From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 20 November, 1858.

DOVER COUNTY COURT

DRUNK AND QUARRELSOME

John Crick, a coach driver, was placed at the bar by Sergeant Back, who charged him with being drunk and disorderly, and resisting him in the execution of his duty, on the preceding Saturday.

Back, on being sworn, said he was called to the "Flying Horse Inn" on Saturday evening about five o'clock and there found the defendant, in a state of intoxication, hanging about the premises, and very abusive in his language. Witness tried to persuade him to go home, but he would not take his councel, and he therefore took him into custody and conveyed him to the station-house. On his way thither the defendant threatened to "knock his eye out." He was informed that Crick had been abusive to the landlord of the "Flying Horse."

Mr. Mee said he appeared on behalf of Mr. Ellenger, who was prevented by physical infirmity from being present, to represent to their worships the very great annoyance the man at the bar had occasioned to Mr. Ellinger, and to request them to afford him what protection they could from its repetition. From what he had been informed by Mr. Ellinger, it appeared that Crick frequently, when under the influence of intoxication, mad his appearance at the "Flying Horse" and indulged himself in giving utterance to the foulest epithets, which were directed towards Mr. Ellenger and the members of his family. In support of this assertion he called:-

Robert Ellinger, the son of the proprietor of the "Flying Horse," who said that Crick came to his father's house on Saturday afternoon about five o'clock, in a state of intoxication. Defendant wanted to go into the parlour, but witness told him he could not go there, as it was always reserved on Saturdays for farmers. He prevented the defendant from entering  by standing against the doorway, but defendant endeavoured to push him away. Crick remained near the entrance of the house, making use of very foul and abusive language towards witness's father, and it was at last found necessary to send for a policeman. Defendant had acted in a similar manner on several previous occasions, when under the influence of intoxication.

Crick, in defence, denied resisting the policeman, declaring that he knew better.

The Magistrates fined him 5s. and the costs, and in default of payment he was committed to prison for seven days.

Mr. Mee said he was instructed by Mr. Ellenger to prefer a charge of assault against Crick, who had pushed the witness Robert Ellenger away from the parlour-door, as stated in his evidence. Mr. Ellenger was not influenced by any vindictive feeling towards the defendant, but felt compelled to adopt the course he was now pursuing, to save himself from a repetition of the annoyance occasioned him by the defendant.

The Bench said the proper way of proceeding in a case of assault was by summons, and that if application was made in the usual way a summons would be granted; unless indeed, the defendant liked to have the case proceeded with at once.

The defendant said that he should object most decidedly to such a course, " being unprepared with witnesses and everything;" and the matter was therefore left to take the ordinary course.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 20 November, 1858.

NIGHT DISTURBERS

Two men named Jones and Atherton were brought up by police-sergeant Barton for drunken and riotous conduct on the streets early on Sunday morning, but were each let off on paying the hearing fines.

INSANE

A tall respectably-dressed man named Pilcher was then charged with a similar offence.

Police constable Campany stated that the defendant collected a crowd outside the "Flying Horse Inn," by calling out that the landlord had murdered two men and cut them up, and that he would give £100 to be locked up, for he would then divulge the whole.

Mr. Birch, the proprietor of the "Flying Horse," attended to make a complaint against the man for his repeated annoyances; but as his complaint did not refer specifically to the present case, it was not inquired into.

Defendant declared that he had done this because he had been treated as an outcast. The fact was three men had been murdered - Rolfe, Huntley-Spencer, and Godden, - and he saw on of them at the "Flying Horse" shortly before it occurred.

The policemen remarked that from the man's manner since he had been in custody, he believed he was of unsound mind.

The Magistrates discharged the defendant on his paying 2d. for the hearing, informing him that he must not annoy Mr. Birch again.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 20 May, 1865.

INQUEST BY THE BOROUGH CORONER

A MAN SUFFOCATED IN A MALT BIN.

