Folkestone Express
30-5-1896
Local News
On Monday Ernest Greaves, who described himself as a law
clerk, was charged with doing wilful damage to a window at the Oddfellows,
Radnor Street, to the amount of 7s. 2d.
The defence was that he pushed at the window accidentally
and broke it. The defendant is a young man of considerable artistic ability,
and gave the police proof of his talent, a little composition in which an
erring youth undergoing chastisement being very cleverly done. He said his
fondness for whisky was his great weakness – on Saturday he swallowed seven
shillings worth.
He was fined 5s., 7s. 2d. damages, and 5s. 6d. costs, and in
default 14 days`.
Folkestone Herald
30-5-1896
Police Court Jottings
Frank Graves was charged with breaking a square of glass,
valued 7s. 2d., the property of the landlord of the Oddfellows public house on
The Stade. Defendant pleaded Not Guilty.
Complainant stated that the defendant lodged at his house on
Thursday and Friday nights. He would not pay the money for the lodgings on Saturday
night, but said he had paid it. Witness ejected him. A policeman called witness
up at about half past 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Witness then saw that a glass
panel in the door was broken.
P.C. Prebble deposed to being on duty on The Stade at 1.30
on the 24th inst. He saw defendant knocking at the door of the
Oddfellows. Defendant said he had paid for his lodgings and wanted to get in.
He then began to use bad language, and threatened to break a window. Afterwards
witness saw him break the glass panel of the door.
Defendant said, in defence, that it was dark, and he did not
see the glass panel. He pushed at the door with his open hand.
The Bench ordered defendant to pay 7s. 2d. damage, and fined
him 5s. and 5s. 6d. costs, or in default 14 days` hard labour.
Folkestone Up To Date
30-5-1896
Hall Of Justice
Monday: Before Messrs. Pursey, Banks and Wightwick.
A man was charged with breaking a square of glass at the
Oddfellows in Radnor Street. He seemed a man of superior education, and
defended himself very skilfully, but the Bench decided on 14s. 6d. damages and
costs, or 14 days`. He elected to do the latter.
Folkestone Chronicle
18-12-1897
Inquest
An inquest was opened at the Town Hall, Folkestone, on Tuesday
afternoon, by Mr. J. Minter, Borough Coroner, touching the death of a female
infant, the child of Alice Bail, single woman, aged 17, general servant at the
Oddfellows Inn (sic), Radnor Street.
Addressing the jury, the Coroner said that possibly the case
before them might prove to be a serious one. He would not pre-judge it in any
way, but possibly it might be found one for the Assizes. It appeared that the
mother, Alice Bail, was employed as a servant at the Oddfellows Arms, and was
confined there on Monday morning of a full born female child; and he understood
that the medical evidence would be conclusive that it was born alive. The child
was found dead, some half hour after its birth, in a box in the mother`s
bedroom, the door of which had been locked. The skull of the child was
fractured, and the doctor had no doubt that death was caused by the fracture.
The fracture might be an accidental one, or it might have been caused by
violence purposely administered. If the latter was found to be the case, the
jury would see the serious consequence to the mother, as the verdict might
possibly be one of wilful murder. It might, on the other hand, have been an
accident, as evidently the birth took place unexpectedly, and the fracture
might have been caused by a fall. It was a question whether they should take
the evidence as far as they were able that day and then adjourn for the
attendance of the mother, and it was only right that she should have an
opportunity of coming before them and making any statement she might think fit.
In any case he should feel bound to adjourn the enquiry, and he suggested it
would be better to take the whole evidence at one time, in the presence of the
mother; then it would all be fresh in the minds of the jury and allow them to come
to a just decision. The father of Alice Bail had called in Doctor Wainwright,
who, he understood, had examined the body, and also the mother. However, as he
was called in on behalf of Bail, he (the Coroner) had deemed it necessary to
obtain independent testimony, although in no way reflecting on Dr. Wainwright.
He had, therefore, instructed Dr. Barrett to make an examination and a post
mortem. It was for the jury to say what they would do.
After consultation, the jury decided to take only evidence
of identification, and then adjourn.
Frederick Coleman, landlord of the Oddfellows Inn, stated
that Alice Bail had been a general servant in his house since December 6th.
