Folkestone Observer 9 February 1861.

Wednesday February 6th: Before the Mayor, R.W. Boarer, R.F. Browell, James Tolputt and James Kelcey Esqs.

Deserters.

On Monday afternoon Superintendent Martin received a telegram from Dover, giving information respecting two men of the Royal Artillery stationed there, having broken out of guard. Information of the matter was given to the constables, and about 5 o'clock P.C. Reynolds reported that men, answering the description, had been seen in Shellons Lane. Search was made on the public houses of the town, and after a lapse of an hour or two the men were again discovered in the Mariner's Home, Dover Street. One of the constables who made the discovery went up to the station to report, while the other remained to watch the movements of the suspected men, who, seeing the notice taken of them, came out of the house and walked away, re-entering, however, unobserved by the back door. Superintendent Martin brought down from the battery a corporal's picket, and on going into the house to search, found one of the men in a bedroom, behind a bed, and the other covered up in the bed, dressed in his clothes, and still wearing his spurs, &c. Calling Jenkins by name, he ordered him out of bed, when he saw that his regimental number had been cut off his shoulder strap. Then making the other take off his coat, he observed on the lining the name Harder, which was the second name given in the telegram, his regimental number was also cut off the shoulder strap. The men declared they were from Shorncliffe, but the Superintendent ordered them below. They came down, and proceeding through the passage, just as Jenkins came to the door, and observed the corporal and his guard awaiting them, he turned about, and fetched P.C. Reynolds a severe blow on the cheek. The picket immediately seized him; and Harder proving restive, he was thrown on the ground and handcuffed. After they were lodged in the station, the landlady of the Mariner's Home brought up two stout, knobbly, ash bludgeons; carefully cut; about eighteen inches in length, which had been found in the room they had occupied. Jenkins now denied his identity, and was remanded. Before the case of Harder was disposed of, a non-commissioned officer and a number of men appeared in court from Dover, to receive the prisoners into custody. They were fully identified, but were ordered by the magistrates to be sent in civil custody to the headquarters in Dover.

Folkestone Observer 16 November 1861.

Saturday November 9th:- Before Silvester Eastes, W.F. Browell, and A.M. Leith esqs.

Drunkenness In A Public House.

Ann Tong, landlady of the Mariner's Home, was charged with permitting drunkenness on the premises.

Mr. Minter appeared for the defendant.

P.C. Reynolds, about 20 minutes past 11 o'clock, on Wednesday night, was on duty at the further end of Radnor Street. Hearing a great disturbance in the Mariner's Home, which is kept by the defendant, he stood opposite the front door and saw down the passage into the back room. He saw parties there quarrelling, and using foul language; two sailors there commenced fighting, and knocked each other down. Witness then went in and parted them, when he saw a man named Filmer with blood running down his face. The two men who were fighting, as well as Filmer, were drunk. The landlady was in the bar, clearing away some things the men had knocked over; she could see what was going on.

Mr. Minter called Filmer, who lodges in the house, and Carter, a sailor who also lodges there, to show that the quarrel between the fishermen was a sudden one and that the landlady promptly sent for the aid of the police.

The magistrates dismissed the case.

Folkestone Observer 15 March 1862.

Monday March 10th:- Before Captain Kennicott R.N., and James Tolputt esq.

Soldiers On The Spree.

Eli Pape, 21st Fusiliers, was charged with maliciously injuring and breaking glass. On Saturday night, about half past 11, the prisoner and two other drunken soldiers came out of the Mariner's Home public house, Radnor Street, with their belts twisted round their hands, and shouting “Let them come out”, and the prisoner struck the door window with his belt five times, breaking as many panes of glass, value 4s. 8d.. He was then taken into custody. Richard Bailey, landlord, said the soldiers had nothing to drink in his house. Prisoner was sent to Dover jail for seven days' hard labour.

From the Folkestone Observer 10 May, 1862.

PERMITTING DRUNK AND DISORDERLIES

Saturday May 3rd:- Before the Mayor, W.F. Browell and J. Kelcey, Esqs.

Richard Bailey, landlord of the "Mariner's Home," Radnor Street, was charged with permitting drunkenness and other disorderly conduct.

P.C. Swain, at 10 o'clock on Tuesday night, heard several people singing, shouting, and making a great noise at the "Mariner's Home." About half past eleven he visited the house and saw 7 or 8 soldiers in the front room, some drunk and shouting, and sailors and a prostitute in a back room – some of the sailors being drunk.

