From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 28 May, 1864.

COUNTY POLICE COURT

CHARGE OF ROBBERY AT THE CASTLE FORT CANTEEN

William Rowe, a private in the Royal Engineers, stationed at the Castle Hill Fort, was charged with stealing from the "Castle Hill Canteen," early on the morning of the 21st, a till, value 6d. and a quantity of coppers, the property of John Prescott, landlord of the "Canteen."

John Prescott, on being sworn, said he was landlord of the "Canteen" at the Castle Hill Fort. On the night of the 20th inst. about twelve o'clock, he had occasion to go down into the town. A man in witness's employ went with him. On reaching nearly the top of Love Lane witness met the prisoner and a comrade named Bruce. They were going in the direction of their barracks. When witness returned to the "Canteen," with his assistant, he (witness) locked the door, and they both went to bed. On the following morning, between six and seven o'clock, the till was missed. He subsequently heard that a box had been found in the fire-box of an engine in use on the Fort works, and the till produced was afterwards brought to him by Sergeant Russell, of the Royal Artillery. He saw the till in its place on a shelf on the bar about half-past 11 o'clock on the night of the robbery. When he discovered that the till was gone, he went to see if the windows were fastened, but he found they had been left undone, and that a wooden bar that had been fastened across the inside of the parlour window was broken off. Witness represented the case to the Captain of the Royal Engineers, and he ordered it to be brought before the Magistrates. There was about 5s. worth of coppers in the till when he left it on the previous night. The value of the box was 6d.

Cross-examined by prisoner:- I did not tell Corporal Lilley that you were at the "Canteen" at 6 o'clock on the evening of the 21st.

William Hyman, a private in the Royal Engineers, said he had charge of the donkey engine used at the works of Castle Hill Fort. On the morning of the 21st, about 5 o'clock, he went to light the engine fire, and in the fire-box he found the box or till produced.

Frederick Gaton, a corporal in the same regiment, said the prisoner slept in the same room as he did. The prisoner answered his name at tattoo, on the night of the 20th, and, to the best of his belief, went to bed directly. Prisoner could have made his escape from the barracks, as the key of the door had been lost. On the following morning, about a quarter to six, while the men were dressing, a cap containing a quantity of coppers was produced from under prisoner's bed. Prisoner said he had received a great many coppers in change on the previous night. Witness thought the cap contained three or four shillings in coppers.

William Bruce, the man seen in company with the prisoner, said he went part of the way home with prisoner on the night in question. Prisoner left him after getting about 130 yards through the turnpike gate at the top of Castle Hill, and near to the "Canteen." He did not see any more of the prisoner. He (witness) was the worse for liquor at the time.

In cross-examination by prisoner, witness said, to the best of his recollection, prisoner did not go into the barracks with him. He did not go back after reaching the barracks to fetch a stick for the prisoner.

William Forest, a private who slept in the bed next but one to the prisoner's, said that the prisoner came to him on the night of the 20th, about half-past 9, and say on his bed and talked to him. He showed witness eighteen pence in coppers, saying that he had that day drawn 2 shillings from the pay-sergeant, and that the coppers he held in his hand was all the money he had left. Witness did not know whether prisoner went out after that.

John Isaiah Pope, sergeant in the Kent County Constabulary, said he examined the premises at the "Canteen." he found a bar which had been placed across the front parlour window had been forced off, and after making enquiries he took the prisoner into custody on the present charge. He told the prisoner what he had been charged with, but he made no reply. The prisoner's barrack room is in a direct line with the back of the "Canteen."

Prisoner, having been duly cautioned, said Mr. Prescott had told corporal Lilly that he (prisoner) was at the "Canteen" at 6 o'clock on the morning of the 21st, when the till was missed. He called:-

John Lilly, who said:- Mr. Prescott told me that he had seen the prisoner, between 12 and 1 o'clock on the morning of the 21st, on the hill at the other side of the "Canteen" - not barrack side, - and that he missed the money about 7 o'clock in the morning.

Prisoner was then committed for trial at St. Augustine's, Canterbury.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 18 February, 1870.

CHARGE OF STABBING

Charles Taylor, a young recruit in the 4th Regiment, recently quartered in Dover, was brought up on remand, charged with stabbing another private of the same regiment, with his bayonet, on the 2nd of March.

The prisoner had been remanded from time to time in consequence of the injured man's detention in the hospital, but he was now in attendance.

John Law, a private in the 4th Regiment, said the prisoner was also a private in the same company to which he belonged. On the night of the 2nd instant, between seven and eight o'clock, they were both in the taproom of the “Canteen”, at the Western Heights, when some words arose between them. Witness afterward went from the “Canteen” to the barrack-room, where the prisoner followed him, and the quarrel was there renewed. In the course of it, the prisoner, who was drunk, took his bayonet from the scabbard, and stabbed witness in the right side. The prisoner was not wearing his bayonet. It was handing up in the barrack-room and he took it down and pulled it out of the scabbard. A corporal, who was in the room, took the bayonet away from the prisoner, and conveyed him to the guard-room. Witness was taken to the hospital. He was not drunk, but, like the prisoner, he had been drinking.

By the Bench: There had been no quarrel between us previous to this, and we had always been very good friends.

The Magistrates were inclined to treat the charge as one of common assault, and the prisoner having, in answer to the charge stated that he should not have committed the offence had he not been under the influence of drink.

