From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 September, 1859.

ANNUAL LICENSING

This being the annual licensing day the Bench were occupied during the remainder of the sitting in disposing of the applications. Among the new licenses granted to persons whose present premises are about to be pulled down to make way for the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway, and who have received notice to quit the same by the 29th inst., are the following:- To Mr. Spice, of "The Harp" hotel, Strond Street, who removes to a building in the same street formerly in the occupation of Mr. Rouse as a coach-factory (the new building will still be known by the sign of "The Harp.")

To John Dunn of "The Exeter Arms," Strond Street, who removes to No. 83 in the same thoroughfare.

To Thomas John Vineer, of "The Jolly Tar," who takes "The Oak," in Oxenham Street.

To William Sims, who at present occupies "The Shipwright's Arms," but is about to remove his business to No. 47. Strond Street, and.

To the landlord of "The Phoenix," (John Connor,) who in future will occupy "The Royal Exchange," in Round Tower Street.

The Majority of the public-house licenses were renewed.

Application was made by Mr. Charles States, pastrycook and confectioner, Townwall Street, for a license for a restaurant which he has established there. He informed the Bench that these places of refreshment had been tried in London, Brighton, and elsewhere, had worked well, and had proved to be a great benefit wherever they had been established. He intended to close his house about ten o'clock in the week days, and should not open at all on the Sunday.

There was no opposition to the application, and the Magistrates granted the license.

Mr. Henry Kingham, in the same line of business in Snargate Street, made a similar application, which was also at once granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 31 December, 1859.

A SERVANT GIRL OUT OF PLACE

Richard Post, a fly driver, was charged with stealing from the person of Margaret Roberts, a servant girl out of place, a purse containing three sovereigns and some silver.

It appeared that the prosecutrix after leaving her place at Sandgate the previous morning arrived at Dover in the afternoon, and drove to River in company with a young man named White, with whom she had been preciously acquainted. The prisoner Post was in company with White, and shortly after he had left them the prosecutrix discovered that a hole had been cut in her pocket, and her purse and money taken from it. Post was subsequently seen in possession of some gold and a portion of her purse exactly corresponding with that of the prosecutrix. The following is the evidence:-

Prosecutrix sworn - I am the servant out of place. I left my situation at Sandgate yesterday morning. In the afternoon, about half-past two o'clock, after my arrival at Dover, I hired a fly to take me to River, for the purpose of visiting a friend. A young man named William White was with me at the time, and got into the fly with me. We directed the driver, whose name was Twyman, to take us to Townwall Street, as  wanted to call at the "Liverpool Arms," a public house situated in that Street. I went into the "Liverpool Arms" with White and remained standing at the bar about twenty minutes. I there saw the prisoner Post, who joined us and drank with us, and on our leaving entered the fly in our company. I did not object. I then told the driver to go on to River. On the way the fly drew up at the "Three Cups," where Post and White had something to drink, but I remained in the fly. On getting to River the fly drew up at the "Dublin Man of War," and remained there about three-quarters of an hour. White ordered some brandy, of which I drank part of a glass, the prisoner Post drinking the rest. While the fly remained there I went to see my friend, with whom I stayed for about half an hour. We returned from River about five o'clock. White and the prisoner both got into the fly with me. On the return home the prisoner and White stopped the fly at the "Bull," at Buckland, and went into the house. They asked me to accompany them, but I declined. Post came out of the "Bull" before White and stood at the door of the fly talking to me. The door of the fly was open, and the steps were down. I had a horse rug over my feet, and the prisoner pretended to arrange it so that it might be more comfortable; but he annoyed me, and I insisted upon his leaving off. I had to tell him to be quiet several times. He then returned to the house, and in a few minutes he and White came out together and resumed their places in the fly. I did not raise any objection to the prisoner getting into the fly again, as I understood that he was to return to Dover. The fly next drew up at the "Bee Hive," in Snargate Street. White and Post went in, and asked me to accompany them, but I again refused. They remained there about ten minutes, when White got into the fly again, but without prisoner, who did not return. We then drove to the top of Snargate Street, where the fly was discharged, White paying the driver. I then went with White to the "White Hart" public house in Russell Street, where a raffle was going forward. I wanted to stake something in the raffle, and put my hand into my pocket to get my purse, when I found that a hole had been cut in the bottom of my pocket and that the things it had contained, including my purse and money, were gone. The hole appeared to have been cut from the outside of the dress, as on lifting the dress up I found a hole in it corresponding with that which had been cut in the pocket. Both holes appeared as if they had been cut with a knife. I did not notice whether Post had a knife in his hand when he stood by me at he fly-door. I had last had occasion to use my purse on paying the omnibus fare from the railway-station to Bench Street, at half-past two. The pocket then contained a bill, the key of my box, and seven pence in coppers, besides my purse, which was a blue silk one, with steel beads worked upon it. It contained three pounds in gold and two shillings in silver after I had paid my omnibus fare. The piece of purse produced by Sergeant Scutt I recognised as a portion of it, but the purse was not torn when I last saw it. I am quite certain I did not put my hand into my pocket from the time I got into the omnibus until I wanted my purse at the "White Hart." I have known White since last April. I became acquaintance with him from his coming to see a kitchen maid in the house where I lived when in Dover. I was going to lodge in Chapel Lane, and White took my box there for me. He had not seen me take my purse out of my pocket nor was he aware that I had any money. On meeting him I told him I wanted to see a friend of mine at River, and he them offered to take me there in a fly. After I had discovered my loss, White, in consequence of what I said to him, went to look after the prisoner. White appeared very much surprised. I went with him to the "Bee Hive" for the purpose of finding the prisoner, but he was not there. Twyman, the driver, who accompanied us, ten went to make a further search for Post, leaving me at the "Bee Hive," but they did not bring him back. I afterwards went to the station-house with White and gave information of what had transpired to the police. During the time I was in the fly I sat with my face towards the horse. White was on my left, and Post opposite. That was the order in which we always got into the fly. My pocket is on the right side of my dress. I did not at any time feel White lean across me or place his hand in such a position that he might have got at my pocket; but the prisoner endeavoured to do so, I recollect, on two occasions. When I went into the "Liverpool Arms" no one sat beside me but White and the prisoner, and when I was with my friend at River other persons were present, but I did not sit down.

