Dover Express 28th August 1858.

INFRINGEMENTS OF THE ALEHOUSE ACT.

Robert Smith, the landlord of the "Skylark Inn," Beach Street, was summoned for having refused to admit PC Thomas Stokes Barton to his premises on the preceding Sunday. Mr. Mee appeared for the defendant who pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Barton said that, at half past eleven on the previous Sunday morning, he went to the Skylark accompanied by PC Arnold. He knocked at the door and soon afterwards a female lifted the door-blind but she did not admit him and, in four or five minutes on turning his head in the direction of a passage at the side of the "Skylark," he saw four men issue from the side door belonging to the house. Two of the men he recognised as Dover men and one of them was intoxicated. In a little time afterwards, Mrs. Smith, the landlady, came to the door and let him in. On asking her why she had not admitted him before, she replied that she did not know he was there. He had knocked eight or ten times before gaining admission. On inspecting one of the rooms, he found wet marks upon the table, left to all appearances by pots and glasses.

By Mr. Mee:- I swear that no more than eight minutes elapsed between the time of my first knocking at the door and my gaining admittance. The marks upon the table had been made by beer, not water. I tasted with my finger.

PC Arnold deposed to accompanying the last witness to the "Skylark" on Sunday morning and fully corroborated his evidence.

Mr. Mee having been heard for the defendant, contending that, as there had been no formal request for admittance on the part of the police, the offence charged in the summons was not proved.

The Magistrates, who considered the charge sustained, fined the defendant £1, including costs. The fine was paid.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 21 September, 1861.

Robert Smith, a private in the 3rd Buffs, was fined 1s. and costs for endeavouring forcibly to enter the "Skylark" public house, in default he was sent to prison for a week.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 17 September, 1864.

DOVER COUNTY COURT

SLEE & SLEE v. SMITH

This was an adjourned case. The claim, which was first made at the previous sitting of his Honour, was for vinegar supplied to defendant, who is the landlord of the "Skylark Inn," Dover, by the plaintiffs, the vinegar merchants of London. At the previous examination the defendant asserted that he had paid the amount in dispute, £1 15s., to a traveller, named Drewitt, in the employ of the plaintiffs. The traveller in question was then upon a journey, and the case was therefore postponed till this sitting for his attendance. He was now preset and stated most positively that he had not received the amount. Mr. Minter appeared for defendants, who reiterated his observations in terms no less positive, but said he was unable to produce the receipt, as he had burnt it with a number of others. Several circumstances alleged to have taken place at the time of payment were mentioned by defendant and Mrs. Smith; but Mr. Drewitt denied that these circumstances had taken place and cross-examined both Mr. and Mrs. Smith with some success. He then said the vinegar was delivered in September, 1863, he did not call for the money till June, 1863, when Mr. Smith told him that her husband was not within, and the account stood over till December, 1863, when defendant angrily declared that he had already paid him. Witness remarked that if he had paid him, he had the receipt, and defendant said he had; but on searching his file he could not find it, although he found previous receipts.

The Judge, after a vary patient investigation, said he was satisfied the account had not been paid, and gave judgment in favour of the plaintiffs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 15 October, 1864.

SMITH v. SMALL

This was a claim of 7s. 3d., a beer score. The plaintiff is the landlord of the "Skylark Inn," in Beach Street and the defendant is a boatman. The defendant disputed the debt, but the plaintiff reminded him that he had already admitted it in a conversation they had had together at the back of the "Lord Warden Hotel," and that he had then offered to pay a shilling a week. The defendant did not deny the conversation, but said he never admitted the debt, though he did offer to pay plaintiff a shilling a week rather than have the case taken into Court and his name put in the paper.

The Judge said he had heard enough, and gave judgement for the plaintiff.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 8 June, 1866.

SMITH v. DANSON

Plaintiff, landlord of the "Skylark" public house, sued the defendant, a stone mason employed on the Admiralty Pier, for £2 8s. 6d., being a score for beer and spirits supplied by the defendant, whom the plaintiff contended made himself responsible for eight other men.

The defendant denied that he had ordered the beer, or made himself responsible.

The Judge said it was a too common practice among landlords of public-houses, where a number of workmen employed on the same works were in the habit of frequenting the premises, to supply them with refreshment in a very irregular manner, the effect being that some of them were debited with a larger score than they had already incurred. Instances were frequently occurring in which one man was made responsible for drink supplied to several of his fellows. In those cases, where liability was disputed, it was the duty of the Court to put the plaintiff to the strictest proof, and, as the defendant in this case denied his liability, he (the Judge) must call on the plaintiff to prove the various items.

