Morehall 1915 - 1919

Folkestone Herald 1-7-1916

Friday, June 30^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward and other Magistrates.

James Henry Kent, the licensee of the Morehall Stores, was summoned for sending out a quantity of liquor which had not previously been paid for. Mr. A.K. Mowll, of Canterbury, defended, and pleaded Not Guilty.

Det. Con. Kenward, of the K.C.C., stated that at 10 a.m. on the 13^th June  he was passing West Lawn, Sandgate, where he saw Thos. Avery, in the employ of defendant, delivering a crate of two dozen bottles of gin. He asked to see the delivery book and invoice. The liquor was correctly entered in both. He asked Avery if the goods had been paid for, and he said he did not know. He later saw theb defendant at his premises, where he was shown the entry in the day book. He stated what he had see at Sandgate, and asked if the liquor had been paid for. Defendant replied “No. The mess run a monthly account”. Witness told him he had committed an offence, and he would have to report him. Mr. Kent replied “I quite thought that sergeants` messes and officers` messes were classed as canteens”. Witness told him they were not.

Cross-examined, witness said Mr. Kent was perfectly open with him. He did not know there were 130 sergeants at the mess. He would not call it a canteen.

Mr. Mowll said Mr. Kent thought that this sergeants` mess was a canteen, and if that was so, no possible offence could have been committed. He would satisfy them that this sergeants` mess was inaugurated under proper military authority. They had to decide whether the sergeants` mess was a canteen or not.

Defendant said he was aware of the Control Board Regulations, and he was of opinion that the word canteen included a sergeants` mess. He had always heard this spoken of as a canteen. He was asked to supply this mess before the proper authority was given. The whole of the trade had treated messes as canteens.

Lieut. James Horne, of the C.A.M.C., who said he was present under the direction fo his commanding officer, produced a letter, dated 18^th May, giving the proper military authority. The mess was then opened. They regarded the bar in the mess as a canteen.

In reply to the Bench, witness said he believed the word canteen had been dropped with regard to a mess. A sergeants` mess was a canteen for sergeants.

The Chairman said this was the first time this question had been heard of there. Mr. Kent had done the thing in a bona fide manner, but the Bench thought it was not permissible. He would be fined £1.

 

Folkestone Express 8-7-1916

Local News

At the Folkestone Police Court on Friday, before E.T. Ward Esq., and other Magistrates, an interesting point was raised during the hearing of a summons under the Central Control Board (Liquor Traffic) Order. Mr. J.H. Kent was the defendant and he was summoned for sending intoxicating liquors from his licensed premises without it having been previously paid for. He pleaded Not Guilty. Mr. A.K. Mowll appeared for the defence.

Detective F. Kenward, of the Kent County Constabulary, said at 10 a.m. on June 13^th he was passing West Lawn, The Esplanade, Sandgate, where he saw Thomas Avery, who was in the employ of Mr. Kent, a wine and spirit merchant, of Morehall, delivering a crate containing two dozen bottles of gin. He asked him to show the delivery book and the invoice. The gin was correctly entered in the book and on the invoice. He then asked the man whether he knew if the goods had been paid for, and he said he did not know. He later saw Mr. Kent and asked to see the day book. He was shown the day book, and the entry was made in it. He then told him that he had seen at Sandgate 24 bottles of gin being delivered to the Sergeants` Mess, and asked him whether they had been paid for, and he replied “No, the Mess run a monthly account”. He told him he had committed an offence under the Liquor Control Regulations, and that he should report him. He replied “I thought that Sergeants` Messes and Officers` Messes were classed as canteens”. Witness told him they were not.

In reply to the Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve), witness said Mr. Kent admitted he despatched the gin from his licensed premises at Morehall that morning.

Cross-examined, Det. Kenward said he did not know that there were 130 sergeants at that particular Mess. He knew the premises were used as a Sergeants` Mess, and had been so for many weeks past. He would not call it a canteen.

