From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 11 January, 1867. Price 1d.

ALLEGED FELONY

William Saunders, a "mariner", was charged on suspicion with having broken into the premises of Mr. Christopher Wood, in Clarence Place, and stolen therefrom four fowls, his property.

Police-constable William Fahye said he was on duty about a quarter to twelve on Saturday night, in Woolcomber Street, when he saw the prisoner cross the road near the Marine Place in the direction of the "Clarence Hotel" Gates and then go towards Marine House, and disappear down a passage. He emerged from the passage a short time afterwards and went up Woolcomber Street, witness meeting him near the "Mail Packet Inn." Prisoner was proceeding in the direction of his own house, in Trevanion Lane. Witness did not see him go into his house. He (Fahye) then went to the spot where he had first seen the prisoner, and found near the gates of the "Clarence Hotel" the two fowls produced. The fowls were warm and bleeding. He immediately ran back after the prisoner, but prisoner was not anywhere to be seen. He then took the fowls to the station-house and afterwards went to the passage he had seen the prisoner earlier, and he there found two more fowls, lying near the doorstep and about fifteen yards from the fowl-house of the prosecutor. He subsequently examined the fowl-house in company with police-sergeant Stevens. They found the staple broken and the door open. Witness saw blood and feathers in the fowl-house. He apprehended the prisoner, upon the Marine Parade on Sunday, morning. On charging him with stealing the fowls, he said he knew nothing about it. After getting to the station-house he examined a guernsey the prisoner was wearing at the time, and found marks which he believed to have been caused by blood. The prisoner said the marks were produced by tar.

Prisoner declared he was in bed and asleep at the time the police officer said he saw him in the neighbourhood of the fowl-house.

The witness, in reply to prisoner's questions, described how prisoner was dressed - in blue guernsey, dark trowsers, and cap, with a muffler round his neck.

By the Bench: The prisoner passed me within five yards of the gas-lamp.

Police-sergeant Stevens gave corroborative evidence as to the fowl-house having been broken open.

Mr. Wood identified the fowls as his property. They were worth about 5s.

Superintendent Coram, in justice to the prisoner, asked that the case might be adjourned, it being his impression, from the information he had received, that there was a mistake in identity.

The prisoner repeated that he was in bed and asleep at the time mentioned.

The Magistrates told him he had better not say anything then, and adjourned the further hearing till Friday (this day), accepting the prisoner's own recognizance's in £10 to appear.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 29 December, 1871. Price 1d.

MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT

The Borough Coroner, W. H. Payn, Esq., held an inquest yesterday afternoon, at the “Mail Packet Inn,” Woolcomber Street, on the body of Frederick William Gillespie, a labourer, who had resided at No.7. Trevanion Street, and whose death had been caused by a fall at his residence on Sunday, the 24th inst. Mr. James Phipps was chosen foreman of the Jury; and the body having been viewed, the Coroner took the two following depositions:-

Mary Ann Francis Toombs, a married woman, and the eldest daughter of the deceased, said: The deceased was a labourer, and resided in Trevanion Street. He was living alone at the time of his death, as his wife was out nursing. I last saw my father conscious at three o’clock on Sunday afternoon. His health was then very good considering his age – sixty-eight. At eight o’clock on Sunday evening I went to see how he was getting on, as he was quite alone; and when I arrived at his residence I found there was no light. I lighted a candle, and went into the back room to search for him; but he was not there. I heard someone breathing in the kitchen; and on going there I found the deceased lying on the floor senseless, at the foot of the stairs. I washed him and laid him on a couch. I did not send for medical aid then, as I thought in all probability he would revive. I watched him during the whole night; and as he did not revive I sent for Dr. Gill. He did not come, so I sent for Dr. Duke, who came immediately. Dr. Duke told me that the deceased was paralysed, and had pressure on the brain. He remained alive up to yesterday morning, at half-past one, when he died. He was quite unconscious from Sunday till he died. I think the deceased had been out into the yard, and had fallen down in the kitchen on his way back. The back door was bolted previous to my father’s going home; but it was not bolted when I found him. The deceased had to go down the kitchen stairs to reach the yard.

By a Juryman: Someone assisted me to carry the deceased up from the kitchen. He was lying flat on his back when I found him.

Edwin Duke deposed: I am a surgeon residing and practising in Dover. I was called to see the deceased on the morning of Christmas Day, between eight and nine o’clock, at No. 7, Trevanion Street. He was lying on the couch when I arrived. I examined him, and found an incised wound just above the right temple, with a severe contusion of the right eye. He was perfectly unconscious. I attended him at the time of his death, on the 27th inst. I attribute death to compression of the brain, caused by injuries sustained to the head. Death was not caused by a fit.

By a Juryman: I was told that the deceased had fallen down in the kitchen. When I first saw him he was suffering from contusion of the brain, which ultimately led to compression, thereby causing death.

The Coroner then summed up; and the Jury, after some deliberation, returned a verdict of “Death from a fall.”