The defendant appeared to be the worse for liquor. At a quarter past 12 o'clock the defendant called for the police, and witness and P.C. Hills went to his house, in the front room of which he found one man down on the floor bleeding from the face, and another standing near him, stripped to his shirt. Bailey desired the people present to go out, and some went. In the back room were two soldiers, stripped to their shirts, covered with blood, and with black eyes. Blood was on the floor and on the table. Witness cautioned defendant, and persuaded several of the men to go away; and several did go. He reported the state of the house to P.S. Newman, and at half past 12 the sergeant and himself visited the house together, when they found it much quieter. He had cautioned the defendant that the woman was a prostitute.

Sergeant Newman also gave evidence as to the state of the house and of Bailey himself.

The magistrates sentenced the defendant to pay a fine of 20s. and 10s. costs, or imprisonment for 10 days.

Folkestone Observer 17 May 1862.

Drunk And Riotous.

Saturday May 10th:- Before Captain Kennicott R.N. and James Tolputt esq.

Edward Jordan, labourer, was charged with being drunk and riotous, and with resisting the police. About 20 minutes past 11 the previous night P.C. Reynolds saw the prisoner and his wife in the Mariner's Home, Radnor Street, fighting.The man put his wife into the street, where they renewed the fight. Witness parted them, but they refused to go home, and so he took the prisoner into custody, and though much resistance was shown, he brought him to the station.

Sarah Jordan, wife of the prisoner in the last case, was next put at the bar charged with similar offences. When P.C. Reynolds was taking Jordan to the station, prisoner ran up, and seizing her husband endeavoured to release him. P.C. Reynolds called on Mr. John Banks for aid; but when he laid hold of her she bit his hand, and he let her go. On her promise to go home she was allowed to go away; but she made her appearance again at the top of the High Street, and was arrested and locked up.

The magistrates now sentenced Jordan to pay a fine of 1s. with 4s. 6d. costs, or in default, 5 days' imprisonment; and the wife to a fine of 1s. with 5s 6d. costs, or 5 days' imprisonment.

Folkestone Observer 24 January 1863.

Drunk And Resisting.

Tuesday January 24th:- Before Captain Kennicott R.N., A.M. Leith and James Tolputt Esqs.

James Betts, 23, was charged with being drunk and riotous at the Mariner's Home, and with resisting P.C. Reynolds.

The landlord of the Mariner's Home said that prisoner came to the house at eleven the night before, rather fresh, and commenced dancing on the chairs &c. He did not wish to press the charge, only he wished it to be understood that people could not come into his house and do as they liked.

P.C. Reynolds said that when the prisoner was given into custody he would not come along, and resisted, but did not strike him.

Prisoner said, in reply to Captain Kennicott, that he had been seven years a man-of-war's man, but he had had enough of that. The only cause of resisting the officer was the loss of his cap, which he wanted to go back for. If he had been allowed his cap he should not have resisted.

Superintendent Martin said as prisoner had not struck the officer with his hand he would not press that charge.

Prisoner was then discharged on payment of costs.

Folkestone Observer 26 August 1865.

It was licensing day on Tuesday, when the magistrates suspended the license for the Mariner's Home, Radnor Street, for harbouring prostitutes.

Folkestone Observer 12 October 1866.

Saturday October 6th:- Before the Mayor and J. Tolputt Esq.

Henry John Richardson was charged with assaulting Richard Mercer on the 3rd instant.

Richard Mercer, carpenter, Harvey Road, said, on the 3rd instant, about eleven o'clock, he went into the Mariners' Arms (sic), kept by the defendant. He had a friend with him, and called for a pint of beer. They had the beer, and witness sat on the form and went to sleep. He slipped off the form on to the floor. Mr. Richardson came and pulled him out from under the form, and gave him a kick in the side, and said “Get up, you ----“. Before witness could get up, defendant kicked him in the eye. Asked defendant to let him get up, and on getting up he rushed to the door to get out, and defendant ran after him and struck him on the face. Then struck in return. Had not struck defendant before. Before witness got out of the door, defendant pulled him back into the tap room, and threw him down on the floor and kicked him and jumped on him. Got up again, and then defendant allowed him to go out. The jumping and kicking lasted a quarter of an hour. Defendant's wife held witness down while defendant was kicking him. The right eye (swollen and very black) was occasioned by a kick. The left eye (also blacked) he believed was struck with defendant's fist. Is bruised on the body. Had not had a word of quarrel before this took place, nor said anything to him. Witness's friend was with him all this time, but did not attempt to assist.

