From the Folkestone Chronicle 21 November 1857. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

CORONER'S INQUEST

Another inquest was holden before the Coroner, on Wednesday the 18th inst., at the "Mechanics Arms", Bellevue Fields, on the body of Peter Mahoney, a private of the 4th King's Own Regiment of Foot, the depot of which Regt. is now stationed at Shorncliffe.

From the evidence of Hugh Evans, a soldier in the same regiment, it appears that the deceased, witness, and five more soldiers left the camp on the evening of Tuesday, about 6 o'clock, and directly they arrived in Folkestone they went to the "Bellevue Tavern", where they remained drinking till about 10 p.m. Deceased drank freely, as well as the other soldiers, and became noisy and quarrelsome; the landlord and a sergeant of the 98th endeavoured to put deceased and the others out, which they had some trouble in doing. When they got into the street four of the men, including deceased, then began breaking the windows – witness then left, and presently deceased and one of the other soldiers passed witness running, witness followed them, and upon arriving opposite the "Mechanics Arms" witness asked deceased what was the matter with him, he called out “I am bleeding to death”, when he fell on his back, and never spoke afterwards: witness asked for some water, and then assisted by another comrade carried deceased into the "Mechanics Arms", took off his coat and found he was wounded on the right wrist, which was then bleeding slightly – witness then bound the wound up and sent for a doctor.

William Hills deposed, he was landlord of the "Bellevue Tavern". On Tuesday night, about 8 o'clock, a party of soldiers, one of whom was deceased, came into his house and remained drinking until 9 p.m., they then wanted witness to let them have a gallon of beer on trust, which witness declined, they continued in the house till 10, when they pulled down the gas pendant, and came downstairs: witness with assistance then put them out of the house and closed the door – immediately afterwards six squares of glass were broken – witness then sent for the police. Deceased had been in the house often, and always behaved himself well; deceased was a little the worse for drink when he left the house.

Charles Egerton Fitzgerald deposed, he was a surgeon, residing at Folkestone. About half past 10 on Tuesday evening witness was sent for, to a soldier, who was wounded in the arm. Witness went to the "Mechanics Arms", and found deceased sitting in front of the bar, supported by two other soldiers. There was a large pool of blood on the floor, nearly all coagulated; deceased was in a state of collapse, and could not speak, the pulsation of the heart was feeble and fluttering, his extremities were cold, and witness found two wounds on the right wrist, one superficial and the other deep. Witness had deceased moved to another room, laid him on his back, and gave him stimulants, but he never spoke and lived about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes after witness' arrival. Witness examined the wound but found nothing in it, the radial artery was wounded, four of the extensor tendons of the hand were separated, and the joint was laid quite open. Witness attributed his death to haemorrhage from a laceration of the radial artery. The artery was extensively lacerated for about three quarters of its diameter, there was no haemorrhage after the witness arrived. The wound was such as would be caused by glass, it was not a clean cut but a lacerated one.

This being the whole of the evidence, the jury returned the following verdict. “The deceased, Peter Mahoney, came by his death from a wound received by breaking a square of glass at the "Bellevue Tavern"”.

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

Thursday April 1st:- Before the Mayor and James Kelcey esq.

John Taylor, a private in the West York regiment of militia, was charged with obtaining £5 under false pretences, as detailed below.

Sarah Constable, wife of the landlord of the "Mechanics Arms", Bellevue Fields, stated that about a fortnight ago, prisoner asked her for change of a £5 note, at the same time giving her what she supposed was a £5 note; not having the change herself she sent her servant to a neighbouring public house, the "Bellevue Tavern", to get it changed, her servant brought the change, and she gave the same to the prisoner.

The servant corroborated the evidence of her mistress.

Mary Hills, wife of the landlord of the "Bellevue Tavern", deposed, that about a fortnight or three weeks ago, the last witness came to her and asked for change of what she supposed was a £5 Bank of England note; she gave change for it, and put it away in a purse with some gold; she did not see it again until yesterday morning (Wednesday), when her husband having a payment to make, she gave him the note folded up; no person, not even her husband, had access to the drawer in which she kept her purse containing the money.

William Hills, husband of the last witness, deposed that his wife gave him what he supposed was a Bank of England note for £5, upon unfolding it, however, he found it to be a note on the Bank of Engraving, No. 7651, he immediately enquired of his wife where she got it, upon her telling him, he went to the witness, Constable, who told him she had got it from the prisoner. The police were then communicated with, and the prisoner taken into custody.

The prisoner, in answer to the charge, said he took a £5 note to the witness, Mrs. Constable, for change, he should be able to identify the note again; upon taking it she opened and read it, and said it was all right. He had received it from a young man in Lancashire for work he had done for him.

