From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 29 April, 1865. Price 1d.

GROUNDLESS SUSPICION

Richard William Leamington, a private in the 2nd Battalion 60th Rifles, was charged on suspicion of having assaulted Mrs. Burton, the landlady of the "Bowling Green Tavern," and robbing the till; but Mrs. Burton was unable to identify the prisoner as one of the soldiers who had assaulted her, and there was no evidence that he was in the house, although he was found by the police near to it. The Magistrates dismissed the man, whose sergeant gave him a very good character.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 26 February, 1869.

A VIOLENT CUSTOMER

John Wilson was charged with wilfully breaking  a wine glass, value four-pence, and also with threatening to stab the landlord of the "Bowling Green Tavern," on the previous night.

William Davis said: I am landlord of the "Bowling Green Tavern," Durham Hill. The defendant came into my house about half-past eleven last night, and asked for some refreshment, and I supplied him with two glasses of rum. There was a young woman in the room, and he asked her to drink with him, but she refused. he asked her a second time and she still refused, and he then took the glass and threw it down upon the hearth one and broke it. I then left him in the room and went in search of a policeman. On my return, I again entered the room, and the defendant asked me to serve him with more rum, but I declined to do so. He then used some very foul and threatening language towards me.

The defendant said he did not consider the value of the glass so much as the complainant had demanded, and he had therefore refused to pay that amount. He also said he did not break it wilfully. He also alleged that there were several woman of the town in the house at the time.

The Magistrates told the defendant that he must pay the value of the glass (4d.) and 2s. for the hearing, which he did.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 30 April, 1869.

A SOLDIER IN TROUBLE

John Frederick brown, a private belonging to the 1st Battalion of the 4th King's Own Royal Regiment, now attached in this garrison, was charged with attempting to rob the till in the bar of the "Bowling Green Tavern," Military Road.

William Davis said: I am the keeper of the "Bowling Green Tavern."  last night the prisoner was in the back sitting room of my house. He was there for about ten minutes. I afterwards saw him in the bar near to the counter with the till open and his hand in it. The till is in the recess near the counter. I am certain the till had not been left open. I am not aware how much money there was in the till. When i saw the prisoner I went to him and touched him on the shoulder, asking him what he was doing, when he said something about a light.

By the prisoner: I am certain there was some money in the till.

Examination continued: I told prisoner I should take him outside, which I did, and seeing a policeman I gave him into custody for attempting to rob the till. I know there were some coppers in the till because I saw them there when prisoner took his hand out. I should think there were about a shilling's worth.

The prisoner desired to be dealt with at once; but pleaded not guilty. In his defence he said that he was in the prosecutor's house on the previous evening with another soldier, playing cribbage. he also played a game of cribbage with the prosecutor and his wife. he had one pint of beer, and asked prosecutor for a pipe; but he made him no reply. he then went into the bar, and seeing the drawer, thinking it contained the pipes, opened it. The prosecutor came up to him, and touched him on the shoulder asking him what he was doing there. Prisoner told him that he was looking for a pipe. he did not know that the prosecutor was deaf. He had no intention of stealing the money from the till.

The policeman said that on searching the prisoner at his station-house 1¼d. was all the money that was found on him.

In reply to the Magistrates, Lieutenant Macleod, the officer in command of the company to which prisoner belonged, said that he bore a bad character in the regiment, but that this was the first offence for which he had been brought before the Magistrates.

The Magistrates stated that there was some doubt in their minds as to the prisoner's intention, and they would therefore give him the benefit of that doubt and dismiss him; but recommended him to be careful for the future.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 21 May, 1869.

REMANDED CHARGE OF UNLAWFULLY   ENTERING

George File and George Mason, two soldiers of the 17th brigade Royal Artillery, stationed in this garrison, were brought up on remand from the previous Monday, charged with unlawfully entering the parish church of St. James on Sunday, May 9th, or earlier on the following morning, and stealing there from the contents of the alms box and one shilling  and nine pence in stamps; also with having entered St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church and stealing the contents of the alms boxes, two candlesticks, and a cruet stand.

