From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 January, 1904. Price 1d.

NARROW ESCAPE OF A DESPERATE PRISONER

At the Dover Police Court on Wednesday, before A. Bottle and E. Ellis, Esqrs., John Lynch was charged with assaulting Henry Murphy, of 18, Clarendon Place, by striking him in the face. And was further charged with assaulting Police Constable Dane, by striking him in the throat, and further with attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself in No. 6 cell at the Police Station.

Henry Murphy, a packer in the employ of the S.E. and C. Railway Company, said: Last night I was at home, when the prisoner opened the door and walked in my house. I was sitting on the sofa with a baby on my arm. He ran at me and struck me in the mouth, cutting my lip. He had never come in like that before, and I knew him when he was a soldier. The mother took the baby and I went out to fetch a Policeman, and the prisoner ran after me down the hill. I found a Police Constable on the railway bridge in Folkestone Road, and I told him I wanted to give the prisoner in charge for assault.

The Magistrates' Clerk pointed out that the address of the prisoner showed that he lived at 18, Clarendon Place, where the witness lived.

The Chief Constable: That is the address he gave.

Witness: He never lived with me; I haven't seen him for months and months.

Prisoner: Didn't you see me on Friday night?

No.

Prisoner: Didn't I knock at the door when I came in?

Witness: I did not hear him. He went to the top door and my wife answered him. He enquired if Rose Fry was there - that is my wife's sister – and she said, “No.” he then went away, and returned at the area door, opened it, walked in, and without speaking struck me while I was nursing the baby.

Police Constable Dane said: About 7.20 last night I was on duty on Folkestone Road bridge. The last witness came to me, and he was very excited, and the prisoner was following very close behind. Murphy said he wished to charge the prisoner with assault saying that the man entered his house and struck him while the child was in his arms. The prisoner said, “I did. You had better summons me.” The prisoner had been drinking, and was three parts drunk. I do not think Murphy was drunk. I caught hold of the prisoners sleeve, and he said, “All right, I'll go quietly,” and with that I allowed him to walk on. On going to the Police Station the prisoner made a rush at Murphy and said, “I'll do for you, you b_____.” Before he hit him I closed with him, and in throwing him I slipped on the edge of the pavement and fell, and the prisoner fell on top of me. Seeing me underneath, he fixed me by the throat with his two hands. A sergeant in an infantry regiment came along and pulled him off. When the prisoner got on his feet he was quiet, and then P.C. Blackman came up and walked quietly between us to the Station. He was very violent inside when being charged. He was only allowed to have his shirt and trousers on because he was so violent. He was placed in No. 6 Cell. Later, I was called by Police Sergeant Lockwood to the cell, where prisoner was hanging by his trousers. Sergeant Lockwood got him down, and he was carried into the passage, where artificial respiration was resorted to, and the doctor was immediately sent for. He was unconscious, and he was foaming from the mouth. The prisoner came to afterwards, and was very quiet for the remainder of the night.

The prisoner said he never caught the Policeman by the throat with any violence.

Witness: You did so pretty violently.

Police Sergeant James Lockwood said: Last evening I was at the Police Station when the prisoner was brought in. He was put in Cell No. 6 and in doing so he was very violent. He was just like a madman, and he said he wished he had made off with himself. Before being placed in the cell he was ordered to take his boots and coat off. He said he had been four or five days without food. Owing to what he said he was watched. He hadn't been in the cell more than a few minutes before I passed the cell and looked in, and found the prisoner hanging from a window. His trousers were fixed on the bars, and the legs of the trousers, which he had taken off, were tied in a double knot, and his head was in the loop. He was about six inches from the ground. P.C. Dane was called, and he came to my assistance. We released him, and there was a little foam in his mouth. He was unconscious. We got him in the passage, and artificial respiration was resorted to, and the doctor was sent for.

The Prisoner: I went to this house with no intention of doing wrong. I rapped at the door, and asked to see the lady (Rose Fry). He (Murphy) states that I have never been in his house before, but I have been in it several times. I had been drinking, but was not drunk. When I came to the Police Station I got excited, and I don't know of anything afterwards.

The Chief Constable said the prisoner had previously served three terms of imprisonment – 14 days, 1 month, and 2 months, for false attestation, assaulting the Police, and simple larceny.

In reply to the Magistrates, the prisoner said he was in Dublin, and left there the Wednesday before Christmas.

The Magistrates sent the prisoner to Canterbury for 1 months' hard labour.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 5 February, 1904. Price 1d.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

The Dover Licensing Sessions will be held on Monday. Three objections to licenses have been made. The “Devonshire Arms,” against which there has been a recent conviction, the “Castle Inn,” which has also been prosecuted, and the “Primrose Hall.” The landlord of the latter is summoned before the Magistrates today in connection with the bribery in the Castle Ward, and in his case the notice of objection to the licence has been served on him by the Secretary of the Dover Temperance Council, of which Mr. E. Chitty, the Petitioner in the late Petition, is one of the most active supporters.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 12 February, 1904. Price 1d.

