Quote
COUNTY BENCH.—THURSDAY.—Before H. Carter and F. Bradshaw, Esqrs.
AN UNGRATEFUL ACT.—James Clarke and William Walker, navvies, were charged with stealing £1 0s. 6d. from the person of Abraham Clarke.—The prosecutor is a labourer residing at Cosham, and on Monday afternoon about one o’clock he met the two prisoners against the Coach and Horses. He knew Walker, and he asked the prisoners where they were going, to which they said they were seeking for work and were hard up. He took them into the Coach and Horses and gave them some beer and food. He had a purse in his inside waistcoat pocket which contained half-a-sovereign, two five shilling pieces, and a sixpence. One of the five-shilling pieces was worn more than the other and had George and the dragon on it, and the sixpence was crooked and had a hole in it. He laid his head on the table as he was not quite well and after he had been in that position for some time, the prisoner Clarke shook him and told him to wake up. He looked up and saw Clarke had his hand in his inside waistcoat pocket. Prosecutor asked him what he was going when he said, “Wake up.” The two prisoners then went out together and before the prosecutor had lost sight of them he found his purse was gone. He followed them and saw them go into the Canteen at Hilsea. He then went for a policeman came gave the prisoners into custody. Mr. Leader, the keeper of the Canteen proved that the prisoners went into his house on Monday afternoon. Clarke called for a pot of beer, for which he tendered a five-shilling piece. He afterwards asked him if he could give him change for another five-shilling piece, which he did. When the prisoners were searched a sixpence was found on the prisoner Clarke.—Both prisoners, who said they were not guilty, were committed for trial at the Sessions.
— Portsmouth Times and Naval Gazette, Saturday 21 September, 1867
Question
What is “the Canteen at Hilsea”? Can we find out more about Mr. Leader?
(Appears to be part of the barracks, I’m just surprised civilians were allowed to wander in and buy beer).