On Saturday, at noon, the borough coroner, W. H. Payne, Esq., held an inquest at the "Flying Horse In," on the body of Richard Taylor, a man between 50 and 60 years of age, who had been in the employ of Messrs. Leney and Evenden, the extensive brewers of this town, and who had met with his death on the previous afternoon from suffocation, having been found in the malt bin of the brewery, where he had been placed to "tread" the malt about an hour previously. The receptacle in which the deceased was found is called a "skry," the malt passing from a bin above through a small aperture. Simultaneously with the process a workmen is employed to tread it down in the skry, and it is feared that the deceased either lay down to sleep or was seized in a fit, and was thus by a slow process buried alive, although within reach of his fellow workmen, who were pursuing their vocation unconscious of his fate.

Mr. Fox, solicitor, attended with Mr. Evenden, one of the principles of the firm, and before the coroner opened the proceedings said that he did so to state on behalf of Messrs. Leney and Evenden, that they were desirous of affording every facility to the jury in making the necessary enquiry. They were also anxious that the jury should view the place of the accident, in order that they might be quiet satisfied that this untoward occurrence was not owing to any want of precaution on the part of Messrs. Leney and Evenden.

Mr. Iggulden was appointed foreman of the jury, and after the body and the locus in quo had been viewed, the following evidence was adduced:-

Thomas Chalkley deposed: I am maltster in the employ of Messrs. Leney and Evenden, brewers, of this town. I knew the deceased, Richard Taylor. He was a horse-keeper in the same employ as myself. He was at times employed to assist in getting in the malt, and in getting it ready. Yesterday morning deceased was engaged with me in shifting coals. In the afternoon, about three o'clock, I went up into the malt bin with him, to set him to work, to tread the malt and trim it. I left him at work, and went down to set the skry going. I remained at work below, and observed nothing to lead me to suppose that the deceased was not working. About an hour and a half after I had left the deceased at work in the bin, I knocked for him to come down. Finding he did not come nor answer, I went up and called him. I obtained no reply, and I opened the kiln window and again called. I then crossed the kiln, and opened the window that looks into the bin, when I heard the deceased making a noise - a sort of snore. I thought he was asleep; and on going into the bin I found the deceased buried in the malt. Only one hand was visible. I attempted to draw him out, but could not. I obtained assistance, and we ultimately succeeded in extracting the deceased. I think about twenty minutes elapsed from the time of my finding deceased until he was got out. A surgeon was in attendance before we had rescued him. Deceased had been in the employ of Messrs. Leney and Evenden for three or four years. He had been engaged upon the same work before. He was perfectly sober when I left him at three o'clock, and he had no means of getting drunk afterwards. The work was in no way dangerous, and deceased must have been asleep, or in a fit, or he would not have been drawn down as he was.

By Mr. Fox, I know that deceased was ill about this time last year, and was obliged to go into the hospital. I heard he was suffering from delirium tremens. After discovering the deceased I found that some one had opened a slide below, which caused a faster run of malt, and rendered it more difficult to extricate deceased. The hole from which the malt passes, from the bin into the skry, is about three or four inches square, and at the rate the malt was then going it took an hour and a half to run through sixteen quarters.

Dr. Marshall, M.R.C.S. Castle Street, deposed: Yesterday afternoon, about a quarter-past four, I was sent for to attend at the malt house of Messrs. Leney and Evenden, where, I was informed, an accident had occurred, I was taken into the malt bin, and found a number of men engaged with shovels in extricating deceased from the malt, in which he was buried, his face alone being visible. I suggested a rope being placed under his arms, as the malt was sliding down as fast as it was shovelled out, and so again burying the deceased. This was done, and deceased was soon extricated. I examined the body. It was pulse-less, and I soon found that deceased was quite dead. Efforts were made to restore animation, but without success. The appearance of the face was that usually presented by death from suffocation. A previous attack of delirium tremens would predispose a man to fits.

