From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 26 June, 1868. Price 1d.

STEALING MONEY AT NEWINGTON

Alfred Molsher, 28, soldier, was indicted for having stolen the sum of 15s. the money of John Spain, at Newington next Hythe on the 8th June. Mr. Ormerod prosecuted:-

Ellen Spain, wife of John Spain, who keeps the "Nell" at Newington: On the evening of the 8th of June three persons came in, one of whom was the prisoner. Prisoner called for a pot of ale, and gave me a shilling. I put it into the till, where there were about 15s. or 16s. besides. I left the bar and went into the parlour. I heard a rattling of money; I got up and saw the prisoner in the act of shutting the till. I then went into the bar and met the prisoner crawling away from the bar on his hands and knees. I looked at the till, and missed about 15s. I told the prisoner I believed he had taken the money, and he denied it. I sent for a constable and gave the prisoner into custody. An officer's servant who was there showed me some money and asked me if it was mine. He said he would leave his watch rather than see the prisoner given into custody. Prisoner turned out his pockets, and he had only 1s. 6d. in them.

Joseph Bates, father of the last witness: She was with me in the parlour. We heard money rattling, and my daughter went into the bar. I followed her and saw the prisoner leaving the bar in a stooping manner. In leaving the bar he passed close to the officer's servant.

John Ferrell, officer's servant: I went into the "Bell" with Sergeant Jury and the prisoner. I left the "Bell" for a short time and on my return the landlord was accusing the prisoner of stealing some money.

By the Court: When I returned to the bar the landlady was inside and the prisoner was outside the bar. The statement of the landlady that I was there when the prisoner came out of the bar, is not true.

Sergeant Jury: I went into the parlour, and while I was there the landlady left in a hurry. I heard her accuse some men of stealing some money. I came out and saw prisoner standing in front of the bar. Ferrell was standing by the front door.

P.C. Brennon deposed: Mrs. Spain sent for me, and there was some delay before she gave prisoner into custody. She said she would not give him into custody if he acknowledged that he had taken the money and would give it back. the prisoner said he would give 5s. but had not got it. The officer's servant said he would get the money, and offered to leave his watch while he went to fetch it. I searched prisoner and found 1s. 3d. upon him. He did not acknowledge taking the money.

The prisoner, in defence, said he reached to look into the parlour, because he suspected something was going on between the landlady and the servant; and just as he was doing so the landlady come out and said she had caught him. He told her she had not caught him doing anything. He denied the charge in toto.

The Chairman said the only evidence against the prisoner was that of the woman. The question for the jury was whether they believed her evidence, or whether they thought it had been got up in spite against the prisoner for his looking into the parlour to see what was going on.

The jury acquitted the prisoner.