From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 July, 1868. Price 1d.

UNLAWFUL THREAT

Ann Dudgeon, an Irish washerwoman, was summoned for having unlawfully threatened to "do" for Mrs. Harriet Stageman, a lady in the house she had been engaged.

Mrs. Stageman is the landlady of the "Rose Inn," Charlton Green, and it appeared from her statement that the defendant had for some time been employed by her to assist her in washing. She had been in the habit of jocularly describing herself as "Paddy;" but because one of Mrs. Stageman's children indulged in the use of the use of the same appellative she took offence. She manifested her mortification, however, at first by hints and observations of a caustic nature, observing, for one thing, that she never was in such a dry public-house in her life; but gradually working herself up till she left the house in a state of great wrath and uttering many threats, one of which was the threat to "do," which was the subject of the present summons.

The defendant admitted that she felt some annoyance at the tern "Paddy" being applied to her by a child; but denied that she made use of the threat attributed to her, unless "by way of a return compliment." This might have been the case, as Mrs. Stageman used all kinds of dreadful threats towards her.

The Magistrates considered that she should be bound over in her own recognizance's of £10 to keep the peace, and was bound accordingly.

From the Dover Express. June 1875.

Rose Inn Maison Dieu.

At one o'clock on Tuesday morning a fire was discovered at the Rose Inn, Maison Dieu by Police Constable Bowles who immediately gave an alarm. He succeeded in arousing the landlord whom with his wife son and daughter was compelled to descend from the bedroom window in their nightclothes the staircase having taken fire. A message was at once sent to the Police Station and the fire apparatus arrived under the direction of Superintendent Sanders.

The hose was fixed at 1.20 and 1.45 extinguished the fire. Previous to the arrival of the engine some men living in the neighbourhood named Hicks, Blanch, Henry Green, and Huntley prevented the flames spreading by breaking open the back door and flinging buckets of water upon them. The water was obtained from the washhouse at the rear. The house being in the district the surveyor had extended an experimental constant supply. Had the service been intermittent the house would probably have been totally destroyed as a strong wind was blowing at the time.

As to the origin of the fire, nothing definite is known but it is supposed that a spark caused it from a candle. The staircase, landing, cupboard, and a portion of the flooring of the bedroom have been burnt and considerable damage done by the water and smoke. The building is insured in the Guardian Fire Office agents Messrs Worsfold and Hayward and the furniture in the Liverpool, London and Globe agent Mr. Hunt.

Information kindly supplied by Joyce Banks.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 29 May, 1885. 1d.

ALLEGED THEFT

John Kirk was placed in the dock charged on suspicion with stealing a tin box containing 10s. in coppers from the “Rose” public-house, Maison Dieu Road, the property of the prosecutor.

Mary Francis Burbridge, wife of Joseph Burbridge, landlord of the “Rose” public-house, who said: Defendant came into my house yesterday about half-past three, and called for a glass of ale. I supplied him with it. He paid for it, and I left him in the bar drinking. I had put the money in a tin box in the till. He could see the drawer from where he was standing. When I returned from the living room, where I went to look at the children, the defendant was gone. There was no one at the bar. I went to the till directly I returned to get some money to pay for the milk. I found the tin box and 10d. worth of coppers gone. When my husband returned I told him what had happened, and he came to the Police Station. About half-past six defendant came in again and called for more beer. I served him with the beer and told him about the missing money. He said, “Oh, this won't come right, it must be seen into.” My husband then came with a policeman and gave him in charge. Defendant has been in the house several times before.

Police-constable Cook said: Yesterday evening I was on duty in High Street, and from information I received I went with the last witness' husband to the “Rose” public-house, and saw the prisoner. He was then given into custody on suspicion of stealing the box and money. Defendant made out he did not hear what was said and answered, “Yes, a pretty thing.” I took him to the Police Station, searched him, and found a penny. The box has not been found.