Mr. Thomas Fox appeared on behalf of the Churchwardens of St. James's in support of the prosecution; and the charge of unlawfully entering St. James's Church being first proceeded with, the following evidence was taken:-

Richard Moore: I am a verger employed at St. James's Church. It is part of my duty, after service is over, to close the church and lock the door. There was service in the church on Sunday, the 9th May. After service I locked up the church, and before doing so I noticed  that everything was all right. I always enter the vestry after the service  is ended and see that all there is safe. I am certain the alms boxes were all right and locked. I noticed nothing unusual that night. I locked the door at half-past eight, and took the key to one of the churchwardens, Mr. Kemp. There are two chairs in the vestry covered with velvet.

Police-constable Ash: I was on duty on Maison Dieu Road, on Saturday night week, near St. James's Church. it is my duty to try the doors of St. James's Church. I tried the doors at a quarter after eleven on that night, and found they were fastened.

Police-constable Corrie: I was on duty on Maison Dieu Road at half-past twelve on Sunday night week, and saw the two prisoners coming from the direction of St. James's Church. I said to them, "It is a wet night," and one of them replied, "Yes." I saw them go up Peter Stree, and subsequently saw them in Biggin Street.

By the Bench: It is not customary to ask soldiers in this garrison for their passes.

Daniel Coveney, a carpenter, said: I had occasion to go to St. James's Church on Monday morning last, at half-past six. When I got there I found all the doors locked, and went to the house of Mr. Kemp, who is one of the churchwardens, for the key. I unlocked the door, and on entering the church, the first thing attracting my attention was the alms box, which is placed against the wall near the font. I perceived that it had been broken open. The top had been prized off, and the front very much damaged. There were two of Hobday's three-inch locks on the box. The size of it is about ten inches by six inches. The only things left in the box were and piece of brass and two screws. It bore several marks made by a chisel. I am certain the marks were made by a chisel. A clasp knife would not make much indentation. I went to the vestry after I had discovered the box had been broken open, and found the doors standing open. I know it is usual to keep the doors of the vestry shut. There are two chairs covered with velvet in the vestry. I entered the vestry, and examined the lock of the door, and found that it had been prized on one side so as to let the lock pass freely. i noticed that several things were lying about the floor, and that a window was broken. There are three doors in the vestry, one leading into the chancel, one immediately opposite to the chancel door, leading out into the churchyard, and one that leads into a lobby which communicates with the church and the yard. There are two windows in the vestry. The bottom part of the window on the north side was broken open. there are some upright bars to one of the windows, but there are no bars to the other. The one without the bars has a ventilator, and was broken open at the bottom. The piece broken was about fourteen inches by eleven inches. The glass of the window is very thick, and is Warwick glass. Some of the lead work was pushed in, and it had the appearance of having been broken outside. I saw some glass lying on the floor of the vestry, and some outside. There was also some lead lying outside. I noticed a foot-print on one of the chairs. It was a dirty mark, as if the foot had been in the dirt. I afterwards compared a military boot with it in the presence of Stevens. I placed the boot on the chair, and afterwards measured the boot, and found it to correspond in every way with the mark on the chair. The boot produced is the same. The mark of the heel-clip was on the chair. I noticed a drop of blood on the wall near the fire-place, and two more drops on a box. I found that the drawer belonging to the table had been opened. The boots and clothes were lying about the vestry as if they had been disturbed. I went outside the door, and found the slip of wood now produced lying on the ground. The piece of wood belongs to the framework of the door. I went to the station-house, and reported the facts to superintendent Coram.

By the Bench: The sill of the window is about 3 feet 6 inches from the ground.

