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Beach Street / Esplanade
Deal
Building date from 1743.
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From Laker 1917, P. 396
Samuel Baker, landlord of the "Ship," a small inn which stood near
the present "Clarendon Hotel," in March 1857 murdered an ensign named
McCarroll of one of the Dept. Regts. at Walmer.
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From the Dover Telegraph and Cinque Ports General
Advertiser, Saturday 4 April, 1857. Price 4d.
HORRIBLE MURDER OF AN OFFICER
Our town was thrown into a state of intense excitement on Sunday
morning last, by a rumour that an officer belonging to the 44th Regiment
of Foot, stationed at Walmer, had been found on the beach nearly dead,
with a frightful gash in his head, and other contusions, of which he
died an hour after he was discovered. The suspicion that he had met with
foul play soon proved to be true. The facts are detailed in the
subjoined evidence, taken before the Magistrates on Monday. It appears
that the man, Samuel Baker, who committed the deed, keeps a
public-house, the "Ship," in this town, and he has also been in the
employ of Mr. Bates, coach proprietor, for the last twelve years. He has
always been considered a very steady man - except when he was
intoxicated, when he was very violent. The deceased, Lieutenant Edward
McCarroll, an officer in the 44th Foot, was a quiet, gentlemanly young
man, of about 20 years of age. He had mixed himself up in the excitement
of the election on Saturday, and had evidently, when last seen alive,
been drinking rather freely. Baker was placed in the dock about ten
o'clock. He appeared rather grave, but quite calm. His countenance has
rather a forbidden and determined expression; he is a short man, but
strong and thickly built. There was a very full attendance of
Magistrates, and the hall was crowded. The first witness called was a
boatman, of the Coast-guard service, named Goldsworthy, whose evidence
went to show the discovery of deceased on the beach, and the position in
which the body was found.
Alexander Gibbs - I am Surgeon to the depot battalion at Walmer
Barracks. On Sunday morning, at six or shortly after, I was called to go
to the dockyard at Deal, where one of our officers was lying, who was
supposed to be nearly killed. I went immediately and found it was an
officer in the 44th, Lieut. Edward McCarroll. He was lying on the floor
of the dockyard office, before the fire; he was insensible, but alive.
His face had been washed, and on examination I found a wound on the back
of his head, behind the ear. Mr. Mason, surgeon of Deal, was in
attendance when I arrived. By my direction the deceased was removed to
his quarters, in Walmer Barracks. He was conveyed thence on a stretcher,
by some soldiers. He was immediately, on his arrival, put to bed, and in
about an hour after he expired. He never regained consciousness at all,
from the time I first saw him until his death. I noticed that the skin
had been torn off the left fore finger of the deceased, apparently from
the blow.
James Mordan - I am a boatman of the Coast Guard, at Deal
station. I was on duty from midnight of the 28th till six in the morning
of the 29th. My guard joined that of Goldsworthy. About one in the
morning of the 29th, when I was near the flag-staff, I was spoken to by
the deceased. I bid him good morning. He asked me, who I was. I replied
"a Coast Guard." he said he had been to the election and had lost £5. He
asked if any public- houses were open. I told him yes - one opposite,
namely, the "Ship," kept by the prisoner. I then walked up to the door
with him; he knocked at it with his stick. Mrs. Baker opened the door,
and asked who was there, and then deceased asked her to let him have a
glass of grog "on tick." She refused him, and told him to go about his
business. I saw him all the time he was at the door, and I did not see
him do anything except knock at the door. I saw no one else there except
Mrs. Baker. Deceased did not go into the house at all. When Mrs. Baker
refused the glass of grog, I heard deceased say to her that that she
might go to ---- and that was a good hot place. It is not possible that
anything more could have been said or done than what I heard and saw,
from the position I was in, between the deceased and Mrs. Baker.
