From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 26 April, 1889. Price 1d.

A SUICIDAL NOTION

At the Police Court on Monday, a seaman named Victor Fogg, was charged with the threefold offence of being drunk, disorderly, and attempting to commit suicide by trying to jump into the dock at the Crosswall. The defendant, who lived at the Artizans' Dewllings, said that he had had a fall, and being under the influence of drink, did not know what he was doing. He was fined 8s. 6d. including costs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 22 May, 1889.

TOPSY AGAIN

At the Police Court on Thursday morning, Elizabeth Thompson, alias Topsy, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Snargate Street. This was her 22nd appearance, and she being such a frequent customer, the Bench accommodated her with a month's board and lodging in the Cathedral City.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 12 July, 1889. Price 1d.

TRANSFERS

Mr. E. W. Spain applied for the transfer of a public house licence from Thomas to W. H. Lincoln.

The application was granted.

Mr. Spain also applied for the transfer of Maxton Brewery from Mr. J. Allen to the present proprietor.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 30 August, 1889. Price 1d.

DOVER BREWSTER SESSIONS

The Licensing Committee of the Dover bench of Magistrates sat at the Town Hall on Monday at noon to receive applications for the renewal of public house, grocers, and refreshment licenses. The members of the committee present were:- Dr. Astley (in the chair), J. L. Bradley, T. V. Brown, J. Finnis, W. J. Adcock, A. Bottle,a nd Matthew Pepper, Esqrs.

The Court first took the applications for renewals, next the application for early morning openings, and then the applications for new licenses.

The Superintendent of Police reported that with a few exceptions the public houses in Dover had been well conducted.

Mr. E. W. Spain and Mr. Hatton Brown attended as publicans' agents.

The Clerk then read over the list of the houses and the licenses were granted without question except in the following cases:-

ON WHAT AUTHORITY?

It transpired that in the past agents had applied to the magistrates for renewals of licenses by the direction of the owners or brewers without instructions from the tenants, and in one case a license had been granted for four years, and the house had remained tenantless and no excise license had been taken out. The bench made a rule that agents were not to apply unless they had direct instructions from the occupier.

In one or two cases the agents and occupiers both applied for the same license. Mr. Spain and Mr. Brown both said that they had been commissioned to apply, but the owners had in some cases come up and answered to their names.

EARLY LICENSES

The early licenses were all renewed.

GROCER'S APPLICATION

Ernest E. and Louis Adams, grocer carrying on business in the Market Square, applied for a license for selling wine, spirits, and beer to be consumed off the premises.

Mr. E. W. Spain proved that the notices had been duly served and advertised in the Dover Express.

Mr. Ernest Adams proved the value and qualification to hold the license.

Mr. Martyn Mowll opposed on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers Association. He stated that as far as the wine and spirit license was concerned the Bench had no option if the application was in due form, but the beer license was at the option of the Bench. The magistrates, some time ago, when Mr. Brine applied for a license for the grocery business carrying on under the Carlton Club, refused to grant one, and he trusted that they would again refuse as far as the beer license was concerned. As regards the spirit license, the statute required that the address of the applicant should be stated in the notice. The notice only contained the address of the business, and not of the residence of the applicants. It should also be shown that the applicants had a spirit dealer's license from the Excise. He quoted Regina v. The Justices of Lancashire on that point.

The Bench reserved their decision.

REFRESHMENT HOUSE APPLICATION

In this case Joseph Bateman applied for a license for the refreshment house which he keeps at 59, Snargate Street. He applied for a wine, beer and spirit license to be consumed on or off the premises. He stated at present he had to send out and his customers often could not wait.

Mr. Mowll opposed on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers' Association, pointing out how studded Snargate Street was with licensed houses.

The Magistrates retired, and on returning to Court Dr. Astley said that in the case of Messrs. Adams the Bench would give their decision at Broadstairs. The application of Mr. Bateman they must refuse.

The Session was adjourned to Broadstairs, where it will sit on 11th September.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 September, 1889. Price 1d.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

At the adjourned meeting at Broadstairs on Wednesday, Sir Richard Dickeson was in the chair, and the other Magistrates present were F. S. Pierce, T. V. Brown, J. L. Bradley, and A. Bottle, Esqrs.

The application of Messrs. C. L. and E. Adams for a beer and spirit license for their grocery business in Market Place was refused, but a wine license was granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 20 September, 1889. Price 1d.

COUNTY LICENSING SESSION

At the County Licensing Sessions held at Dover yesterday afternoon, Superintendent Maxted and Superintendent Kewell both reported that the public houses in their districts had been all well conducted except at the “Donkey,” at Ewell, where there had been a conviction for selling during closing time. All the licenses were renewed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 27 December, 1889.

TOPSY'S TWENTY-FOURTH APPEARANCE

On Saturday, Elizabeth Thompson was charged with being drunk and disorderly and using obscene language in Tower Hamlets Street. P.C. Morris said on Friday night about quarter past eleven he was on duty in Tower Hamlets Street, and he there saw the prisoner along with Baker, she was drunk, shouting at the top of her voice, and making use of the most filthy language. He had received several complaints about the prisoner, and cautioned her himself the same evening; as she would not go away he brought her to the Police Station. She was very abusive on the way to the station. Superintendent Sanders said the prisoner struck Mrs. Cook the female searcher in the Police Station. The bench sentenced the prisoner to one month's imprisonment.