From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 2 December, 1843. Price 5d.

A lad named Grose, of Durham Place, was charged by policeman Friend, with having the previous night, in company with some 30 other youths, behaved in an indecent manner to persons passing to and from Elgar's "Crown and Anchor." Having had a night's lodging in the station house, the Bench discharged him with a reprimand and caution not again to offend in a similar manner.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 6 December, 1845. Price 5d.

DOVER POLICE COURT, THURSDAY

John Howett and George Hankin, late in the employ of Mr. Samuel Alger, proprietor of the celebrated “Crown and Anchor Tavern,” were committed for trial charged with stealing about twenty gallons of cocoa nut oil, of the value of £3, and an oil can, value 5s., the property of Mr. Alger.

It appeared that the prisoners commissioned Joseph Chandler to sell some oil for them, and some of which he offered to Mr. Foord, of the Eagle Gardens, at 3s. 6d. per gallon, saying Mr. Alger had more here than he could consume, and did not wish to carry it back to London. Mr. Foord, subsequently, agreed to give 3s. per gallon for the oil (a small or large quantity) that Mr. Alger might leave. Consequently, on Tuesday evening, he received about ten gallons, and the following day a similar quantity. Shortly afterwards, hearing that Mr. Alger was obliged to purchase oil in Dover, he (Mr. Foord) thought something was wrong, and went to Mr. Alger, who came to his house and identified a can as his property, and had no doubt that the oil belonged to him, as a similar sort could only be obtained at one shop in Dover, namely, a Mr. Forster's, chemist, in Castle Street. The prisoners were then apprehended, and they did not deny the charge. The oil was not purchased at the above-named shop.

Joseph Chandler, jun., who was a witness in the last case, was then charged with receiving a quantity of oil, and about five dozen variegated lamps, (also the property of Mr. Alger,) knowing the same to have been stolen.

In this case it appeared that Mr. Edmet, landlord of the “Odd Fellows Arms,” in Adrian Street, agreed with Chandler that he should provide lamps for the outside of the above named house during the fair – lighting them and finding all that was required. He did so, and received oil for them from the prisoner Hankin, about a pint of which was found at the house that morning. Mr. Alger identified a small hamper, in which the stolen lamps were found.

Chandler, in defence, said that he received the oil from Hankin for the use of the lamps at Mr. Edmet's, but he thought it was honestly obtained, and that Edmet knew as well as himself where the oil came from.

Chandler was committed for trial.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 3 January, 1846. Price 5d.

ROBBERY AT THE CROWN AND ANCHOR TAVERN

John Howell, aged 20, and George Hankin, aged 25, charged with stealing ten gallons of oil and a can, the property of their master, Mr. Samuel Algar. Mr. Horne defended the prisoner Hankin; and the prosecution was conducted by Mr. Deedes, who, after detailing the case at great length to the jury, called the following witnesses:-

Samuel Auger deposed - I am the proprietor of the "Crown and Anchor Tavern," and came to the last Dover fair, where I opened a booth on the 27th of November. I sent down 140 gallons of oil, in 14 cans, containing 14 gallons each. It was cocoa nut oil, which I purchased of the patentees, Messrs. Price and Co., at Vauxhall, and which could not be obtained in this town. The price I pay for it is 3s. 6d. per gallon. This was the quantity usually consumed for the week at Dover; but I was surprised on the Tuesday at Mr. Neale, the superintendent of the lamps, informed me that he was short of oil, and I sent Hankin to purchase some in the town. On the 3rd of December, Mr. Foord, of the "Eagle Gardens," called on me, and from what then passed I went with him to his house, where I found a ten-gallon can full of oil, and some more in a cask. It was cocoa nut oil, and the can was similar to those sent down. On examining the cans at the booth I found one deficient. The prisoners were in my employ at a daily salary. I never gave them permission to sell oil.

Cross-examined by Mr. Horne - Hankin was employed as a lamplighter, and Howell as a builder. They have been in my employ for nine months. I have known Hankin for a long time, and some years since bought some lamps of him. Have heard that Hankin had the "Tivoli Gardens" at Margate one season. The oil was kept in the bar, to which prisoners could have access. It was locked up, but a person was always left in charge of the premises.

