Folkestone Express
20-1-1900
Local News
On Thursday morning, about six o`clock, a fire was
discovered in the bar of the Alexandra Hotel. The alarm was given to the
fireman on duty, and the firemen were summoned by maroon signal, which probably
startled a good many people. In a remarkably short space of time the brigade
were on the spot, and the blaze was extinguished by means of chemicals before
much damage was done, the counter being considerably burnt.
Folkestone Express
4-8-1900
Wednesday, August 1st: Before Capt. Carter, W.
Wightwick, J. Fitness, J. Pledge, C.J. Pursey and W.G. Herbert Esqs.
Mr. G.W. Haines appeared for Mr. Walter Barns and applied
for a temporary authority for the Alexandra Hotel. Granted.
Folkestone Express
15-9-1900
Wednesday, September 12th: Before J. Fitness, J.
Pledge, W. Wightwick, and J. Stainer Esqs.
A transfer of licence of the Alexandra Hotel was granted to
Walter Barnes, who was represented by Mr. G.W. Haines.
On
Monday, transfer was granted to the following: Mr. Walter Barnes for the
Alexandra Hotel
Application for the transfer of licence of licensed premises was granted for the Alexandra Hotel.
Folkestone Herald
15-9-1900
Folkestone Police Court
Folkestone Chronicle
17-10-1903
Wednesday, October 14th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick,
Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Mr. C.J. Pursey and Mr. G.I. Swoffer.
Application for the transfer of licence of licensed premises was granted for the Alexandra Hotel.
Folkestone Express
17-10-1903
Wednesday, October 14th: Before Lieut. Col.
Hamilton, W. Wightwick, G.I. Swoffer and C.J. Pursey Esqs.
The following licence was transferred: - The Alexandra
Hotel, from Walter Barnes to John Edward Barber.
Licence
was transferred as follows: Alexandra Hotel, from Walter Barnes to Edward
Barnel
Folkestone Herald
17-10-1903
Wednesday, October 14th: Before Messrs. W.
Wightwick, G.I. Swoffer, C.J. Pursey, and Lieut. Colonel Hamilton.
Folkestone Chronicle
8-7-1905
Monday, July 3rd: Before Alderman T.J. Vaughan
and Lieut. Col. Westropp.
Frederick Holmes, a man with a shuffling, shifty appearance,
whose face is familiar to the Bench, was charged with being drunk and disorderly
in Harbour Street on Saturday evening.
P.C. Leonard Johnson said that Holmes was ejected from the
Alexandra Hotel. The man was drunk, and used most filthy language. Prisoner
came up to witness, and said “I want your number, you ----“. After causing a great
commotion prisoner was taken into custody.
Called upon as to whether he had anything to say in his
defence, prisoner said he was excited, and proceeded to make a number of
groundless charges against the constable. He strongly denied using obscene language.
Sergt. Osborne said that the man was very drunk when brought
to the station, and made use of filthy language.
Prisoner: I did not swear. You are a false speaking man.
The Chief Constable: You are only making the case worse. You
swore when you were in my office.
Alderman Vaughan (to prisoner): The less you say the better
for you. Is anything known about the prisoner?
The Chief Constable: He has not been charged with
drunkenness before, but there are three or four other convictions. The last was
for an indecent assault upon a young girl, for which he was sentenced to six
months` hard labour.
Prisoner was fined 5s. with 5s. 6d. costs, or seven days`.
Folkestone Express
8-7-1905
Monday, July 3rd: Before Alderman Vaughan and
Lieut. Col. Westropp.
Frederick Holmes was charged with being drunk and disorderly
in Harbour Street on Saturday night.
P.C. Leonard Johnson said about 9.30 on Saturday night he
was called to the Alexandra Hotel in Harbour Street, where he saw the prisoner
being ejected from the hotel. He was drunk and very excitable. He requested him
to go away quietly, but he refused, and caught hold of witness by the shoulder
and said he wanted his number. He continued to use obscene language, and a
large crowd of people assembled. Witness eventually took him into custody.
P.S. Osborne said when the prisoner was brought into the
station he was drunk, and used very bad language.