DOVER LICENSING SESSIONS

On Monday the annual Licensing Sessions for the Borough of Dover was held at the Sessions House at noon. The chair was taken by the Mayor, Sir William Crundall, who was accompanied on the Bench by W. J. Adcock, Esq., P. W. J. Mackenzie, Esq., Captain Cay, R.N., F. G. Wright, Esq., H. Peake, Esq., J. L. Bradley, Esq., W. J. Barnes., and H. F. Edwin, Esq.

RENEWAL OF THE LICENCES

The Mayor announced that in order to shorten the proceedings he would announce that all those licences not objected to would be granted. The Magistrates would hear the applications for the “Gun” and “Harp Hotels,” the “Devonshire Arms,” the “primrose Hall,” and the “Castle Inn.”

ADJOURNED SESSIONS

The Magistrates fixed the adjourned Sessions for granting renewals in the Liberties for Thursday, March 3rd, 1904, at 2.30 p.m., at the Balmoral Hotel, Broadstairs, and on the following day at Dover at 11 o'clock.

GROCER'S APPLICATION REFUSED

Mr. B. T. Buss, of the Barton Cash Stores, Cherry Tree Avenue, applied for a licence to sell wines, spirits, and beer to be consumed off the premises.

Dr. F. W. Hardman (of Deal) opposed on behalf of the tenant of the “Diamond Hotel,” and of several other licensed victuallers in London Road; and Mrs. Bradley opposed on behalf of the temperance Council.

Applicant said he thought he should have the licence, as Gilbeys meant to come up that way.

The Mayor: If Gilbey does not get it you don't mind! (Laughter.)

The Clerk: You are Gilbey's agent?

Applicant: No, but I should be if I get the licence. (Laughter.)

Cross-examined by Dr. Hardman, the applicant admitted that Mr. Fullager had applied three times and had been refused, and that he (Mr. Buss) was refused the previous year. But more property had been erected since then, and they were still building on the Barton estate.

Dr. Hardman: What is the matter with the “Diamond?”

Applicant: I don't know that anything is the matter with it? (Laughter.) He admitted that people could get what they wanted at the “Diamond,” “Plough,” “Cherry Tree,” or “Fountain,” which had private bars. But some people had objections to entering public houses. He did not know that for the “Diamond Hotel” the owners gave up another licence.

Your suggestion is that whether Magistrates like it or not, Gilbeys are coming?

They are coming. (Laughter.)

Mr. Bradley: You say Gilbeys were coming last year. (Laughter.) It was held out as a kind of dreadful threat that Gilbeys were coming.

Dr. Hardman: Like the Campbells! (Laughter.) Do you carry on business in your own name?

To some extent. The business is in my wife's name.

What is the object of your wife carrying on the business in her name? have you been in financial difficulties?

Yes, years ago.

Have you been through the Court?

Yes.

Have you got your discharge?

I have not got my discharge.

You are an undisclosed bankrupt then?

I do not think that bears on the case.

Dr. Hardman said that he had an address to make if the Bench considered it necessary.

Mr. Bradley said, if necessary, he could put in a considerably signed memorial.

The Chairman: I am sorry to tell you. Mr. Buss, the Magistrates are very much disinclined to grant your application on this occasion.

Mr. Buss: Well, we will try again another year, sir. (Laughter.)

THE HARP HOTEL

An application in regard to the “Harp Hotel” was adjourned to the next sitting, whilst the licence of the “Gun Hotel” was dropped.

DRILL HALL

On the application of Mr. R. E. Knocker, a licence for singing and dancing was granted for the Northampton Street Drill Hall.

SINGING LICENCE

Mr. R. H. Pilcher, of the “Clarence Inn,” Council House Street, was not in attendance to apply for a music and singing licence, and it was dismissed.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 29 April, 1904. Price 1d.

LICENSING

An occasional license was granted to Mr. H. Tarling for a dance at the Town Hall on April 27th, to be given by Mrs. Clark, Folkestone Road.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 6 June, 1904. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE TRANSFERS

The “Red Lion,” St. Peter's, Thanet, to J. W. Wilson, from Norwich; and a grocer's license, Station Road, Birchington to Alfred East.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 7 October, 1904. Price 1d.

PUBLIC HOUSE TRANSFERS

The Chairman said that they had a case before the Magistrates in which the house was brought into hostile criticism. They knew it was not the "Lord Warden Hotel" but he would have to take care or he would get into trouble himself.

14, Woolcomber Street (grocer's licence) from F. J. Cave to T. E. Barnard, of Biggin Street, Dover, grocer.

Mr. Mowll said that when permission to draw was granted, a question was raised whether Mr. Barnard who held another licence in a different part of the town, could hold this licence, and it was adjourned for a fuller Bench to decide.

The Magistrates granted the transfer.