From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 3 September, 1859.

ALLEGED DISORDERLY USE

Thomas Harris, the landlord of the "Duke of Cornwall" public house, Oxenden Street, was summoned for knowingly harbouring in his house improper characters, contrary to the statute. Mr. Fox appeared for defendant.

Previous to the case being proceeded with, the superintendent of police said that he understood that the defendant had menaced one of the witnesses in the case, a young woman, threatening what he would do to her if she appeared to give evidence against him. It had also been found impossible to procure the attendance of a second witness, another young woman, who had by some means been got out of the town.

Sarah Ann Lyde was then called. She said - I am a married woman. I know the "Duke of Cornwall" public-house, which is in Oxenden Street. I was employed by the defendant as barmaid at intervals from October to July last. During the time the house was continually frequented by girls of the town. I know them to be so. I had several quarrels with the landlord during the time I lived at his house because I would not light these persons to bed. They frequently slept in the house with their friends.

The Magistrates' Clerk - Male or female friends?

Witness - Male friends, in course, sir. (A laugh.)

Examination resumed - I have seen as many as twenty girls in the house at one time. I recollect the 23rd July last, the day before I left the defendant's service. A great many woman of the class I have mentioned were there on the evening of that day. I do not know whether they slept there that night, but they very commonly did so.

Cross-examined by Mr. Fox - I did no tell Mr. Hammond my name was Pitchford when I went after the situation. I said it might be Pitchford shortly. (Laughter.) My name is Lyde, and the only reason I can give for living in the expectation of changing it to Pitchford is that my husband, who is a sailor, has been away for the last seven years, during which I have heard nothing from him. I brought an action against the defendant at the last sitting of the County Court for wages I alleged to be due to me. I did not succeed in this action, but I was told by the judge I could not take out another summons. I do not know that that is being "non-suited," but I quite intend going on with my claim. I passed the "Duke of Cornwall" on the evening of the County Court day. I did not then tell the defendant that if I could not "do" for him one way I would another. I know that girls have slept at the "Duke of Cornwall" with their "male friends," because I have lighted parties up-stairs and have taken the money.

There was no other witness, owing, as it appeared, to the circumstances previously stated by the superintendent, and the Magistrates then adjourned the further hearing of the summons until Friday next, by which time, it was thought, the attendance of a second witness could be obtained.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 10 September, 1859.

ANNUAL LICENSING

The license was refused on grounds of complaints received.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 2 November, 1861.

DOVER POLICE COURT

CHARGE OF BURGLARY

Martin Lennagan, a private of the 64th regiment, was brought up in custody of police-constable Smith, charged with entering the premises of Thomas Harris, the "Duke of Cornwall" public house, Oxenden Street, between the hours of midnight on Monday, the 28th, and seven in the morning, Tuesday, the 29th October, and stealing there from about five shillings' worth of copper money. The following evidence was added:-

Thomas Harris:- I am a licensed victualler, and keep he "Duke of Cornwall" public-house, Oxenden Street. On Monday night, between ten and eleven o'clock, the prisoner was in my house. I saw him at that hour, in front of the bar, and while he stood there he had the opportunity of seeing me go to my till. We were rather busy during the time he remained there - about twenty minutes or half an hour - and so I had to go to the till very often.

Prisoner:- Yes, and I had a bit of supper with you in the bar, about seven o'clock.

Witness:- He did. The house was closed about twelve o'clock, and the prisoner had left before that, I fastened the front door myself, but not the back. I went to be a little before one o'clock, as nearly as I can recollect, and before doing so I looked up at the bar, as I always do. The till, which was left in the bar contained about five shillings worth of copper. I was called by my waiter a little before seven o'clock on the following morning, and informed that the house had been robbed. I got up immediately, and on going down stairs saw that the till belonging to the bar was lying in the wash-house near to the back door, empty, with the exception of a large foreign coin and the key of a clock, which had been left in it. On going to the bar I found that the door had been wrenched open. Among the money in the till on the previous night were several farthings and some French halfpence.

Rhodes Napstead:- I am a single woman, and am servant at the "Duke of Cornwall" public-house.  fastened the back door of the house on going to bed on Monday night. I think it was about twelve o'clock. There is a lock on the door, but it is not used. The door is fastened by means of a bolt at the top.

Robert Bird:- I am waiter at the "Duke of Cornwall." Yesterday morning I came downstairs about half-past six o'clock, and on going into the kitchen I found the back-door open and the bolt wrenched. I also saw the money till lying upon the ground near to the back door. I found the bar door open. I then yelled to my master, and told him he had been robbed. (Subsequently this witness said he thought it might not have been much after six when he came downstairs.)

Charles Revell:- I am a fireman and I am lodging at the "Duke of Cornwall. I saw the prisoner thee on Monday night at about half past eleven. He was standing before the bar, drinking. I was acting s waiter that night, owing to the last witness being ill.  gave the money I received during the evening to the barmaid, who put it into the till. I remembered that amongst it was a new penny covered with mould and a rather peculiar halfpenny. I recollect the halfpenny because I offered it among the change I gave to one of the customers and it was refused. the halfpenny was an old English halfpenny and like that produced. I returned the halfpenny to the bar-maid about half past eleven, or a little after, and saw her put it in the till. I told the policeman, on his showing me the halfpenny produced, that there was also a mouldy penny and the policeman remarked that he could go and get that. This as about one o'clock. The same night the policeman brought me the penny produced. I believe the halfpenny and penny both to be those I gave to the barmaid.