The Chief Constable said there were three or four convictions
against the prisoner, the last being in August of last year.
Fined 5s. and 5s. 6d. costs or seven days` hard labour.
Folkestone
Express 2-11-1907
Monday, October 28th: Before The Mayor,
Aldermen Spurgen and Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore and R.G. Wood Esq.
Charles Cullen pleaded Guilty to being drunk and
disorderly on Saturday evening in Harbour Street.
P.C. Sharpe said about 6.50 on Saturday evening he was
at the bottom of High Street, when he saw the prisoner, drunk. He was
flourishing a bottle (produced) in his right hand. He (witness) requested him
to go away, but he went into the Alexandra Hotel. He was, however, ejected from
there, and when in the street again he used very bad language. He therefore
took him into custody.
Prisoner said he had been in the army 156 days, and
when in South Africa he was shot close to the brain, and in support of his
statement he held his head down so that the Magistrates could see a hole at the
top of it. He denied using bad language.
The Chief Constable said the prisoner was an army
pensioner.
The Chairman said the Magistrates had decided to deal
leniently with the prisoner, and he would be fined 3s. 6d. and the costs would
be remitted.
Folkestone
Express 13-6-1908
Monday, June 8th: Before Alderman Vaughan,
Lieut. Colonel Fynmore, and Messrs. T. Ames and C. Jenner.
George Herbert Rycroft was charged with wilfully
breaking a plate glass window at the Alexandra Hotel, the property of John
Edwards Barber.
Florence Kosh, barmaid at the Alexandra Hotel, said at
about a quarter past seven on Saturday evening she was standing at the hotel
entrance when she noticed the prisoner pass. He had a piece of stone in his
right hand. She saw him raise his hand and throw the stone produced at the
saloon bar window, which was broken. A boy picked up the stone and handed it to
her. Mr. Barber, the landlord, came out and caught the prisoner.
John Edwards Barber, the landlord of the hotel, said he
was on the premises on Saturday evening. He was sitting in the saloon bar, and
on hearing the smash of glass and seeing the window broken he ran out and
caught the prisoner. He took Rycroft into the hotel. The damage done amounted
to between £7 and £8. The glass was five sixteenths of an inch in thickness,
and the window was about 6 ft. high and 5 ft. broad.
P.C. Watson said at five minutes past seven he was
called to the Alexandra Hotel, where he saw Mr. Barber, who told him in the
prisoner`s presence that he (Rycroft) had broken the window, and he wished to
give him into custody. He brought him to the police station, and on charging
him he replied “I should not have done it, only I felt hungry”.
Prisoner, who appeared to be rather strange in his
manner, had nothing to say, and he was committed to the Quarter Sessions, bail
being offered, himself in £20 and one surety of £20.
Folkestone
Herald 13-6-1908
Monday, June 8th: Before Alderman S.
Penfold, Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Councillor C. Jenner, and Mr. T. Ames.
George Herbert Rycott was charged with wilfully
breaking a plate glass window at the Alexandra Hotel on Saturday evening.
Florence Kosh, barmaid at the Alexandra Hotel, said
that at about seven o`clock on Saturday evening she was standing at the
entrance of the Alexandra Hotel, when she noticed prisoner, who was standing on
the pathway, in front of the hotel entrance. He had a piece of stone in his
right hand. She saw him raise his hand and throw the stone, which broke the
saloon bar window. A boy picked up the stone and gave it to witness, who
afterwards handed it to the police. The landlord then came.
John Edwards Barber, landlord of the Alexandra Hotel,
said that at a quarter past seven on Saturday evening he heard a crash of
glass. He immediately ran out and caught the prisoner, who was going towards
the fishmarket, took him back to the hotel, detained him there, and sent for
the police. Witness did not see him throw the stone. The amount of damage done
was between seven and eight pounds.
Chairman: What was the size and thickness of the glass?
Witness: 5/10th of an inch plate glass, and
roughly it was six feet high and five feet broad.
P.C. Watson said that at about five past seven on Saturday
night, from information received, he went to the Alexandra Hotel, where he saw
Mr. Barber. He stated, in the prisoner`s presence, that Rycott had broken the
plate glass window in the saloon bar, and that he wished to give him into
custody. He examined the window and found it was broken. He took the prisoner
to the police station and charged him with wilfully breaking the window.