George Ambrose Eastman examined - I am the landlord of the "Bee Hive," in Snargate Street. The prisoner, White, and Twyman came into my house together about eight o'clock last night and had a glass of beer each. The prisoner was rather the worse for liquor. Whilst they were there Post went to the rear of the house, and just as he was returning White and Twyman went out of the front door, and I immediately heard the fly drive off. I stopped the prisoner and asked him to pay for the three glasses of beer, as he had ordered them, when he exclaimed "Do you think I can't pay for it, then?" at the same time throwing down a sixpence. I was about to give him threepence in change when he said, "Stop, I have enough halfpence." He then put his hand into the right-hand pocket of his coat and pulled out two sovereigns, upon which I said "You had better let me give you change for the sixpence." He still refused, and then put his hand into the other pocket of his coat and pulled out one sovereign, an two pence, and the end of a purse, which was of blue silk, covered with steel beads, and had at the end of it a brass knob. It was in all respects like the piece now produced. Seeing the contents of his pocket I said to him, "How foolish you are to carry gold in your pocket with such a lot of rubbish." He put them all back into his pocket, and I gave him the change out of the sixpence. After having another glass of beer prisoner gave me two of his sovereigns to take care of for a week, saying "If my old man, o anybody else, asks you about this don't you tell them. He then went again to the rear of the house, and was absent so long that I went out to see what he was doing. On my going out he came towards the light, holding in his hand the piece of purse I had previously seen, and said to me, "Look here, that's this?" He was going to throw it into a neighbour's yard, when I said "Don't throw anything over there; give it me; it will do for the children;" but prisoner said "No, I shall throw it away." He then threw it towards the cliff. He shortly afterwards went away. It was then about quarter past nine, and in about an hour afterwards Whyte, Twyman, and the prosecutrix Margaret Roberts came in and enquired for the prisoner. Whilst the prosecutrix remained in the house I went and searched for the piece of purse I had seen Post throw away, and after a little while I found the piece of purse produced by Sergeant Scutt. It appeared to have lodged on the roof of the water closet. It is not the piece prisoner showed me, but from its appearance I should think it part of the same purse. I did not hear anyone go out to the back of the house after Post came in. I am certain that neither White nor Twyman went out, as they remained in front of the bar the whole time.

