From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 11 September, 1869. 1d.

ANNUAL LICENSING DAY

Mr. G. E. Norris, of the "Deal Lugger," again applied for a spirit license, and urged the Bench to grant his application upon the ground that he frequently had to get up in the middle of the night to serve men who had just come on shore, which rendered it very necessary that he should have some spirits in the house.

The Magistrates consulted upon the matter for some time, after which the Mayor said they had considered the application, and were very reluctant to disappoint the applicant. There was very great competition in the neighbourhood, and the Magistrates were very reluctant to increase the competition by adding to the number of the houses. They were very sorry, however, for they all knew Mr. Norris to be a respectable, hard-working, and industrious man.

Mr. Norris then applied for the renewal of his beer license, which was immediately granted.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 25 February, 1871. 1d.

SELLING WITHIN THE PROHIBITED HOURS

Mrs. Norris, landlady of the "Deal Lugger," beer-shop, Beach Street, was summoned, on the information of Supt. Parker, for having her house open at half-past one on the morning of Tuesday last. The offence was admitted in this case, the defendant alleging in mitigation that she went into hysterics about half-past ten on the evening in question, and remained so till about half-past one, when she went to the front door and called in P.C. Seeth to clear her house. There was no one present to take charge of the business during the time she was ill, for although her daughter-in-law who lives near had run to her assistance she knew nothing of the business. She was subject to hysterics, and on the evening in question she had had a great many persons in and had been rather upset, and it was still but a very short time since she had lost her poor husband. P.C. Seeth said he was called by Mrs. Norris to clear her house, as described, and she certainly appeared to be very ill at the time - and was hardly able to keep herself up. There were five persons standing at the bar, but there was no drink before them.

Supt. Parker said they were the same parties that P.C. Cox had turned out of the "Star" where they were trying to get up a row a short time before. The office of the coastguard-station had complained of the "Deal Lugger" the same evening.

After a long deliberation the Magistrates dismissed the case on the ground that the illness of the defendant incapacitated her from controlling her business, but informed her that they should expect her, in future, to provide such assistance as would secure the house being well conducted.