Prisoner replied that he would not have done it, only he felt hungry.
Prisoner was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.
Folkestone
Daily News 4-7-1908
Saturday, July 4th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward
Esq.
George Herbert Rycroft pleaded Not Guilty to wilfully
damaging a plate glass window on the 6th June.
Florence Kosh, a barmaid at the Alexandra Hotel, said
she saw the prisoner come along with a piece of stone in his right hand, which
he threw through the window of the saloon bar.
John Edward Barber said when he heard the smash he went
out and saw the prisoner making his was towards the Fishmarket. He went after
him and held him till a policeman arrived.
P.C. Watson proved the arrest, and said the prisoner
replied “I wouldn`t have done it, only I was hungry”.
Prisoner said he tried to throw the stone over, and it
went through the window. It was a pure accident.
The Chief Constable said there was a long list of
convictions against the prisoner.
The jury brought in a verdict of Guilty, and he was
sentenced to three months` hard labour.
Folkestone
Express 11-7-1908
Quarter Sessions
Saturday, July 4th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward
Esq.
George Herbert Rycroft, a porter, was charged with
breaking a plate glass window in the Alexandra Hotel, the property of Mr. John
Edwards Barber, and doing damage to the extent of £7 8s. 6d. on June 6th.
When asked to plead he said it was done by accident – a plea on Not Guilty. Mr.
Dickens prosecuted.
The evidence of Miss Kosh, a barmaid in the employ of
Mr. Barber, showed that the man deliberately stood on the pavement and threw a
stone through the window.
Mr. Barber stated that he was sitting in the hotel
directly under the window when he heard the smash of a window. He ran out of
the hotel and arrested him while walking sharply away from the hotel. It
required considerable force to break the window. He had heard the man had been
asking for food. If he had come to his place he would have got it.
The Recorder: A very good advertisement. I shall know
where to come.
Mr. Dickens: Can we all come?
Mr. Barber: Yes.
The Recorder: I will bear it in mind. Gentlemen of the
jury, I hope you won`t forget what he says.
P.C. Watson gave evidence of arrest.
The prisoner said he did not throw the stone with the
intention of breaking the window. He meant to throw it to the top of the roof.
The Chief Constable said since 1906 the prisoner had
been convicted at Worthing, Romsey, Chichester, and Hunts. Assizes for felony,
and at Boston for an assault on a woman.
The Recorder warned the prisoner as to his future
behaviour, and advised him not to come before that Court again. He would have
to go to prison for three months` hard labour.
Folkestone
Herald 11-7-1908
Quarter Sessions
Saturday, July 4th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward
Esq.
George Henry Rycroft was indicted for unlawfully and
maliciously breaking a plate glass window, the property of John Edwards Barber,
and doing damage to the extent of £7 8s. 6d. Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. Mr.
Dickens appeared on behalf of the Crown.
Florence Kosh, a barmaid at the Alexandra Tavern (sic),
said she knew the prisoner, whom, on the evening of the 6th June,
she saw coming along the road, carrying a stone in his hand. Prisoner raised
his hand, and she thought he was going to throw it at her, so she stepped back.
He threw it through the second window of the saloon bar. He threw it wilfully.
John Edwards Barber, landlord of the Alexandra Tavern,
said that he was sitting in the hotel when he heard a smash of glass, so he
went out and arrested the prisoner, and, with assistance, took him to the
police station. The window was five sixteenths of an inch thick, and was 6ft.
by 5ft. The damage was over £5.
The Recorder: Are you insured?
Witness: All right, you need not emphasise the damage.
Continuing, witness said that there had been a couple of gentlemen staying at
the hotel, and prisoner had been asking them for coppers. If he had gone to
witness`s house for it, he would have got it.
The Recorder: A very good advertisement for the
Alexandra Hotel, Beach Street. (Laughter) I will bear it in mind.
Mr. Dickens: Can we all come? (Laughter)
Witness: If you are hard up. (Laughter)
The Recorder: Gentlemen, we will bear it in mind.
