From the Folkestone Chronicle 13 September 1856. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

Monday September 8th: - Special sessions were holden for the purpose of renewing licences, and granting new ones. Present, the Mayor, and G. Kennicott, S. Godden, W. Major, J. Kelcey, W. Bateman, S. Mackie, and J. Kinsford esqs.

Mr. John Minter made an application on the part of Mr. Spencer Hayward for a licence for his house, in Bellevue Fields. This being the third application the magistrates granted it.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 2 January 1858. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

QUARTER SESSIONS

Richard Harris, a soldier in the East Kent Militia Artillery was placed at the bar, indicted for stealing a silver watch, valued at £4 10s., the property of William Hills, of Folkestone, on the 28th December. Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.

Mary Hills (the first witness called) having been sworn said I am the wife of William Hills, the landlord of the "Bellevue Tavern". I recollect the 28th December. On that day I lost a small silver watch. It was my son's watch – he is at sea – he left it in my care when he went away. (The watch produced by Mr. Hart was identified by witness) I will swear to the watch, having had it in my possession more than five years. I left it in a tumbler on my drawers in my own bedroom. I have always been in the habit of wearing it – only left it off that morning, having a blister on my neck. I missed it about 5 o'clock in the evening when I went upstairs to change my dress. I went up without a light. I called to my little girl to ask her if she had removed it – on her replying in the negative, I told her to call the servant and bring a light. I asked her if she had removed it. She said she had not seen it since two o'clock in the afternoon when she finished dusting the room.

Mary Streeter, sworn, said I am servant to the last witness. About nine o'clock in the morning on the 28th December, I went up to my mistress's room and found prisoner there. I asked him what he was doing there. He said he wanted his stock. I went to his room where he had slept and got his stock and fastened it on. I saw the watch in a tumbler on the drawers while prisoner was in the room. I had never seen him in there before. His room was the next to it. When I told him his stock was not in that room, he went out and went downstairs after I had given it to him. I then locked the door and put the key under the mat. I am in the habit of doing this – prisoner did not see me. There was no other lodger in the house. I went downstairs and told mistress I had seen prisoner in her room – did not go up again until about two in the afternoon, when the watch was there. I locked the door, and put the key in the same place. Prisoner came to the house on Saturday. This took place on Monday. I will swear to prisoner being the same man – he had been up and down stairs all day. I had seen him in the club room. When mistress called me up about five o'clock, the watch was gone.

Mordecai Hart (having been sworn in the Hebrew manner), said, I am a pawnbroker, living in High Street, Folkestone. I remember prisoner coming to my shop about 5 p.m. on Monday, 28th December. He offered the watch (produced) in pawn – prisoner said the watch belonged to him – he had given £2 15s for it – he wanted 30s upon it. I offered him 20s. He then took it up and went away – came again in a few minutes, and took the £1, observing there would be less to pay when he wanted it. About a quarter of an hour later, a constable and prosecutor came and asked if I had taken a watch in. I said I had – they were just too late – the man had only just gone.

Samuel Solomons stated that he was assistant to Mr. M. Hart, recollected seeing prisoner in the shop on Monday, 28th December, about five o'clock in the evening. The shop was lighted with gas. I usually light it about four. I am certain prisoner is the man. He wanted to pledge the watch for 30s. Mr. Hart offered him 20s. I was not present when Mr. Hills and the constable came in. Mr. Hart and I immediately went to Sandgate in search of the prisoner – did not find him. When we came back I went with the sergeant of police to search the public houses in Folkestone – found prisoner in the "Marquis of Granby", High Street. I told him the watch he had pledged was stolen. The constable at once took him into custody – did not deny the charge. He seemed to be drunk. Could not walk steady when he came to the shop.

The Recorder here made some strong remarks about pawnbrokers being incautious from whom they took property, and especially in this case, from a man in liquor. He observed he had before had to remark on Mr. Hart, and he advised him now to be more particular.

