104th Regt., said: I was called yesterday morning at 1.40 p.m. to the barracks. I went at once and found the deceased Corporal Cuthberton dying. He lived about three minutes after I arrived. I should say from the general appearance of the deceased, and what I have learned since of his history that he probably died from heart disease. If a man had heart disease the marching yesterday in the hot sun would be very trying to him. He had not been to the hospital for several months past.

A verdict of death from natural causes was returned.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 19 January, 1877. Price 1d.

THE MISSING YOUTH

No doubt most of our readers have during the past week had their attentions  diverted to the extensive circulating bills or to the advertisements in the newspapers to the effect that a lad, fifteen years of age, names Sussex Evans, last in the employ of Mr. Harvey, Snargate Street, had mysteriously disappeared. he had been sent to the Harbour Station of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, on Saturday evening, the 6th inst., to meet the 6.30 train on its arrival with the evening papers, and as he did not return with them, enquiries were made at the station and it was found  that he had not been there. Nothing was seen or heard of him till the following Saturday morning, when the body of the unfortunate lad was recovered in the Wellington Dock with a man who was grappling there. As no one seems to have seen him at the time, it is quite uncertain how he got into the water, but the supposition is that as the body was found abreast of a crane that stands on the quay he might  have been playing with the handle and fell in; another is that there are often bulks of timber lying close to the edge of the quay and it being dark he might possibly have tripped over one of these and fallen into the water. An enquiry was held before the Borough Coroner (W. H. Payne Esq." and a jury last Saturday afternoon, at the "Albion Inn," and the following was the evidence taken:-

Mr. Thomas Harvey said: I am stationer and bookseller carryiong on business at Snargate Street. The deceased Sussex Evans, was in my employ as an errand boy. He had been with me two or three years. His age was fifteen. His mother is living at Folkestone. He was a very steady lad. I last saw him alive about six o'clock last Saturday evening, when he left my shop for the railway station for the newspapers. I afterwards went myself to the station and found he had not been there, and I heard nothing of him since until to-day when his body was picked up. he was not subject to fits; he always seemed a very healthy boy.

William Johnson said: I am a mariner, living in Dover. between ten and eleven o'clock this morning I was in a boat in the Wellington Dock grappling for the body of the deceased right opposite the upper crane, about twenty of thirty feet off the quay and i succeeded in bringing the body to the surface. I then got it into the boat and sent to the station to inform the police and with their assistance took him to the dead house. I did not see any marks of violence on the body.

Edwin Duke, surgeon, practicing in Dover, said: This morning I was sent for about ten o'clock by the police to see the body which was lying at the dead house. I went immediately and examined the body but found no marks of violence except a contused wound of the nose, which I attributed to his striking something on his falling from the quay into the water. There is no doubt but that his death was the result of drowning.

An open verdict was returned to the effect that the deceased was found drowned, there being no evidence to show how he came into the water.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 5 February, 1909.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

THE ALBION

This was an objection to the renewal of the licence of the Albion Hotel, Hawkesbury Street, kept by Mr. R. Panter, by the Chief Constable.

Mr. R. Mowll said he appeared for the tenant, who decided to ask for a renewal of the licence.

The Chief Constable said that the "Albion Inn," situated in Hawkesbury Street, was fully licensed. The brewers were Messrs. Gardner and Co., Ash brewery. The present tenant was Mr. R. Panter, to whom it was transferred on the 7th April, 1905. The rateable value was £40 gross, £30 net. The licensed houses in the immediate neighbourhood were the "Railway Inn," Hawkesbury Street, 34 yards distant, the "Neptune Hall," Hawkesbury Street, 64 yards; and in the Pier district, the south-west side of the Chatham and Dover Railway, there were 29 licensed premises, including he buffets and excluding the "Lord Warden Hotel." There were 379 houses.

The Mayor: Are all the houses occupied? - I have not gone through them.

The Mayor: Two-thirds? - I do not think that - but a good many.

The Mayor: That would leave one public house to every ten occupied houses? - Yes. There are about 2000 people in the Pier. In Hawkesbury Street there are 23 houses, including the three public houses. The frontage of the "Albion Inn" was 18ft., but included a passage it is built over 26ft. There is a large club room upstairs. there is a font bar, a private bar, and a bar parlour, which is also used for domestic purposes. There are two entrance doors. On Saturday, January 16th, at 12.20, there were three customers. On Wednesday, January 20th, at 2.25 p.m. there were two customers. On Saturday, January 23rd at 10 a.m. three customers. On Thursday, January 28th, at 6.30 p.m., six customers.

The Mayor: Were the customers men or women? - On the last occasion there were two women with their husbands, very respectable people.

Cross-examined: I think you excluded the "Lord Warden Hotel" as not being a fair house to compare with the "Albion?" - There is no bar there.

You include such houses as the "King's Head" and "Dover Castle?" - There are bars there.

They do a very different trade from the "Albion?"- Just so.

In reply to further questions witness said the tenant was highly respectable, and apparently doing a very respectable trade. He did not know as to its quality, but he did feel some customers there.

Did you consider that the times selected the times you would be likely to find many customers there? - No doubt if I had gone on the club night, I should have found a lot there, but I have no feeling in the matter.

Witness, in reply to the Mayor, said that he went on a morning, afternoon, and evening. He selected them in all fairness as he had no feeling in the matter.