The Magistrates dismissed the charge, as they considered the evidence was not sufficient.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 28 September, 1888. Price 1d.

A DOVER ELOPEMENT

Alfred George Jones, and engineer, living at 31, Military Road, Dover, was charged with stealing and carrying away, £69 in money, and one gold snake watch chain, the moneys of one, Robina Anderson.

Robina Anderson said: I am a single woman and a governess. I left a situation a short time ago, and went and lived with Mrs. Jones, as I have known her for some time. She lived at 31, Military Road. I went there about three months ago, and left about a month ago – about a week after the regatta. I did not pay them for my board and lodgings, but stayed there as a friend. I had £72 5s. 4d. deposited in the Post Office bank. I have never told the prisoner that I had money in the bank, but he knew as I had lent him and his wife £30 some time before to help furnish the place. Before I left at the prisoner's house I had over £100 in the Post office Savings Bank. The prisoner and his wife met me in the “Rose Inn,” Maison Dieu Road, not long before I went to live with them, and they asked me to lend them the money – about £30 – and I consented to do so. They went with me a few days afterwards to the Post Office in Townwall Street, and waited outside while I went in and withdrew the money. I presented the £30 to Mrs. Jones, and she gave it to Mr. Jones. They said I would receive it the following week, but I did not, and I consider that as a debt. I went to live with them, and whilst there I wished to withdraw the remainder, £72 5s. 4d., and in order to do so I had a post office letter delivered to the house. The prisoner Mr. Jones knew that. I afterwards went to the Post Office in Townwall Street about five weeks ago, and withdrew the money. It was on August 21st. Two young ladies attended to me, and I received several £5 bank notes, and the remainder in gold. I only had 5s. 4d. in silver. No one went with me when I withdrew it. I kept the money in my box. The notes were in a washing glove. The glove (produced) is the same one, and the gold I kept in a purse made like a small jug. I put the purse with the gold in the washing glove and put them in the box, which was kept in my bedroom. The lock was broken. I have now got the box with me at park Road, Ashford. I asked the prisoner to mend it, but he only pulled the screws out and made it worse, and he never mended it. The box was never locked whilst I was staying at Mr. Jones. About three days ago after I had received the money he came up to me and asked me if I would lend him £3, which he wanted to pay a man who was in the house. Mr. Jones accompanied me up to my bedroom and I went to my box and got out the glove containing the money, and lent him three sovereigns. He saw me do this, and I put the money on the chest of drawers, as I had just come in from a walk, and was in the act of taking my things off. The prisoner picked the money up. I said to him, “put it down.” He replied, “It is as safe in my pocket as in yours.” I asked him several times each day for it, but he only made the same reply. I have never seen the money or the bag from the time I lent him the three pounds until now. I went out with the prisoner and his wife on the regatta day (Monday, August 27th.) We went with a drive in the country and we called at several public houses. Mr. and Mrs. Jones had a quarrel. Mr. Jones was treating everybody, and I asked him if it was my money he was spending, and he said it was not. I afterwards left the public house and went home alone. He treated the coachman at each public house, and I was quite enraged about it. It was about nine o'clock when I went home. The prisoner and his wife, who had been quarrelling, left me at the “Crown” public house. Mrs. Jones did not stay at home that night, and I saw him the next (Tuesday) morning about nine o'clock, when he knocked at my bedroom door and said he was going out for some bacon for breakfast, and would be back in ten minutes. He did not come back, and I have not seen him since until now. Mrs. Jones came back about half an hour after he had gone. I had a gold snake chain, which I kept in my watch case, and that is the same (produced). It was attached to my watch, and was given to me by my father. The watch case was kept in a chest of drawers. I lent the prisoner the chain about a week before he took it away. He wore it for one day and returned it. I missed it on the regatta day, but my watch was still there. On the regatta day I saw he was wearing it whilst we were out driving, and I asked him for it, and he said “it is all right.” I saw the chain on Saturday last on Mrs. Calcraft's neck at Ashford, whom the prisoner has been living with.