P.C. Watson proved arresting the prisoner, who said “I
would not have done it, only I was hungry”.
Prisoner, in defence, said that the window was not
broken wilfully. He caught hold of a stone, and tried to throw it over to reach
the top of the roof.
Prisoner was found Guilty.
Chief Constable Reeve said that prisoner was evidently a
tramp, and at Folkestone nothing was known of him. He had, however, other
convictions against him in several parts of the country.
Prisoner assumed a somewhat indifferent air, and the
Recorder asked if he was in his right mind.
The Chief Constable: Yes, I think so. He is one of that
class of men who is quite as comfortable in prison as out.
The Recorder, in addressing the prisoner, said that he
had admitted that he had committed the offence because he was hungry, but it
could not be taken into consideration, and he wanted to point out to prisoner
that if he did not mind what he was about, he would find himself undergoing a
very long term of imprisonment in one of His Majesty`s gaols. He was only 22
years of age, and yet he had been convicted no less than five times. He was
getting on towards that stage which was known as the habitual criminal, and he
would find that stage would be very unpleasant to him. He would go to prison
for three months with hard labour.
Folkestone
Express 1-8-1908
Local News
One of the prisoners sentenced at the recent Quarter
Sessions – George Herbert Rycroft, for breaking a window at the Alexandra Hotel
– applied for leave to appeal against his sentence of three months` hard
labour, but the higher court this week has decided not to grant an appeal in
the case, so the sentence remains.
Friday, November 20th: Before Alderman Banks, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Alderman Vaughan, and Messrs. W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, G.I. Swoffer, and T. Ames.
Folkestone
Herald 1-8-1908
Local News
An application by George Henry Rycroft, who was
convicted at the last Quarter Sessions for breaking a plate glass window at the
Alexandra Hotel, that he should be given a trial in the Court of Criminal
Appeal, has been disallowed by the Home Secretary.
Folkestone
Daily News 20-11-1908
Friday, November 20th: Before Messrs. Banks,
Stainer, Swoffer, Fynmore, Vaughan, Ames, Carpenter, and Herbert.
Ernest J.S.S. Fazan was charged with stealing a pair of
field glasses.
John Edward Barber, proprietor of the Alexandra Hotel,
said he knew the prisoner well. On the 18th of July last he stopped
at the hotel for a few days. He left, and returned about the 20th
July. He was in the habit of borrowing witness`s field glasses, which were
always kept in a leather case behind the bar. On the 15th of August
prisoner left without paying his bill, and also took the glasses with him.
Witness put the matter in the hands of the police, and a few days later
accompanied a constable to Dover, where he was shown the glasses at a
pawnbroker`s shop. They bore his name on them, and he valued them at £4.
Florence Kosh deposed that she was a barmaid at the
Alexandra Hotel. On the 5th August he was in the bar and asked her
for the field glasses, saying Mr. Barber had given him permission to have them.
She handed them to him and he went out, and she had not seen him since.
Robert Wood said he was a pawnbroker, of 10, Snargate
Street, Dover. The prisoner came to his shop on the 6th August and
pledged the glasses and case. Witness advanced him 7s. 6d. on them.
Detective Burniston said he apprehended the prisoner at
Canterbury yesterday, and charged him with stealing the glasses. He replied “I
am very sorry. I did not take them with a felonious intent”. At Folkestone he
was formally charged, and he made no reply. A pawn ticket was found on him,
dated August 6th, 1908.
Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty, and said before this
charge was preferred against him he wrote a letter to Mr. Barber telling him
the predicament he (prisoner) was in. He had also made a declaration on his own
behalf to the Chairman and other gentlemen on the Bench, which he wrote on the
19th last. He had also placed with the declaration a letter he had
received from his parents.
He was committed to the Quarter Sessions, bail being
allowed, himself in £20 and two sureties of £10.
Folkestone
Herald 21-11-1908
Friday, November 20th: Before The Mayor,
Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Messrs. G.I. Swoffer, J. Stainer,
W.C. Carpenter, W.G. Herbert, and T. Ames.
