From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 16 February, 1872. Price 1d.

Charles Spanner was charged with stealing from the stables of Francis Packham, in Trevanion Street, on the 20th inst, a black coat; and also with stealing from the office adjoining the stables, a curb chain, and a pair of leather breeches, the property of the same gentleman.

Thomas Andrews said: I am Inspector of Police at Canterbury. Fro information I received I went to Chilham, and found the prisoner at the "Alma" public-house. Mr. Packham was with me, and he pointed out the prisoner to me. The curb-chain I produced was found on the prisoner, and identified by Mr. Packham as his property. Mr. Packham had lost a coat and a pair of breeches. I believe they have been sold by the prisoner.

Sergeant Stevens then asked for a remand in order that the stolen property might be found.

The Magistrates remanded the case till the following Monday.

REMANDED CHARGE

Charles Spooner, a stableman who had been remanded from the previous Thursday, was again brought up in the custody of police-detective Hemmings, charged with stealing from the stables of Mr. Francis Packham, in Trevanion Street, on the 27th inst., a black coat, value 24s., an overcoat value 12s., the property of a groom in the employ of Mr. Packham; and also with stealing from the office adjoining the stable yard a curb-chain, a pair of hooks, and a pair of leather breeches, of the value of 10s. 6d., the property of Francis Packham.

The charges having been read to the prisoner, he was further charged with stealing from Mr. Packham's stable a comb and a pair of scissors.

Mr. Edwin Packham deposed: I carry on business at the Marine Livery Yard, Trevanion Street. The prisoner came into my employ on the 8th Jan. I employed him as a stableman. The pair of breeches, the curb-chain, and the two hooks are my father's property. I believe the comb and the pair of scissors produced belong to a groom, whose master's horse was put in our stables. The coat produced belongs to one of the men working in our yard. When I last saw the leather breeches, the curb chain, and the hooks, they were lying in the office adjoining the stable-yard. I missed them on Tuesday evening last. The prisoner received his wages on the evening of Saturday week; and he has not attended since. In consequence of something I heard, I went to Canterbury on Wednesday last. I gave information to the police as to the loss of the property. Inspector Andrews accompanied me to Chilham, where the prisoner was found, at the "Alma" public-house. Inspector Andrews' charged him with stealing the breeches, the curb-chain, and the hooks. The prisoner was taken to St. Augustine's, and on searching him there the curb-chain and hooks were found on him. The hooks are odd ones, and the property of my father. The leather breeches are also his property. The value of them altogether is 10s. 6d.

Thomas Godsmark deposed: I am a horse dealer and reside at Sturry. In consequence of something that had been told me, I went to the canteen at the Canterbury barracks. I there saw the prisoner. I told him I had heard that he was going to enlist, and had a pair of leather breeches to sell. He said he had, and he showed them me saying that he wanted 4s. for them. He was wearing them underneath a new pair of trousers. I offered the prisoner half-a-crown for them; but I finally gave him 3s. In consequence of something I heard after I had brought the breeches, I went to the police-station at Canterbury, and I told the police that I had brought the breeches off the prisoner. He told me before I brought them of him that the breeches were his property. I had sold the breeches to Mr. Wratham, of Broad Street, before I gave information to the police.

Thomas Andrews, Inspector of police at Canterbury deposed: In consequence of something Mr. Packham told me on Wednesday last, I immediately proceeded to Chilham, where I found the prisoner, sitting in the tap-room of a public-house, I told him he was charged with stealing a number of articles from Mr. Packham's stables at Dover. He made no reply. I took him to St. Augustine's, at Canterbury, and on his being searched, the curb-chain and hooks produced were found on him. I afterwards went to Mr. Wratham's in Broad Street, where the breeches were handed over to me.

The Bench determined, before proceeding further, to deal with the prisoner on the charge of stealing the leather breeches, the curb-chain, and the hooks, the property of Mr. Packham, and committed him to take his trial at the Spring Quarter Session on these charges.

The charge of stealing a black cloth coat, value 2s. and an overcoat value 12s. the property of James Lewis, a groom in the employ of Mr. Packham, on the 27th inst., was then read over to the prisoner, and the following evidence was given in support of it:-

James Lewis deposed: I am in the employ of Mr. Packham, and I reside in Townwall Street. The coat produced is my property. I last saw it on the 27th inst., hanging up in the harness room at Mr. Packham's stable yard. The prisoner came to me on that evening and wanted me to lend him the coat he now has on. I lent it to him, telling him not to keep me waiting long without it, as my other coat was wet. I did not lend him the black cloth coat produced; I only lent him the overcoat he is wearing now. I missed the black cloth coat on Sunday morning. The value of it is 2s. I intended the prisoner to return me the overcoat the same evening that I lent it him. He only borrowed it to go into the town. I did not think he intended to keep it for a week. I saw the prisoner in the town on the evening of the 27th ult. He was wearing my overcoat, which he now has on, at the time. He then told me he was going home. I did not see him after that evening until he was brought up here in custody last week. The prisoner did not say anything to me about the overcoat or the black cloth coat when I last saw him on the evening of the 27th ult., neither did he tell me that he intended leaving Mr. Packham's service. The value of the overcoat is 12s.

By the prisoner: I am certain I did not lend you the black cloth coat produced.

Thomas Andrews deposed: When I took the prisoner into custody, on Wednesday morning last, he was wearing the black coat produced, as well as the overcoat he now has on. The cloth coat was worn underneath the overcoat.

The prisoner, having been cautioned in the usual manner, said he did not take either of the coats with the intention of stealing them.

Major Crookes told the prisoner he would be committed to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions on this charge also.

The charge of stealing the comb and the pair of scissors was not pressed against the prisoner, the owner not being present.