This being the whole of the evidence, the coroner summed up, observing that no blame appeared attributed to anyone, and the jury then returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 7 July, 1871.

NEW LICENSES

Mr. E. R. Mowll, one of the trustees in the bankruptcy of Mr. Birch, applied for a new license for the "Flying Horse," King Street.

It was granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 5 January, 1872. Price 1d.

DRUNKENNESS - FURIOUS DRIVING IN A PUBLIC THOROUGHFARE

James William Parker, a mechanic, Harriet Parker, his wife, Thomas Lads, a private in the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and stationed at Shorncliffe, and Harriet Wale, a middle-aged woman, were charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct, and with driving in such a manner as to endanger the lives of the public in Snargate Street and bench Street, on the previous evening, between seven and eight o'clock.

Police-constable Corrie said that, on the previous evening, at about twenty minutes to eight, he was on duty at the top of Snargate Street, when he saw a pony and phaeton, coming up the street at full gallop. The four defendants were seated inside. They were all drunk, and the defendant William Parker was driving. He seemed to have sufficient control over the horse; but the witness saw him whip it severely when he turned into Beach Street. The phaeton almost ran over a lady opposite Mr. Lester's shop. Parker pulled up at the "Flying Horse." One of the woman and the rifleman were making a great disturbance. Witness did not know Lade was a rifleman when he saw him in the phaeton, as he was wearing a felt hat, and had a large rug wrapped round him, over his uniform.

By Mr. Smith: The defendants were making an extraordinary noise. About fifty or sixty boys followed the phaeton up Snargate Street, as far as the Market Square. I unbuckled the reins at the "Flying Horse," and took the phaeton to the Police-station. The defendants had to be dragged out of the trap into the station-house.

Parker, on being asked by Mr. Stilwell if he had any questions to put to his witness, denied whipping the horse, and said he could not have done so, as the whip was broken long before the phaeton reached Bench Street.

Sergeant James Johnstone corroborated Corrie's evidence, and said that, on arriving at the "Flying Horse," Corrie was holding the reins. Parker was drunk, so also were the rest of the prisoners.

In answer to a question put my Mr. Smith, Johnstone said that neither of the prisoners said anything at the police-station when the charge was read over to them.

The defendant Parker, who acted as spokesman for the party, said it was the first time they had been in such a disgraceful position, and he would assure the Magistrates that it would be the last. It was Christmas time; and on that account, he hoped the Magistrates would be inclined to deal leniently with them.

Mr. Smith (addressing Parker): This is a most disgraceful offence on the part of all of you. We will discharge your three companions; but you, as the driver, and person responsible for the furious driving, will be fined 10s., and the costs, 16s. in all, 26s.

Parker paid the fine.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 2 March, 1877. Price 1d.

AN INTOXICATED HORSEMAN

James John Piggott, formerly clerk at the London and County Bank, was charged with being drunk and incapable on horseback, thereby endangering the safety of the public.

Police-constable Suters said: On Saturday afternoon, about five o'clock, I was on duty at Snargate Street. I saw the defendant thetre on horseback. he was drunk, riding from one side of the road to the other, and everyone had to get out of his way. he trotted till he got as far as Bench Street; he then drove the horse on the footway in front of the "Flying Horse Inn." I went up to him and told him I was a police-officer and that I did not consider he was capable of taking care of either the horse or himself. A gentleman offered to take the horse from him if he would get down, but he refused and I took him into custody. I believe the horse belonged to Mr. Packham. My attention was called to the defendant previous to my interfering by several persons.

The defendant said he was very sorry to think what had happened.

The Bench said now the defendant was sober, no doubt, he felt the disgraceful position he was in; they should fine him 10s. and 6d. costs.

The money was paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 23 January, 1880. Price 1d.

