From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 13 January, 1871. Price 1d.

DRUNK AND QUARRELSOME

William Freeman, a carpenter, who has been repeatedly before the Magistrates for various offences, was charged with drunkenness and disorderly conduct in High Street, Charlton, on the preceding evening.

It appeared from the statement of police-constable Edmunds that he was on duty near the "Denmark Arms" in High Street, Charlton, on the previous night, when he found the prisoner there, drunk and quarrelsome, and wanting to fight. He endeavoured to persuade him to go away, but without success; and at last he was compelled to take him into custody.

The prisoner had nothing to say in his defence; but it appeared that he had a large family, and out of consideration to his children the Magistrates dealt with him leniently, ordering him to pay the costs of the hearing only.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 16 February, 1872. Price 1d.

ALLEGED FELONY

George Sutton, a labourer, was charged with stealing from the stables of the prosecutor, Richard Pierce, Noah's Ark, Tower Hamlets, on Tuesday week, on Tuesday week, a pair of side-spring boots, value 10s.

The prosecutor deposed: I missed a pair of side-spring boots a week ago yesterday, from my stables at Noah's Ark. I have not seen them since. I have occasionally employed the prisoner. I employed him last Tuesday afternoon. The value of the boots is 10s.

Police-constable Henry Bath deposed: From information I received this morning I apprehended the prisoner at his father's house, at Tower Hamlets. He was given into custody by the prosecutor; and on my charging him with stealing a pair of boots, he admitted having taken them. He also admitted having sold them to Mr. Dowle, dealer, London Road.

Mr. Dowle came forward and said he had bought the boots of the prisoner on the previous evening (Tuesday), at the "Denmark Arms," Charlton. The prisoner said he had only recently brought them for 2s. 6d.; but finding they were too small for him, he was willing to sell them for 2s. He (Mr. Dowle) bought them, and after paying the prisoner for them, he laid them on the parlour table of the public-house, and went to spend an hour at the Charlton Penny Readings. On his returning to the public-house both the boots and the prisoner had vanished.

Major Crookes, at the request of the Superintendent Coram, remanded the case till Friday, in order that search might be made for the boots.

REMANDED CHARGE OF FELONY

George Sutton, a labourer, who had been remanded from the previous Wednesday, charged with stealing a pair of boots, value 10s., the property of Mr. Richard Pierce, residing at Noah's Ark, Tower Hamlets, was again brought up; but it appeared that the lost property could not be traced.

The Magistrates further remanded the case till Monday.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 18 February, 1876.

WILFUL DAMAGE

Richard Marsh, who was out on bail, was charged with wilfully damaging a portion of the fence surrounding the site for the new church on the London Road.

Henry Watson said: I am foreman to Mr. Adcock, builder. The fence is around the site for the new church on the London Road, Charlton, and belongs to Mr. Adcock. The plank produced is the piece that has been broken down. The amount of damage is 1s.

Police-constable Pilcher said: I was on duty on the London Road about half-past eleven. I heard a noise near the “Denmark Arms,” Charlton. I looked round and saw several men together. I saw the prisoner near the fence. I heard the board cracking and saw it fall on the path. I went over to him and charged him with damaging the fence, and he replied, “All right.” There has been a great deal of damage done to the fence at different times.

Prisoner said he did not break down the fence. He was passing by and it was lying on the path and he stepped upon it.

The Police-constable: There was no board down when I went by a few minutes before.

The Bench said the case was proved and prisoner would be fined 5s. and 8s. costs, in default of which he would have to go to prison for seven days.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 27 April, 1877. Price 1d.

REFUSING TO BILLET HORSES

James Dawson Gore, landlord of the “Denmark Arms,” Charlton, was summoned on the information of the Superintendent of police for, on the 16th inst., unlawfully neglected and refusing to provide necessary stabling for two horses of the Army Service Corps.

Mr. Worsfold Mowll attended on behalf of the defendant.

Mr. Thomas Osborn Sanders said: I am Billet-master and Superintendent for this borough. On Monday last I received an application from Shorcliffe to billet 18 horses and 11 men two nights, of the Army Service Corps. I signed the billets and gave them to the Corporal. That now given in was for two horses and one man at the “Denmark Arms.” After the men and the two horses had been to the “Denmark Arms” the defendant came to me and told me he had no stables and declined to take them in. There are stables at the back of the house and horses have been billeted there before. The defendant kept the man and I had to find a fresh place for the horses.