Ernest Jas. Seymour Fazan was charged on a warrant with
stealing a pair of field glasses and a case. Mr. De Wet prosecuted.
John Edward Barber, landlord of the Alexandra Hotel,
Harbour Street, said that he knew the prisoner by the name of Fazan In July,
prisoner was living at the hotel, and while there he asked witness for the loan
of his field glasses. Invariably the glasses were kept behind the bar in the
case. Witness told him to return them on his arrival at the hotel each day he
had them. Witness first of all missed the glasses on the 5th August.
Prisoner left the hotel on that day owing witness some money. He had given
witness no notice that he was going to leave. Witness put the matter into the
hands of the police, and a few days later went with the police to Dover to see
a pawnbroker (Mr. Wood), who showed him the glasses (produced), which witness
identified as his glasses. His name was on the glasses and on the case. He
valued the glasses at £4.
Florence Kosh, barmaid at the Alexandra Hotel, said
that on the 5th August she saw Fazan in the office adjoining the
bar. He was standing there, so witness asked him what he wanted. He replied “I
want the glasses”. She asked him if Mr. Barber had given him permission to have
the glasses, and prisoner replied in the affirmative. Witness gave him the
glasses. He never returned to the hotel.
Robert Wood, a pawnbroker, of 10, Snargate Street,
stated that on the 6th August the glasses and leather case were
brought to him by prisoner. Witness had the counterfoil of the ticket, and that
corresponded with the ticket (produced). Seven shillings and sixpence was
advanced on the glasses. Witness was in the shop at the time, but witness`s
wife actually transacted the loan.
Detective Sergt. Burniston said that at 9 a.m. the
previous day he apprehended the prisoner at Canterbury, and charged him with
stealing the field glasses. He replied “I am very sorry. I did not take them
with a felonious intent”. In his possession was a pawn ticket, No. 9393, dated
August 6th, 1908, bearing the name of R. Wood, and also the word
“glasses”. On the 14th November Mr. Wood handed the glasses and case
(produced).
Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. He said that before that
charge was preferred against him he wrote a letter to Mr. John Barber telling
him of the predicament he was in; he produced the letter and asked the
Magistrates to read it. He also made a declaration to the Chairman, and the
other gentlemen on the Bench, which he wrote the previous day. Also he put with
the declaration a letter which he received from his parents, and which he
wished the Magistrates to see.
These letters were read by the Magistrates, who
committed prisoner for trial at the Quarter Sessions, bail being offered.
Folkestone
Express 28-11-1908
Friday, November 20th: Before Alderman Banks, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Alderman Vaughan, and Messrs. W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, G.I. Swoffer, and T. Ames.
Ernest J.S.S. Fazan was charged with stealing, whilst a
bailee, a pair of field glasses in a leather case. Mr. De Wet prosecuted.
John Edward Barber, the landlord of the Alexandra
Hotel, Harbour Street, said he knew the prisoner, who went by the name of
Fazan. On July 18th prisoner was at his hotel, and remained there
for a few days. He returned about July 30th. Two or three days after
he came he asked prosecutor to lend him his field glasses, which he invariably
kept behind the bar in a case. He gave him permission to have them, but told
him he was to return them each day he came into the hotel. On August 5th
the prisoner left the hotel, owing him some money, and later he missed the
glasses. He had given witness no notice that he was going to leave. In
consequence of police enquiries at Dover a few days after, witness went to see
Mr. Wood, a pawnbroker there, who showed him the glasses and case produced,
which he identified as his property. He valued the field glasses and case at
£4.
Florence Kosh, a barmaid in the employ of Mr. Barber,
said she knew the prisoner. On August 5th she remembered seeing Fazan
in the office behind the bar. She asked him what he wanted, and he replied “I
want the glasses”. She asked him if Mr. Barber had given him permission to have
them, and he said “Oh, yes”. She gave him the field glasses in the case.
Robert Wood, pawnbroker, of 10, Snargate Street, Dover,
said on August 6th the field glasses and leather case were pledged
with him by the prisoner, and the counterfoil corresponded with the ticket
produced. His wife advanced 7s. 6d. for the glasses.