Cross-examined: Did not strike the first blow. If he had come on purpose for a row, would not have gone asleep.

William Iverson, omnibus conductor, living on The Narrows, said he was with Mercer about half past eleven on Wednesday evening and went into the Mariner's Home with him. Witness called for a pint of beer. One of the common prostitutes served him. Mercer sat on one form ant witness on another. Mercer was playing with a dog of witness's and fell off a form, and then he lay there and went asleep. Five or six minutes after, defendant said to him “Dick, get up”. Mercer was fast asleep and made no reply. Defendant said “Get out here, and go home. Get up, you ----, or else I'll kill you”. He then ordered his common prostitutes out of the house, and Burvill, who had been there, also went out. There were then left in the room defendant, defendant's wife's brother, Mercer and witness. Witness stopped behind to see the game. Went to the door to see for complainant's brother, who had gone by just before. Was gone about a minute and a half. When he went in again, Mercer was on his left side on the floor. Saw defendant kick him in the eye. Had his boots on. No doubt Mercer was kicked quite silly. Said to defendant “What are you going to do? Are you going to kill the chap or let him go home? Your conduct is most silly”. Defendant said “You go home, or I'll serve you the same”. Just before the Kick, Mercer got up and went to the door to go out, and defendant pulled him back. Mercer took his own part, or they might have killed him. They threatened to take his life two or three times. Defendant, his wife, and wife's brother all pulled Mercer back. When witness came in and asked if they were going to kill Mercer, he himself was knocked down with a stick or poker, and was insensible five or six minutes. When he came to his senses, defendant and his party helped to get Mercer up, and they went away. They knocked Mercer over the table while striking him.

Cross-examined: Defendant's wife struck witness. Took the silter away from the wife. Still had the mark on his head where he was struck.

This was Mercer's case, and there being a cross-summons Mercer now took his place as defendant.

Henry John Richardson, as complainant, now said that on the 3rd instant Richard Mercer and William Iverson came in and ordered a pint of beer. Witness served it in the tap room, and Iverson paid for it. Witness went to them at a quarter to twelve and too Mercer by the arm, and said “Hello, Dick. What's the matter, Dick? Come, it is time to shut up.” He got up, and as soon as he did so he struck witness with his fist a blow on both eyes. Immediately returned the blow. Had not struck him before. Did not hit him again, but shook him, and he said “If you will let me go, I will go out”. As soon as he let him go he struck witness in the face again. Witness stryck him again and Iverson came back. Witness's brother-in-law came to his assistance, and then Mercer, striking at witness, hit the door post. They then went away. It did not last five minutes altogether. Did not believe he kicked Mercer at all. Did not pull Mercer back at all. Believed the marks on Mercer's face were caused by witness's blow. There was no disturbance calling for a clearing of the house. It was shutting up time, and Mercer was lying about, pretending to be asleep.

Richard Burvill, labourer, living in Shellons Lane, went into Richardson's house on Wednesday evening about a quarter to eleven. Mercer and Iverson came in, and Mercer sat down beside witness on a form. They had a pint of beer. Mercer had a dog in his arms, playing with it, and he fell down on the floor and rolled under the form. Could not say whether Mercer was asleep or not. He might have been lying there a quarter of an hour, when Richardson came to him and said “Now, Dick, get up. It is time to get up”. Mercer made no answer. Richardson then took hold of his arm and shook him. He let him get up, and as soon as he got up, he struck Richardson in the face. Richardson returned the blow. Then witness left the room. He came in again after. Richardson took hold of Mercer by the left arm and shook him, and helped him, and Mercer struck out with his right hand. Is quite certain that Mercer struck the first blow.

Richard Jerrard, brother-in-law of Richardson, and living at the Mariner's Arms, was upstairs in bed. Hearing a noise he came down. Saw Richardson bleeding over the eye. Mercer was down on the floor calling out “Let me get up and I'll go”. As soon as he got up he hit Richardson in the mouth. As soon as he hit Richardson, Richardson collared him, and held him over the table. Richardson did not hit him then. Did not see the commencement. Did not see who struck the first blow. Iverson, who had been out, came in and said “I'll kill some of you”.

The bench, after a long consultation, dismissed both cases, being unable to say who struck the first blow.