From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 18 September, 1869. 1d.

ADJOURNED LICENSES

(Before the Mayor, S. Pritchard, W. M. Cavell, J. Iggulden, G. Hughes and R. Hassell, Esqrs.

On Mr. Maxted, the landlord of the "Sir Sydney Smith," applying his license, which was one of those suspended on the previous Thursday, Mr. Henry Duncan Reynolds handed in a couple of letters to the Mayor, and afterwards made the following statement on oath: "I live at No. 136, Beach Street, two doors from the "Sir Sydney Smith." I wish to complain of the character of that house, on account of the disorderly manner in which it is conducted. I refer especially to what has happened during the last 10 months - such as fighting and use of profound language, both by persons who frequent the house as well as between the landlord and his wife. I have seen all this personally, but it has been so continuous that I am not able to give particular dates. I have suffered very serious inconvenience in my family from this conduct, and when my daughter was lying ill the noise and uproar was continued during the whole time, which was some few months since. I have never made any representation to the landlord. I am authorised to put in the communication from Mr. Cole, who resides next door to the house in question; but the other, from Mrs. Harding, also a next door neighbour, although it states I may make what use I like of the letter, is of a more private character. [Mr. Edwards read the letter from Mr. Cole, which was to the effect that the house was so improperly conducted that he had been obliged to give his landlord notice to leave.] If the house was worse conducted at any one particular time it was whilst a Mrs. Marsh, who resides at the North-end was there. She had a daughter living at the house, and the language on this occasion was more excessively bad. - Mr. Renolds also stated that he was very reluctant to complain, but assured the Bench that the house had got so bad that he did not think he should be doing his duty as a father or as a citizen if he did not come forward and make the complaint. He had no animosity against Mr. Hills, and if he could find another tenant for the house he would be the first to sign a testimonial. He did sincerely hope, however, the Magistrates would not grant a fresh license to the present tenant.

Mr. Maxted, the landlord, said there had occasionally been some rough characters in his house, but he had always done his best to get them out as quickly as possible.

Mr. S. Pritchard was then sworn. He said: I am owner of the next house to the "Sir Sydney Smith," and Mr. Cole, who is a tenant of mine, is the person referred to. He has several times complained to me of the noise and disturbance at the "Sir Sydney Smith," and also of the house being kept open till two o'clock in the morning. He has been in the house two years and has made complaints almost from the beginning of his tenancy. He has reported this to me several times, as often as twice in one day I believe, and I have directed him to go to the Mayor. He has now given me notice to quit solely on the ground that he could not live there in consequence of the noise. He stated that to be his sole reason for leaving. I am very sorry to lose him, as he was a very good tenant.

Mr. Iggulden (to Mr. Reynolds): Do women of bad character frequent this house?

Mr. Reynolds: It is rumoured so, but of course I could not describe it, as I do not frequent the house.

Mr. Maxted said Mr. Cole always had his ale and beer of him for his lodgers and it was therefore rather strange that he had never complained to him. He said he thought the house was one of the quietest houses that there was. As to what persons did after they went out of his (Maxted's) house, of course he could not help.

Supt. Parker was next called. He deposed as follows: On several occasions I and the rest of the police have been called to the "Sir Sydney Smith" to quell rows, but it has generally been by Mr. Maxted himself. On one occasion, bit I can't give the date, Mr. Cavell came to me and informed me of a disturbance there was at this house, and on my going there I found a young man named Marsh making a noise. nearly the whole of these disturbances arise from that family. He was brother to the young woman that was locked up last week. I ordered him out of the house, and he went away quietly. His sister lives at the "Sir Sydney Smith," but I don't know in what capacity, although I believe it to be an illegal one. I believe the young man went to the house to fetch his mother, who also occasionally visits there.

Mr. Cavell said it was when the row was between Maxted and his wife a few weeks since that he complained to the police.

Supt. Parker continued: On that occasion Maxted was locked up under a warrant, but his wife refused to appear against him. I have several times been called into the house and have also been attracted there by quarrelling between Maxted and his wife.

Mr. Iddulden: Are woman of bad character harboured there?

The Superintendent: I believe so, but I have no proof.

After a brief consultation the Mayor informed Maxted that the majority of the Magistrates were of opinion that it was not in their power, with propriety, to continue his license. They were very sorry to take so unusual a course - and it was a very unusual one in Deal - but, after the evidence had been given, they did not feel it to be in their power to renew the license.

Maxted: All I can tell you is that no one ever saw my house open at two o'clock in the morning, but go to the "Royal Oak" and others, and you will find them open and a great deal of noise going on.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 15 July, 1871. 1d.