Deceased was at the door five or six minutes; and then I saw him go
along the pavement towards Mrs. Fitches', in the direction of Walmer. A
very few minutes after after deceased was gone, Mrs. Baker came out to
where I was standing, and told me that deceased had shoved a stick into
her mouth, and loosened two of her teeth. Soon after this, I saw the
prisoner leave his house and go in the direction of Walmer, with his
jacket in his hand. He returned after the space of about ten minutes,
and entered the house. Another five minutes lapsed, and I saw him come
out a second time; he then came across to me and asked me "which way
that gentleman had gone?" I supposed he meant the deceased and I told
him he had gone in the direction of Mrs. Fitches'. On this second
occasion he had his jacket and hat on, but I did not notice that he had
anything else with him. Directly I told him the direction in which the
deceased had gone, he went the same way. He walked. He did not appear to
be angry or excited. It was about half past-two in the morning that I
saw him again. He was then standing with his wife on the Esplanade. I in
the meantime had been on my patrol towards the Dockland. I went there
soon after I had seen Baker walking away, in the direction of Fitches',
the second time. It was about half-an-hour after this that I saw the
prisoner and his wife walking on the Esplanade. He said to me - "I
catched him near the Toll-gate, and I had something in my pocket and I
gave it to him." I asked Baker where he had left him, and he said, "on
the beach, abreast of the dockyard, and near the red light." After this
I went to the end of the guard, but I did not notice anything or look
for anything, as I fancied Baker had not spoken the truth. Deceased,
when he came to speak to me on the Esplanade, had a Scotch cap on like
the one produced. He was in liquor, but did not appear to be absolutely
drunk. He could walk as well as I could. Baker appeared also to have
been drinking, but he certainly was not intoxicated as not to know what
he was about. He could walk well. In the morning, about half-past five,
I was talking to Goldsworthy at the end of the guard, near the dockyard
red light, when he saw something on the beach which turned out to be the
body of the deceased. It struck me it was the man after whom Baker had
run, whom I had seen talking at the public-house, and I told the
circumstances, as I have already related them, to Goldsworthy. I will
swear that nothing further took place than what I have narrated.
Henry Redsull, policeman, of Deal, was next called. He said -
was on duty on Sunday morning, in Prospect-place, at half-past one
o'clock. At about that time I saw Baker (the prisoner) pass down by me,
coming along Prospect-place, near the "Deal
Castle" public-house. I said "Good night," and he returned the
salutation. He was walking at the same time. I saw something in his
right hand pocket; it had a piece of bone or ivory at the end, as it
appeared to me, of about six or seven inches in length. I cannot,
however, swear about this. The next time I sea him I apprehended him.
I apprehended him at half-past nine on Sunday morning. I told him
that the body of a man had been found on the beach in front of the
Dockyard; that he was dead, and that I must apprehend him on suspicion
of being he person who struck the blow that ended so fatally. In reply
the prisoner said, "Yes, he ran a stick into my wife's mouth and nearly
drawed out her tongue." he further stated he went after him with a
bobbin stick, that a scuffle ensued, and that he was compelled to use
the stick. I have not found it, though search has been made. I have not
seen anything in the house bearing any resemblance whatsoever to
what I saw in his pocket. He said that he had thrown the bobbin stick
among the others.
By the Bench- When you went to apprehend the prisoner did you see his
wife?
Witness - Yes, I saw her first.
Did she complain of ill usage at the hands of the officer?
Yes, she said that the officer had knocked two teeth out of her
mouth, but I did not see any appearance of the kind. Baker was not at
home when I called, but his wife told me that he was at the stables,
and I there apprehended him.
Redsull's evidence closed the proceedings on Monday, which were
resumed at ten o'clock on the following day.
George Mason, Esq., surgeon, Deal, deposed - I was called on Sunday
morning, about half-past five, to see a man on the beach, reported to be
in a dying state. I found he had been removed to the boat house in the
Dockyard; he was lying on the floor with his face covered with blood,
pulse scarcely perceptible, and in an unconscious state. By the
direction of Mr. Wootton, he was taken to a room belonging to the
dockyard. I had his face washed, and used every means in my power to
restore circulation, by means of brandy and ammonia. On examining the
head, I found a wound, three inches in length, reaching down the skull;
at that time, I did not know who he was; but on taking off his boots,
&c., found he belonged to the 44th regiment, and immediately sent to the
surgeon of the same, who arrived in about half an hour. With as little
delay as possible, I caused the deceased to be removed to his quarters
in barracks. By order of the Coroner, a post mortem examination
was made, on Monday afternoon, by Dr, Gibbs and myself, when we observed
several abrasions and ecchymose appeared on the outer end and lower part
of the left arm, and a considerable laceration on the back part of the
left side of the chest, and several scratches on the throat, apparently
done with the hand. Abrasions were also seen on the outward and back
part of the right thigh, and on the front and upper part of the same
leg; blood was seen about the nostrils and left ear, and both pupils
were dilated, but the pupil of the left eye more than that of the right
eye. On removing the scalp, a quantity of effused blood was found
extending behind the ear, and spreading over a great portion of the
head.
