From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 February, 1864.

THREATENING A CONSTABLE.

Edward Spain a seafaring man living in Trevanion Street, was charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct and threatening the life of P.C. Faith. It appeared the constable had previously taken into custody a companion of the defendant on a charge of stealing a scarf from the White Hart Public House, where they with two or three others had been creating a disturbance. Subsequently defendant went to the Station House and threatened that if the man was not liberated or admitted to bail he would “do” for Faith, that he had already paid 30s for one policeman and would pay £50 for him and if it were for three months to come he would kill him.

The constable said he was very drunk at the time and probably did no know what he had said, but at the same time he was fearful if at any future time he got under the influence of liquor he might be desirous of carrying his threat into execution. The defendant pleaded that he unconsciously gave expression to the threats whilst in a state of excessive intoxication. The Bench said it was incumbent on them to protect the police in the performance of their arduous and hazardous duties and it was their determination to do so in all cases brought before them. The defendant must enter into his recognisance's of £20 and find two sureties of £10 each to keep the peace for three months. The defendant found the required securities.

THE BENEFIT OF A DOUBT

Henry Bailey, a youth referred to in the case of threatening just disposed of, was charged with stealing a scarf from the counter of the "White Hart" public-house. It appeared that while Spain was at the "White Hart" a disturbance took place and he took off some of his clothes to fight. The prosecutor in the present case, John James Driscoll, who is some connection of the landlord of the "White Hard," and who happened to be on the spot at the time the house was cleared, also laid aside his scarf, which was taken up by the prisoner. Bailey, who was acting as a sort of bottle-holder to Spain, said he thought the scarf was Spain's, and so took it up to keep for him. The Magistrates, considered it possible that this statement might be true dismissed the charge of felony, but remembered tat the case was not devoid of suspicion.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 28 June, 1867.

DRUNK AND DISORDERLY

Two soldiers of the 51st regiment, who gave the names of Warwick and Allen, were charged with creating a disturbance at the "White Hall" the previous evening in a state of drunkenness. It appeared that the prisoners went to the public-house in question very much the worse for liquor, and smashed a violin, broke a picture, and assaulted the landlord. They had no defence to make, and the Magistrates fined each of them 17s., including costs. In default fourteen days' imprisonment.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 6 September, 1867.

HARBOURING DISORDERLY PERSONS

Lewis Gray, landlord of the "White Hart," Dolphin Lane, was charged with knowingly permitting common prostitutes to assemble at his house.

Police-sergeant Johnson stated that he visited the house on Saturday evening, when he found soldiers, prostitutes, and other persons assembled. A fiddler was present and was performing. He visited the house a second time and found the same persons there, with the fiddler, but the latter was not then playing, and the women had cloaks on, as if about to go.

The defendant said he did not know the character of the persons. He urged in extenuation of his offence that he had not only endeavoured to conduct the house well, but had given the police every facility for the apprehension of offenders and had sometimes assisted with them personally.

The Magistrates inflicted the mitigated penalty of 10s. and the costs; which defendant paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 1 May, 1868.

ROBBERIES BY MILITIAMEN.

A couple of men belonging to the Kent Militia Artillery, who gave the names of John Ingram and Robert Richford, were charged with committing several robberies at tradesmen's shops, including a pair of boots, the property of Benjamin Barton, a shoemaker carrying on business in Snargate Street,  a cloth waistcoat, belonging to Mr. E. Ingram, a tailor also having a shop in Snargate Street, and three pairs of woman's boots, belonging to Mr. John Baker, draper, or Market Square. The property had all been found in the bedroom accompanied by the prisoners, at the "White Hart" public-house, where they were billeted.

The charge of stealing the boots from the shop of Mr. Barton was first proceeded with.

Henrietta Hackett said she was the daughter of Mr. Barton, with whom she resided. She recognised one of the pairs of boots produced as the property of her father, and as having formed part of the stock of his shop. She saw them on the counter of the shop on the previous evening, when two soldiers resembling the prisoners were in the shop. They wore military overcoats. After remaining in the shop a few minutes, on the pretence of wanting to buy some boots, they left without purchasing anything. After getting into the street one of them ran away. The value of the boots was 14s.

lewis Gray, landlord of the "White Hart," Russell Street, said the prisoners were billeted at his house. He saw them leave the house on the previous night. They wore their overcoats. They returned about nine o'clock. The two prisoners and another militiaman occupied a room at the top of the house; but the third man did not go out the previous night. About half-past six o'clock the same morning the police paid a visit to his house and searched the bedroom occupied by the prisoners, when the boots were found on the bed in which the prisoners slept.

Police-constable Charles Hemmings deposed to finding the boots as the landlord had stated. The front door of the house was opened to him by the prisoner Ingram, and he told him he wanted to see the landlord, who, on making his appearance, raised no objection to his searching the room occupied by the militia. On entering the bedroom he was preceded by Ingram, who endeavoured to conceal the stolen article by throwing the bed clothes over them. The other prisoner was down stairs. Ingram, on witness observing the things upon the bed, said he had bought the lot of a man for 8s.

The evidence in the charge of stealing the waistcoat was then taken.

In this case it appeared from the evidence of Thomas Edward Ingram, son of Mr. Edward Ingram, that the waistcoat was stolen from the shop window. It was seen there last by the witness on Thursday afternoon, and he did not miss it until the same morning, when it was brought to him by Hemmings. The door of the shop is kept open, and it would have been possible for any person standing outside the shop to reach the waistcoat out of the window.

In the third case, Mr. John Baker said he was a draper, and lived at 18, Markey Square. The three pairs of boots produced were his property. He saw them safe about five o'clock on the previous afternoon, when they were handing outside his shop-door. He did not miss them till the same morning, when they were brought to him by the police. The three pairs were worth 8s. 4½d.

A boy who had seen the soldiers in the shop of Mr. Barton, as stated by the first witness, was called, and the prisoners were made to put on their overcoats and turn up their collars; but the lad was unable to swear to Richfield. He could only identify Ingram; but this he did in the most positive way.

The Magistrates, considering the evidence insufficient to convict Richfield, dismissed him, cautioning him to be careful in his future movements. Ingram, who pleaded guilty to all the offences, was sent to Wandsworth for three months - a month for each offence.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 September, 1882. Price 1d.

RATHER NOISY

Mr. Jones, the landlord of the “White Hart Inn,” Russell Street, was called up and told that there was a complaint of the noise at the musical and dancing parties at his house. Since he had been spoken to by the police the noise had been discontinued. If the noise were repeated probably next time the license would not be renewed.

From the Dover Express. August 1891.

FIRE AT WHITE HART INN RUSSELL STREET.

Last night at 9.40 a.m. an alarm of fire was given at the White Hart Inn, Russell Street. Quite suddenly flames seemed to spread over the entire house. Mr. E. Spain, boatman was passing at the time when the landlord ran out and said that his mother had overturned a paraffin lamp and that the kitchen was alight. Mr. Spain ran in and pulled Mrs. Phillips out of the burning room and then ran down Dolphin Lane where he gave the police warning. The police brigade was on the spot with great promptitude. Although the fire seemed to have spread in the course of ten minutes to all parts of the house they quickly got the hose fixed to two hydrants and with two deliveries they soon knocked out all the flames, which though wide spreading had no great hold. By ten o’clock the danger was passed although the police had to keep playing on the smouldering fire in different rooms for a considerable time after. The house is gutted right through but the outer part is almost intact. The house is the property of Messrs Beer and Co. and the furniture and stock was insured in the Union Fire Office. The heat did considerable damage to the front of the Gas Office.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.

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