The Magistrates, taking into consideration that he had already been detained in custody a fortnight, sentenced him to imprisonment for an additional fourteen days, advising him to be careful how in future he placed himself under the influence of the fruitful source of crime and misfortune – drink.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 13 June, 1873. Price 1d.

LICENSING BUSINESS

Sergeant McMann, of the 9th Regiment, made application that the “Canteen” at Fort Burgoyne might be transferred to him from Sergeant Blackman, of the 38th Regiment; but as he brought no recommendation from his commanding officer, the Magistrates allowed their decision to stand over until the necessary papers could be furnished.

On the application of Serrgeant Conyard, of the 38th Regiment, the magistrates granted the transfer of the canteen business from the South Front to the Grand Shaft, the former barracks being vacant.

Sergeant-major Kelly, of the 3rd Brigade Royal Artillery, applied for the transfer of the Artillery canteens, both at the Castle and the Heights, from Sergeant-major Shipley, of the 17th Brigade, to himself. The applicant produced a letter from the Mess Committee, assenting to the transfer; but the Chairman said the decision of the bench could not be given until the license given to the Sergeant-major of the 17th brigade was produced.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 20 June, 1873. Price 1d.

CANTEEN TRANSFERS

The "Canteen" business at Fort Burgoyne was transferred from the sergeant-major of the 38th Regiment to Sergeant Macmahon, of the 9th, who produced the necessary documents.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 25 July, 1873. Price 1d.

LICENSING BUSINESS

The Magistrates granted a new license for the Citadel Canteen, to Sergeant G. Welby, of the 9th Regiment, the usual written authority of the colonel of the regiment having been handed in.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday May, 1893. 1d.

AN ARTILLERYMAN SHOTS HIMSELF

An Artilleryman, Bombardier Philip Cooper of the depot company, was on Tuesday morning found dead in casemate No. 6 at Dover Castle with a carbine between his legs. The inquest was held at the “Canteen” on Wednesday afternoon by the Borough Coroner (Sydenham Payn, Esq.), and a Jury, of which Mr. W. H. Norman was foreman. The following was the evidence taken.

Mrs. Sahar Cooper said the body at the mortuary was that of her husband, Philip Cooper, Bombardier in the Royal Artillery, Eastern District, stationed at the Castle. He was 25 years of age. Witness last saw him alive at a quarter past five, at 37, Oxenden Street, where they lived. Deceased had stayed there two nights with witness. He left at the time to come to barracks. Witness had been married to him a fortnight. He complained of his head aching for the last two days. He did not mention his intention of destroying himself. There had been nothing the matter at home.

Bombardier Edmund Charles Lipihian said that the deceased belonged to his company. He saw him about a quarter to nine, deceased having been absent since Saturday, and asked him if he had seen Bombardier Gaze. Deceased laughed and said “I expect he's gone.” He also said “I am fed up and shall go on Friday.” Witness accompanied Cooper to his room, and showed him some papers relating to a court martial on witness. Witness then left the room. About three minutes later, hearing a commotion, witness went to deceased's room. He saw him sitting on the bed, bleeding from the head, and a carbine between his legs. He appeared to be dead.

George Bradshaw Stainistreet, a surgeon of the Medical Staff stationed at Dover Castle, said he was called to the deceased about three minutes to nine. He found the deceased in the position mentioned by last witness. He was then dead, and there was a penetrating gun shot wound in the skull, with extensive fracture of the skull. The muzzle must have been placed in the mouth. The bullet produced was found in the ceiling. He thought the wound was a self-inflicted one.

Gunner Fred Hills said he slept in the same room as deceased. He last saw him alive five minutes before the occurrence, sitting on his bed he said as witness went past, “have you seen anyone act the goat?” Witness then went outside. There were several men in the room at the time. Witness heard the report of a gun and rushed into the room which was then empty, except for the deceased. He saw him lying on the bed, and a carbine slipping down between his legs. Several others then came into the room, and witness ran for a doctor.

Gunner Arthur Saunders said he also stayed in the same room as the deceased. He was in bed at half past five. Witness next saw him about twenty minutes to nine, when he came into the room and told them to hurry on to parade. He went up to Gunner Brown and asked him to let him see his rifle. Witness did not hear all that was said, but he heard deceased say “It is no use to me.” Deceased tried the lock, and then went to Gunner Matthews and asked him what sort of a rifle he had. He looked at it and walked with it towards the door, and witness saw him open the breech and put something into the carbine. He then looked at the carbine again and took a cartridge out. Witness said to brown “he has got a cartridge; I hope that he is not going to commit ‘susanside'.” Witness was laughed at.

Police Sergeant Nash said that when he got to the Castle he found the deceased in the position described. On the deceased he found a paper on which was written “Good-bye Drake! I am awfully sorry, but I cannot stand the pressure. You will find a mistake in the pay sheet where I have stopped copying, it is the day's pay too much. I am perfectly sane, and understand what I am about. Good-bye” P. Cooper.” He also found the bullet on the floor.

Quartermaster-Sergeant Henry S. Drake, of the depot company, said the deceased had been on furlough from the 1st to the 30th of last month. Witness fancied that the deceased, who was always a reserved man, had been a little more despondent since his return from furlough. The mistake referred to by the deceased was an error on witness' part, and would not be the slightest reason for him to commit suicide. Witness did not think the reference to pressure meant anything.

The Jury after a short consultation returned a verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity.”