Assault At The Dover Union

Thomas Kavanagh an inmate of the Dover Union was charged with assaulting William Bowles another inmate.

It appeared from Bowles’s evidence that Kavanagh being a Roman Catholic was permitted under the regulations of the guardians to leave the workhouse for the purpose of attending the Catholic Chapel and that it was his practise to change his clothes previous to going out in the complainants room. His doing so was an annoyance to Bowles who told him to go away.  Instead of going away Kavanagh became “cheeky” and Bowles threw his clothes into the yard. Kavahagh thereupon hit him a blow on the side of the head. Witness then made a complaint and Kavanagh was conveyed to the police station.

In defence Kavanagh said that he was suffering under great provocation when he struck the defendant.  He had always been in the habit of changing his clothes in the complainants room because it was on the ground floor near the place where his outdoor clothes were kept and he was by that means saved the trouble of going up stairs.  Defendant came in and complained that he had flattened his bed down. He (complainant) said he was quite willing to shake his bed up again but instead of permitting him to do so he took his clothes and threw them into the yard.

The Magistrates taking into consideration that the defendant had been locked up since the previous morning dismissed the case.

1870.