In cross-examination by Mr. Mowll, the Superintendent said the publicans did not usually express any pleasure in billeting horses. He kept a return, which was at the station, of the houses that had stables and where the horses were generally billeted. He distributed the horses and men equally. He told the defendant that if he had let his stables he would have to find others. He did not remember the defendant attending at any other time at the station. Horses had been billeted at the “Denmark Arms” before; perhaps not since the defendant had lived there.

Mr. Mowll did not think it worth while to call any other witnesses. The only reason he had for not pleading guilty in this case was, he said, that there had been some misunderstanding in the matter, It appeared that a little time ago some horses were sent to the defendant and he went down to the station and told them that he had let out his stables by the month and had no accommodation. The place by the side of the house, which had originally been used as a mission house, was the stables and were really in no way connected with the house. On this particular day, the 16th inst., the stables were full of horses and there was no room for more. The defendant had in his mind the fact that he had been down to the station before and spoke of his inability to billet horses as the stables were let, and from that he thought he need not take them in. he also went down again this time with the same reminder and did not know that he was compelled to find accommodation and he now expressed his regret for what had occurred. He (Mr. Mowll) asked that the summons might be withdrawn as it was really only a misunderstanding.

Mr. Saunders said unfortunately they had a great many horses billeted here and at times had great difficulty.

The Bench said that the Police had brought the case forward to show that the liability rested with such men as the defendant if they refused to provide necessary accommodation for horses billeted. They had no doubt that the defendant was a very respectable man and believed that it was a misunderstanding on his part, therefore, they should dismiss the case on payment of the costs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 27 July, 1877. Price 1d.

BROTHERLY LOVE

Richard Gann was summoned by James Gann for using obscene and profound language at Charlton, on the 20th inst.

James Gann said: I am a general dealer living in Colbran Street. The defendant is my brother. Last Friday afternoon I was passing his house on the way to my stables at the "Denmark Arms," and he came out and followed me up to the stables. He stood out in the road, leading to Tower Hamlets, and looked over the wall. he told me to give up the gold watch which he said I had stole from some man, and called me everything he could think of. he said he could say what he liked, because I was afraid to summons him as he would show me up.

The defendant said he had not spoken to his brother for six months until last Friday, then he called him a thief first.

Mr. Finnis: Will you agree not to speak to him for another six months?

Defendant: Yes, sir; for another twenty years.

The Bench said they felt a difficulty in coming to a decision for want of sufficient evidence, and they should dismiss the case.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 18 January, 1878

DRUNK AGAIN

Elizabeth Wiggins was again brought before the Magistrates charged with being drunk, disorderly and using obscene language in Barwick's Alley.

Police-constable Jessop said: I was on duty in High Street about 12 o'clock this morning, and on hearing a noise in Barwick's Alley and cries of “Police,” I ran there and found four or five women wrangling. The defendant was there, drunk, and using obscene language. I persuaded her to go indoors, and with a little trouble I got her in. She came out again a few minutes afterwards and used very bad language. I got her in doors again but she would not stay there so I took her into custody. She had previously been cautioned that evening by Police-sergeant Hemming and myself.

Police-constable Knott said: I was on duty last night about a quarter to one by the “Denmark Arms” when I heard someone whistle. I went down to Barwick's Alley and saw Jessop and the prisoner. He asked for my assistance because there were four or five women obstructing him. The prisoner was drunk and using disgusting language.

The prisoner admitted that she was drunk, but maintained that Police-constable Jessop's evidence was exaggerated. She called Annie Wood, but her evidence failed to brighten matters, and only tended to waste the time of the Magistrates.

The defendant was sent to prison for one month, this being the fifth time during the last 10 months she had been before the Bench on similar charges.

From the Dover Express. January 1885.

Denmark Arms High Street.

Soon after midnight on Sunday morning an alarm of fire was given at Denmark Arms at the top of High Street. It originated in the cellars and superintendent of police and several constables coming promptly to the scene fixed a hose and poured in a stream of water, which quickly extinguished the flames, which had not had time to do much damage. The origin of the fire is not known.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.