The prisoner in answer to the Bench, said he did not want to ask the witness any questions. He did not steal the money.

Witness said she had been told that the prisoner had put his heel through one of the bank notes. She did not keep the numbers of the notes.

The Bench remanded the prisoner until this (Friday) morning.

Martha Calcraft the person with whom the prisoner Jones had eloped, was charged with feloniously receiving three five-pound Bank of England notes and a gold snake-chain, knowing the same to have been stolen from Robina Anderson on the 20th August.

Robina Anderson gave similar evidence to that previously taken as to the withdrawal of the money from the Post office Savings Bank. On being further examined she said: The prisoner Mrs. Calcraft made a dress for me once, and I believe she lived at Alma Cottage, Maison Dieu Road. That is all I know of her. I was once with Mrs. Jones when we met the prisoner, and Mr. Jones spoke to her. Mrs. Jones had just left us to go home for something. I heard the prisoner's voice one night at Mr. Jones' house in Military Road, and Mrs. Jones told me it was Mrs. Calcraft. The gold chain now produced is my property. I did not see the chain again after Mr. Jones had taken it until Saturday last. I was staying at 15, park Road, Ashford, with Mrs. Jones. We had gone there to enquire about the prisoners as we knew they had slept there. While there, Mrs. Calcraft came to the house for a suit of clothes belonging to Mr. Jones and also for some underclothing which she had left there to be washed. Whilst she was there I went into the room and saw Mrs. Calcraft, the prisoner, was wearing my chain. I said, “that is my chain; take it off at once.” She replied, “is it; I did not know.” She afterwards took it off. I had sent for a police constable and when he came the prisoner said Mr. Jones had put it round her neck, and she knew nothing about it. A watch was attached to the chain, which Mrs. Jones recognised as belonging to her husband. The Superintendent of Police took possession of the chain, &c. The value of the chain is about two pounds. I told the prisoner there was £70 of my money stolen, and she said she did not know it was stolen.

The prisoner said witness had spoken very falsely about he gold chain.

In reply to the prisoner, witness said she did not remember having hold of Mr. Jones' arm when they met the prisoner. Mr. Jones introduced Mrs. Calcraft, the prisoner, to witness.

Susannah Cook, wife of Police-constable David Cook, female searcher, said I was fetched to the Police Station last (Sunday) night, and received instructions to search the prisoner. I went in the cells and was in the act of removing her stays when the prisoner said “you must not touch that, I will give it to the Super.” She then took from inside her stays the washing glove (produced). It was tied up. I did not open it but gave it to Mr. Sanders in the prisoner's presence.

Superintendent Sanders said, the prisoner was brought to the station from Ashford at half-past ten o'clock last night and Mrs. Cook, after searching the prisoner handed me this bag and I found it to contain three five pound bank of England Notes, (now produced). The notes were stamped on the back, Townwall Street, Dover, August 25th, 1888.

P.C. Pilcher said: I went to Ashford last (Sunday) evening, and found the prisoner detained there, at the Police Station. I told her that she would be charged with being concerned with Jones in stealing a gold chain and some money. She said Jones had worn her watch and chain as she had got his; but they had only exchanged for the day, she said Jones had given here the money to buy new boots and other things, but he told her it was his own money. I said “there are some notes among the money” and he said “yes, Jones has changed some notes.” She did not poduce any notes. She made the same statement when the charge was read over to her at the Police Station here. I went to No. 6, Charles Square, Margate, accompanied by the prisoner's husband on Sunday. We were shown two large boxes and in one of them I found a man's shirt which Mr. Jones has since identified as his property. I also found a new hat, new material for dresses, and a pair of nearly new boots. I received the watch and chain produced and several other things from the Ashford Police.

The Bench remanded the prisoner until this (Friday) morning.