From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 9 July, 1859.

DOVER POLICE COURT

The "ARMY AND NAVY":- This being a transfer day, the applicant, Mr. John Glessing, obtained the transfer, but was informed by the Mayor that if he did not conduct the house properly he would run the risk, at the next licensing day, of having the license taken away.

Mr. Glessing said he hoped the magistrates would have no reason to complain of the way in which the "Army and Navy" was conducted. He had kept a public-house before, and never been the subject of any complaint.

The Mayor - Very well. I only say this to caution you. The name of the house you are about to keep is -

Mr. Elsted (to the rescue) - Not very good!

No objection was taken to any other house.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 September, 1859.

ASPASIA - AFTER SUPPER

Sarah Ann Hollingworth, a girl of the unfortunate class, was summoned for assaulting another of the same profession, Lucy Whitnell.

The complainant, a powerfully-dressed young lady, said that on Wednesday night she was at the "Army and Navy," in Snargate Street, between 12 and 1 o'clock, taking a glass of porter and talking to a male acquaintance, when "that person" (the defendant) commenced abusing her. Witness said she did not wish to have anything to say to her, and reminded her that on a former occasion she had been kind to her, having treated her with supper and a glass of brandy. Upon that, the person flew at her "like a tiger," pulling her hair out by handfuls, striking her in the face, breaking the chain she was wearing round her neck and, crumpling up her bonnet. Defendant also made use of very improper language, which witness could not think of repeating. She also said that she knew she would be summoned, and she therefore meant to have her pennyworth out of the complainant. She (complainant) subsequently met police-constable Faith, to whom she related her rencontre with the defendant.

The defendant did not deny having slapped the complainant's face, but she did so at complainant's particular request. (A laugh.) On being reminded of her obligations to the complainant on account of the supper, as complainant said, although it was not a supper at all, but only a glass of brandy, she felt irritated and gave complainant a slap, when complainant said "Now slap the other side," which she (defendant) did immediately. (Laughter.) That was how it occurred, and if she had done wrong she hoped their worships would deal leniently with her, as she had been provoked.

The Bench fined her 1s., and the costs, 10s.

Just out of interest Apacia (470-400 b.c.) was a Milesian (Turkey) born woman and friend of the Athenian statesman Pericles. Little is known of her but the above title would suggest reference to her being a brothel keeper and harlot, although modern accounts dispute this fact.

Paul Skelton.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 9 February, 1861.

DOVER POLICE COURT

VIOLENT ASSAULT

Henry Clark, Ebenezer Edwards and Francis Waylie, three men belonging to the John Petley and Mystery steam-tugs, and Charles Webb, a wherryman, were charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct in the streets and with committing a violent assault on William Reynolds Marsh, landlord of the "Army and Navy" public-house, Snargate Street.

The complainant, whose head was bound up, his face being horribly disfigured by discolouration apparently from recent blows, made the following statement:- I keep the "Army and Navy" public house in Snargate Street. About one o'clock this morning, after the house was closed, I heard a knocking at the door. My waiter answered the knock, and asked who was there, when some person outside answered, "Police." The waiter called me, and I also asked who was there, when the same answer was returned. I half opened the door, without undoing the chain, and then saw half a dozen men. They made as rush at the door as soon as it was opened, one of them putting his foot in the doorway. In putting the man out I put my head in the opening, when he struck me a blow in the face. That was Edwards. I recognised him by his cap. I caught hold of him, and while I was holding him the rest of the men hammered away at the half of the door which remained closed until they succeeded in pulling down the shutter, when they broke the entire sash - glass framework, and all. So violent were the blows that three show glasses in the confectioner's shop next door were thrown down from a shelf and smashed. I then got out and held two of the men, Edwards and Clark, till the police came up, an alarm having been previously given. Three of the other men got away; but I gave the two men I had detained into custody, together with Webb. I identified Waylie as one of the men who escaped. While I was holding the two men I have named the rest were striking and kicking me continually. I estimated the damage done to the door at £5. The house belongs to Mr. R. Watson, solicitor, but it will be repaired at my expense.