The plaintiff said he should have some trouble in doing this, as it was three years ago since the debt was incurred. A great many of the items moreover were contracted upon orders received from the defendant when upon the Admiralty Pier works. These orders were sometimes written on scraps of wood or anything that came handy, and were destroyed as soon as the articles were supplied. In many of these cases the refreshment was supplied during his absence and he knew nothing about the transactions except from entries made in his book.

The Judge said this was no doubt an unfortunate circumstance, but he could not give judgment for more than was legally proved to be owing. It was a case which showed persons in the line of business carried on by the plaintiff the necessary of exercising the same care which was bestowed by other tradesmen in ordinary business transactions.

The plaintiff then produced a witness, a young woman, who said she delivered some of the beer, and also some brandy. She received the orders from the defendant. The orders were written sometimes on cheques and sometimes on pieces of wood; but it all occurred so long ago that she could not speak to particular entries in complainant's book, except the brandy. She recollected, however, that articles of the description charged for were repeatedly ordered by the defendant.

The plaintiff himself could not carry the case much farther. He picked out some items he could positively sweat to - having served the defendant himself; and his Honour ultimately gave judgement for 16s. 3d.

The plaintiff pleaded that it was a hard case.

The Judge said it might be, but as the defendant denied his indebtedness, he could only give the plaintiff what he could strictly make out himself entitled to.

Payment in a week.

A number of other public-house scores for various small amounts were heard, the Judge investigating all with exemplary patience and giving judgment in accordance with the varying circumstances and the ability of the publican to substantiate his claim.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 31 May, 1867.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Henry Fletcher, the landlord of the "Skylark" public house, Beach Street, charged with infringing his license, was fined half-a-crown and the costs.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 1 November, 1867.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Henry Fletcher, landlord of the "Skylark" public house, Beach Street, was fined 9s. 6d. and costs, 11s. 6d., for having his house open on Sunday last.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 1 November, 1867.

DARING ROBBERY

Martha Carr, a woman of the town, was charged with stealing about 700 francs in Napoleons and half-Napoleons, from the person of Louis Morette, living in the arrondissment of Dunkerque, Thomas Jones, a soldier of the 51st Regiment, quartered in the garrison, was charged with assaulting the prosecutor and aiding and assisting in the robbery, and also with receiving part of the booty, and another woman of loose character named Ann Lumsden was charged with aiding in the company of the felony.

The evidence of the prosecutor, who was unable to speak a word of English, was interpreted to the Court.

It appeared that on the previous night he was at the "Skylark" public-house with the two women. He then had in his purse a little more than 1,000 franks in Napoleons and half-Napoleons. He left the public-house in the company of the women. He had the prisoner Carr on his arm, and the other woman walked on the other side of him. Shortly after Carr took his arm he felt her hand in his trousers pocket. She took out his purse, and he saw her take something out of it. Upon this he seized her hand, and called out, and the soldier then made his appearance on the scene and struck him on the head with a stick, knocking his cap off. On catching hold of the prisoner's hand, she replaced the purse in his pocket. Carr then ran away in company with the soldier. Lumsden had previousely left their company. He examined his purse immediately, and observed that he had lost about 700 francs, whereupon he at once gave information to the police. Before he did so, the soldier returned, and on his showing him the purse and complaining that he had been robbed, he deliberately put his hand in the purse and took out some more of the money.

In reply to the prisoner Jones, the prosecutor said he believed he was the soldier, but would not positively swear to him.

Sergeant Barton said he met the last witness about half-past two on Sunday morning. In consequence of what he told him he went to the house where Carr was living, and found her in bed. He requested her to get up, and he then informed her that he should apprehend her on suspicion of having, in company with others, robber a French gentleman that morning of between 600 and 700 francs. She said she knew nothing about it, she had got no French money, neither had she had any. At the police-station, where the charge was entered and she was cautioned in the regular way, she made the same reply. He then went to the South eastern Railway Station, where he found the prisoner Lumsden on the platform. He apprehended her, telling her the charge, and she also said she knew nothing whatsoever about it. He afterwards went to the house of the prisoner Carr, 3, Dolphin Court, accompanied by police-sergeant Bailey and, searched the lower room. On the mantel piece he found a piece of blue paper with 2 half-Napoleons in it, and on raking out the coals from the fireplace he found a leather pouch containing 18½ Napoleons. The pouch had the appearance of a soldier's pouch.

