From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 15 February, 1884. 1d.

PETY THEFT

On Thursday, David Allen, a young man, was charged with stealing a garden fork, value 2s. 6d., the property of Thomas Tunbridge, landlord of the “Carpenter's Arms,” South Alkham.

He had already been nearly a fortnight in prison, and he was now fined 10s., in default, one weeks' imprisonment.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 April, 1905. Price 1d.

THEFT AT ALKHAM A STONE DEAF PRISONER

At the County Police Court at Dover, on Monday , two men, Joseph Ladd and Dougal Dutton, were charged with being concerned with another man, not in custody, with stealing from the “Carpenter's” Arms,” Alkham, 1lb. of tobacco, value 4s., the property of the landlord, John Ribbons.

Mrs. Martha Ribbons, wife of John Ribbons, landlord of the “Carpenter's Arms,” South Alkham , said, “On Friday night, between nine and ten, the two defendants and another man were in the bar. The other man's name is George Attwell. They all came in together, and were drinking together. They have been in our house several times. They all three went out just before closing time. They paid for their drinks. After we had closed we missed some tobacco from a jar on the bar on a shelf near the partition. While the men were there I served an ½oz. of tobacco out of the jar to Dougall Dutton, and the prisoner saw me do it. The jar then contained half a lb. of hard cake and 1lb. of twist. After closing time I only found half a lb. of twist and all the rest gone. I heard a noise in the bar as if the swing door moved. I went upstairs and looked through a window, and saw the man Atwell coming out from behind the counter. I did not see anything in his hand. When they left I looked round to see if anything had gone. I could not do anything till the morning, when I gave information to Police-sergeant Crowe. I did not see the prisoners again till they were in custody. The tobacco produced is similar to that I missed. I missed 1lb,. value 4/-, but there is not 1lb. produced.

It was found impossible to make Dutton understand the evidence when they tried to read it over to him, as he was stone deaf and could not hear a word. The attempt at length was abandoned, and the evidence read over to Ladd, who said he never took the tobacco.

Henry Couchman, labourer, living at Ewell Minnis, said: On Friday night I was in the “Carpenter's Arms,” when the prisoners were there. I was in the same bar and saw them leave. I know them well, but I had not seen Atwell till the night before I saw him there. I saw Mrs. Ribbons serve Dutton with ½oz. of tobacco. Afterwards Atwell went into the room behind the bar when Mrs. Robbins was out of sight. He went to the shelf and put his hand into the tobacco jar and took some out. He bought it out and divided it between himself an the two prisoners. There was a man named Matcham also there. Atwell asked me if I wanted some, and I said, “No, I never use it.” Matcham had nothing to do with it. The landlord came into the bar before I left, but I said nothing before we all left because I thought they might turn on me when we were going along the road.

Mr. Bradley: You might have stayed behind five minutes if you liked.

Witness: I never thought about that.

The Clerk: Was nothing said about it when you got outside?

Witness: They said they had got the tobacco, but that was all. I walked home with Ladd and Attwell and Dutton went the other way. They kept on talking about the tobacco all the way, and seemed to think it a good joke.

The Clerk: You said nothing about it till Sergeant Crowe came?

Witness: No.

The Clerk: You ran the risk of being with the prisoners.

Police-sergeant Stephen Crowe. K.C.C., stationed at Alkham, said: I heard about this at 9 a.m. on Saturday. I went in search of the three men. About 6 p.m. I went to Drellingore Farm, where I saw the prisoner Ladd at work in a field. He admitted having been at the “Carpenter's Arms.” I then said, “I want that piece of tobacco you had shared to you there.” He said, “I have not got any and did not receive any.” I told him I knew he had. He again denied having it, but later said, “I'll tell you the truth; it's up the other end of the field.” I walked part of the way across the field and Ladd picked the tobacco out from under some earth, saying as he handed it to me, “I did not think you would find me out.” I took him in custody, and took him to Ewell Minnis, where I found Dutton in the “Newcastle Inn” on Ewell Minnis. I made motions to Dutton, and produced the tobacco Ladd had given up, asking if he had any like it. He said, “I've got some thin.” And handed me this twist, which I now produce. I asked if he knew where it came from, and he said, “I saw Attwell take it out of a jar.” I then took possession of it, and took him into custody, and brought him to Dover.

Mr. Bradley: How do you make him understand?

Witness: By movements of the mouth. I am sorry to say I have a deaf son, and know how to deal with him. Dutton is stone deaf, but he can speak. That is the case so far as I can take it now.

Dutton's father, living at Alpine Cottages, said that his son lived at Ewell Minnis. Ladd and he lived at Drellingore.

The Clerk said Ladd had to appear at that Court on a charge of cruelty to a horse, and would have to appear there on April 20th. It was decided to remand the men to the Wingham Petty Session on that date. Ladd on his own recognizance's, and Dutton in his father's also.

On Wednesday morning, before Mr. J. T. Bradley, George Attwell was charged with being concerned with two other men now in custody with stealing a pound of tobacco from the bar of the “Carpenter's Arms,” Alkham.

Mrs. Rubbons, Couchman's, and P.S. Crowe's evidence was read over.

Police Constable Kirnes said that at nine o'clock on Monday night he was at the Police Station, when the prisoner came in and said, “I wish tio give myself up for stealing tobacco from the “Carpenter's Arm's,” Alkham, last Friday night. I was very drunk, and do not know who received the tobacco, or how much I took. I woke up next morning under a stack. Yesterday I was in Folkestone, and from what my brother-in-law told me, I decided to give myself up, and I have come for that purpose.”

The case was remanded until the 20th, the prisoner being allowed out on bail of his father.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 10 February, 1950.

ANNUAL LICENSING REPORT

An application by Mr. Bracher, on behalf of the "Carpenter's Arms," Alkham, the licensee of which, Daniel Sutton, produced a petition signed by 67 people. The application was granted with an additional monopoly value of £400 being fixed, and the Bench expressed the opinion, without making it a condition, that the public bar should be enlarged.

Dover Express, Friday 3 March 1950.

Approved plans.

Plans approved included alterations "Carpenters Arms," Alkham.