From the Kentish Chronicle and General Advertiser, 22 February, 1862. Price 1 1/2d.

CANTERBURY POLICE COURT. MONDAY.

Two men named Henry Henley and Thomas Morgan James, alias William Jackson were brought up in custody charged with breaking into the tailor's shop, at the Cavalry barracks, and stealing a quantity of gold lace of different descriptions to the value of £10, and other articles to the value of £5 more, the property of Mr. James Cooper, master tailor, Maidstone Cavalry Depot, and Canterbury.

John Brown, acting master tailor, deposed that the property was safe on the night of the 4th instant, when the door was locked by the foreman in his presence. On the following rooming it was discovered that the room had been entered through the window, a portion of the framework of which had been cut away. In addition to the articles belonging to Mr. Cooper, a quantity of lace had been cut from an officer’s jacket, &c. Mr. Brown identified some articles produced including a piece of lace and a pair of steel spurs, as having been taken from the room on the night in question. He also identified the prisoner Morgan James as having been in the 2nd Dragoon Guards, but he was dismissed from the service about eight months ago.

Charles Chandler, parochial constable of Boughton-under-Blean, said that on the morning of the 15th inst. he went to the “Dolphin” public-house, where he saw the prisoner Henry Henley, whom he accused of being a deserter. He said he was not, and asked witness to stand a pint of ale. Witness did so, and the prisoner then offered to tell him something. They then left the house together, and the prisoner said “I have committed a robbery in Canterbury. I hear that my chum is apprehended, and I will now tell you all I have done.” I then took him into custody, and went to the “Squirrels.” Witness then took the prisoner to his house and asked him his name, which he gave as Harry Herbert. He then said, “Last Tuesday week I went to the Military Chapel and broke in, thinking to find a silver cup, but I was one day too late. All I could find was a surplice and half a bottle of wine, which we drank.” I asked him if his chum was with him then, but he said he would not tell, as witness wanted to know too much. He next said, “I went from the Chapel to the rear of the Cavalry Barracks, where I smashed a pane of glass. As I could not get up the sash I cut the framework to make my way in. I then stole a lot of gold lace and some scarves. This was about a quarter past one o'clock, and I went away to Dover.” The prisoner also told witness that the lace was worth about £10, and that he sold it for £7, but he refused to say whom he sold it to. Witness took him to the Faversham lockup, and subsequently brought him to Canterbury.

Eliza Whiting, aged sixteen years, daughter of William Whiting, landlord of the “Red Lion” Dover, deposed that the prisoners went to her father's house together in Dover, but she could not recollect the day. They wanted lodgings, and both of them stopped one night. They Slept together, and in the morning Henley went away, but James remained another night. James paid for the lodgings for both prisoners.

Sarah Ann Burton, aged 18, who lives at the “Crown and Anchor,” deposed that she knew the prisoner Henley went to lodge at that house on Thursday night week and left last Saturday. On Monday afternoon she saw Henley and another man go into Mr. Solomon's shop.

Superintendent Davies deposed that when the prisoner Henley was brought to the police office on Sunday morning he confessed to having committed the robbery. While making the confession he said “Is my chum Jackson in custody at Dover?” He said that while he was in the tailor's shop Jackson remained outside. Mr. Davies further stated that on Sunday he proceeded to Dover, and apprehended the prisoner Morgan James at the “Angelsea Arms” public-house.

After some further evidence the prisoners were remanded to Thursday, in order to give the Superintendent of Police time to institute further inquiries.

The prisoner Henley told the Superintendent that on the night of the robbery at the barracks he also broke into the Military Church “and had a swig at the parson’s wine.”