Mr. Mason here entered into a detailed description of the contused
wound, which was three inches below the incised one; the former, he
considered, was caused by a very heave instrument, and not buy a fall -
he thought a blow from a poker would have produced the effects
presented. The fracture occasioned by the blow was seven inches in
length, and extended through the temporal, parental, and small portion
of the frontal bones; he was of opinion that death was caused by the
contused would entirely, and that the deceased could not have had any
consciousness after it was inflicted. Mr. Mason, at the close of his
evidence, bestowed a deservedly high eulogium on Mr. Wootton, of the
Dockyard; and Dr. Gibbs, who concurred in the evidence of Mr. Mason,
found himself bound to acknowledge the prompt, kin and humane assistance
rendered by Mr. Wootton on the occasion.
J. Dessant, brickmaker, deposed - I was at the "Ship" on Saturday
night, the 28th, and on Sunday morning, the 29th; several persons were
in the tap room, and the prisoner was in the company occasionally. About
one o'clock in the morning, I saw Baker go out of the room; but before
doing so, he went to the fire-place and put the poker under his coat,
after which I saw nothing more of him. Nothing was said about Mrs. Baker
being injured, and I was not aware of anything amiss had occurred.
Thomas Parker, policeman, deposed - While accompanying Redsull on
Sunday last, we met Baker in Prospect place. Witness noticed that he had
got something in his right-hand pocket, in which was also his hand; it
appeared two to three feet in length, and projected from his pocket.
The evidence having been brought to a close, the mayor asked the
prisoner if he had any defence to offer, or anything to say; in reply to
which, Baker said that he should reserve his defence.
The prisoner was then fully committed for trial, and will be sent to
Sandwich gaol until the next assizes at Maidstone.
baker was an omnibus driver, and came to Deal a few years ago from
Faversham.
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Kentish Gazette, 7 April 1857.
MURDER OF AN OFFICER OF THE 44th REGIMENT.
The town of Deal was thrown into a state of great excitement on
Saturday se'nnight, by the intelligence that Ensign M'Carroll, a
young officer of the 44th Regiment the depot of which is at present
stationed at Walmer barracks, had been murdered near the naval yard.
It appear that Mr. M‘Corrall was found at about five o’clock in the
morning lying upon the beach in front of the naval yard in a dying
state with his skull fractured, a deep gash on the side of his head,
and one of his fingers much injured. He was immediately attended by
Mr. Mason, surgeon, who had him conveyed at once to the Naval
Hospital, but notwithstanding the attention paid to him, he expired
at about nine o’clock, having been insensible from the time he was
first discovered. In the course of the day a man name Samuel Baker,
the landlord of a public-house, called the "Ship," upon the Naval
Esplanade was apprehended an charged with the murder. He confessed
that the unfortunate deceased went to his house between one and two
o’clock in the morning, and asked for something to drink which Mrs.
Baker refused to give him, whereupon he struck her with his cane,
and immediately left the house. Mr. Baker followed him and admits
that he overtook him an knocked him down. A coast-guardsman who was
on duty in front of Mr. Baker’s house, states that Mr. Baker came to
him at an early hour in the morning, and asked him if he saw a man
leave the house, and in what direction he had gone. On telling him,
Baker went into his own house and returned with some weapon in his
hand, with which he followed in the direction the young officer had
taken and on returning shortly afterwards "exclaimed, I have given
him something that he won’t soon get over." The deceased was only 19
years of age. On Monday the case came before the magistrates, when
the following facts were elicited.
The first witness examined was a boatman, of the coast guard
service, named Goldsworthy, whose evidence went to show the
discovery of deceased on the beach, and the position in which the
body was found.
James Morden, a boatman of the coast-guard, deposed that he was on
duty on Sunday morning, between the dock yard and the flag-staff
esplanade, about one o’clock, when near the flag-staff he was
accosted by the deceased who whishes him good morning, and said he
had been to the election and lost £5, he then asked him if he would
take anything to drink, which offer he refused, being on duty. The
deceased then enquired if any public-house was open, to which he
replied yes, there was one abreast of them, meaning the "Ship," kept
by the prisoner, Samuel Baker. He then walked up to the door and
knocked against it with his stick. Mrs. Baker asked who was there,
the deceased replied that he wanted a glass of grog on tick; she
refused to supply him with any and told him to go about his
business. Witness then left him and went on guard again, but was in
a position to hear and see all that took place; he did not see the
door, which was partially opened, closed; the deceased did not go
into the house at all; when refused the grog he said "you may go to
hell, a good hot place for you," did not see a stick introduced when
the door was opened. Baker came out of his house a few minutes after
the officer left and told the witness that he had shoved his stick
into his wife’s mouth and loosened some of her teeth, saw Baker go
along the street without coat and cap in the direction of the Walmer-road,
and return after an interval of ten minutes. In about five minutes
after that, he saw him (Baker) come out a second time from his
house, when he asked which way that gentleman went; he told him in
the direction of Mr. Fitch’s shop; Baker had then a coat and hat on,
did not run but walked, and did not appear angry. About half-past
two observed the prisoner and his wife standing on the esplanade. On
meeting Baker the last time he said that he caught the gentleman
near the toll gate, adding he had something in his pocket and that
he gave it to him. Witness then asked Baker where he had left him;
he said on the beach abreast the dockyard, near the red light,
moreover that he told the deceased he kept a public-house in Deal so
that he would know where to find him. In the morning about a
quarter-past five being at the end of his patrole, met Goldsworthy
who noticed something lying on the beach which he supposed an anchor
stock; on examination found it was a man apparently in a dying
state, and the thought immediately struck the witness that it was
the gentleman Baker inquired about; recognised the stick lying near
the body as the same with which the deceased had knocked at the door
of the "Ship."