On Sunday she retired to bed at 10 o`clock. He called her at a quarter past six
o`clock on Monday morning, and she answered. She came downstairs and lighted
the fires and swept up the bar and the passage. Shortly afterwards witness had
occasion to go upstairs, and fancied he heard a squeaking noise in Bail`s
bedroom, the door of which was apparently locked. He spoke to her about it, and
she went upstairs. When she came down she said “There is nothing in my bedroom,
guv`nor”. Witness was not satisfied, and when his wife came down he asked her
to obtain the key from the girl. She did so, and then Bail made a statement.
Subsequently she took them upstairs, and, opening a cupboard door, took the
dead body of a baby out of her box. He did not touch it.
After the jury had viewed the body at the Cemetery Mortuary,
the inquiry was adjourned until January 4th.
We understand the girl is in a nervous, depressed condition,
and necessarily very ill. In view of the two theories spoken of by the Coroner,
it is but just that the public should wait before expressing any opinion until
the adjourned inquiry, when both Dr. Wainwright and Dr. Barrett will give
evidence. The parents of the girl are well known and respected, and are quite
broken down. The girl, too, is also well known, having assisted her father for
a long time in his shop.
Folkestone Express
18-12-1897
Local News
On Tuesday the Borough Coroner opened an inquest on the body
of the newly-born infant of a young woman named Alice Bail, of 22, East Cliff,
who was in service at the Oddfellows Inn (sic), Radnor Street, where the infant
was born. The inquiry was adjourned for three weeks.
Folkestone Herald
18-12-1897
Inquest
An inquest was opened at the Town Hall on Tuesday afternoon
by the Borough Coroner (Mr. J. Minter), touching the death of the female infant
child of Alice Bail, a single woman, aged 17, general servant, Oddfellows Inn
(sic), Radnor Street.
Addressing the jury, the Coroner said that possibly the case
before them might prove to be a serious one. He would not prejudge it in any
way, but possibly it might be one for the Assizes.
It appeared that the mother, Alice Bail, was employed as a
servant at the Oddfellows Arms, and was confined there on Monday of a female
child, and he understood that the medical evidence would be conclusive that it
was born alive. The child was found dead some half-hour after its birth, in a
box in the mother`s bedroom, the door of which had been locked. He might tell
them that the skull of the child had been found fractured and that the doctor
had no doubt that death was caused by the fracture. The fracture might be an
accidental one, or it might have been caused by violence purposely
administered. If the latter was found to be the case the jury would see the
serious consequence to the mother, as the verdict might possibly be one of
wilful murder. It might have been an accident, as evidently the birth took
place unexpectedly, and the fracture might have been caused by a fall. It was a
question of whether they should take evidence of identification and then
adjourn for the attendance of the mother, as it was only just that she should
have the opportunity of coming before them and making any statement she might
think fit. In any case he should feel bound to adjourn the inquiry, and he
suggested that it would be better to take the whole evidence at one time, in
the presence of the mother, and then it would all be fresh in the minds of the
jury and allow them to come to a just decision. The father of Alice Bail had
called in Dr. Wainwright, who, he understood, had examined the body, and also
the mother. However, as he had been called in on behalf of Bail, the Coroner
had deemed it necessary to obtain independent testimony, although in no way
reflecting on Dr. Wainwright, and had therefore instructed Dr. Gilbert to make
an examination and a post mortem. It was for the jury to say what they would
do.
After consultation the jury decided to take only the
evidence of identification and then adjourn.
Frederick Coleman, landlord of the Oddfellows Inn, stated
that Alice Bail had been a general servant in his house since December 6th.
On Sunday she retired to bed at 10 o`clock. He called her at a quarter past six
on Monday morning, and she answered. She came downstairs and lighted the fires
and swept up the bar and the passage. Shortly after witness had occasion to go
upstairs, and fancied he heard a squeaking noise in Bail`s bedroom, the door of
which was apparently locked. He spoke to her about it, and she went upstairs.
When she came down she said “There is nothing in my bedroom, guv`nor”. Witness
was not satisfied, and when his wife came down he asked her to obtain the key
from the girl. She did so, and Bail said she had had a miscarriage. Witness
asked where it was, and she took them upstairs, and opening a cupboard door,
took the dead body out of her box. He did not touch it.