Det. Sergt. Burniston said at 9 a.m. the previous day
he arrested the prisoner at Canterbury, charging him with stealing the glasses
in the case whilst bailee. After reading the warrant over to him, the prisoner
replied “I am very sorry. I did not take them with a felonious intent”. Later
he brought him to Folkestone police station, where he was formally charged and
made no reply. In his possession was found the pawnticket produced, which
corresponded with the counterfoil produced by Mr. Wood.
Mr. De Wet asked the Magistrates to deal with the
prisoner summarily, subject to his plea.
Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty, and further said that
before the charge was preferred against him he wrote a letter to Mr. John
Barber, telling him the predicament he was in, and he asked the Magistrates to
read the letter. He had also made a declaration on his behalf to the Chairman
and other gentlemen on the Bench, and which he wrote the previous day. He
wished the Magistrates to see a letter he had received from his parents.
The letters were read by the Clerk to the Magistrates,
but he said they were irrelevant to the charge.
The Magistrates, as the prisoner pleaded Not Guilty,
had no course open to them but to send him for trial at the next Quarter
Sessions, and bail was offered, himself in £20, and two sureties of £20 each.
Folkestone
Daily News 4-1-1909
Quarter Sessions
Monday, January 4th: Before J.C. Lewis
Coward Esq.
Ernest James Seymour Fazan was charged with stealing a
pair of field glasses, the property of John Edwards Barber.
Mr. Matthew prosecuted, and said the prisoner admitted
taking the glasses, but not with any felonious intent. The prisoner, however,
had pawned them, which was itself dishonest.
The prosecutor said the prisoner was in the habit of
borrowing the glasses, but on the last occasion he did not return them, so
witness informed the police.
Prisoner said he had £80 when he went to prosecutor`s
house, so he was not short of money. They went to the Dover Pageant together,
and were on intimate terms with each other. He produced a long letter which he
wrote to Mr. Barber from Canterbury prison.
Miss Kosh gave evidence as to the prisoner borrowing
the glasses.
Mr. Wood, a pawnbroker, of Dover, deposed that the
prisoner pawned the glasses with him.
Detective Burniston proved the arrest.
Prisoner gave evidence on oath, and denied that he had
any felonious intent. If he had, he would not have given his proper name and
address. He had spent over £4 with Mr. Barber and his friends at the Pageant,
and left himself penniless.
The Recorder briefly went over the evidence, and said
the letter written by the prisoner while in prison did show to some extent that
he meant to redeem the glasses. The point the jury had to decide, however, was
whether the prisoner had any felonious intent.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty, which was
greeted with applause by those in Court.
Folkestone
Express 9-1-1909
Quarter Sessions
Monday, January 4th: Before J.C. Lewis
Coward Esq.
Ernest James Seymour Slater Fagan, described as a
seaman, was indicted for that he, being the bailee of a certain leather case
containing field glasses of the value of £4, the property of John Edwards
Barber, converting them to his own use and stole them, on August 5th.
Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.
Mt. T. Matthew (instructed by Mr. De Wet) prosecuted,
and in opening the case said that prisoner did not deny taking the glasses, but
contended that he took them honestly.
John Barber, the landlord of the Alexandra Hotel, said
he knew the prisoner and he had stayed at his hotel for a few days from July 18th
last. He went away and returned on July 30th, and during his stay he
was in the habit of borrowing witness`s field glasses, which were presented to
him by his commanding officer when he went to South Africa. The instruction
given to the prisoner was to hand the glasses back each day to the young lady
behind the bar. On August 5th the prisoner left the house and took
the glasses with him. He, at that time, owed him 17/6 for his lodgings. As he
did not return in a few days, he gave information to the police, with whom he
went to Dover a few days later, and saw the field glasses at Mr. Wood`s the
pawnbroker.
Florence Kosh, a barmaid in the last witness`s employ,
gave evidence of handing the glasses to the prisoner.
Robert Wood, pawnbroker, of 10, Snargate Street, Dover,
said on August 6th the glasses were pledged by the prisoner with
him. He valued the glasses at £1 1s. and the case at 3s.