Alexander Gibbs, surgeon of the depot, deposed that between six and
seven o’clock he was called upon to attend the dockyard, where it
was represented an officer had been nearly killed. He lost no time
in repairing to the spot and there recognized Lieutenant Edward
Carroll, of the 44th Regiment, lying on the floor before a fire in a
room at the dockyard, he was alive, but quite insensible, and the
face of the deceased had been washed. Mr. Mason, a surgeon of the
town, was in attendance. On examination witness found an incised
wound of the scalp, about three inches in length, and down to the
bone of the skull, and which apparently had been inflicted by some
sharp instrument. In conjunction with Mr. Mason, he made an
arrangement for the conveyance of the deceased to his quarters at
the barracks, where he was immediately placed in bed, and only lived
about an hour after his arrival at the barracks and expired in a
perfectly unconscious state. In addition to the wound there was a
contusion, behind and above the left ear and from the left fore
finger part of the skin was torn off apparently from the effects of
a violent blow.
Henry Rudsell, policeman, deposed, that at half-past one or
thereabouts on Saturday morning, while in company with Parker,
another policeman, they saw Baker pass down Prospect-place, near the
"Deal Castle public-house." Prisoner was walking quietly, wished him
good morning, which was returned, and saw something in his right
hand pocket, which looked like a stick with a white end to it; did
not see Baker again till he apprehended him about half-past nine
o’clock, when he told him a man had been found with a very serious
wound on his head, and that he suspected that he was the man who had
inflicted the blow.
Rudsell’s evidence closed the proceedings on Monday, which were
resumed at ten o’clock on the following day.
George Mason, Esq., surgeon, Deal, deposed, that he was called on
Sunday morning about half-past five to see a man on the beach,
reported to be in a dying state; he went immediately and found that
he had been removed to the boathouse in the dockyard; he was lying
on the floor with his face covered with blood, pulse scarcely
perceptible, and in an unconscious state. By the direction of Mr.
Wootton he was taken to a room belonging to the dockyard. Had his
face washed and used every means in his power to restore
circulation, by means of brandy and ammonia. On examining his head
found a wound three inches in length, reaching down to the skull; at
that time did not know who he was, but on taking off his boots, &c.,
found he belonged to the 44th Regiment, and immediately sent to the
surgeon of the same, who arrived in about half an hour. With as
little delay as possible he caused the deceased to be removed to his
quarters in barracks. By order of the coroner, a post mortem
examination was made at four o’clock on Monday afternoon, by Dr.
Gibbs and himself, when they observed several abrasions and
enchymose appearances on the outer and lower part of the left arm,
and a considerable laceration on the back part of the left hand;
there was an abrasion on the upper part of the left side of the
chest, and several scratches on the throat, apparently done with the
hand. Abrasions were also seen on the outward and back part of the
right thigh, and on the front and upper part of the same leg; blood
was seen about the nostrils and left ear, and both pupils were
dilated, but the pupil of the left eye more than that of the right.
On removing the scalp, a quantity of effused blood was found
extending behind the ear, and spreading over a great portion of the
head.
Mr. Mason here entered into a detailed description of the contused
wound, which was three inches below the incised one; the former, he
considered, was caused by a very heavy instrument, and not by a
fall, thought a blow from a poker would have produced the effects
presented. The fracture occasioned by the blow was seven inches in
length, and extended through the temporal, parietal and small
portion of the frontal bones; was of opinion that death was caused
by the contused wound entirely, and that the deceased could not have
had any consciousness after it was inflicted. Mr. Mason, at the
close of his evidence, bestowed a deservedly high eulogium on Mr.
Wootton, of the dockyard; and Dr. Gibbs, who concurred in the
evidence of Mr. Mason, felt himself bound to acknowledge the prompt,
kind, and humane assistance rendered by Mr. Wootton on the occasion.
