From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 17 June, 1871. 1d.

VERY SUSPICIOUS

John McAdamson, James Reynolds, and James McCreagh, three men belonging to the Royal Marines stationed at Walmer, were charged with attempting to desert.

H. Carvey said: I am a police-constable at Deal. Last night a little before six o'clock I was on duty in Lower Street, and received information from a person that there were two Marines with civilians' clothes on at the "Laurel Tree," in Lower Street. I went there and on going into the back yard found the three prisoners. They had their uniforms on. The clothes which I now produce were on a block beside them. I asked them if the clothes belonged to them, and they said, "No." I overhauled the clothes, and found two coats, two pairs of trousers, and two hats. I said to them, "You have had these clothes on," and they said, "No; the clothes were here when we came in." I told them I did not credit that, and that I believed they had had them on, and I said I should charge all three of them with attempting to desert. They said, "Very well;" and then the Superintendent came in. John McAdamson said, "It does look very suspicious seeing these civilian clothes here." We then brought the prisoners to the Police-station. We searched then, and found on the prisoner McCreagh £21 12s. 11d.; on James Reynolds, 8½d.; and on McAdamson, 17s. 6½d. I afterwards went to the "Laurel Tree," and saw a man there named Austen Lawrence, who said he had fetched the things, and that the prisoners had given him £1 10s. to pay for the clothes, and he was to keep the change, which was half-a-crown. He gave me 2s., and said he had spent 6d. He gave it to me of his own accord.

By Reynolds: You were in full uniform, with your belts on. I can't say if you had a case in your hand. I can't say the exact spot where you were standing in the yard when I came in. I do not believe, from your appearance, that you were going home then.

Austen Lawrence: I am all-works or potman at the "laurel Tree." I know the two of the prisoners - McCreagh and Reynolds. They were in the "Laurel Tree" last evening. They came by themselves about four. They asked me if I would do a favour for them - fetch them two suits of clothes something like those I had on, and two hats. I said very well, and went to Mr. Chandler, the tailor, in Lower Street, and told him what I wanted, and asked him what they would cost. He gave me two pairs of trousers, three coats, and three hats. I took them to the "Laurel Tree," and left them in the yard, and Mr. McCreagh and Reynolds tried them on whilst I was in the yard. They said nothing to me about what they wanted the clothes for. They said they had had some money left them, and I thought they were going to furlough. (Temporary leave of absence from employment.) I took back one hat and one coat to Chandler, and paid him £1 7s. 6d. for the clothes kept. The prisoner McCreagh gave me £1 10s., and I was to keep any change for myself. I saw a third Marine there who did not try on the clothes of give me any money, nor did I speak to him, nor he to me. When I got back there there were two policeman in the yard, and directly afterwards the military police also came in.

By Reynolds: You gave me 2s. 3d. I cannot say if McCreagh said he was going to buy his discharge. I heard him say he wanted some clothes, but I did not hear him say it was to be ready for his discharge. I did not propose selling him any clothes - I have not got any for myself.

Stephen P. Chandler next deposed: I am a tailor, and reside in Lower Street, and know Mr. Lawrenson. He came to my shop yesterday about half-past five, and asked for some trousers - the cheapest I had got. I served him, and then he asked me for some coats like the one he was wearing. He took two pairs of trousers, three coats, and three hats. He said he wanted them his own size. He asked me if I would allow him to take them on approbation, and I supposed they were for himself, as his mother, who is now dead, used to come for clothes for him. He said nothing as to what he wanted the clothes for. The goods kept amounted to £1 7s. 6d.

Mary Ballard: I live at the "Laurel Tree." I know the two prisoners McCreagh and Reynolds. I saw them at the "Laurel Tree" yesterday between five and six o'clock in the back yard. I went out there not knowing they were there, bit I had previously seen them in the house. I found two suits of uniforms buried under some shavings in the pig-stye. I took them out and laid them in the yard, and I saw the two above named prisoners put them on. That is all I know. They had civilian clothes on before they changed them for the uniforms.

Cross-examined by Reynolds: I did not hear anyone say to Lawrence, "Take away these clothes; we don't want any such things."

W. Hodgson said: I am a sergeant at the Royal Marines, stationed at Walmer. I know the three prisoners - they belong to the Marines. They have not been here longer than three or four months, and they have good characters. The purchasing of discharges has been stopped.

In defence McCreagh said: I got the man Lawrence to get the clothes, as I had some money sent to purchase any discharge, and I asked him to keep them till I wanted them. I had spoken to the Sergeant-Major about getting my discharge 10 days' since, and he said I might get it.

Reynolds said he had nothing further to say than that he had no intention at all of deserting, or attempting to desert. He liked the service very well.

McAdamson knew nothing at all about the matter, but he happened to be at the "Laurel Tree" and went out in the yard, where he found the other two prisoners, and just afterwards the police came in and took them all three into custody.

In answer to the Magistrates, Sergt. Hodgson said the purchasing of discharges had only been stopped about a fortnight.

Supt, Parker said he had made inquiries at the Post Office, and it was quite correct that McCreagh had had the money sent to him.

The Magistrates deliberated privately for a short time, and on the public being re-admitted the Mayor said: Well, John MacAdamson, the Magistrates don't see anything at all against you; you are innocent of all blame, and they don't think you were concerned in the affair at all. They therefore dismiss the case as against you. With regard to you, McCreagh and Reynolds, matters look rather black against you, still we cannot see, on going through the evidence, that there is enough to justify us in convicting you of the charge of attempting to desert. The money that was found on you, McCreagh, might have been sent to you to purchase your discharge, and as the order against purchasing discharges has only been very recently in force, you might not have known about it. We therefore give you the benefit of the doubt; but, on the other hand, we can't see what you wanted two suits of clothes for - the facts certainly look rather bad against both of you. The Magistrates, however, do not think the evidence is clear enough to convict you, and they therefore dismiss the case, so far as they are concerned.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury,  23 December, 1871 & 13 January, 1872.

TO LET

The "Laurel Tree Inn," Deal.

Apply to A. Leney & Co., Brewers, Dover.