From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 May, 1867.

CHARGE OF THREATENING

John Arthur Cooke, a gunner in the Kent Artillery Militia, and Suzannah Cooke, his wife, were charged with having, on the 2nd May, threatened to cut the throat of Mr. William James, licensed victualler, whereby he went in fear.

William James, landlord of the "Who'd a Thought It Inn," Last Lane, said that on Tuesday night the prosecutor came into his house and said he wanted to speak to him. He went to the front of the bar, and the prisoner said he made use of very violent language towards himself and his wife. On witness telling him that he would give him into custody he said he would "cut his ------ throat and set the ----- house flaring." He also said the same thing to witness's wife. The female defendant was also very abusive, and made use of corresponding threats.

John Petley, greengrocer, corroborated the evidence of the complainant. He heard defendant sat to his wife, pointing to Mrs. James, "If you don't 'welt' her, I'll 'welt' you." (A laugh.)

The row, it appeared, originated in respect to a beer score, Cooke having contracted a debt at the "Who'd a Thought It," and the landlord having threatened that he would, "tell his uncle," upon that gentleman's next visit to Dover. The defendant particularly wished to conceal the circumstances from his relative, and his ire being roused he went and "spoke his mind" to Mr. James, but denied making use of the threat attributed to him.

The female defendant was discharged, and her husband was bound over in his own recognizance's not to interfere with the complainant or his wife, or any one of her Majesty's subjects, for the space of two calendar months.