Police-sergeant Stevens said: In consequence of information received at the station-house on Monday morning last, I went to St. James's Church at half-past seven. I found the last witness there. I examined the church and found that the vestry window had been broken open. I found some glass lying inside the vestry, and some outside, and some on the stone sill of the window. I have heard the evidence of the last witness with regard to that window, and I found it in the same state as he has described it. I found a chair in the vestry covered with velvet. There was an impression of a boot upon the cushion of that chair. The heel of the boot showed three nails in a clip. We measured  the marks and found them to correspond with those on the boot. We measured the length of the boot, the length of the tread, the length of the heel, and the length between the heel and the mark of the tread, and they all corresponded with the mark on the cushion. I also compared the distance between the nails on the boot and marks on the chair, and found them to correspond. I examined the mark on the heel where it was worn away more than the other part, and found it corresponded with that on the chair. The impression was wanting in that particular spot. The impression was made by a left foot. I produce a sketch I made of the mark of the heel on the chair. The boot was taken from the prisoner Mason, and it is a military boot. It has the regimental number, "17th V.R.A.. 1310, 68." The prisoner was wearing the boot at the time I took him into custody. I notice some drops of blood in the vestry, one on the wall and the two others on a box. There were some foot marks on the box and they corresponded with the foot-marks on the chair. there were some footprints outside leading up to the window that was broken, and I compared the boot taken from the prisoner File and the one taken from the prisoner Mason and they both corresponded with these marks. The boots taken from the prisoner File are also military boots, and have regimental numbers. The soil outside the window is very soft and is covered with beach. The Sunday night being a very wet night, the foot prints were made very visibly. the footprints came in both directions. I did not trace the footprints. I and sergeant Bailey afterward apprehended the prisoners at the "Bowling Green Tavern" at ten o'clock. I noticed that the prisoner File had his finger tied up with a piece of rag. I also noticed the pocket-handkerchief which he had had some fresh drops of blood upon it. On taking the prisoners into custody and telling them the charge  one of them remarked that I must be  "joking." I then repeated it again, and took them to the police-station. At the station-house  I searched mason, and found upon him two shillings, two sixpences, and three half-pennies. Both the prisoners wore tunics, and wore orderly dresses. The Superintendent read the charge over to them and Mason said, "Yes." The Superintendent said one alms box , and when I reminded him that there were three, Mason said again, "Yes." I said nothing to File about his finger.

By the Bench: The cushion of the chair is soft. I did not try what impression I could make on the chair. I should say that the cushion of the chair is filled with horse-hair. A dry boot would not make a mark; but a wet one would.

Bt the prisoner File: There are five nails in the heel of the boot and there is an impression of only three on the cushion of the chair. The handkerchief was wet with blood.

police-sergeant Bailey said: I assisted the last witness in apprehending the two prisoners, on Monday morning last, at ten o'clock, at the "Bowling Green Tavern," and removed them to the police-station. I searched File and found on him four shillings, a sixpence, and five half-pence in money, a key, some matches , and a pocket handkerchief, with some marks of blood upon it, all of which I now produce. File's fore-finger on the left hand, near the knuckle was cut. I asked him how it became cut, and he replied, "I shall have you there, I have lots of witnesses to prove that I got that in cutting up the duff." I looked at him, and then he laughed and said, "While we were having dinner."

Richard Chard, the landlord of the "Laurel Tree" public-house, said: The prisoners came into my house at half-past six on the morning of Monday last and called for a pot of porter. UI gave them a pint apiece, and one of them paid me with a four-penny piece. They asked if they could have a wash, and clean themselves up, and i told them they could. They then took their tunics off. the prisoner File asked me if I could dry his coat, as it was very wet, saying that he had just come from Deal, about seven miles away from Dover. I took the tunic and felt it; but it was not very wet. I asked if I should put mason's down to dry, but he said that his was not wet. There was a man in the kitchen who lodges at my house, and they asked him to black their boots and brush their trousers for them, which he did, and they each gave him two-pence. Mason asked me if I knew where he could sell some old silver, and I said i did not. My lodger then said that Murden, in Snargate Street, would buy old silver. File said he knew where the place was very well. After they had done washing they wanted to play a game of cards; but I told them I could not allow them to play in my house, and i also said that, as they had had a wash, they had better go away. The only money I saw them have was a four-penny-piece they gave for the beer. They left my house at half-past seven.