William White examined - I am a fly driver. I met the prosecutrix in Bench Street yesterday a little after two. She was standing on the pavement with her box by her side. She wished me to carry the box to Chapel Lane for her, and I did so. I was acquainted with the prosecutrix, having known her when she was filling a situation in Dover. I afterwards took her to River in a fly. Twyman was the driver of the fly, and Post went with us. We stopped at several public houses, and on our return from River we drew up at the "Bull." I, Post and Twyman went into the public-house, leaving the prosecutrix in the fly. This was about half-past five o'clock. Prisoner, while we were at the "Bull," went out and stood on the off-side of the carriage, by the door, which was open. When I observed him standing there I went round and shut the door, and followed him into the public-house again. The prisoner was outside about five minutes. When I returned to the fly prosecutrix told me she wished I would not let Post come into the fly again. We then drove to th "Elephant and Castle," where Post, Twyman, and I had a glass of beer each. We remained there about ten minutes, during which Post left the bar and went out to the carriage again. prosecutrix did not leave the fly. From the "Elephant and Castle" we proceeded towards Townwall Street, where the prisoner offered Twyman an extra shilling to drive us to the "Sceptre," at the pier. While at River I had paid Twyman 5s. for the fly, with the understanding that Post was to repay me half at a future time, as, according to the statement he then made, he had no money. Twyman accordingly drove to the "Sceptre," where Twyman, Post, and I, all had a glass of beer, the young woman remaining in the fly as before. Post paid for the beer, and on his pulling out the money from his waistcoat pocket I noticed that he had a couple of sovereigns. I did not see what change he had, but he paid for the beer with some silver. When Post pulled out the money he exclaimed "Look here, here's plenty of money." I made no observation to him about his having so much. From the "Sceptre" we went to the "Bee Hive," where we had some more beer. Whilst there Post went into the back yard, where we left him, as he was disagreeable. We then drove off, and after Twyman had put away his fly went to the "White Hart." After getting there it was proposed that we should raffle. The prosecutrix put her hand into her pocket to get some money, then, finding her purse had gone, she exclaimed "That Dick Post must have robbed her." I offered to help her to find him, and first went with her to the house at which we had left him, the "Bee Hive." Not finding him there I left the prosecutrix there while I went to make further search. I at length found him at the "Railway Tavern," and taxed him with robbing the prosecutrix. I said "You're no man, Dick, or you'd never have robbed that poor girl of her purse. Come, give me the money, and I will give it to her, and no more shall be said about it." To that prisoner made no answer, and I then told him that as he would not give up the purse, I should go and look for a policeman. I afterward went with prosecutrix to the station-house and gave information of the robbery. I subsequently accompanied police-sergeant Scutt on his apprehension of the prisoner at his lodgings. While at the "Bee Hive" I went out with the landlord to look for a piece of the purse, after he had shown me a piece he had already found.

Police-sergeant Scutt examined - In consequence of information received I went to Post's house between three and four o'clock this morning. Last night between eleven and twelve I went to Mr. Eastman's, at the "Bee Hive," and he handed me two sovereigns and the piece of purse I now produce. I afterwards went in search of the prisoner, accompanied by sergeant Geddes and White. I found him at the "Five Alls" public-house, in Market Street. He was in bed. I took him into custody; and on my telling him what he was charged with he replied "You are right enough, but I will make them pay for it." I conveyed the prisoner to the station-house, where, on the charge being entered and read over to him he made the same remark. On searching him I found on him two shillings and ten pence in money, a key, three watch keys, a knife, and a handkerchief.

George Twyman examined - I am a fly driver, and I drove the prosecutrix, White, and Post to River yesterday. When  got home I took the mat out of the bottom of the carriage and shook it, and there found a key and two halfpence, which I took to the prosecutrix at the "White Hart." Prosecutrix took them in her hand, saying the key belonged to her trunk, and she then discovered that her pocket and dress were cut. I recollect White paying me half-a-crown for the fly at River, and Post then saying he had no money and would pay me his share the next day, and that I replied "No, that won't do; I must have my fare now," whereupon White paid me another half-crown.

The prisoner, having been cautioned in the usual way, said he was not guilty; and the Magistrates then committed him for trial at the quarter sessions.