From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 March, 1868.

MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF A CHILD.

Another inquest was held on Monday, before W. H. Payn, Esq., coroner, at the "Pimlico Tavern," Oxenden Street, on the body of Sarah Ann Gates, a child aged five months, who died on the previous day. The following evidence was adduced:-

Emma Gates, who resides at Medway Cottages, at the back of Oxenden Street, said the deceased was her daughter, and was five months old. The child was healthy from its birth, and she had suckled it up to the time of its death. The child appeared well until Friday last, when she could not keep her food down, and this continued all day on the Saturday. On the Sunday morning, about half-past five, when she woke up the child was still at the breast, but as it did not seem to move she shook it to see if it were alive. The child opened its eyes, and she then asked a fellow lodger, Mrs. Morton, to take it. She did so and said the child was dying. The child died without a struggle. Mrs. Morton and another person named Atkerson were present when the child died. Witness had given the child only its usual food - no syrup and no medicines. A doctor was sent for, and Mr. Walter attended at ten minutes past six, when he examined the child, but did not say the cause of death. Witness did not know the cause of death. The child had no cold or illness, and she was sure no one in the house gave the child anything but herself. She was sure she did not lie on the child.

Mr. John Walter, surgeon, residing and practising in Dover, said that on Sunday morning at six o'clock he was sent for, to see a child in Medway Cottages. He attended immediately, and found a female child dead. He examined the child, but found no marks on the body, which appeared to be well nourished. The probably cause of death was, he should say, over distension of the stomach, caused by sucking at the breast, as no doubt the child had been sucking all night at intervals.

The jury returned a verdict accordingly.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 24 September, 1869. Price 1d.

THEFT FROM A SOLDIER

Isobella Steed was charged with stealing  one sovereign, the property of Edward Chad, a soldier belonging to the 17th Brigade Royal Artillery, stationed in this garrison.

Edward Chad said he was in the "Pimlico Tavern," Hawkesbury Street, on Saturday afternoon, between one and two o'clock. he had in his pocket a sovereign, which was wrapped up in a piece of paper. Witness felt the prisoner draw her hand out of his pocket, while he was standing near her, and she then ran away. On putting his hand into his pocket he missed the sovereign, and he at once gave information to the police. Prisoner had left the house about twenty minutes, when he came back. Witness asked her what she had done with the money, when she told him that he could not have it.

Elizabeth Lamberton, a married woman, said she lived at the "Pimlico Tavern," Hawkesbury Street. She knew the prisoner by sight, and saw him in her house on Saturday in company with the last witness, between one and three in the afternoon. The soldier and the prisoner came in together. They left the house together, and the prisoner came back in about ten minutes afterwards, and asked witness to change a sovereign for her. Witness complied, and gave her half-a-sovereign, and ten shillings in silver.

Police-constable George Harmer said that, in consequence of information he received on Saturday, he apprehended the prisoner at twenty minutes past four, and, told her the charge. She at first denied, but afterwards admitted that she had taken the sovereign and spent it. The prosecutor was sober when he saw him.

Prisoner pleaded guilty, and the Magistrates committed her to prison for a month with hard labour.

From the Dover Express. 1870.

Un-Lady like Conduct.

Mary Skinning a young lady in a hat and feathers and a cloud, was summoned for assaulting Mary Ann Scott. The complainant said she lived in Oxenden Street. On Friday afternoon she went into the Pimlico Tavern to refresh herself with a pint of beer. Whilst there the defendant quarrelled with another girl and witness was horrified at the epithets which she applied to her. She endeavoured to expostulate with the defendant when the latter turned upon her and struck her in the eye and upon the shoulder and kicked her upon the leg. Witness declared solemnly that she never gave any provocation. In addition to the assault on Friday the defendant on meeting her the next day threw some beer into her face from a can she was carrying and on meeting her on the railway bridge in Limekiln Street after the summons had been served upon her she insulted witness and declared she would “swing” for her.

The defendant did not deny the assault but said she was provoked by the complainant who was a woman of the same class as herself and in the habit of offering provocation to everyone with whom she came in contact. The magistrates fined Miss. Skinner 1s and the costs in all half a guinea, which she paid.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.

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