Dr. Wainwright said it would be three weeks before the girl
was able to attend, and the jury having viewed the body, the inquest was
adjourned till January 4th.
Folkestone Visitors`
List 22-12-1897
Kaleidoscope
On Tuesday the Borough Coroner opened an inquest on the body
of the newly-born infant of a young woman named Alice Bell, of 22, East Cliff,
who was in service at the Oddfellows Inn, Radnor Street, where the infant was
born. The inquiry was adjourned for three weeks.
Folkestone Chronicle
8-1-1898
Notes
That the verdict in the inquest on the child of Alice Bail
was a just one there can be no doubt. It was a very sad case, and the sympathy
of all went out both to the father and mother of the poor girl. If any
punishment were needed by her from a moral point of view, she evidently has
received it, for her appearance at the inquest was most pitiable. It only
remains now for someone to hold out a helping hand and to try to enable her to
forget the unhappy past.
Inquest
The inquest touching the death of the infant child of Alice
Bail was resumed at the Town Hall, Folkestone, on Wednesday by Mr. J. Minter
(Borough Coroner).
Frederick Coleman, landlord of the Oddfellows Arms, heard
his previous evidence read. He said that Alice Bail was a general servant in
his employ. On Sunday she went out shortly after 6 p.m., came in at 9, and went
to bed at 10. He noticed nothing peculiar in her appearance. She arose on
Monday at seven, and came into the kitchen. Shortly afterwards, on going
upstairs to an apartment about 16ft. from the girl`s bedroom, he fancied he
heard a squeaking, like that of a rat or mouse, though there were neither rats
nor mice in the house. He went downstairs and said to Bail “Alice, I think
there is something amiss in your room; I heard a noise”. She went upstairs, and
on coming down said “Everything`s all right in my room, guv`nor”. Not feeling
satisfied, he went to his wife, who was in bed.
The Coroner: Are you telling us all about it, for you would
hardly take so much notice if the noise was so slight as you say?
Witness: I am telling you all.
Continuing, he said his wife did not get up until she had
had her breakfast in bed, which was taken up to her by Alice Bail. She came
down about 8.30. Bail always kept her door locked by his instructions. His
wife, having obtained the key, went upstairs. Then Bail came to witness and
made a certain statement to him. He asked her to accompany him to the bedroom.
She did so. He asked “Where is the child?” She made no reply, but went to the
clothes box in a cupboard, and took out the body of a naked child, which
appeared to be dead. He told her to put the body back again in the box. They
all came out of the room and witness locked it. The girl`s mother was sent for
but did not come. Witness then went to the mother himself, but she declined to
come. Her father was fetched, and asked the girl “What is this all about?” She
made no reply. The matter was reported to the police, and the father fetched
Dr. Wainwright. The doctor and the father saw the child.
The Coroner told witness he did very wrong to allow Dr.
Wainwright and the father to enter the room. The body should have been left
until the police or the Coroner`s officer arrived.
Witness continued: There was carpet in the room, and the
blood was all over it, especially up close to the bed. The girl was conveyed in
a fly to her mother`s house.
Mr. H.W. Watts, who appeared for Alice Bail, asked if the
box was full of clothes. Coleman said there were only a few pieces of clothes
in the box.
Margaret Bail, mother of Alice Bail, said she lived at 22,
East Cliff, Folkestone. Her daughter was 18 and unmarried. Since September the
girl had been at home until she went to Coleman`s. For three years previous to
this she had assisted her father in the tobacconist`s shop in Sandgate Road.
She slept at home. Witness had noticed nothing particular about her. On Sunday,
Dec. 12th, the girl went home, and left about a quarter past eight
to return to service. She made no communication to witness.
A juryman expressed surprise that the mother had not noticed
the girl`s condition.
The Coroner said that was not the question they had to
consider. They had only to find the cause of death.
Alice Bail, by the advice of her solicitor, entered the Court,
and was cautioned by the Coroner. She was then about to be sworn, but the
Coroner did not think her fit to make a statement. She was therefore taken
away. She appeared to be in a very feeble condition.