Joseph mead said: I lodge at the "Laurel Tree"  public-house, Priory Street. I was there at half-past six on Monday morning last, and saw the two prisoners. I cleaned their boots, for which they each gave me two-pence. The boots were very wet. I saw that one of File's fingers was bound up with a piece of rag. I asked him if anything was the matter with the finger, and he said , "Yes." Mason asked me where he could sell some old silver, and I mentioned Mr. Murden's in Snargate Street. File said he knew where that was very well. They left the house at half-past seven.

By the Bench: I am sure the prisoners are the same men.

William Davis, the landlord of the "Bowling Green Tavern," said: The two prisoners came to my house on Monday morning last, at a quarter past nine. I asked File what he was doing out so early in the morning, and he said he had a day's holiday  and was going to Folkestone. I noticed File had cut his finger and asked him how he had done it. he said he had cut it while cutting up the "duff" at the barracks on Sunday. I offered to dress it for him and tied it up with some palm oil and rag. It did not look like it had been cut with a knife. It looked more jagged, and as if it had been done  only a short time before. The cut was not bleeding at the time. There was only a little blood on the rag.

Mr. John Walter, the gaol surgeon, said: I examined the prisoner File  in gaol on Monday morning last at twelve o'clock. I found a scratch on the left thumb, a cut on the left fore finger, and a scratch on the back of the left hand. the cut and scratches looked as if they had been made by a rough and sharp instrument. They were such as would be produced by broken glass. They are not such as would be caused by a knife.

John Reynolds said: I am a gunner in the 17th Brigade Royal Artillery, stationed in this garrison. I know the two prisoners at the bar; and they are gunners belonging to my battery. I was in a public-house with Mason on Saturday evening, the 8th of May. I did not stand any beer; but as he passed me to go out, I followed him, and asked him if he wanted the price of a pint of beer; at the same time giving him four-pence, and telling him that I had plenty of money, but that I knew he had not any. I saw him again on Sunday morning before going to church, when he brushed my clothes. I also saw him in the afternoon after dinner at half-past one, when he told me that I would not have been where he was on the previous night for £5. I told him that I did not want to know where he had been; but he would persist on telling him. he said that he and File  had been to a house on Saturday night; but that there was nothing in the house worth having, only furniture, and that they could  not get anything. He also said that they had another "crib" in view for that night, where something would be done. I went out shortly after dinner, and did not return until just upon roll-call.

Sergeant-Major Muddock said: I belong to no. 6 battery of the 17th Brigade Royal Artillery. I know the prisoners. They belong to my battery. I was present when the roll was called  on Sunday night, and they were both absent without leave. the prisoners had not been absent on any previous night of the week.

At this stage of the proceedings the Magistrates remanded the further hearing of the charge until Friday (this day).

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 22 October, 1869. Price 1d.

WILFUL DAMAGE

Robert Smith and William McNuckat, two men belonging to the 17th Brigade of Royal Artillery, stationed in this garrison, were charged with wilfully breaking two panes of glass, value 6s., at the "Bowling Green Tavern."

William Davis, landlord of the "Bowling Green tavern," Durham Hill, said that between eight and nine o'clock on the previous evening the prisoners came into his house, and had some beer. They enquired if the half-past eight gun had fired, and he replied that it had. After the prisoners had drunk the beer, he requested them to leave the house, when they used bad language towards him. He endeavoured to get them out of his house, when they turned round and broke two of the window-panes. The value of the windows was 6s. each.

The prisoners, in reply to the Bench, said that when they had gone a short distance from the house the complainant sent a woman after them, to call them back. They returned, and the complainant then tried to push them upstairs, and in their endeavour to prevent him from doing so, a struggle ensued, and the windows were broken.

The magistrates did not believe their ingenious story, but fined the prisoners 1s., the value of the broken glass, 12s., and the costs, 6s., which was paid on the prisoners behalf by an officer of the brigade, who was present.