From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 15 July, 1837. Price 7d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

SUICIDE BY A STRANGER

An inquest was held yesterday at the "Rose and Crown," South Pier, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for Dover ad the liberties of the Port, on the body of a man, name unknown, who committed suicide by hanging himself in his bed-room, at the above house. He arrived there on Tuesday, and by circumstances which transpired in evidence, it seems he came from London, by way of Herne Bay. He had stated himself to be a shoemaker out of work and to one of the witnesses, who had mentioned some of the eastern parts of London to him, he said he came from the other end of the town. He appeared about four and thirty years of age, five feet seven inches in height; was slightly made; his hair, whiskers, and complexion dark, and nose remarkably prominent. His dress was a brown dress coat, with velvet collar; black trousers and a buff waistcoat, sprigged with purple, and bound with black. The maker's name in his hat, "Marks, 30, High Street, Bloomsbury." He had also a pair of Wellington boots that had been vamped, the original parts marked, "La Hogue, Boulogne." No other marks appeared on his clothing. He had no luggage or papers. In his pockets were found seventeen shillings and sixpence, a key, and some halfpence.

 The evidence of the landlord and others, proved that the deceased had been unwell and dispirited - that on retiring on Thursday night, he said he should have no rest until morning when he should have a long and comfortable sleep. The witness receiving no answer when he knocked at the door of deceased's room yesterday morning, called in assistance and forced the lock, when they found the unfortunate man on his knees by the side of his bed, having his arms crossed, and as if in the position of prayer. His head was suspended from the tester by a silk handkerchief, which they instantly cut, and medical assistance was obtained; but he was quite dead. The other evidence was merely corroborative of the above, and to prove the indisposition of the deceased, who on one occasion said to the landlady on retiring, 'what a blessing it would be if I should never rise any more!'

Verdict, temporary insanity.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 17 April, 1841. Price 5d.

DOVER POLICE COURT

William Lawrence, labourer, aged 20, charged with stealing at Dover, 40 pounds of beef, the property of Joseph Sacre, who stated that on the evening of the 10th of January last, he missed a four quarter of beef, which had been hanging in front of his shop. The beef was a few days afterwards produced by a policeman, which was cut up into five pieces, but he identified it, by some marks, as his property.

Hogben, landlord of the "Rose and Crown," stated that prisoner lodged at his house. On the evening of the 14th January he went into prisoner's bed-room, and under the bed found a quantity of beef, which was owned by Mr. Sacre. There was another bed in the room, in which no person had slept for some weeks past.

Edward George Corrall, superintendent of police, was with the last witness when the beef was found. He went the same evening, accompanied by Sergeant Laker, to the "Horse and Jocky," where he apprehended the prisoner. There were several woman in the room, behind whom he was concealed in the corner. The jury after some consultation returned a verdict of Not Guilty. The Court being satisfied that the beef was the property of Mr. Sacre, it was given up to him.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday, 10 July, 1847. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

On Saturday evening last an inquest was held at the “Rose and Crown Inn,” before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, on the body of William Hogben, aged 33, fly-proprietor. The Jury having been sworn, and a foreman appointed, they then proceeded to view the body, and on their return the following evidence was given:-

William Henry Dray: I am a mariner belonging to the Ranger revenue cruiser. On Sunday, the 13th of June, I, with two of my comrades, and five females of our acquaintance, hired the deceased William Hogben and his fly for a pleasure excursion. We left Dover at a quarter-past three o'clock in the afternoon, and went first to River. We stopped at the “Dublin Man-of War” for about two minutes, and then stared for Mongeham. One of the horses drawing the fly refused to move, we put up at the “Three Cups,” while Hogben returned to Dover for the purpose of getting another horse, taking the refractory one with him. When he returned, we started for Mongeham, where we arrived about half-past six. The party had tea there, and a pot of beer, staying about two hours, and then started for Deal. At Deal we remained some short time, and had some gin and water. We left Deal at nine, the deceased driving; two of the party, of whom I was one, accompanied the box seat with deceased, the females and one of my comrades being inside. On our way to Dover we stopped at Ringwould, and had some more gin and water. We did not stop again; on coming to the Castle Hill the deceased did not skid the wheel; but when about half way down, having then nearly been capsized, he put the skid on. Hogben had jumped off previous to that, but said he was not hurt. After the skid was on, the deceased took the reins. When near the bottom of the hill, the carriage appeared to overpower the horses, and they went fast. At the entrance to castle Street, the carriage overturned; I was thrown off, and on recovering myself (in a minute or two after) I ran to the fly to assist the females. I did not see the deceased then, and having got the females out, I heard someone say there was a man under the fly; I found that it was the deceased, and I helped to get him out. It seemed to me that the box of the fly was rested upon him. He was insensible when we got him out, and his face was covered with blood; but his consciousness returned in five or ten minutes, and then he was assisted to Mr. Jones's surgery. Mr. Jones was at home, and attended upon him. I don't know how the fly was upset. The deceased was quite sober, and I am not aware of his having taken any drink during the day, except a portion of that which we had brought for ourselves. Neither I nor my comrades touched the reins at the time of the accident.

