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From the Kentish Chronicle, 14 February, 1863.
Isaac Steed was charged with assaulting John Smith, on the 1st inst. It
appeared that complainant is landlord of the “Coach and Horses” in
Chatham-street, and that shortly before twelve o'clock defendant, with
others, applied to be served with some beer; but complainant seeing that
they all had had enough, refused to serve them, whereupon defendant
became very abusive, but was ultimately removed out of the house. Some
of the windows were broken. Complainant went out of the back door to
look for a policeman, and at the bottom of Church hill he met with P.C.
Harty, with whom he proceeded to the house. On their coming up,
defendant began to use very threatening language, upon which Harty took
him into custody, and charged Smith to assist him. Whilst taking him to
the station defendant kicked the latter several times, and inflicted
some severe wounds upon their shins.
From the defendant was taken a formidable weapon in the shape of a life
preserver.
He was convicted, and sentenced to two calendar months' hard labour in
the House of Correction at Sandwich.
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Thanet Advertiser. Friday 24 February 1928.
Tragic find. Gas Filled Cellar. Licensees Sad End.
A tragic find in the seller of a public house was made by an assistant
inspector in the employ of the Ramsgate Corporation Gas and Water
department yesterday (Thursday).
Shortly before midday the inspector called at the "Coach and Horses"
public house, in High Street, with the intention of reading the water
metre, and, descend into the cellar, noticed a very strong smell of gas.
He produced and electric torch, and, shining the light into a recess,
saw the body of the licensee, Mr. William Ambrose, with a coat over his
head. He pulled the coat off, and found a tube attached a gas bracket in
Mr. Ambrose's mouth.
The police and a doctor was sent for, and, after artificial respiration
have been employed for an hour, life was pronounced extinct.
An inquest, conducted by the borough coroner (Dr. F. W. Hardman),
yesterday evening, a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was
returned.
Mrs. Selena Ambrose, wife of the deceased, said her husband was 67 years
of age. He was tenant and licensee of the "Coach and Horses." He had
been ill for some time, and had been attended by a doctor ever since
December. Her husband had been ill for some time before that, and, three
weeks ago, underwent an operation in the Ramsgate General Hospital.
Deceased did not get on as well afterwards as she would have liked. He
had not been out of hospital long, and had since taken no part in the
business.
In the trade 26 years.
Mrs. Ambrose said her husband got up at 9 o'clock that morning and had
breakfast. Afterwards he sat in the back room. Shortly after 11:30
deceased said he thought of taking a little walk, but witness advised
him not to, as it was blowing very cold. She left him in the room and
went into the bar, and that was the last time she saw him alive.
Continuing, Mrs. Ambrose said her husband's nerves have been very bad,
but he had never said anything about doing away with himself. He had
worried himself a little about business, because it has not been too
good, but he had had no trouble in paying his way.
Asked by the coroner if the deceased had had trouble with the brewers,
the witness said the brewers were rather funny to them, and in October
gave them a month's notice. This had worried him. He said he did not
rest night or day. With one brake they had held the licence of the
"Coach and Horses" for 13 years. They had always been very particular,
and had been in the trade for 26 years.
Danger of explosion.
Mr. William Augustus Cox, of 5, Dane Road, and assistant inspector in
the employ of the Ramsgate Corporation Gas and Water Department,
described his visit to the house earlier that day. He saw Mrs. Ambrose
in the bar, and went through to the seller with the objective of reading
the water metre. On opening the cellar door he noticed a very strong
smell of gas. He switched on his electric torch and went down. He went
to the water metre and then to the gas metre, but could not find the
escape. He retracted his steps, and, flashing his light into a recess,
he saw Mr. Ambrose's hand clutching at a coat which was over his head
and shoulders. Witness pulled the coat away, and found a tube in
deceased's mouth. The other end of the tube was attached to a gas
bracket, and the gas was turned on. Witness turned off the gas and took
the tube from Mr. Ambrose's mouth. He then sent for a doctor and the
police. It would have been very serious if anyone had gone into the
cellar with a light.
Coroner:- There would have been an explosion?
Witness:- Yes.
Detective Sergeant Petley said that, in company was Sergeant Rogers, he
arrived at the house shortly after 12 o'clock. They found deceased who
was very warm, in the cellar. With the assistance of Mr. Cox, they took
him into the yard, and applied artificial respiration and hot
fomentations near the heart. This was carried out by Sergeant Rogers and
P.C. Files and Foad for an hour, when he was declared by Dr. W. J.
Bannister, the police surgeon, to be extinct.
As stated, a verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind," was returned.
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