Mr. Mowll said that he had been instructed by the tenant to ask for the renewal of the licence, and the reason was because the "Albion" did a considerable trade. It seemed to him that when one was considering the question of the renewal of licences on the ground that they were not required, the question whether the house was doing a good trade or not was one that ought to weigh very considerably with the Bench. It was rather hard on the tenant that his licence should be taken away from him, and the trade given to a house close by. He could hardly conceive that the other houses were doing the same trade as this. Therefore it seemed to him that they had got hold of the wrong end of the stick, and that this house, which did a good trade, should have been left alone, on the board principle of survival of the fittest. The Compensation Act would provide the tenant with compensation  for the depreciation of the trade fixtures, and also something for the loss of his trade, but it would give him nothing between the market value of his furniture and what he paid when he took it over at a valuation of what it would be when he was turned out. Consequently, it was a most serious matter for the tenant. He had two clubs using his house, and he was doing a good trade.

The Mayor: Will you put another house against this?

Mr. Mowll: It is not for me to make another dig.

The Mayor: I think it is if you say we have taken the wrong house. I think it is for you to show some other house.

Mr. Mowll: If all houses are doing as good a trade as this, they must all be required. He pointed out that all these houses did not simply cater for the particular cottages in that particular neighbourhood. They were close to where men were employed, and he should say that a large number used the licence houses in this particular neighbourhood who did not live there.

The Mayor said that it was only a question whether the houses were redundant or not. It was not a question whether it did a particular trade.

Mr. Mowll said that in applying that question surely they had got to make a selection on some basis of equality. They could not say there were too many houses in this neighbourhood, and so, as "Albion" begins with "A", we will take that away.

The Bench retired to consider their decisions in the four cases, and returned in a very few moments and announced that each would be put forward for compensation, the licenses would only be provisionally renewed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 3 February, 1911.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

THE ALBION, HAWKESBURY STREET

This was a notice of objection to the Eight Bells, New Street, on the ground of redundancy.

Mr. Mowll appeared for the tenant.

The Chief Constable said that the "Albion" was fully licensed, and situated in Hawkesbury Street. The brewers were Messrs. Gardiner and Co., Ash.

The Magistrates' Clerk: But it is a free house. It is only as arrangement between the brewer and tenant.

The Chief Constable, corrected himself, said that it was a free house, and Messrs. Gardiner and Co. supplied the beer. The present tenant was Mr. R. Panter, and it was transferred to him on April 7th, 1905. The rateable value was gross, £40; net £32. There were nine houses within 150 yards of this house. That did not include the "Lord Warden Hotel." If he had gone to that radius, he would have had 26 houses. The number of licensed houses in the Pier were 26, including the Railways and excluding the "Lord Warden." There were 498 houses in the Pier, 427 occupied, and an estimated population of 2,135.

The Magistrates' Clerk: That is no good, as there is no through traffic.

Cross-examined: What is the objection to the "Albion?" - The number requires reducing.

Why the "Albion?" - We have to select someone.

Two years ago this was before the Bench and referred to the Compensation Authority, who said that they did not see their way to take away the licence? - It was.

Last year it was left alone? - Yes; but one was taken in Hawkesbury Street.

Do you think the Compensation Authority will be able to afford the "Albion?" I do not know; they have a good lot of money.

Are they doing a very good trade? I have nothing to way against the way the house was conducted by Mr. Panter.

Inspector Lockwood said that he visited the "Albion" on January 9th, at 10.30 a.m., and there were five customers; at 9.10 p.m. on the 21st, nineteen customers; 12 noon, 23rd, two customers; 3 p.m. 25th, no customers; 5.53 p.m., 31st January, three customers; 7.00 p.m., February 3rd, four customers.

Cross-examined: Do you put these figures forward as indicating the trade the house is doing? - I visited it six times, morning and evening.

Do you think it fair to take a visit like that, for instance, February 3rd, you say there were only four people in at 7.30? That seems very small. - Yes.

Would it surprise you to hear that on Friday, February 3rd, the number of customers was 222? - I do not know, I know a club is held there.

You think that is a club night? Has your informant told you that the club is held there on Thursday, and that the figures for that night were 175? - I did not know the club night.

Mr. Mowll added that on one Saturday night the number of customers was 245, and on another 310. Did the Inspector think it was fair to take that trade from a tenant and cast it upon another house in that neighbourhood? Well, perhaps, it was not fair to put that question to the Inspector?

Inspector Lockwood: I do not think it is.

Mr. Mowll handed in a petition signed by 127 residents against the "Albion" being closed.

The Magistrates without retiring, stated that the house would be sent forward to the Compensation Authorities to deal with.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, 9 February, 1912.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

THE ALBION, HAWKESBURY STREET

There was a notice of objection against the renewal of the licence of the "Albion," Hawkesbury Street, (occupied by Mr. R. Panter) on the grounds of redundancy.

The Chief Constable said that the house was fully licensed and belonging to the Corporation. The licence was transferred to the present tenant, April 7th, 1905. The rateable value was £40 gross, £32 net/ The licensed premises on the immediate vicinity were the "Railway Inn," 34 yards, the "Shakespeare" 100 yards; the "Swan" 100 yards; the "Pavillion" 110 yards; the "Archliffe Fort" 110 yards; "Hotel de Paris" 119 yards; the "Lion" 136 yards; the "Granville" 152 yards; and the "Two Brewers" 119 yards. The number of licensed houses in the Pier was 25 including the "Railway Buffet". The number of occupied houses in the Pier was 435 houses, and the number unoccupied 44, making a total of 479. The estimated population 2,070 thus there were 82 persons to each licensed house.

Chief Inspector Lockwood stated that he visited the "Albion" on Saturday, January 20th, at 8.30 p.m. and found 12 customers. On Friday, January 26th, at 3.10 p.m. there were no customers. Monday, January 29th, at 2 p.m. two customers, Tuesday, January 30th, at 5.50 p.m. no customers, Wednesday, January 31st, at 12.45 p.m. six customers, and on Thursday, February 1st, at 10 a.m., four customers.

The Magistrates, without retiring, intimated that the renewal of the licenses would be withheld, and the houses sent forward to the Compensation Authority to deal with.