From the Kentish Gazette, 5 December 1843.

Awful Instance of Suddan Death.

Mr. John Carter, landlord of the "Roebuck," Church-street, North-gate, was seized with delirium tremens on Saturday last, and expired early on Sunday morning. The deceased was walking in the streets apparently in a good state of health on Friday.

From the Kentish Gazette, 12 September 1848.

GENERAL LICENSING DAY.

Thursday being the annual licensing day of victuallers, in Canterbury, the magistrates were occupied some time in making the necessary preparations, and they granted licenses to a hundred and twenty-seven persons; four others being absent, will have theirs at a future sitting. The licenses taken from W. Cullen, "Queen’s Arms"; W. Hunt, "Three Grenadiers," Military-road; George Roberts, "Queen's Head," Northgate; and R. Walpole, "Roebuck," Northgate were restored; and the application made by J. B. Allen for a license of the "Golden Cross," Northgate was granted.

From the Kentish Gazette, 15 September 1857.

Saturday.

(Before the Mayor, William Mount, Esq., and David Matthews, Esq.)

James Bray Gunn, George Lynn, and Barnard Maloney, were charged with stealing five silver tea spoons, a pair of sugar tongs, and one pound in money, the property of some person living in Brighton.

Police-constable Holloway said that last night he took the prisoners into custody at the "Roebuck," in Northgate-street. The prisoners Gunn and Maloney were in bed together, and at first the constable did not observe that there was any other person in the room. On telling them that they were charged with stealing silver spoons, Maloney said, "well, take him, as well as us," pointing to Lynn who was in a bed behind the door. On searching the prisoners, the constable found upon Gunn, one broken silver spoon, four whole ones, and a pair of sugar tongs. Gunn said he did not steal them, he took them from his father. On Maloney a "character" was found from some one in whose service he had been as groom. Lynn had nothing whatever about him.

The plate was produced and was all marked J. B. G. It appeared that that property, corresponding in every particular, was advertised in the Sue and Cry as having been stolen from Brighton.

Superintendent Clements said he had telegraphed to the police authorities at Brighton, and if the prisoners were remanded till Monday no doubt some of the officers would be here.

The prisoners, who said nothing in their defence, were then remanded till Monday.

From the Kentish Gazette, 29 September 1857.

RUMOURED SUICIDE.

On Friday evening an inquest was held by T. T. Delasaux, Esq., coroner, at the "Roebuck," Northgate, on the body of Frederick Avery, who died under the circumstances mentioned in the subjoined evidence:

Sarah Ann Jubb said:- My husband was a cordwainer, residing in Northgate. Last evening the wife of the deceased came to me and appeared anxious because she did not know where her husband was. She borrowed my key to open her house; and then in consequence of her asking me to do so, I went upstairs with her into the bedroom, and there found the man lying on the ground dead; a pewter pot was near him, and also a small tumbler. There was some dark liquid in the pot, but I cannot say what it was.

I saw the deceased man alive about six o’clock in the evening; he then appeared about the same as usual. I did not say anything to him. For the past two months he has complained very much of a pain in his head.

Henry Jennings corroborated this evidence.

Thomas Andrews, surgeon, said:- I was sent for about ten o’clock last night. I went immediately and found deceased dead, lying on the floor. At this time I thought he had died a natural death; but this morning, in consequence of what I had heard, I searched more minutely the bedroom of the deceased, and I found the bottle now produced (labelled "Poison") close to the skirting board under the window. It has a strong smell of prussic acid. Under the chest of drawers was a chemist’s label — "Poison." which in my opinion had been placed over the cork, according to the custom when poisons are dispensed. I feel no doubt that the deceased died from taking prussic acid.

The Coroner:— But there was no smell from the body, and how can you say, from the mere fact of the bottle in the room, that deceased drank any poison?

Mr. Andrews:— I endeavoured to detect the smell of the poison but could not. It is very doubtful whether I could arrive at the certainty as to whether prussic acid had been taken, even if I made a post-mortem examination. It might be absorbed in the system.

The coroner thought it extraordinary that there should be no trace of poison to be found if it had been taken.

The evidence of Mr. Mount, chemist, was taken, in order to see whether it could throw any light upon the subject, before a post mortem examination was decided on. Witness said the deceased came into his shop at about six o’clock on the previous evening and asked what dose of essential oil of almonds would be necessary to destroy a very large Newfoundland dog. The gentleman whose property it was, he said, did not shoot the dog, because be wanted to stuff it. So witness sold him a drachm of cyanide of potassium, dissolved in seven drachms of water.

I told him to call again for it, so that the cyanide might be dissolved. He did so, but it was not then ready, so by his own request I took it down to his house. The bottle produced by the last witness is the one I delivered to him.

It was quite full, and as such contained one ounce. He expressed himself annoyed that I had been so long, as he said he should not get to Fordwich in time. Deceased could not have lived more than three or four seconds after swallowing the poison.

The Coroner pointed out that there was not at present a tittle of evidence to show the cause of death. It was impossible for any one to say that deceased had taken the poison.

Sarah Ann Shepherd, a little girl twelve years of age, who lives very near the deceased, said that on last evening she saw him go into his house at seven o’clock, lock the door, take the key out, and then go into the back room.

The Coroner again said that there was not legal proof of the cause of death; but the jury expressed itself unanimously of opinion that he had taken the poison, and this was so settled.

Evidence was then sought as to the deceased’s state of mind.

Rebecca Lovick:— I had known the deceased for many years — almost since he had been in Canterbury. I had lately seen him very frequently. It was about three days since that I saw him; and he then told me that "he should never be well any more; he had got a complaint of his chest that he should never get rid of." He looked very strange, pale, and poorly, as he had done for some time past; but he is the last person I should ever have thought would have destroyed himself.

Police-constable Epps produced the pewter pot and glass found in the room of the deceased. The glass, from which it is supposed he took the poison, smelt of prussic acid according to the opinion of some of the jury. Witness had known the deceased for many years. He was a sufferer from palpitation and disease of the heart. He was always very jocular, and never shown any signs of despondence. The Coroner said that now, the evidence being completed, it could not be considered that any proof had been adduced of insanity. The jury had decided, according to their own views, that deceased had taken poison; but now what cause had there been shown for such a deed. They must not imagine or presume that the fact of suicide necessarily implied insanity.

The Foreman (Mr. Murrell) thought there had been no proof at least of insanity. He should feel inclined to return an open verdict; certainly cot one of felo de se.

At the desire of the Foreman, Mr. Jesse White was called. He stated that he had known the deceased for many years. Yesterday he saw him standing at his door. Witness told him he looked rather strange. He said, "Enough to make one look strange." "Why?" "I have been here almost all day, and only taken 2 1/2d." He also complained of the dullness of trade generally. He was smoking then, contrary to his general custom. His conduct was not so strange as to have excited his attention if nothing had happened. But when he heard of this be remembered a peculiar appearance about his eyes.

The Coroner then took the opinion of the jury severally according to the permitted custom on inquests, but he did not direct them as to a verdict. They unanimously returned a verdict to the effect "That the deceased destroyed himself, but there was no evidence to show his state of mind at the time."