The magistrates committed the prisoner for trial on Tuesday next, at the Quarter Sessions.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 17 April 1858. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

QUARTER SESSIONS

Tuesday April 13th :- John Taylor, a private in the West York Militia regiment pleaded Not Guilty to a charge of obtaining under false pretences the sum of £5, the property of Richard Constable, at Folkestone, on the 22nd March, 1858.

Mr. Biron, by direction of the Recorder, conducted the prosecution, prisoner was defended by Mr. John Minter. Before the case commenced the witnesses were ordered out of court.

The learned counsel for the prosecution then said, this was a case of obtaining £5 by false pretence. The facts were as follows – on 22nd March prisoner went into a beerhouse kept by the prosecutor, and asked his wife if she could change a £5 note for him, she could not herself, but sent her servant to a neighbour's and there obtained it. She paid the money over to prisoner, and heard no more about it, until a few days ago, when Hills, the neighbour whose wife had changed the note, had occasion to make a payment, and then it was found the supposed note was one on the “Bank of Engraving”, perfectly useless. Mr. Biron then called Sarah Constable, who on examination deposed the above facts.

Cross-examined by Mr. Minter. Could not swear that the piece of paper produced was that given her by the prisoner. Was a married woman. Had not any more flash notes. Did not tell the superintendent that she had more flash notes in her possession – told Mr. Hills that she had some six years ago. Knew a man named Homer Smith, of the 3rd West Yorks Rifles – left her husband's house with Smith – took with her a timepiece, some blankets, and the money from the till, and her clothes. Her husband has never prosecuted Smith.

Cross-examined by the Court. Was a week and three days away with Smith – went away just after prisoner changed the note – returned about a week since.

Catherine Godden deposed to having been sent to Mr. Hills for change.

Cross-examined by Mr. Minter. The prisoner came frequently to the house before and since the note was changed.

Mary Hills deposed to giving change for what she supposed was a Bank of England £5 note - had put it away until a payment was required to be made, she then gave it to her husband.

Cross-examined by Mr. Minter. Knew the prisoner well – did not believe him capable of committing such a crime.

William Hills deposed, he was husband of the last witness, and landlord of the "Bellevue Tavern", his wife gave him the paper produced as a £5 note, said she had received it from the servant of Mr. Constable – when he went to Mrs. Constable she told witness she had several such notes as that, this one had been given to her by a soldier, naming the witness.

Cross-examined by Mr. Minter. Knew the prisoner well – he was a well conducted young man – could not believe him guilty of the offence. Mrs. Constable said before the superintendent she had two or three flash notes in her workbox.

William Martin, superintendent of police, deposed that the piece of paper now produced had been given to him by Mrs. Constable.

Cross-examined by Mr. Minter. Heard Mrs. Constable say she had some flash notes like that one in her workbox. This completed the case.

Mr. Minter in addressing the jury for the defence said, he trusted the jury would give the prisoner the benefit of the grave doubts that must arise in their minds from revising the evidence given in support of this charge – he had a good foundation to go upon. The evidence in this case asked them to believe a manifest absurdity; here is a man in the daily habit of visiting a house where it is proposed to be proved he had effected this fraudulent transaction. Now, if the man were guilty, surely the house where he had done it would not be the house he should make his resort, putting himself as it were into the very hands of justice; how was he to know the landlady would have to send out for change, when that was proposed, one would imagine that having a guilty knowledge of the note, he would have said, “No, give it back to me”; but he does no such thing, he goes upstairs to his company, and quietly sits down till called by the landlady to receive the change. The only person from whom the prosecution rests, is Mrs. Constable; and who, hearing that witness's evidence, was to prove that she did not take one of the flash notes out of her workbox, and send for change, when, if discovered, she could easily say the soldier gave it to me. The learned counsel for the prosecution had not asked the question. “who was there when the note was given by the prisoner to Mrs. Constable”, he should assume no-one else. What then is the conviction that should force itself upon their minds, - that looking at the witness's conduct, she wanted money to go off with her paramour. Suppose Mrs. Constable an honest woman, there would be no corroborative evidence, - but she had admitted herself to be a prostitute. The entire case rested upon her evidence, and he trusted the jury would show their idea of it by returning a verdict of Not Guilty.

The Recorder in summing up said, the prisoner was charged with obtaining five pounds by false pretences. Considering the serious nature of the charge against the prisoner, and taking into consideration the slight nature of the evidence against the prisoner, he thought they ought to agree in acquitting him. The only fact against the prisoner was, that soldiers are not often in possession of £5 notes. The principal grounds on which they ought to return a verdict of Not Guilty, in his opinion, arose from the fact of the principal witness being not worthy of belief. When a woman runs away from her husband and robs him, it makes her evidence excessively doubtful against the prisoner; again, it is impossible that anyone would take that piece of paper from another person, and that person a soldier, as a £5 note. He thought the jury would be quite right in acquitting the prisoner, though of course it was their verdict, and not his.