Mr. William Peard Barrett, a surgeon practicing in
Folkestone, said that by the request of the Coroner he made a post mortem
examination of the child on December 14th. Dr. Wainwright was
present. He found it was a fully developed child and weighed 9lbs. The average
weight was 6 to 8lbs. There were no bruises about the body, except slight marks
about the neck, but he did not think death was caused by suffocation. He made
experiments which convinced him that the child had had a separate existence.
The heart and other organs were normal. There was a fracture of the skull about
two inches in length to which death was due. He could not say the cause of the
fracture, but it was possible for it to be produced in difficult cases
accidentally.
By the Foreman: He believed the birth took place on the
floor.
Mr. Lennox Wainwright, surgeon, agreed with Dr. Barrett`s
evidence. He attended the girl, and was still doing so. She had stated that the
child cried once, and that it was born when she was standing up. She picked it
up, but she did not know what she did, she felt so bad. He thought the fracture
occurred during labour.
The Coroner summed up the case clearly, and concluded by
saying that he thought it almost impossible for them to arrive at a verdict
adverse to the girl.
The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.
Folkestone Herald 8-1-1898
Local News
On Wednesday afternoon at the Town hall, the Borough Coroner
(Mr. Minter) and a jury resumed the inquest touching the death of the child of
Alice Bail. Mr. Watts appeared for Alice Bail. Mr. Frederick Coleman, landlord
of the Oddfellows Arms, Radnor Street, Mrs. Margaret Bail, the mother of Alice
Bail, Dr. Barrett, and Dr. Wainwright gave evidence. A fracture was discovered
on the head of the child, but the jury considered the fracture was caused by an
accident, and returned a verdict to that effect, exonerating the mother.
Folkestone Chronicle
22-1-1898
Local News
The poor girl Alice Bail was committed to the Assizes for
the concealment of the birth of her female child. We think upon the evidence
adduced the Magistrates might well have used the discretion vested in them and
dismissed the case, for no-one could think for one moment that a Judge would
inflict anything more than a nominal sentence. Therefore the town was put to an
expense without need.
Monday, January 17th: Before Messrs. J. Hoad and
T.J. Vaughan.
Alice Bail, aged 18, single, domestic servant, was charged
with concealing the birth of her female infant, born at the Oddfellows Arms,
Radnor Street, on December 13th, 1897. The defendant looked very
weak, and in pain. Mr. H.W. Watts appeared for the defence.
It will be remembered that the jury at the inquest returned
a verdict of Accidental Death. The facts of the case will be well remembered by
our readers.
Frederick Coleman repeated his evidence given at the
inquest.
Dr. Lennox Wainwright, who attended the girl at the request
of her father, said she admitted the birth, and freely answered all questions.
When he saw the body of the child, it was in a box with the lid open. It was
dead.
Mr. Watt contended that there had been no concealment. Mr.
Bradley, the Magistrates` Clerk, said it appeared to him that the case rested
on whether the child was alive or not when placed in the box.
Mr. Watts said that the witness Coleman`s evidence showed
that the child was alive when placed in the box, therefore there was no
concealment. In his opinion no jury would convict, and he asked the Bench to
say that the girl had already suffered sufficiently, if any offence had been
committed, and dismiss the case.
The Chairman said the Magistrates considered the case an
important one, which should be decided by a jury.
Prisoner was then committed to the Kent Assizes, bail being
allowed.
Folkestone Up To Date
22-1-1898
Monday, January 17th: Before J. Hoad and T.J.
Vaughan Esqs.
Alice Bail, a servant girl, charged with attempting to
conceal the dead body of her child on December 13th last at the
Oddfellows Inn, Radnor Street, was committed for trial at the next Maidstone
Assizes. Mr. H.W. Watts appeared for the defence.
Folkestone Herald
22-1-1898
Police Court Report
On Monday – Mr. Hoad presiding – Alice Bail was charged with
endeavouring to conceal the birth of a child. Mr. Watts appeared for the
defendant.
Mr. Fredk. Coleman gave evidence similar to that given
before the Coroner. Dr. Wainwright also attended.
The defendant reserved her defence, and was committed for
trial at the next Assizes. Bail was allowed, £20 herself, and £20 her father.