P.C. Newman, sergeant of police, having been sworn, corroborated the latter part of the evidence of the previous witness Solomon, adding that when he searched prisoner he had but 6d and 2d in money, a knife, and a pouch. The 6d he immediately threw in his mouth, and witness believed swallowed it.

Mr. Hart having been recalled, stated that the money he had given prisoner for the watch consisted of a half sovereign, two half crowns, two florins, six pence and four pence.

The jury after a few moments consultation returned a verdict of “Guilty”, and prisoner was sentenced to six months hard labour.

William Grimes, a soldier of the 4th Regiment, was placed at the bar, charged with stealing a railway wrapper, value 7s, the property of Mordecai Hart, of Folkestone, on the 7th November.

Israel Hart, having been sworn, said I am the son of Mr. M. Hart, outfitter and pawnbroker, of Tontine Street and High Street. On the 11th November about eight o'clock in the evening, police constable Woodland brought the wrapper to me. I identified it by the particular manner it was hung up by a cord – the ticket had been taken off. I had not sold one.

P.C. Woodland, sworn, said, on the 11th November I went to the "Bellevue Tavern" in search of a soldier. I found prisoner upstairs lying on a sofa, and the wrapper about three yards from him on a table. There were several other soldiers in the room. From information received from the landlord, I took prisoner into custody. He was very drunk at the time. Did not state the charge to him until I got him to the station. He then said he had come by it somehow, he did not know how.

William Hills said I am the landlord of the "Bellevue Tavern". About half past seven on 11th November, prisoner came in and went upstairs with a parcel under his arm. It was a square parcel – could not see what it was – it looked like a brown paper parcel. I was six or seven yards off when he passed me. Thinking it suspicious to see a soldier come in with a large parcel I gave information to police constable Woodland who came in just afterwards.

The jury retired and returned in about ten minutes with a verdict of “Acquittal”.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 22 May 1858. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

Tuesday May 18th:- Before R.W. Boarer esq., W. Major esq., and G. Kennicott esq.

Alfred Tidmarsh was charged with assaulting Mary Hills, landlady of the Bellevue Tavern. Fined one shilling and costs.

William Corke was charged with using threatening language to the above complainant by which she went in bodily fear. Prisoner was further charged with resisting the constable in the execution of his duty, and with being drunk and riotous while in the police station. Dismissed on the first charge, fined £3 and costs on the second charge, and committed for seven days on the third charge.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 3 July 1858. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was holden at the "Bellevue Tavern" before S. Eastes esq., and a respectable jury, on Monday June 28th, on the body of Robert Conquest, aged 12, who was unfortunately drowned whilst bathing in East Wear Bay on the Saturday previous. The jury having been sworn proceeded to the residence of the deceased, and viewed the body; after which the following evidence was adduced:-

John Lott, a youth, deposed that several boys, deceased amongst them, were bathing; deceased could swim a little; after being in the water a short time he called out for help, but none of the other boys could swim, so that they could not help him; after a little while deceased sunk, and then the boys ran for assistance.

Wm. Matthews deposed he was called by one of the boys, and wading into the water he discovered the body of deceased in about four feet of water, deceased was quite dead, having been in the water some time; he however, took him to his cottage and put him in a warm bath, and used other remedies. The coroner having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of "accidentally drowned while bathing”.

The funeral of the above unfortunate youth took place at Christ Church on Wednesday last, twenty eight of his schoolfellows, with their master, following him to the grave.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 18 June 1859. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

ASSAULTING THE POLICE

Monday June 13th:- Before the Mayor, A. M. Leith, James Tolputt, and W. Major esqs.

John Banks, hay and straw dealer of Mill Lane, was brought up by police constable Reynolds, charged with being drunk and disorderly near the "Bellevue Tavern," on Saturday Night, also with assaulting the police. The case was fully proved, and the magistrates sentenced the defendant to three weeks imprisonment with hard labour.