Mrs. Wood said she effected the transaction with the
prisoner, to whom she gave 7/6 for the glasses and counterfoil of the ticket.
The man told her that the glasses were his property.
Detective Sergeant Burniston deposed to arresting
prisoner on a warrant at Canterbury.
A letter was read by the prisoner, which he sent to Mr.
Barber when in prison, stating that he would get the glasses when he came out
again, and he further said that he did not know at that time there was a
warrant out for his arrest.
Prisoner went into the box, and said if he had any
guilty intention he would not have used his own name. He ran short of money,
and thought he was pledging the glasses only for a day, as he expected he could
get money from his people. It was his intention to redeem the glasses when he
came out of prison.
During cross-examination by Mr. Matthew, the prisoner
said he had borrowed money from the Chief Constable of Deal, which he had
repaid.
The Recorder: That is very high testimony to the
police.
In a written statement, the prisoner repeated what he
had said in the witness box. He also asked the jury to take into consideration
the fact that he had been in prison six weeks awaiting trial, and appealed to
them to instruct the Police Court Missionary to assist him, as he had very
little money.
The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty, which was
received with loud applause from the public portion of the Court.
Fagan was therefore discharged.
The Recorder ordered that on payment of 3/9 to the
pawnbroker Mr. Barber could have his glasses back.
Folkestone
Herald 9-1-1909
Quarter Sessions
Monday, January 4th: Before J.C. Lewis
Coward Esq.
Ernest James Seymour Slater Fazan was indicted for
stealing, on the 5th August, 1908, one leather case, containing a
pair of field glasses, of the value of £4, the goods of John Edwards Barber.
Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. T. Matthew prosecuted.
John Barber, proprietor of the Alexandra Hotel, Harbour
Street, said that the prisoner was in the habit of staying at his hotel. On the
30th July he arrived for a few days, after being away for a few
days. While he was staying at the hotel, prisoner had permission to borrow a
pair of field glasses. He valued them at £4. They were presented to him by his
commanding officer on his going to South Africa. On the case was the name
Regimental Sergt. Major Barber, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry.
Defendant left on the 5th August, owing a bill for 17s. 6d. On the
next day witness got a letter from him stating that he would not be back till
the following day, as he was “staying with the Pageant piece”. The letter
concluded “It is all right”. As prisoner did not appear, witness gave
information to the police, but he afterwards learned that the glasses had been
pawned at Mr. Wood`s shop.
Prisoner, in defence, produced a letter sent by him
from Canterbury gaol, stating to Mr. Barber that the presentation binoculars
were in safe keeping. He would have written before, but one had to be in prison
for two months before that could be done. He hoped that Mr. Barber would not
condemn him, as the crime he committed was unintentional, for he was not likely
to jeopardise his future for a paltry wristlet watch and 37s. 6d., in
connection with which he had since got into trouble. Since he had been in gaol
he had been discharged from the Reserve. He would be penniless, and in addition
he had lost the respect of his friends, who knew of his disgrace. He said that
he would write further when he was released. He asked for his bill, which he
hoped he would be able to forward as well as the binoculars.
Robert Wood, pawnbroker, of Dover, proved taking the
glasses into pawn for 7s. 6d.
Prisoner, on oath, maintained that when he pawned the
glasses it was not with any felonious intent. The day before he went to the
Dover Pageant and spent out. He expected to get some means sent to him from
some relatives. He pledged the glasses for one day only as he thought. The
consequence was that the following day he was placed in a big predicament. He
wrote to some people, some friends Mr. Barber had introduced him to, and to
whom he had lent some money, but they did not reply. The consequence was he did
not have a penny. From there he went to Tunbridge Wells, where he was well
known and respected. He borrowed money in small sums here and there, and he got
himself into disgrace. He was accused of stealing a watch. They let him have a
watch valued at 13s. 6d. and he sold it for 5s., so they charged him with
stealing it. He pleaded Guilty, and there was no question of it, and he got
three months` hard labour. He had been unable to redeem the pledge as he had
not the money to get the glasses out. He asked the jury to believe that he had
not taken them with any felonious intent.
The jury returned a verdict of Not guilty, and the
prisoner was discharged.
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