Local News
At the Maidstone Assizes on Thursday, before Mr. Justice
Darling, Alice Bail, domestic servant, Folkestone, was convicted of concealment
of the birth of her child on the 13th December last. She was
recommended to mercy, and bound over in £5 to come up for judgement if called
upon.
Folkestone Chronicle
3-12-1898
Wednesday, November 30th: Before Messrs. Holden,
Ward, Hoad, Pledge, and Vaughan.
The Licensed Victuallers` Association (Folkestone Branch),
through Mr. Minter, instituted a prosecution against Joseph Edward Warman for
refusing to quit licensed premises when requested, for being drunk and
disorderly, and for committing a violent assault upon Agnes Lea, barmaid of the
Oddfellows Arms, Radnor Street, on Saturday evening, 26th November.
Warman, Mr. Minter said, was an old offender. On previous
occasions he had been forgiven, but every time he went to the Oddfellows Arms
there was a disturbance, and the landlord had at last felt compelled to apply
to the Licensed Victuallers` Association for protection. On Saturday night last
Warman went to the house about 7.30 with another man. On entering the bar he
tried to get a light for his pipe at a swinging petroleum lamp. It was
impossible to get a light by that means, and the landlady, who, with Agnes Lea,
was behind the bar, told him so. Seeing he was drunk she declined to serve him,
and ordered him to leave the house. Warman thereupon pushed his way through the
small door to behind the bar, and lifting up his hand to strike the landlady,
told her he would have her out of the house. The servant, Agnes Lea, stepped
between them, saying “You are not going to strike my mistress; strike me if you
strike anyone”. He at once struck her. There was a struggle, in the course of
which the girl got him to the door, and eventually, after he had torn her
clothes, they got outside, and were struggling on the pavement when Warman fell
with his eye against a brick wall, and sustained injuries still observable.
Meanwhile the landlord had brought a policeman to the assistance of the girl.
After his fall Warman again pushed his way into the bar, and eventually the
policeman put him into the street. Since then, said Mr. Minter, the ruffian had
had the impudence to take out a summons against the girl Lea, charging her with
assaulting him.
Fred Coleman, landlord of the Oddfellows Arms, Mrs. Coleman,
his wife, and the young woman, Agnes Lea, gave evidence bearing out the details
given above.
Warman elected to go into the witness box, and gave evidence
in the deliberate manner of the man who has frequented the Courts. His story
was that Agnes Lea was being “courted by a fisher chap”, and that this fisher
chap had insulted his wife. He went round to demand an apology, when the
“fisher chap” and half a dozen of his mates “set about him” and “half killed”
him. This happened some time previously, and ever since, every time he went
near the Oddfellows he was insulted.
The summons against the young woman was dismissed. Warman
was found guilty of both the assault and of refusing to quit licensed premises.
He was fined £1 and costs on each charge, with the alternative of 28 days` hard
labour, the Magistrates declaring the case a most serious one, and expressing
their determination to put a stop to such ruffianism.
Warman was being taken below when a number of his “mates” in
Court began to turn out their pockets, and his wife, a thin little woman, who
was evidently the greater sufferer, ran forward to drag him back, crying out
that she had the money. The fine was paid by the tearstained woman, who seemed
grateful to be able to save her undeserving husband from a month in gaol.
Folkestone Up To Date
3-12-1898
Wednesday, November 30th: Before J. Hoad, J.
Pledge, J. Holden, and T.J. Vaughan Esqs.
Joseph Edward Warman, a young man, was summoned for
assaulting Agnes Lee, a barmaid at the Oddfellows Arms, Radnor Street, and
refusing to quit licensed premises when requested, on the 26th
November.
A counter-charged was brought against Agnes Lee for
assaulting Warman.
The case against Warman was heard first, Mr. Minter for the
prosecution.