Police-sergeant Bailey said he apprehended the prisoner Jones at the "Laurel Tree" public house in Priory Street, shortly after four o'clock on Sunday morning. Jones was sitting down in an upstairs room, and the moment the witness entered he threw down a pocket handkerchief he was holding in his hand. On examining the handkerchief he found it contained 8 Napoleons and 6 half-Napoleons, and the prisoner had a half-Napoleon in his hand. Witness also received another half-Napoleon from the landlord of the house. The prisoner said the handkerchief was given to him by a stout woman "down the pier way," and that he did not know what it contained. She gave it him, and then told him to "hook it," to go.

Richard Chard said he kept the "Laurel Tree" public-house, in Priory Street. About a quarter to four o'clock on the previous morning, he was awoke by a loud knocking at his door, which was repeated several times. He looked out of the window and saw two soldiers and a policeman standing in front of the door. The prisoner Jones was one of the soldiers. The policeman was police-constable Chapman. The policeman said "These soldiers want a bottle of rum for a sick person." He replied that he did not keep bottles of rum, and that they had better get it elsewhere. Upon that prisoner Jones said "Can't you put some in a bottle, as I want it very particularly to take up to the barracks." Thinking all was correct, witness got up and admitted the two soldiers, when they said they would like to have some ginger beer for themselves. As the lower part of the house was shut up he allowed them to sit in a front room upstairs and supplied them with the ginger beer and some cigars. In payment Jones tendered him a half-Napoleon. Witness at first thought it was half a sovereign, and on discovering his error, and pointing it out to the prisoner, the latter said he was aware that it was a half-Napoleon, and that his sister had given it him. Whilst witness was finding a bottle for the rum, police-sergeant Bailey came in and went upstairs. Witness valued the half-Napoleon at 8s. 4d. and gave Jones the change in English money. The policeman, as soon as witness admitted the soldiers, went away upon his beat. They asked for the ginger beer to drink while he was drawing the rum.

Police-constable Mick proved that the prisoner Jones was in the neighbourhood of the spot where the robbery took place about the time of the occurrence. He was quite sure Jones was the same man.

This being the whole of the evidence, the Magistrates consulted a short time, when they decided to dismiss the woman Lumsden.

Carr and the soldier were committed for trial at the next borough sessions.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 11 October, 1867.

INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

Henry Fletcher, landlord of the "Skylark" public-house, Beach Street, was fined 2s. 6d. and costs 11s. 6d., for having his house open on Sunday last.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday, 8 January, 1869.

WILFUL DAMAGE.

A soldier in the 4th King's Own Royals, named John Brown, was charged by Mr. Edward Young, of the "Skylark," Beach Street with wilful damage.

Mr. Thomas Fox appeared for the complainant.

Mr. Young deposed that at about a quarter to twelve, p.m. on the morning of Wednesday last, the defendant went to his house and called for a glass of ale, which he refused to supply, as he had every reason to believe he was an absentee. Brown was then slightly under the influence of liquor, and he was desired to leave the house, but refused. The complainant then put him out, using no more violence than was necessary. The defendant then assumed a fighting attitude, and when Mr. Young attempted to close the door, he placed his foot there, as to prevent him from doing so. A moment after a plate-glass window was smashed in, and damage done to the extent of £3. The finger-plate was also cracked, which increased the damage to £3 8s.

Jane Young, daughter of the complainant, bore out his statement.

Thomas Prescott, in the employ of the South Eastern Railway Company, saw the prisoner dash his fist through the pane of glass, cutting his hand.

Thomas James Virgo, glazier, in the employ of Mr. Barwick, proved that the glass broke would cost £4 to replace, and that the finger-plate was worth 8s.

The prisoner said that the complainant broke the glass by violently slamming-to the door, but had no witness to bear out his assertion.

The Bench fined Brown 10s, and costs, with the damages, £3 8s., and gave him the alternative of three weeks' imprisonment.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 10 November, 1871.

TRANSFER OF LICENSES

"Skylark," Beach Street, to Richard White. - The applicant asked to be allowed to change the sign from "Skylark" to "The Pier," and permission was granted.

From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 23 August, 1872. Price 1d.

APPLICANTS UNDER THE NEW LICENSING ACT

Mr. Coleman applied on behalf of the landlord of the “Skylark,” in Beach Street, that his house might remain open till one o'clock in the morning.

The applications were ordered to stand over till the next licensing day.