From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 12 April, 1862.

CHARGE WITH DEALING WITH SOLDIERS' NECESSARIES - HEAVY PENALTY.

Thomas Cattermole, a middle aged man who had the appearance of having been in the army, and who was also described as the landlord of the "Raw Material" public-house, Buckland, was brought up in custody of police-constable Terry, charged with receiving seven pairs of soldiers' boots, and three medals, the property of soldiers belonging to the 64th regiment, quartered in Dover.

Major Goode, of the 64th, attended on behalf of the regimental authorities, and the prisoner was defended by Mr. Fox, solicitor.

John York, a colour-sergeant in the 64th regiment, examined: Yesterday morning James Nolan, a private of the 64th, was brought before his commanding officer, charged with making away with a pair of military boots and two medals. Nolan afterward made a communication to me and took me to a public-house at Buckland, the "Raw Material," kept by the defendant. I told the defendant I had come for Nolan's boots. He asked me what I meant? He then invited us into a back room, and Nolan told him that he had left his boots and two medals there the previous week, and that he had got 6s. on the medals and 4s. on the boots. The defendant observed that he had never seen Nolan in his life before to his knowledge. I afterwards called for a quart of porter, and sat in the house some time, talking to the landlord. By and by the landlord said to me, "If you send Nolan into the yard, I will reason with him a bit." I told him Nolan would be tried by court-martial if the things were not forthcoming, and he then went out of the room, and shortly afterwards returned with one medal and a clasp, which I now produce. In about ten minutes afterwards he brought me another medal and clasp. "And now," I said, "I want the boots." He asked me what the number was, and I told him '2509,' 6th regt." Defendant took up a piece of a lucifer match-box that was lying near, and having written on it the number I had given him, left the room. In about five minutes he came back again, with the boots in his hand. I finished what I had been drinking, and then said, "Now I want the other boots." The defendant then went into an outhouse in the yard, I followed him and produced from a box in the corner of the outhouse two more pairs of new regimental boots, both belonging to the 64th regiment. He said, "Here are two more pairs. I want no bother about them. Take them away." I then left the house and reported the circumstances to Major Goode. I afterwards, while sitting at the "Turnham Green Tavern," High Street, Charlton, with police-constable Terry and another constable, saw the prisoner pass with a bundle under his arm. He was going in the direction of the town. I immediately ran out of the house after him, and as soon as he saw me following him he turned down a street to his left (Wood Street) I soon overtook him, and having taken the bundle from under his arm, I found it contained four pairs of government boots belonging to the 64th. On returning into High Street, I met Terry. I told him I had got what I wanted, and gave the defendant into custody.

By Mr. Fox: I do not remember that the defendant said anything about the bundle till he got to the police station. While there I looked at the paper in which the boots were wrapped, and observed that an address had been written on it, but it had been smeared out again, as if some one's coat sleeve had been intentionally used for that purpose. The name which had been written was that of "Sergt. Wilson."

Mr. Fox here read the address, "Sergeant Wilson, 64th regiment, Dover.

Cross-examination continued: Defendant said, while at the police station, that he was going to take the boots to Sergeant Wilson. There are two sergeants of that name at the 64th - one here, and one at Hythe.

Police-constable Terry then spoke to being in the company of the last witness, when the defendant passed "Turnham Green Tavern," and to receiving him in custody from the sergeant a few minutes  afterwards. After the charge had been preferred against the defendant at the police station, he (Terry) searched him, and found on him the third silver medal and clasp produced.

The constable also stated that on going to the defendant's house, after the defendant was lodged in custody, he found a Turkish medal and another pair of boots, but neither formed part of the property the defendant was at present charged with receiving. The medal was found in defendant's till, with the money taken in his business, and although the boots happened to be a new pair, they were not identified as government property.

The Sergeant, in reply to the Magistrates, said the store price of the boots, was 8s. or 8s. 6d. per pair, but this was only the sum for which they were served out to the men; they cost the government more.

Mr. Fox: And are worth less, I am informed. (A laugh.)

The Sergeant said that all the boots wee new, and had been served out only on the 1st April. The medals were both worth 5s. each.

The Bench then took the value of the seven pairs of boots to be £2 16s.  and the three medals 15s., in all £3 11s.

This being the evidence.

Mr. Fox addressed the Bench. He said he thought the defendant ought not to aggravate his position by setting up any defence in the face of facts which had been proved before the Magistrates, and he felt satisfied that it would be a sheer waste of time to address them with a view of showing that the facts were not as they had been stated. But his advise, therefore, the defendant would plead guilty to the charge. He would, however, draw their worships' attention to the fact, that the act of parliament under which the charge was brought, directed the infliction of a fine amounting to three times the value of the articles received, and in addition such a penalty not exceeding £20 as the Magistrates might in their judgement think necessary. He desired to submit most earnestly on the part of the defendant that, as the penalty prescribed by the act would in this case amount to £10 3s., the Bench should regard a nominal penalty in addition as sufficient to meet the justice of the case. He was sure that the conviction, even under such circumstances, would operate as a caution to the defendant and others.

The Magistrates enquired if anything was known of the defendant?

Police-sergeant Bayley said he knew nothing against him.

Mr. Jennings said he considered the charge of a very serious nature. It was not as if a single pair of boots only had been received; the transaction was a wholesale one.

Mr. Worsfield observed that the defendant seemed to have been in the army himself, and if this was the case he must have known the risk he was running in receiving these things into his house, even if he had not purchased them, but had only taken them as security, with the intention of returning them.

The defendant: I did not take them at all, Sir. They were left on my premises unknown to me, and if I could have been set at liberty last night I could have proved that to the Bench.

Mr. Worsfold: That does not agree with the evidence. Besides, your solicitor could have got any evidence that would have served you.

The defendant: No, Sir, he could not, because the men I wanted were only known to me by sight; they are workmen employed on the Heights.

The Magistrates said they considered that the offence had been clearly made out, and they fined the defendant the triple value of the articles received, £10 13s., the costs, 7s. and a penalty of £4; in all £15. In default of payment, a distress warrant would be issued, and if the distress was not satisfied, defendant would be sent to prison for three months.

The defendant was allowed to leave the Court in company with a policeman, to endeavour to obtain the money, and we understand that the amount was paid in the course of the day.