Henry Petts, waiter at the "Army and Navy," who had been out of hearing while the landlord was examined, corroborated Marsh's evidence. He identified Edwards as the man who tried to get in on the landlord opening the door. When Marsh was struck witness was standing behind him, and he could not therefore say who gave the blow. After the door was opened witness was struck several times. There we six or seven men creating a disturbance, and he identified Clark, Webb, and Edwards, as three of them.

Police-constable James Joyce examined:- About five minutes before one o'clock this morning I was on duty in Strond Street, when I heard a noise near Mr. Court's in Snargate Street. On coming up I saw the defendants Clark, Edwards, and Waylie, with three other men. They were talking in a very loud key and making a great deal of noise. I told them they must be less noisy, when Waylie replied, "All right, policeman." They were then quiet, and walked up Snargate Street, in the direction of Marsh's house. I passed them again near the London and County Bank as I was going towards the police-station. On returning to Snargate Street I heard a great noise as soon as I had turned the corner of the street. I ran to the spot as quickly as possible, and while doing so I heard "Police" shouted. Sergeant Barton and police-constable White joined me before getting to the "Army and Navy," where we found Marsh holding Edwards and another man. I cannot identify the other. I took Edwards into custody. I recognise Clark as one of the other men present, and also Webb, those two being taken by Sergeant Barton and White. All three of the defendants were conveyed to the station-house, whither they went quietly; and on the charge being taken down by Superintendent and read over to them, Edwards offered to pay whatever damage had been done to Marsh's premises if he as allowed to go.

In defence Webb said he was not with the other defendants, but was standing in the road looking on at the fray when he was taken into custody. He denied that he took part whatever in creating a disturbance. The only defence offered by Clark was that what had been stated against him a false. Edwards and Waylie made a similar defence, the latter admitting that he certainly was in liquor, but denying any further complicity in the offence. He heard that his mate was in custody, and on going to the station-house to find him, he found himself in custody too. (A laugh.)

Police-constable Faith, who had taken Waylie, met him in Bench Street. With on oath, he said the police had got his mate in custody, and that he meant to have him out again. Seeing he was the worse for liquor, witness took him into custody. The man's face was bleeding when witness met him.

After a private consultation.

The Magistrates said they considered the charge one of the most aggravated that had been brought before them for years. Edwards and Clark, as the principle offenders, would be fined £5 each and costs for assault, or in default a month's imprisonment. For the other offences all four defendants would be fined 10s. each and costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment.

In default all were committed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 11 August, 1871. Price 1d.

AN APPLICANT FOR A HOME

Eliza Jane Davidson, a servant-girl recently in the employ of Mr. Marsh, of the “Army and Navy” public-house, Snargate Street, was charged with being drunk and incapable, and with causing an obstruction of the roadway on the New Castle Hill, on the previous afternoon. The prisoner, it appeared, had been roaming about the town for some days with no fixed residence, having left her situation at the “Army and Navy,” and was found by Police-constable Baker lying in the road at Castle Hill, and quite incapable. Baker was obliged to produce a vehicle to take her to the station-house.

Superintendent Coram said the prisoner had been about the town for some time in her present condition.

Baker said that she had been living at the “Army and Navy” until the previous Sunday week, when she had left after borrowing a shilling from the landlord.

The prisoner said she left Mr. Marsh without and money whatever. She denied she had ever been drunk I her whole life. The only drink she had had on the afternoon in question was a bottle of ginger beer she had purchased at the turnpike gate. She had enquired of several people the nearest way to the station-house and was on her way there, when, she supposed, she became insensible and fell down.

Sergeant Stevens corroborated the Superintendent's statement to the prisoner having been in the town without any residence for some time, and said he should have taken her into custody some time back had she not told him that she had some friends at Castle Place, to whose house she intended going.

The Magistrates thought he should be doing a kindness to the prisoner by sending her to gaol for seven days.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 5 September, 1873.

TRANSFERS

The license of the “Army and Navy” was transferred from the present tenant, the proprietor of the “Oxford Music Hall,” to William Hobday.