Joseph Chandler deposed - I am a harness maker, but do not now follow that trade. I went into the booth before it was covered in, when I saw the prisoner Hankin. I afterwards met him opposite Mr. Mayne's shop, in the Market, when he asked me if I knew any person who wanted to buy any oil. I replied that the only likely person was Mr. Foord, at the "Eagle Gardens." He asked me if I would see him, and I said I had no objection, and went to him. On the following Saturday I saw Hankin and told him I had seen Mr. Foord, but that he had better go and see him himself, and said I would be there on Sunday evening. I went there about six o'clock, and Hankin came in half an hour after. I saw the waiter, Crush, and said to Hankin, that is the man who has to do with the lamps.

Cross-examined by Mr. Horne - When I first went to the booth it was to ask Mr. Neale for a few lamps for Mr. Ednett; and then seeing Hankin present, I supposed he was in the employ of Mr. Algar. I wished to hire 7 dozen of lamps for Mr. Edmett, but as I could not, I went to Mr. Foord, at the "Eagle," who lent them to me. I don't recollect saying anything to Edmett about the oil, but will not swear I did not. I might have said something when I lit up his lamps on Tuesday evening, but I don't recollect.

The Recorder said he must endeavour to recollect and give a proper answer. The gaol was very close at hand.

Chandler then said, I do think I said to Edmett, I could get some oil from Hankin.

William Crush deposed - I am waiter at the "Eagle Gardens." Recollect Chandler applying about some oil on the 29th of November. On the Sunday evening Chandler and Hankin both came, when Hankin asked me if my master wished to buy any oil. I said I would ask him, and enquired how much it was a gallon, and he said 3s. 6d. I went to my master, and then told hankin and Chandler had offered it at 3s. 3d. Chandler said he had done so, and Hankin replied, "If so, it must go at 3s. 3d. Nothing further transpired then, but after having some glasses of grog I told Hankin my master would give 3s. a gallon for what they had left when the booth was closed. On Monday evening both prisoners brought over a can containing ten gallons, which I emptied into a cask. On Tuesday morning they fetched the can, and returned in the evening with ten gallons more, and I placed the can in the yard. Prisoners were both strangers to me, and I never saw them before.

James Foord, landlord of the "Eagle Gardens," deposed - From the communication I had from Crush, I agreed to purchase the oil. Some was brought on Monday and Tuesday evenings, but from something I afterwards heard I went to Mr. Algar on Wednesday morning, and acquainted him of the transaction. I have not paid for the oil, nor did the prisoners ask me for the money.

Mr. Horne made a powerful address to the jury, commenting severely on the evidence of the witness Chandler, and insinuated that the prisoners were only the tools of another party, who had either investigated or even committed the robbery. It was clear from the evidence that Chandler was the party who had applied to Mr. Foord for the disposal of the property. He stated his evidence that Hankin applied to sell him the oil, but it was a question whether he himself had not first applied to Hankin; he felt satisfied that, after his conduct in the witness box, the jury would not convict the prisoners upon such evidence. The prisoner Hankin had been a respectable man, and had borne an excellent character, in corroboration of which he called the following witness:-

John Duffell deposed - I am living retired in Bishopsbourne, and have known Hankin for 15 years, and he has always been strictly honest. I was formerly a lamp contractor at Vauxhall. He was in my employ till within two years, and has often had £20 or £60 a night in his hands, but I never found a deficiency of a farthing.

The learned Recorder, in summing up the evidence at great length, also commented severely on the conduct of the witness, Chandler, observing that if the case rested on his testimony, the Jury would, no doubt, hesitate to convict on such evidence, but his evidence was corroborated by that of Crush and Foord, whose conduct in the matter was highly creditable.

The Jury, after a short consultation, returned a verdict of "guilty" against both prisoners, when the record of a previous conviction of felony at Cambridge was produced against Howell, who was sentenced to transportation for seven years, and Hankin to imprisonment for 12 months with hard labour.