From the Kentish Chronicle, 26 March, 1864.

CAUGHT IN HIS BEDROOM.

AT the County Sessions Hall, Hythe, on Saturday, Patrick Keating, a private in the 83rd regiment stationed at Shorncliffe Camp, was charged with stealing a pair of boots, 3 brooches, a quantity of trinkets, and other articles of the value of £1 6s. the property of Mr Joseph Cornelius, landlord of the “True Briton” beer house, Sandgate.

It appeared that about half-past 9 o’clock in the evening of the 18th inst, Mrs Cornelius went upstairs, without a light, to go to her bedroom, the door of which was always kept locked. On attempting to put the key in the lock she was surprised to find the door had been forced open, but was still more surprised when, on entering the room, she put out her hand and caught hold of a man’s head. Immediately leaving the room she pulled the door and called out for a light. This was brought, and the prisoner then very coolly, without saying a word, got off a chair on which it appeared he had been sitting, and threw himself on the bed. The police were sent for and the prisoner was apprehended and searched. Two brooches, a knife, tobacco pouch and a quantity of trinkets and other articles, which had been in the drawer of a looking glass in the room, were found on him, some in his tunic and some in his trousers pocket. On taking off his waist belt, an unset brooch and a small box, which had been in a desk in the bedroom, fell out. As the prisoner was coming out of the room something was heard to drop, the pair of boots were picked up close to the prisoner’s feet. The magistrates committed the prisoner for trial at the ensuing East Kent Quarter Sessions.

Kentish Chronicle, Saturday 3 June 1865.

Robbing a Comrade.

At the Magistrates Clerk's office, Hythe, on Monday, Charles Butler and John Trevelan, privates in the Scots Fusilier Guards, stationed at Shorncliffe Camp, were charged with stealing two pocket handkerchiefs, the property of Thomas White, a private in the same regiment.

It appeared that the prosecutor and the prisoner belonged to the same company, and all occupy the same hut. On the 7th inst. the prosecutor and the prisoner Butler arranged to go out for a walk together, and began dressing themselves for that purpose. The prosecutor went out of the hut for a few minutes to wash himself, the but then took the opportunity of going to his bundle, which was on the shelf over his bed, and took the handkerchiefs from it. The prosecutor not having occasion to look in the bundle, did not miss them at that time, and the two went out together. The same evening the prisoners were at the "True Briton" beer house at Sandgate. Trevelan asked a girl there named Gough if she would buy some pocket handkerchiefs. She replied that she had plenty and did not want them. She however, looked at the handkerchiefs, and seeing what they were marked with the name, Thomas White. She asked Trevelan if that was his name, and he replied that it was. She also asked him where he got them from, and he said he had had a dozen sent him from London by his mother. Trevelan said he wanted a shilling for them to get a shillings worth of beer. The girl off him 10d., which he agreed to take. She attended him a shilling but he said he could not give her change. She however ask Butler to lend Trevelan 2d. which he did, and she handed the latter the shilling, at the same time remarking to Butler, "Now you know this man owes you twopence." Butler replied, "Oh its all right we're going to spend it between us." The prosecutor has lost several other things from his bundle.

Superintendent English, K.C.C., stated that he believed if the prisoners were reminded he should be in a position to prefer other charges against them.

They were accordingly reminded.