Edward Jones, surgeon, residing in Castle Street: On Sunday fortnight, a little before eleven, I attended the deceased at my house. I had gone out into the street, hearing a great noise, and there saw a fly upset in the road, and the deceased lying upon his back, with part of the carriage or the haunch of one of the horses resting upon him; on getting him to my house, and washing away the blood which covered his face, I observed upon it several lacerations; there was one nearly three inches long, and very deep, under the right eye. He did not complain of being hurt anywhere else. Having dressed his wounds, I took him to his residence, and attended him professionally afterwards. In two or three days he complained of pain in the upper part of the right thigh and the lower part of the belly. On an examination, I found a most extensive bruise; and in a few days more mortification threatened to set in, which I treated with success by incision, producing a separation of the parts. The wound put on a healthy character, and he promised well. On Sunday morning haemorrhage set in, and continued during the day, so as to alarm me. I subdued that, and up to Tuesday last he appeared to mend. On Wednesday last, on seeing him, I found incipient lock-jaw coming on, which continued to increase until Thursday night, the first instant, when he died. I believe his age to have been 33 years. The attack of lock-jaw was the consequence of injuries he had received when I first saw him.

The above forming the whole of the evidence, the Coroner then summed up, and after a short consultation the Jury returned the following verdict:- That the deceased died from injuries by the accidental overturning of a carriage, which he himself was driving.

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 11 March, 1848. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

An inquest was held on Monday, at the "Rose and Crown," Clarence Place, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner, on the body of Samuel Perry, aged 33, a commissioned boatman, under the command of Lieut. Pearson, of the Coast Guard service, who died suddenly on Sunday morning.

Joseph Howlett, commissioned boatman in Coast Guard services deposed: On Sunday night last, I was on duty with deceased in the boat, in Dover Harbour. About 11 o'clock, we took off Mr. Morgan to the Lion Cutter, lying in the bay. On reaching the cutter, deceased held on a rope while Mr. Morgan got on board, and on turning round, I saw deceased had fallen across the gunwale of the boat. I went to him and unloosed his neckcloth, and he appeared quite lifeless. The galley belonging to the Lion was immediately lowered, in which deceased was placed and rowed o shore, and I went to call Mr. Coleman. Deceased had been on this station about three months, during which time he had never complained of illness, and on the night in question he appeared more cheerful than usual.

Macdonald Wallis, assistant to Mr. Coleman, surgeon, deposed: About two months since I met deceased on a Sunday afternoon at the back of the Railway terminus, and in course of conversation, he complained to me of certain symptoms, which induced me to think he was labouring under a disease of the heart. I cautioned him against using any violent exercise, saying, if he did so, he might some day die suddenly.

John Coleman, jun., surgeon, deposed: I was called on Saturday night, about 12 o'clock, to see deceased. I opened a vein, but found life quite extinct. From the suddenness of the death, and the peculiar froth around the mouth, as well as the evidence of the last witness, I judge that death arose from pulmonary apoplexy, arising from disease of the heart.

Verdict: "Died by the visitation of God."

From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General Advertiser, Saturday 1 June, 1850. Price 5d.

CORONER'S INQUEST

On Tuesday evening at half-past seven o'clock, an inquest was held at the "Rose and Crown," at the pier, before G. T. Thompson, Esq., Coroner for the Borough, on the body of George Norton, aged 37 years, one of the men employed with the "mud barges" in over harbour, who met with his death by falling overboard in the morning of that day. Mr. Joseph Long was appointed foreman for the jury, and the body, which was lying at the Boom-house, having been received, the following was taken:-

William Reffell, labourer in the employ of the Commissioners of Dover Harbour - I knew deceased, who was employed in the same barge with me. This morning, at about a quarter past 9 o'clock, we were in the barge together, opposite to the Boom-house, and were in the cat of warping her over to the other side. The warp had already been made fast, and the deceased, with it in his hands, was walking backwards to pass the rope over the timber head at the stern of the barge. I was standing at the bow, and on turning round to see how he was getting on I saw him in the act of falling overboard. I ran to his assistance, with a view of throwing him a rope; but the only one I could get was the one he had previously held in his hands, and that was drawn so tight by the stream of the tide that I could not get it to reach him. I looked out for something else, but before I could get a plank to throw to him he had sunk. The boat which had crossed with the rope then came up, and the man in it ran to the bow of the boat, but could not reach deceased. In about 20 minutes from the time of the accident another boat came to the spot, and the men in it succeeded in picking up the deceased, who was then taken to the Boom-house. I do not know what was the depth of water at the time - I should think not about 5 or 6 feet, as a signal had just been hoisted for a steamer to enter. Deceased did not attempt to swim.

John Martin, mariner - On hearing the cry this morning that a man was overboard, I ran for the Humane Society's drag, which with myself and two other sailors entered a boat near the Boom-house, and forthwith cast out the drag, but at the first haul found nothing. We then dragged at the spot where the man had sunk, and brought him up. Deceased was soon landed, and taken to the Boom-house. From the time that I heard the alarm till deceased was picked up I should think 25 minutes had elapsed. I judged there was about 5½ feet of water in the harbour at the time. There was a strong tide running.

William Johnson, working in the harbour - I assisted in carrying the deceased this morning to the Boom-house, and was present during the whole time the usual means of restoration were going on. Two medical men were in attendance - Mr. Coleman's assistant, and a physician staying at the "King's head Hotel." The attempts to re-animate deceased commenced at about 10 o'clock, and were continued till about a quarter past one, but without success.

This forming the whole of the evidence, the Coroner summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally Drowned," and suggested that a recommendation be forwarded to the harbour master for providing an additional rope to the barges, for services in any cases of accident that might again occur.