Mr. Minter: The first charges are preferred by the landlord
of the Oddfellows Arms against the defendant Warman for disorderly conduct, and
refusing to quit licensed premises. The landlord is a member of the Licensed
Victuallers` Association in the town, formed for the protection of licensed
victuallers and to prevent disturbances in licensed houses. It is a very worthy
association, with good objects. I should like first to read a section of the
Act in order that the defendant Warman, who is an old offender, and others of
his class, should know what the liabilities are for those who act as we allege
he has on licensed premises. Licence holders must refuse to admit any person
who is violent and disorderly, and that person is subject to a penalty under
this Act. For any such person, who (on being requested in pursuance by any such
licensed person, or agent, or servants, or such constable to quit such licensed
premises) refuses to do so, the penalty is not exceeding £5, and all constables
are required on demand to expel, or assist in expelling, any such persons, and
in using any such force as is required for the purpose. The Court committing
any person to prison for non-payment may order him to be imprisoned with hard
labour. The defendant has been forgiven on two previous occasions, but whenever
he comes to the Oddfellows Arms there is a nuisance and disturbance occasioned,
and the landlord considers that he has had no alternative but to bring this
case before the Bench. On the occasion in question, the landlord was upstairs,
and the landlady and a young woman, Miss Agnes Lee, were in the bar. Warman
came in with another man. I do not say these men were drunk, but they had had
sufficient drink, and the landlady, knowing Warman`s quarrelsome character, and
observing the manner in which he came in, and knocked a lamp about, and swore
because he was interfered with, declined to serve him, and requested him to
leave the premises. Warman immediately used most foul and filthy language. The
landlady was standing behind the bar. He came round, and using an expression
which I need not repeat, threatened her and put his hand up for the purpose of
giving her a blow on the face. Miss Lee, though only a woman, very courageously
stepped in between the fellow and the landlady, and said “You are not going to
strike her. Strike me if you are going to strike anybody”. Warman immediately
responded by striking Miss Lee on the eye. She then pushed him to the door,
where he seized her, tore her apron, and prevented her from getting him out of
the door. She seized him in return, and both went out. I should say that before
this happened the landlord came downstairs, hearing the swearing going on, and
seeing Warman there, said “Go out of my house”.Warman refused to quit, and the
landlord said “If you don`t go I will fetch a policeman to put you out”. The
former refused to go, and the landlord then went for a policeman, and came back
with him, and found the girl (Miss Lee) and her opponent outside. The door was
shut. Directly the policeman came the door was opened. The policeman said “Now
you go”. Warman pushed past the girl, went into the house again, and sat
himself down in defiance of everybody. The girl went into the house. The
policeman came in and said “Now, Warman, out you go”. The landlord afterwards
thought it was only right for his own protection that a summons should be taken
out, and the girl herself has proceeded for the assault committed by Warman
striking her on the eye when she stood between him and her mistress to prevent
her from being assaulted. Warman has had the impudence to take out a
cross-summons charging her with assault. The girl only did what she was bound
to do, and if she had given him a good hiding, he having struck her on the
face, she would have been within her rights.
The following evidence was then called:-
Frederick Coleman said: I am the landlord of the Oddfellows
Arms. On Saturday, the 26th inst., I was upstairs when I heard
Warman swearing. I requested him to leave. He said he would do as he liked, and
I told him I should go for a policeman. I had previously asked Warman never to
come to my house again. When I came back I saw the door open from the inside,
and Warman and the girl were together. The policeman came in and said “Get out
of this, Warman”, and he got up and went away.
Sarah Elizabeth Coleman said: I am the wife of the last witness,
and was in the bar of the Oddfellows Arms between 7 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. The
defendant came in with another man, and tried to light his pipe at a swinging
lamp with petroleum in it. When I told him not to light his pipe he used bad
language. He tried to strike me, saying “Go out of this b---- house”. The girl,
Agnes Lee, tried to save me, observing “Not while I`m about”. He then struck
her on the face. She, in return, pushed him to the door. I did not hear the
door bang, or any more than I have said.
Agnes Lee said: I am a servant to the landlord and landlady
of the Oddfellows Arms. I have been there 13 months before and several months
this year. I was inside the bar when Warman came up. He swung the lamp to and
fro in an attempt to get a light. The landlady told him not to do it. He said
he should do it, and she ordered him to leave the house. He again refused, with
bad language, to go. I told him he should not hit her while I was in the house,
whereupon he struck me on the eye and used language unfit to hear in this
Court. I pushed him to the door, and he made for my face again, tore my apron,
and tried to throw it over a wall. He cut his eye against a brick wall. I found
myself outside on the pavement in consequence of the scuffle with him. Then the
policeman came. Warman pushed me back by the chest, and sat down on a chair,
but was ordered off by the policeman. I have forgiven him before.