J. Dcssant, brickmaker, deposed, that he was at the "Ship" on
Saturday night the 28th, and on Sunday morning the 29th; several
persons were in the tap-room, and the prisoner was with the company
occasionally. About one o’clock in the morning saw Baker go out of
the room, but before doing so, he went to the fire-place and put the
poker under his coat, after which the witness saw nothing more of
him. Before leaving the house witness saw Mrs. Baker and said good
night. Nothing was said about her being injured, and was not aware
that anything amiss had occurred. Heard no noise or knocking at the
front door of the "Ship," although the tap-room door opens close to
it.
Thomas Parker, policeman, deposed, that while accompanying Redsull
on Sunday morning, they met Baker in Prospect-place. Witness noticed
that he had got something in his right-hand pocket, in which was
also his hand; it appeared from two to three feet in length, and
projected from his pocket, in resembled in size a riding whip, and
had a bright top like metal.
The evidence having been brought to a close, the Mayor asked the
prisoner if he had any defence to offer or anything to say; in reply
to which questions he said that he should reserve his defence.
The prisoner was then fully committed for trial, and has been sent
to Sandwich gaol until the next assizes at Maidstone. Baker was an
omnibus driver, and came to Deal a few years ago from Faversham.
The coroner’s inquest was resumed on Thursday.
The evidence was mostly a recapitulation of that taken by the
magistrates, and at the close the jury returned a verdict of wilful
murder against Samuel Baker.
The remains of the late unfortunate young officer were interred on
Wednesday at the Walmer Military Ground. Most of the houses and
shops were partially closed, and the public and shipping
establishments had their colours hoisted half mast. The whole of the
officers of the regiment, with many of the leading inhabitants and
tradesmen, followed the body to the grave.
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From the Ashford and Alfred News, No. 108, Saturday
August 1st, 1857.
Maidstone Assizes - July 1857 - Samuel Baker for slaying Edward
McCarroll at Deal on 20th April.
Samuel Baker, 36, was indicted for the wilful murder of Edward
McCarroll. Mr. Deedes said Mr. Robinson conducted the prosecution, Mr.
Sergeant Ballentine was specially retained with Mr. Denman to defend the
prisoner.
The circumstances under which the charge was preferred were of rather
an extraordinary nature. The deceased was a very young man and at the
time he met his death, he was a Lieutenant in the 44th. Regiment and was
stationed at Walmer Barracks.
The prisoner kept the "Ship" Public House upon the Esplanade at Deal
and about 1 o'clock in the morning of March 29th, the deceased spoke to
a coastguard name Mordan and asked where he could get something to
drink. The deceased was evidently the worse for liquor. Morden directed
him to the "Ship" and he knocked at the door, which was opened by Mrs.
Baker and he asked for a glass of grog "on tick." She told him no one
had drink "on tick" and told him to go about his business.
This answer evidently excited the deceased and he used some bad
language to Mrs. Baker. After he was gone, she complained to Morden that
the young man had forced out two of her teeth with his stick, although
there was no direct evidence that he did use violence. She also told her
husband this.
The deceased had gone towards Walmer barracks and was followed by the
prisoner who was seen to take the poker from he fireplace and put it in
his pocket.
Soon after Baker had left, cries were heard and although there was no
doubt prisoner inflicted the fatal injuries there was no evidence of
what indeed took place.
At 5.30 the same morning, the deceased was found lying on the sea
shore in an almost lifeless state with his skull severely fractured,
from which injury he died about 9 o'clock without being able to give any
explanation of what happened.
The prisoner saw Morden on his way home and said "he had caught the
deceased near the toll-gate and that he had something in his pocket to
give to him." The deceased cap was found near the toll-gate and the
prosecution claimed that the affray had taken place on this spot and
that the body had been carried to where it was found and might possibly
have been carried away by the tide.
Mr Serjt. Ballantyne made an able defence for the prisoner. Mr.
Justice Wallace summed up, the jury retired for about 20 minutes and
gave a verdict of manslaughter. Sentence deferred.
On Thursday prisoner was brought up for sentence and Justice Willis
said he had conferred with his learned colleague, the Lord Chief Baron,
and the result of their anxious deliberations was, that he must pass
upon the prisoner the most severed sentence known to the law, next to
death.
The sentence of the Court upon him was that he be imprisoned and kept
in Penal Servitude for life."
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LICENSEE LIST
BAKER Samuel 1841-57+ (also coach driver age 30 in 1851 )
 To "Seagull."
Ann Baker (wife of Samuel) went on to run the "South
Foreland" in 1860
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