The jury the consulted for a few moments, and returned a verdict of “Not Guilty”.

Some applause was manifested in court at the verdict, but it was immediately suppressed.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 28 May 1859. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

NO SIGN SHOWING

Saturday May 28th: - Before J. Kelcey, W. Browell, R.W. Boarer, and S. Eastes Esqs.

James Driscoll, beer-shop keeper, landlord of the "Mechanics Arms," Bellevue Fields, was charged in a summons with not having a licence board over his door according to the Act of Parliament.

P.C. Newman stated that the house had been open more than a month, but that up to Thursday last no licence-board had been placed over the door.

The defendant in excuse, stated that the board was taken down a day or two after he took possession of the house, that he had given the board to a man to paint for him, and that when it was finished the man had promised day after day to put it up – he could not do it himself because he had been ill, but that immediately he received the summons he put the board up, and it was there at present. Fined 2s. 6d. And costs.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 16 February, 1861. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

THEFT OF BOOTS

Tuesday February 12th:- Before W.F. Browell, A.M. Leith, and J. Tolputt, Esqs.

Mary Ann Giles, of Capel, was brought up in custody of police constable Woodland, charged with obtaining one pair of boots, of the value of 10s 6d. by false pretences, from the shop of Mr. LeButt, Broad Street.

Edwin LeButt deposed, he managed the business in Broad Street for his father; on Monday 11th, about three o'clock prisoner came into the shop and asked for boots for Mrs. English on approval; witness asked what kind of boots she required, and prisoner said they were to be cloth galoshed, which raised witness's suspicion, thinking Mrs. English would not want that kind of boot; witness looked out six pairs, and asked if the boy should carry them, which she declined; immediately she left the shop witness sent the boy to see if she went to Mr. English's shop, he followed her down High Street to the Millbay steps where she sat down and looked at the boots, and then came back, went up Bayle Steps, along The Bayle, and again examined the boots, when the boy left her and came and told witness what she had done. Witness immediately sent the foreman to see if he could find her, while witness went to Mrs. English; before witness arrived there he met prisoner returning towards his shop. Witness returned with her to hear her story. She said Mrs. English had kept one pair, and wished to know the price, as Mr. English would sent the money immediately; witness sent his foreman to watch while he went to Mrs. English; he then discovered that the tale was not true, and then sent for the police, and followed the prisoner to the "Mechanic's Arms" by a circuitous route, when she was taken into custody; the value of the boots are 10s. 6d.

By the Bench – Witness did believe her story that she came from Mrs. English.

Sarah English, wife of Mr. John English, High Street, deposed, she knew the prisoner from calling at the shop, but stated she had not on any occasion given her directions to obtain boots or anything else on her order.

William Woodland, P.C., deposed, about half past three o'clock, from information received, witness went accompanied by Mr. LeButt to the "Mechanic's Arms," and there found the prisoner; Mr. LeButt identified prisoner as being the person who obtained the boots; witness charged her with getting the boots, which prisoner denied; witness took her into custody, and on the way to the station felt something under her arm, and lifting up her shawl found the boots produced. Prisoner was then locked up.

Prisoner was committed to take her trial at the next Quarter Sessions, and the witnesses bound over to prosecute.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 6 April, 1861. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

QUARTER SESSIONS

Wednesday April 3rd:- Before J.J. Tolputt, Esq.

Elizabeth Ann Giles, 20, servant, was indicted for obtaining by false pretences one pair of boots, value of 5s., the property of Thomas LeButt.

The evidence proved that the prisoner went in the usual clumsy way to the prosecutor's shop, saying she was sent by Mrs. English for some pairs of boots on approval. Suspicion having been excited from the sort she asked for, she was watched, and found to have passed the shop of Mr. English. She however returned in a short time to Mr. LeButt's, and returning five pairs, said Mrs. English had kept one pair; subsequent enquiry proved Mrs. English had not sent her. Prisoner was afterwards apprehended with the boots in her possession.

The Recorder summed up, and feelingly addressed the prisoner on the crime she had committed; told her he was afraid she would go from bad to worse as she commenced her defence by telling a lie; her poor mother had to be removed from the court from being so affected at the disgrace brought on her; he should, however, sentence her to a long term of imprisonment to see if that would be a warning to her; the sentence he should pronounce was one of six months with hard labour.

From the Folkestone Chronicle 24 August, 1861. Transcribed by Jan Pedersen.

ANNUAL LICENSING DAY

Wednesday August 21st:- Before the Mayor, James Tolputt, W.F. Browell, W. Major, W. Bateman, and A.M. Leith, Esqs.

The majority of the licences to victuallers were renewed, except in the case of the "Mechanics Arms," Bellevue Fields, which the bench declined to grant.