Warman said: On the Saturday night in question I and Charlie
M---- went into the Oddfellows Arms. I called for no liquor whatever. Coleman
refused to serve me, though he served another man. Lee, who was in the side
bar, deliberately struck me in the face and knocked me insensible, and as soon
as I recovered my senses I had to have the blood washed off my face. There was
no provocation whatever. My wife was insulted by a fisherman who visits her at
the house. I went to the house with P.C. Prebble and got regularly set upon.
Here is my handkerchief, which is covered with blood.
The next witness, a young woman, said: I went to the
Oddfellows Arms just when one row was on, and I heard Lee say she had had
Warman locked up. I saw her smack him on the face and push him out of the door.
The Chairman observed, after due consideration, that the
charge against Miss Lee was dismissed. The case against Warman the Bench
considered very serious, and they would endeavour to put a stop to the course
he was pursuing. He was fined for the assault £1 and 10s. costs, in default 14
days` hard labour, and for refusing to quit the Oddfellows Arms when ordered,
£1 and 11s, costs, in default 14 days` hard labour.
Folkestone Herald
3-12-1898
Police Court Report
On Wednesday Joseph Edmund Warman was charged with
assaulting Agnes Lee on the 26th November, and further with refusing
to quit licensed premises. There was a cross-summons with regard to the
assault.
Mr. Minter appeared on behalf of Agnes Lee. He said the
first charge was preferred by the landlord of the Oddfellows Arms, Radnor
Street, who was a member of the Licensed Victuallers` Association in the town.
Mr. Minter read the section applicable to the case, and remarked that on two
previous occasions the man had been forgiven. Having described the
circumstances he remarked, as to the charge against the girl, that if she had
given the man a good hiding she was within her rights. The previous night she
had been served with a cross-summons. Defendant had had the impudence to charge
her with an assault on himself.
Mr. Frederick Coleman, landlord of the Oddfellows Arms, a
licensed house in Radnor Street, deposed that on Saturday evening, between 7
and 7.30, he was upstairs. Coming downstairs he heard some bad language.
Defendant was swearing and acting in a disorderly manner. Witness requested him
to leave the premises. He said he would when he liked, swearing at witness. He
told defendant he should go for a policeman, and he did so, leaving the house.
Defendant had been in his house on two other occasions creating a disturbance.
Witness had requested him never to come into the house again. On the occasion
in question defendant had had drink. On coming back to the house he found
Warman and the girl outside. The door was opened from inside as he and the
policeman got up. The girl was coming in, and he pushed her on one side. The
girl followed him in. The policeman came in his house, and said to the man “Get
out of this, Warman!”. He got up and went out.
Mrs. Elizabeth Coleman, wife of the last witness, deposed
that at the time in question she and the girl Lee were in the bar. Defendant
came in with another man and ordered some rum. He tried to light his pipe from
a swinging petroleum lamp. Witness told him not to do so. He then used bad
language. Witness refused to serve him. He came up in the bar and tried to
strike her. He told her to go out of the house. Agnes Lee stepped in between,
and got the blow in the face. She said “Not while I am about”.
Agnes Lee, servant at the Oddfellows Arms, corroborated.
After she had stepped in between defendant and her mistress, defendant struck
her in the eye. He used bad language, and witness pushed him to the door. There
he made for her face again, and she warded him off. He tore her apron and threw
it over the rail. He caught his head against something, and it bled. The door
was shut, and she was on the pavement with defendant. The policeman and her
master came up. When she was about to go in, the defendant pushed her back. He
sat in a chair, and she heard the policeman speak to him.
The defendant, who elected to be sworn, deposed that on the
night in question he went with another man to the Oddfellows. He did not call
for liquor. Mr. Coleman and his wife were in the front bar. They would not
serve him, but did the other man. He was ordered to leave the premises. In
trying to do so, the defendant, Agnes Lee, deliberately smacked his face and
hustled him out the door, knocking him insensible. As soon as he recovered, he
went and knocked at his mother`s house, and all the blood was washed off his
face. There was no provocation whatever. This case arose out of another, when
his wife was insulted by a fishing chap, and he got sat on and grossly
insulted.
