From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 22 April & 1 July, 1871. 1d.

PUBLIC-HOUSE TO LET

The "Prince of Wales" Inn, Middle Street, Deal. Enquire of Alfred Kingsford, Brewer, Dover.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 8 April, 1871. 1d.

WALKING INTO THE LION'S MOUTH

Albert Parker, landlord of the "Prince of Wales," public-house, Middle Street, was charged with being drunk and abusive at the station-house on the previous night, and with refusing to leave when requested.

Supt. Parker said: Last night about half-past seven prisoner came tot he police-station to complain of a man named Dawes, who had been lodging at his house and who he said had just previously struck him. He wished to give the man in custody, and I sent P.C. Romney and Seeth to his house. The prisoner was drunk at the time. The constables came back, and reported that the prisoner had struck Dawes first. Prisoner had also returned to the police-station, and I told him a better course would be to summons Dawes. He became rather abusive, however, and when I requested him to leave the premises he declined to do so, and I was obliged to put him out forcibly. He forced himself in again, however, and I again took him to the door, and told him that if he did not leave I should be obliged to lock him up. He said I might do so, and I did then take him into custody. I could tell he was drunk, because he could not talk plainly, and also because he reeled.

By the Prisoner: You were drunk when you came to the station.

P.C. Romner said that when he and Seeth went to the "Prince of Wales" they saw the man Dawes. prisoner said he was the man who struck him, but Dawes said he had been struck by Parker first, and a man named Ashenden corroborated that statement and said that he parted them. The prisoner was drunk, and went back to the station with them. Witness then corroborated what the Superintendent had stated as to the refusal of prisoner to leave the station-house.

In defence prisoner denied that he was drunk, and alleged that Dawes struck him as he was leaving his house. Dawes had been lodging at his house for some time, but he wished to get rid of him, and last night he told him he had better get fresh lodgings - that he had left once to please himself, and that he was to leave now to please him (prisoner). He was going out for the evening, and he left instructions with his wife that she was not to draw Dawes any beer, and that if he did not go by closing time she was to send for the police. He was then in the act of going out of the room, when Dawes jumped up and struck him on the head.

The magistrates considered the charge fully proved, and fined prisoner 20s., including costs, or in default seven days' imprisonment, and at the same time intimated that he stood a chance of losing his license at the next licensing day.

The money was paid.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 27 May, 1871. 1d.

DISGRACEFUL CONDUCT OF A YOUNG WATERMAN

William Cribben, a waterman, was summoned for assaulting the landlady of the "Prince of Wales" public-house, and for wilfully and maliciously breaking three panes of glass and one quart pot, as well as doing other damage, at the house in question.

Eliza Parker deposed; I am the wife of Albert Parker, who keeps the "Prince of Wales" public-house, Middle Street. The defendant Cribben and two others were in my house on the 15th of April. Ashenden, one of the others, called for a pot of beer as he walked through into the tap-room, and on my taking it into him he told me his mother would pay for it, but I told him we did not give trust. I then saw the defendant was in the room and I became very nervous because he has never been in the house without there has been either a row or a smash. After I had got back into the bar I soon heard something smash, and on going again into the tap-room I saw they had got a jug standing on the jin-board and they were firing at it and had broken it. They asked me to bring them in some more beer, but I refused and said I would not if they were to pay me 5s. a pot for it, and Cribben then said he would break the _____ gas pipes and made use of other threats. I went out of the room again and shortly afterwards heard another smash as of glass, on going to the tap-room again I found three windows broken. The men then came out and Cribben used very base language to me, and would have struck me if one of the others had not prevented him. There were three windows broken, a glass, a jug, and some damage was also done to the banister and the door. The amount of the damage at least is 8s.

Defendant, who spoke in a very sulky tone, had no questions to ask, and did not wish to say anything in defence.

There was another charge against the prisoner for being drunk and noisy in the streets just after midnight on Wednesday, and the case having been proved by P.C. Spicer, the Magistrates sentenced him to 21 days' hard labour in Sandwich gaol.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 6 February, 1875. 1d.

THE LICENSING ACT

Thomas Hornsby Finnis, landlord of the "Prince of Wales," was charged with having his house open during prohibited hours; and Thomas May, John Cribban, and David Petty were charged with being found on the premises.

P.C. Parker deposed: I was on duty on the 26th January, visiting public-houses. I went into the "Prince of Wales Inn" at about a quarter past eleven I there saw the defendants in the tap-room. I told them it was past eleven, and some others who were there left, but the defendants would not .Cribben and Petty both insulted me and used bad language. Petty said he would not go out till he was turned out. I stayed till twenty-past eleven and then went away and said I would summons them. The defendants had some glasses of liquor before them. It was past eleven o'clock when I left the railway station. I believe the landlord did all in his power to get the other three to go away.

Cross-examined by Petty: I did not say "All right, Mr. Petty, I'll look after you." I did not start from the station till after eleven, and Sergeant Philpott, was with me. I am positive it was 11.20 when I left the "Prince of Wales."

Bt Finnis: When I first went into your house you did tell me you had told the men it was eleven o'clock, and you asked me to go in and tell them to go.

P.S. Philpott deposed that he was with the last witness at the station on the night of the 26th inst. It was four or five minutes past eleven when they left the station, and they then walked as far as Silver Street together. They then separated to visit public-houses. He went to seven or eight houses and then met P.C. Parker who told him of the disturbance at the "Prince of Wales." It was then about twenty past eleven.

The magistrates said they should acquit the landlord, as they believed he did all in his power to get the men to leave the house at the proper time. The other defendant had not left the house when ordered to do so by the policeman; but had abused him. They must pay a fine of 10s. including costs, or in default undergo seven days' imprisonment at Sandwich Gaol.

Cribben and Patty paid the money, but May declared his intention of "Serving his time at Sandwich."