SUSPICIOUS CASE FOR STEALING

Thomas Thorne and Frederick Hill were charged with stealing a live fowl, value of 2s. 6d., at Wetersend, the property of Mr. Stephen Dale, on the 19th inst.

Mr. Worsfold Mowll prosecuted, and Mr. Collard of Canterbury, defended.

Lewis pain said: I am boy in the employ of Mr. Dale, at Watersend Farm. The day before yesterday I saw the two prisoners come to Mr. Dale’s farm in a cart. It was before dinner, and they left the horse and cart in front of the granary. About one o’clock the horse and cart were still in front. The men had all gone to work, and I was in the cow-house having my dinner. I heard the fowls make a noise, and went and looked out of the window. I saw two men go in to where the fowls were, in the cart-lodge. The fowl all flew out and their horse started to run off. Hill held it, and the other men stayed in the cart-lodge. He presently came out with something in a dark cloth, and I heard the cry come from it os a fowl. He put it in the cart under the straw, and then took the horse and cart into a meadow where Mr. Bean, one of my master’s men, was minding some sheep. I told Mr. Bean what I had seen yesterday morning.

Cross-examined: I didn’t like to tell anyone that day what I had seen because I thought the men would say something to me. I don’t know if the prisoners had dinner with Mr. Dale. The cart lodge, the granary and cow house are close together. The height of the window I looked out of was nearly 5ft. I saw the prisoners go in the cart lodge with a sack cloth, but I didn’t see anything put in the cloth. I heard something which I am certain was in the sack make a noise like a fowl.

By the prosecution: After the fowls made a noise and flew about, the prisoner came out with the sack from the lodge.

Charles Hubbard, ostler at the “Flying Horse,” in Dover, said: On Monday afternoon the prisoners both came into our place in a cart about 2 o’clock. The cart contained also 4 sheep, a whip, and a sack with a dead speckled fowl in it. Hills asked me to take careof the sack with the fowl in it till he went home. It was not picked and the feathers were still on it. The other man saw and heard what took place. I took care of it by putting it in the corn bin until they left at six o’clock, when I handed it back to Hills. There was no other conversation about the fowl.

By the defence: The fowl was in the rug or sack when they arrived. I am certain it was near two o’clock when they came in.

Mary Elizabeth Dale, wife of Stephen Dale, of Ewell said: On Monday morning a little before 10, I saw the two prisoners come to the house in a cart. They asked for Mr. Dale, who I told them was unwell. They said they were sent for four sheep for Mr. Aggar, of Canterbury. They saw my husband and tried to make a deal with him for a horse and two pigs, but he refused. We have a very large quantity of fowls in the yard. After the two prisoners had got the sheep in their cart they drove towards Dover. The same night as when the prisoners came to the farm we also missed two breeding cows, and one bushel and a half of oats. The two pigs stolen were the same as the prisoners wanted to bargain for with my husband.
By the defence: The two prisoners had some food in the kitchen about half-past 12. The fowls generally get round near the cart lodge about midday as they are fed at this time.

George Ross, Instructor-constable stationed at Alkham, said: From information I received I went yesterday with two constables to Sturry to the house of prisoner Thorner, who keeps a beer shop. I saw him and whilst talking the other prisoner Hills, who is a lodger stopping there, came into the room. I then charged Thorner with stealing a live tame fowl, value of 2s. 6d., the property of Stephen Dale, on the 10th inst., and also charged Hills with assisting the prisoner Thorner. They both said they knew nothing about it. I left them in custody of the other constables and began at once to search the house. I found a quantity of fowls’ feathers in a basket in the kitchen. Those produced are the same. I brought them to Dover.

By the defence: I received the information about one o’clock. They gave me no trouble nor did they seem at all confused.

The bench adjourned the case to the Wingham Sessions on the 5th of February to be holden at Wingham. Bail allowed from Friday.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 11 March, 1881. Price 1d.