Florence Mockridge deposed that on Saturday night she got in
there and heard a charwoman say she would have this man locked up. She saw the
woman slap his face in the bar and push the man out of the door. She did not
know what took place previously.
On being asked if he had further evidence, defendant said he
thought that was enough.
The Bench fined Warman £1 and 10s. costs in one case, and £1
and 11s. costs in the other; in default, 28 days` hard labour. The Chairman
said they considered it a very serious matter.
Hythe Reporter
10-12-1898
Folkestone Police Court
On Wednesday one solitary case excited a certain amount of
interest among East-enders. A certain individual, known to humanity by the name
of Joseph Edward Warman, whose nature is evidently a pugilistic and pugnacious
one, was prosecuted by the Folkestone Branch of the Licensed Victuallers`
Association for refusing to quit the Oddfellows Arms for being drunk and
disorderly when requested by the landlord, and also for violently assaulting
Agnes Lee, the barmaid of that hostelry. A cross-summons against the barmaid
for assault was also heard.
Mr. Minter, who appeared for the prosecution, spoke at some
length on the quarrelsome nature of the defendant, who had been frequently warned
off the premises for being the cause of disturbances. On the previous Saturday
evening he had entered the inn, and the landlady, who saw he was drunk, refused
to serve him. Warman thereupon became violent, and threatened to have the
landlady out of the house. He lifted his hand to strike her, but the barmaid,
Agnes Lee, stepped between them and said that if he wished to strike anyone he
must strike her. Warman struck her, and in the ensuing struggle the barmaid got
him to the door. When they were outside the fight continued, it being ended by
Warman striking his eye against a brick wall. A policeman had by this time
arrived, and this official put Warman, who had re-entered the bar, out into the
street. Evidence substantiating these remarks was given by Fred Coleman, the
landlord, Mrs. Coleman, and Agnes Lee.
Warman then entered the box, and in the calm, deliberate
manner usually peculiar to a policeman, gave his version of the matter, which
was to the effect that that “fisher chap” who was “courting” Agnes Lee had
insulted his wife. He had gone round to the Oddfellows Arms to make enquiries,
and to demand an apology, when the “fisher chap” and “half a dozen mates” had
“half-killed” him. This occurred some time ago, and ever since, when he had
gone near the public house he was insulted.
Warman, whose offence was characterised by the Bench as a
most serious one, was fined £1 and costs for the assault, and a similar amount
for refusing to quit, the summons against Lee being dismissed. The fine was
paid by defendant`s wife, who, in a shower of tears, ran forward with the
money.
Folkestone Chronicle
24-6-1899
Police Court
Daniel Collins, labourer, was fined 5s. 6d. damages and 5s.
6d. costs, with alternative of 14 days` hard labour for smashing a decanter and
other articles in the bar of the Oddfellows Inn, Radnor Street.
Folkestone Express
24-6-1899
Monday, June 19th: Before The Mayor, J. Banks, J.
Fitness, C.J. Pursey, and others.
Daniel Collins, labourer, was charged with wilfully breaking
a jug, a decanter, and a lamp, value 6s., the property of Frederick Coleman,
landlord of the Oddfellows, Radnor Street.
Prosecutor`s wife said on Saturday night the prisoner
entered with another man and called for two pints of beer. He was not quite
sober, and disputed about paying for the beer, using very bad language. He took
up the water jug and threw it on to the counter. It struck the lamp and a
decanter and broke them. The decanter contained brandy, which was spilt.
Witness was standing near the brandy decanter, but she could not say whether he
threw at her. The amount of damage was 6s.
Prisoner said his mate called for the drink and paid for it.
His mate also threw the jug.
George Marsh, a labourer, said he was in the house and saw
what occurred. No money was put down. The lamp which was broken was hanging
from the ceiling. Prisoner was the man who threw the jug.
Prisoner said it was his companion who threw the jug. His
companion had had “a tidy drink”, and at several public houses they would not
serve him.
Prisoner, who is a stranger, was fined 5s., 6s. the damage,
and 5s. 6d. costs, or 14 days` hard labour.
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