VERY SUSPICIOUS

Alfred Harris, carpenter, and Lucy Marsh, were both charged by Mr. M. Langley with illegally stealing or removing a quantity of furniture from the "Sir Sidney Smith," public-house, Beach Street, the property of Mr. D. M. Hills.

Mr. Langley, agent to Mr. Hills, explained that he had put an execution in the house in question under a bill of sale, and had left a man in the house in possession. The parties in the house, however, either made the man drunk or drugged him, and at two o'clock on Sunday morning the two prisoners were discovered removing things from the house.

In answer to the Bench, Harris said he was lodging at the house, and Mrs. Reely, the landlady, asked him as a favour to assist in removing some of the things, and she told him Mr. Langley had given her permission to do so. He did not know that he was doing wrong. The female prisoner said she was staying at the house for the purpose of helping Mrs. Reely clean up, and had been there about six weeks, but the cleaning up had not been going on all that time. Mrs. Reely told her the same as she had told Harris.

Mr. Langley said that both the prisoners knew perfectly well how matters stood, and Harris had been caught attempting to move some of the things between ten and eleven on Sunday night.

In the course of a conversation that followed, it transpired that the things the prisoners had attempted to remove had been recovered, and as there was a legal difficulty in the matter Mr. Hills, who was present, expressed his willingness to forego the charge against the prisoners, it being understood that proceedings would be taken against the tenant himself.

The prisoners were then admonished by his Worship and discharged. 

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 6 June, 1872. 1d.

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS

A new license was granted to Mr. Harspool, who was for twenty-five years employed at the "Bricklayer's Arms Station," to sell at the "Sir Sydney Smith," public-house, Beach Street.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 6 December, 1873.

BOROUGH PETTY SESSIONS

The Magistrates present at these Sessions on Thursday were the Mayor, and G. Hughes, W. M. Cavell, E. Brown, and G. Fry, Esqrs.

Mrs. Maxted was in attendance to hear a complaint from Mr. J. Wise, of Middle Deal, who alleged that the former always insulted him whenever she met him, in consequence of his having given evidence to the character of the public-house formerly kept by Mr. Maxted, and upon which the license was taken away. Mrs. Maxted admitted that she had upbraided Mr. Wise, but pleaded provocation. The Magistrates, however, told her that she was not in the least justified of her conduct, and if she continued the annoyance she would be called upon to find sureties for her good behaviour, and in default she would be sent to prison.

From the Deal, Walmer, and Sandwich Mercury, 10 April, 1875. 1d.

LICENSED VICTUALLERS' APPLICATION

Application was made for permission to carry on the business of the "Sir Sydney Smith" public-house till the next transfer day, namely, the first of May next.

Henry Barrett said he had taken the "Sir Sydney Smith." The house had been shut up for some time, and he had now taken possession of it. He had signed the necessary notices for an application to be made at the next transfer day. He was informed that the Excise would not object to his opening the house in the interval if the magistrates sanctioned that being done.

Mr. M. Langley, agent to the owners, deposed that the late occupier, a man named Shipley, had left the house, and neglected to apply on the general transfer day for the renewal. He made application for it, but the magistrates refused to grant the renewal till a new tenant had been obtained.

The magistrates granted the application, but intimated that their permission would not prejudice the decision of the magistrates on the next general transfer day.

From the Deal, Walmer and Sandwich Mercury, 6 March 1920

DEAL LICENSEE AND STOLEN OVERCOAT

Mr James Pitcher, licensee of the "Sir Sidney Smith," Beach Street, Deal, figured in a case of theft heard at Dover on Monday, when Frederick King, postcard seller, of no fixed abode, was charged with stealing an overcoat, value six guineas, from Colonel W. T. Mould's house, 3, Marine Parade. The coat was stolen from the hall at No. 3 Marine Parade on Friday evening. Mr. Pitcher said between 7 and 8 o'clock on Friday evening, Feb 27, prisoner came to the "Sir Sidney Smith," and witness served him with some beer. He was wearing a brown overcoat, which he offered to sell to the customers in the bar for 15/-. As none of them would buy it he offered it to witness for 10/-. Witness noticed that King had lost his arm and was wearing his service ribbons, and out of pity for him he bought the coat for 10/-.

Det-Sgt. Greenland deposed to arresting prisoner at Deal Police Station, where he had been detained in consequence of information circulated from Dover. He also went to the "Sir Sidney Smith" and received the overcoat from the daughter of the licensee, who was mending the coat when witness called.

The Magistrates sentenced prisoner to a month's hard labour. The Chairman (Dr. Wood) told Mr. Pitcher that they did not think he had been as careful as should have been, and warned him as to the future.