From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 22 October, 1886. Price 1d.

ASSAULTING A CAPTAIN

Alfred Bartlett was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Strond Street, and striking T. Bond, captain of the yacht Glyndesmere, in Strond Street.

The complainant said he was in Strond Street talking to a pilot about a claim for assistance to the yacht. The defendant rushed upon them, struck down the pilot, and then hit the complainant in the eye. The defendant seemed to be drunk.

The defendant said he did not recollect striking the captain. The pilot was always down on him. He struck the pilot, and he supposed the captain must have taken his part.

Police-constable Brace said he was near the “Ship Hotel,” in Strond Street, when he saw the prisoner, the last witness, and another man. The prisoner, who was very drunk, was challenging them to fight. The last witness went towards the “Ship Hotel,” and as he was entering the door the prisoner struck him. The prisoner continued to cause a disturbance outside the “Shit Hotel,” and the Constable took him in custody.

The prisoner said he was going through Strond Street, when Carlton spoke to him. He was always on to him.

The prisoner was fined 9s. 6d. including costs, a week being allowed to pay.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 13 March, 1890. Price 1d.

THE SHIP INN PROCEEDINGS

Frederick Dorrington was summoned by Charles Andrew Grimes for assaulting him on the 3rd of March.

Mr. Martyn Mowll appeared on behalf of Mr. Grimes, and Mr. H. W. Frich, a barrister of the South-Eastern Circuit, appeared for the defendant.

Mr. Mowll, in opening the case, said that the assault occurred on Tuesday last. Mr. Grimes was acting under a distress warrant levied by the landlords of the house, and defendant being the caretaker or manager put in by the tenant. Mr. Grimes, accompanied by Mr. Meadows, who was compliant on another charge, went down to the “Ship Inn” to levy distress, when the assault occurred.

Mr. Charles Andrew Grimes said that he was a clerk to Messrs. Worsfold and Hayward, and had been for more than 25 years. He was an authorised bailiff, by the County Court Judge, under the distress law amendment Act 1888. he was authorised to levy distress for £50, which was due to the landlords from Mrs. Mary Ann Hannah Watson, the tenant. He went to the “Ship Inn” with that warrant about 10.30 on Tuesday last, accompanied by Mr. meadows, senior. He went into the private bar, and there saw Mr. Dorrington, and told him he wanted to speak to him privately. He then said, “say what you have got to say here,” calling a stranger from the back-room. He told him he had come to levy a distress, and read the warrant to him. Dorrington asked him to give him a copy of it, but this he declined to do, and told him he could read it. After he had read the warrant defendant said that it was illegal, it was not stamped. He told meadows to come if that was the case, and proceed to execute the distress, making for the staircase. Dorrington pushed him, and got on to the stairs, and refused to let them go up. He sent the stranger for a Policeman, and proceeded formally with the distress by taking the umbrella stand in the hall. After waiting a few minutes, and finding a Constable did not arrive, he went out for one, leaving the warrant with Meadows. He found Police-constable Knott, who went back with him to the house, he examined the warrant, and told Dorrington that it was perfectly legal, and that he must not obstruct it. He immediately allowed him to go upstairs then, and they took their inventory in the usual way. When they went upstairs Knott left at his request. The inventory took about an hour. The man who remained in possession, Mr. Meadows (jun.), arrived soon after twelve. About that time, Dorrington, who seemed very excited, came into the rioom where they were, and asked what business he had to take down his pictures. He told him he had not taken his pictures, and defendant replied with an oath that he was a liar. Dorrington then went back into the bar, after having some conversation with his wife, came back again, and began about the pictures. He then asked for the inventory, and said that he wanted that “list,” and he told him he should have it when he was entitled to have it. He then put his papers altogether in his bag, and told Meadows that they would go. He walked towards the front door with his bag and stick in his hand. Dorrington then rushed out, getting in front and took hold of his arm and held him, afterwards getting hold of his bag, and Meadows seeing that he was getting dragged backwards, came to his assistance, and took hold of the bag. All three of them had got hold of the bag, and went towards the front door in the scuffle, and as they neared it Dorrington took meadows by the neck and threw him off. He then managed to get sole possession of the bag, and in the scuffle one of the handles got broken. The defendant had placed himself in front of the door with a stick across it, they both tried to get out several times, but finding that they could not, Meadows went out of the back door, and he saw Mrs. Dorrington follow him. After he had gone he went to the back door, and found it locked, and the key missing. He went back to the front door, and again tried to get out, but Dorrington was still standing there. Meadows turned to the house, accompanied by Police-constable Ash, who came close to the door near which he was detained. He told him that he had been executing a warrant levying a distress for rent, and he wanted to leave the premises but was detained by Dorrington, also that he had endeavoured to wrench his bag from him, which contained legal documents. The defendant told Ash that he wanted the “list,” and witness told him he should have it when he was entitled to it. He then called upon Ash formally, telling him he was detained there as a prisoner against his will, and asking to be released. Ash said he did not know anything about it, and asked why he did not give the man what he wanted. He told him that it did not concern him as a Constable, he wanted him to do his duty; and the end of it was that Ash did not render him any assistance. This went on for about three-quarters of an hour after Ash got there, and during this time he was subject to all sorts of annoyances by Dorrington and his wife. The defendants took up a mat to rub it in his face. He sent Meadows to fetch the Superintendent of Police to lay the matter before him. After a time Police-constable Knott and Ash appeared, and he was released.

Cross-examined by Mr. Frich: He was kept in there about three-quarters of an hour after Ash arrived, before he was released. The disturbance from first to last was about an hour. He did not g