By the prisoner:- I did not mark the money before it was shown to me by the police, but afterwards. I am unable to say whether these coins were stolen from the till, but they are like the two coins I have mentioned that were put into the till.

Charlotte Birch, wife of Richard Birch, landlord of the "Military Arms" public house, Snargate Street - I have seen the prisoner at the "Military Arms." He was there on Monday night and I saw him there again yesterday morning, about half-past nine. He was alone. He called for a quart of porter, for which he paid. He paid me in coppers, and among the money were several farthings, some old halfpence, and a new mouldy penny. That produced is the same. A French halfpenny, also produced, was among the coppers, and so, I believe, was the old halfpenny produced. Police-constable Smith came to the house a few hours afterwards, and at his request I picked out the money produced, as part of that I had taken off the prisoner, and handed it to him. The prisoner, who was still in the house, was then taken into custody. Altogether I took eightpence off the prisoner yesterday morning - all in coppers.

Mr. Harris recalled:- On Monday night the prisoner, after having a pot of beer, could only pay for a part of it, and asked me to trust him the remainder.

Julia Lloyd:- I am a married woman, and live at Water-lane. My husband's name is George Lloyd, and he lives in London. I have seen the prisoner several times. I saw him yesterday at the "Military Arms," where I was at work. He gave me ten penny-worth of coppers to pay for some beer.

Harris recalled:- When the prisoner left my house he had on a red blouse similar to that produced. I noticed on the sleeve a mark where striped had been taken off.

Police-constable Clark examined:- I was on duty on Monday night, and saw the prisoner near the "Duke of Cornwall." I saw him go up the street and return again in about five minutes. Between one and two o'clock on the following morning I was on duty in Snargate Street, when I again saw the prisoner. He was coming up the street, from the direction of the "Duke of Cornwall." When I saw him he was near the Grand Shaft and was running on tip-toe by the said of the pavement. I stopped him. He was dressed in a loose tunic. He had one hand in the breast pocket and the other underneath, and on his coming to a standstill I heard the jingling of coppers. I asked him what he was running for. He did not answer at first, but on my repeating the question, he said that he had not been doing anything, and I then suffered him to pass on. I was also present when prisoner was approached by Smith at the "Military Arms" yesterday, and I identified him as the soldier I had seen running as described earlier in the morning.

The Magistrates enquired if the constable was quite sure now the prisoner was the man?

Clark replied that he was positive, and Superintendent Coram said it was upon this constable's information that the prisoner was taken.

Prisoner - Why did he not take me when he stopped me, if he thought I was a rogue and a robber?

Police-constable Smith - In consequence of information from the Superintendent I went to the "Military Arms" to apprehend the prisoner. I enquired of the landlady if prisoner had changed any money there, and she handed me the coppers produced, including the old English halfpenny, the new penny covered with mould, and some farthings. The witness Lloyd also gave me five pence as part of ten penny worth of coppers she had received from the prisoner. On his being take to the station-house and the charge being read over to him, he denied any knowledge of it. On his being searched he was found to be wearing the loose tunic produced and identified by Mr. Harris, under his ordinary uniform, and on examining it little holes were found, and similar holes in his trousers, as if torn by tenter-hooks, like those over the back-door of the "Duke of Cornwall." When the prisoner was cautioned, after the charge was read over to him. He said he was in barracks, and answered to his name at nine o'clock.

Police-sergeant Back said he was sent by the Superintendent to examine the premises after Mr. Harris had given information of the robbery. He found that the bolt of the door leading into the yard had been forced off, and when he went out of the gate leading into Limekiln-lane, he saw marks on the wall where the whitewash had been scratched off, as if someone had recently got over at that spot. There were tenter-hooks over the door, and the top of the wall was studded with glass. There was a flat top a little lower than the wall, and this would offer an easy means of gaining access to the premises. When witness was returned into the house he was shown the bar door, and perceived that the lock had been forced by some instrument. He produced a holdfast which had been removed from a window in the back premises and which had been found by Mr. Harris near the bar-door, and it was possible the lock had been forced with that, the holdfast being bent and having the appearance of being recently broken.

This was the whole of the evidence.

The prisoner, who on being cautioned said he was innocent altogether, was then committed for trial at the next assizes.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 18 April, 1863.

SUMMARILY EJECTED

Ann Massey, a young woman of most abandoned and depraved appearances, was brought up on a charge of drunkenness, police-constable Johnson having found her, at a quarter past eleven on the preceding night, sitting on the "Duke of Cornwall" steps, in Oxenden Street. On advising her to go home, she said she was at home, as she lodged at the "Duke of Cornwall," but had been turned out. Another female came up shortly afterwards, and offered to allow the prisoner to share her bed; but she declined this favour, and declared she would go nowhere but to her own lodgings. On the policeman telling her, however, that he must remove her to the station-house, if she continued to obstruct the pavement, she evinced no reluctance to accompany him, but danced and sang nearly all the way to the lock up.

The Magistrates made some enquiry as to the prisoner's antecedents, but she replied very curtly, and treated the whole proceedings with much levity. She had "nothing in the least" to say, and when told that she would be fined 10s., she said she would not pay it. On being informed that she would be committed for fourteen days, in default, she thanked the Magistrates, and was removed uttering some expression of bravado which through the roughs in the body of the court into a roar of merriment.