Dover Police Court 1868 Dover Kent

Before Dr Astley:

Absconding From Service:-

William Branchett a farm servant in the employ of Mr P B Neam of Swanton Farm Lydden, charged with absconding from service of his employer was ordered to return, his master being empowered to deduct 30s from his wages.

Before the Mayor and Captain Noble & E Sibbit Esq:

Vagrancy:-

Patrick Kelly a ragged and unknown son of Erin was brought up by police constable Sayers charged with begging at the Admiralty Pier on the proceeding day, and sent to prison for a week.

Threatening to Assault:-

George Wilkins v Thomas Green this was a case of threatening to assault. The parties being neighbours living at Durham Hill. Defendant was bound in his own reconizances to keep the peace.

Overturning An Apple Stall:-

John Humphreys a soldier belonging to the Royal Artillery was charged with assaulting a dealer in fruit named William Hopper, and maliciously inflicting damage on his property by overturning his stall in the market place on the proceeding evening. Hopper said that he lived in New Street and kept a stall for the sale of fruit and other small commodities in the Market Place. He was presiding at his stall on the pervious evening at about half past eight o'clock when the defendant came along and without saying anything to him took hold of his stall and turned it bottom upwards sending the fruit, gingerbread and bull's eyes and other things upon it flying in all directions. Witness, who was taken quite by surprise exclaimed to the defendant "Halloa Governor what are you about!" when the defendant made no more to do but up with his fists and stuck him a blow to the face. The defendant then ran away. The damage done to witness's good were about 5s; and as he was a policeman could not afford to lose the money, he would consent to forgo the charge if the defendant would pay the amount of damage he had occasioned.

The prisoner in reply to the magistrate said he would not pay nothing and the case was therefore proceeded with. The defendant in reply to the mayor said the complainant called him a ----------soldier as he was passing; but complainant denied that he took any notice of him whatsoever. The bench thought the testimony of the complainant quite satisfactory and fined the defendant the amount of damage and the costs in default of paying which he was committed to prison for seven days.

Assault On A Police Office

The defendant was also charged with assaulting police constable Barton who had taken him into custody in the execution of his duty. Barton said that he was on duty in the neighborhood of the Market Place on the proceeding evening shortly before nine o'clock when he was informed that an artillery man had overturned one of the stalls in the market. He proceeded there and found that a stall belonging to William Hopper the complainant in the last case, had been overturned and saw fruit, peppermint and broken glass stewn upon the pavement. The people who were present told him that a soldier had overturned a stall and had ran off up Biggin Street. Hopper was also present and said he wished to give the prisoner into custody. Witness then pursued prisoner and found him near in the Antwerp. He told him what he was charged with and that he must accompany him to the station house. The prisoner declined and said that no six policemen in the force would make him go against his will. He struck witness in the mouth. A sergeant of the artillery who was present said that the prisoner's general character was good and that he was a well behaved man when sober but when under the influence of drink he was in the habit of acting very violently.

The Magistrates said the prisoner must be convicted of the second charge also but that in consequence of the account the sergeant had given them of his general conduct the penalty in this case would be mitigated to 5s and the costs. In default he would go to prison for an additional week. The defendant who said he would go to prison for six weeks rather than pay a farthing was then removed.

Charged With Stealing Silver Spoons

Edward Pain was brought up on suspicion of stealing six silver tea spoons, and other articles of plate, owner unknown. Edmund Boulding examined - I am assistant to Miss Aaron of Bench Street Dover pawnbroker. Yesterday evening the prisoner came to Miss Aaron's shop and offered the six silver tea spoons now produced in pledge. He wanted six shillings on them I immediately sent to the Police Station and detained the prisoner in the shop till a policeman arrived and took him into custody. My reason for doing so was because I suspected that the spoons had been stolen. On application of Sergeant Barton the prisoner was remanded until Friday. It was stated that the spoons were not all marked with the same initial.




Dover Police Court 1868