FATAL ACCIDENT WHILE HUNTING NEAR DOVER

An inquest was held on Saturday afternoon last, at the “Flying Horse Inn,” King Street, before the Deputy Coroner (S. Payn, Esq.), on the body of Mr. John Pankhurst, who died from injuries received, while hunting by a fall from his horse.

The following were the Jury: Mr. Bacon (foreman), Messrs. Middleton, Chapman, Welck, Lukey, Crosoer, Packham, Bridges, prior, Joyce, J. Taylor, A. J. Smith, Philpott, and Mate. The body having been viewed at the deceased’s residence in Flying Horse Lane, the evidence as follows was taken.

Henry Pankhurst, fly proprietor, said: The deceased John Pankhurst was my father, and in the same business as myself. He was 71 years of age. On Monday last I saw him alive and well when he was going hunting on one of his own horses which was very quiet and a good hunter. I know nothing of the circumstances attending his death except what I have heard.

Henry Mullin, horse dealer, living at 9, Mill Lane, said: I was riding on Monday last with the East Kent Fox Hounds, having met at the kennels. The deceased was also there, and we rode together for nearly an hour and a half, the deceased’s horse going very quietly and he appeared to be all right. We arrived at a field near Knapchester, and were going at a brisk canter, when the deceased branched off to go through a gateway by the right and I turned to the left to pass by another corner. I was about 500 yards off when I saw the deceased and his horse rolling in the field. I should think the cause of the accident was that on the horse going up the bank and getting on to soft ploughed ground had tried to start off again, but had completely turned over through the forefeet sinking in the ground. From what I could see at a distance the horse appeared to fall completely on the deceased. There were several gentleman near, one being, it saw said, a doctor. I then came on to Dover for a fly as requested, but I did not return to the field again. I have since heard that a carriage belonging to Mr. Packham, fly proprietor, was near at hand.

In answer to the Superintendent of Police, witness further said: The deceased spoke to me about two minutes before the accident, and that he had enjoyed himself more that day than he had for some time, and also remarked that the mare he was riding went beautifully.

Dr. Marshall, residing at 13, Liverpool Street, said: On Monday afternoon I was sent for to see the deceased, who I was told had just been brought home. I found he was suffering from great pain in the lower part of the abdomen. He was perfectly conscious, and told me how the accident occurred. I advised him to put to bed at once, and gave the necessary treatment. He continued in great pain for two days after, when bronchitis set in, and he eventually sank, and died on Tuesday evening. The cause of death was internal haemorrhage caused by the fall from his horse. The deceased told me the horse had fallen down, and rolled over him. I didn’t trouble him with any questions.

By the Jury: The injuries received by the fall were sufficient to cause death. He lost a great deal of blood.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 22 August, 1884. 1d.

Mr. Ball, of the “Flying Horse Inn,” wishes to say it was not from his yard the men who were fined last week took the load of manure, as he always has his removed early in the morning.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 22 June, 1886.

SAD DEATH BY A FALL

On Friday afternoon last an inquest was held by the Borough Coroner (Sydenham Payn, Esq.), on the body of a child three years of age named Walter Richard Linscott, at the “Flying Horse Hotel,” King Street. Mr. Hogben was chosen foreman of the Jury. It appeared from the evidence that was taken, that the deceased, who was the son of Mr. Linscott, waiter at the “Royal Oak Hotel,” met with his death, through the effects of a fall whilst, playing and trying to get on the back of another boy.

The Jury after hearing the whole of the evidence, returned the following verdict, “That the deceased died from injuries to the head caused by a fall.”

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 11 January, 1889.

PERMISSION TO DRAW

On Monday at the Police Court, before S. F. Pierce and G. R. Killock Esqs., Mr. Spain applied on behalf of Mr. G. Tompkins, for permission to draw at the "Flying Horse Inn," the out-going tenant being Mr. James Ball. Mr. Tompkins, who has served 22 years in the army, has lately been mess steward at the Offices' Quarters' Dover Castle.

The application was granted.