From the Dover Express and East Kent Intelligencer, 2 February, 1872. Price 1d.

ALLEGED INFRINGEMENT OF LICENSE

A charge against John Lofts, the landlord of the "Tradesman's Arms" public-house, for keeping his house open during illegal hours, was dismissed.

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

ALLEGED DISORDERLY HOUSE

A charge against a man named Lofts, the landlord of the “Tradesman's Arms,” Commercial Quay, of harbouring improper characters, was remanded till Friday (this day.)

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

DISORDERLY HOUSE

John Lofts, landlord of the “Tradesman's Arms,” was summoned for keeping his house in a disorderly manner.

The charge was proved by Police Sergeant Stevens, who said that, on visiting defendant's house at twenty minutes past eight o'clock on Thursday evening, the 8th of August, he saw two prostitutes and two soldiers in the tap room with the landlord. He called the landlord, and asked him if he had any doubt as to the women being prostitutes; he said he knew they were. Sergeant Stevens thereupon told him that if he found any more prostitutes there, he should report it. On his re-entering the house at nine o'clock, he found the same two women there, with five soldiers. He then told the landlord he should report the matter.

Police Constable Baker deposed on seeing a soldier and a prostitute enter the defendant's house on the evening of the 8th of August. He called the landlord's attention to the fact; but he denied all knowledge of it.

The Bench fined defendant the mitigating penalty of 20s., and the costs, 10s. 6d., it seemed this was his first conviction.

From the Dover Express. December 1872.

Dover Fire Brigade.

Chief Office.

December 5th 1872.

Gentlemen, I beg to report that at 4-15 a.m. the last instant Police Constable Henry Bath reported a fire at the Tradesman's Arms, Commercial Quay occupied by John Lofts. The brigade immediately conveyed the fire cart and the fire engine to the spot when it was discovered the bed and bedding in the back room on the second floor occupied by Francis White (lodger) and James Lofts aged ten (son of the landlord) had caught fire and the burning bed & clothes thrown on to a tarred roof at the rear of the premises. The fire was extinguished with buckets of water. The standpipe and hose were fixed and the roof upon which the burning bedding had been thrown was saturated with water by means of the hose.

Damage - bed and bedding destroyed value about £5. Building uninjured. Origin of the fire known but supposed caused by the ignition of some Lucifer's in the pocket of Whites trousers that were left on the bed. A good supply of water was immediately obtained. The building insured in the Guardian and furniture not insured.

Brigade in attendance, superintendent and eight firemen.

I am yours gentlemen, your obedient servant

T. O. Sanders.

From the Dover Express and East Kent News, Friday 7 March, 1873.

ALLEGED FELONY AT THE OIL MILLS

Francis White, a labourer, was charged with having stolen 1 cwt. 1 qr. 14 lbs of cottonseed cake, value 9s., the property of the Dover Oil Seed Crushing Company.

Mr. Mowll appeared to prosecute for the Oil Seed Company, and asked the Magistrates to remand the case, after hearing the evidence of the constable who apprehended the prisoner, in order that further investigations might be made.

Police-constable Charles Hemmings said he had apprehended the prisoner on the previous morning at the “Trademan's Arms,” Commercial Quay.

The Bench then remanded the case till the following Friday (to-day); bail being refused.