Mr. Mowll said the case was really an extremely simple one, and he thought when the Magistrates had heard what he had to say on the subject and had heard the evidence, they would come to the conclusion that no offence at all had been committed. Mr. Kent was of the opinion that the Sergeants` Mess was a canteen, and, of course, if it was a canteen it was quite clear that under the Act no possible offence could have been committed. In the Order was a provision which read as follows: This Order does not affect the sale or supply of intoxicating liquor to or in any canteen where the sale of intoxicating liquor is carried on under the authority of the Secretary of State or the Admiralty”. He thought he would be able to satisfy them that the Sergeants` Mess was inaugurated under proper military authority. On April 25^th of that year representation was made that it might be properly constituted, and on May 1^st the authority was granted, and although Mr. Kent was also asked by the military to supply that Sergeants` Mess before May 1<sup>st</sup>, he very properly stated that until he got the proper authority he was not going to supply any sort of liquor to them. After he got that authority he supplied the Mess, and on that particular date he supplied the 24 bottles of gin, thinking that he was entitled so to supply. The Magistrates had therefore to decide the perfectly simple point as to whether the Sergeants` Mess was a canteen or whether it was not. If a Sergeants` Mess was not a canteen, what was it? He thought if he could prove to the Magistrates that the Sergeants` Mess was authorised by the proper military authority, then it was perfectly clear that the Sergeants` Mess was a canteen.

Mr. Kent, giving evidence, said he was aware of the regulations. He was of opinion, and the trade generally were of opinion, that the word canteen covered a Sergeants` Mess. What he had done was in perfect innocence, and he believed he had a perfect right to do as he had done. Everything was open and above board. He believed there were 130 sergeants using the Mess, which had been spoken of as a canteen, and which he understood to be a canteen.

Mr. Mowll, at this point, said the definitions of a canteen in a dictionary which he had were: (1) a tin vessel for liquors; (2) a sutler`s shop in a garrison.

Mr. Kent, replying further to Mr. Mowll, said he refused to supply that particular Mess before authority was produced to him that permission was granted for the use of the particular Mess.

The Chairman: Have you had any official notification that this was a canteen?

Mr. Kent: No, sir, only we have treated Sergeants` Messes from the time of the Liquor Control Order coming into force as a canteen. Proceeding, he said when the Order came into operation the whole of the trade met at the Town Hall, and it was then thoroughly understood that a Sergeants` Mess was a canteen, and they were all agreed on that. They had been supplying Sergeants` Messes and treating them as canteens ever since. He had heard nothing different to alter that opinion.

The Chairman: You had a notification that this was an authorised Sergeants` Mess? – Yes.

From the military authorities? – Yes.

The Chief Constable: You say the whole of the trade understood that?  Do you know, Mr. Kent, that certain firms of brewers had refused to serve certain premises?

Mr. Kent: I have personally seen brewers delivering beer to Messes at the Camp.

You said all the trade understood that Messes were canteens. Do you know one or two firms have refused to supply them on credit, and refused to deliver as prohibited areas? – That I do not know.

Lieut. James Horne, Canadian Army Service Corps, said he produced a letter written on April 25^th last asking for the particular Sergeants` Mess to be authorised. He also produced a letter of May 1<sup>st</sup>, which authorised the Sergeants` Mess. On that authority the Mess was opened, and since it had been considered as a canteen. From 120 to 150 sergeants used it.

In reply to the Clerk, the witness said it was only necessary for them to have the authority of headquarters, who would approach the Secretary of State.

The Chief Constable: Do you know if any application has been made to the Secretary of State to open this canteen?

Witness: It would be for headquarters to see to that.

The Chairman: What is a canteen?

Witness: A Sergeants` Mess is a canteen.

The Chairman: Is not the difference a Sergeants` Mess is confined to sergeants, and the canteen anyone can go in?

Witness: The Sergeants` Mess is a canteen confined to sergeants.

The Magistrates retired, and on their return the Chairman said that was the first time that question had been raised in that Court at all events. They had no doubt Mr. Kent acted really bona-fide, thinking he was entitled to do as he had done. They were of opinion that he was not entitled to serve a Sergeants` Mess in such a manner, but they would impose a nominal fine of £1.

Folkestone Express 16-9-1916

Monday, September 11^th: Before Alderman Jenner, Alderman Pepper, and J.J. Giles Esq.

James Ballantyne,  Canadian soldier, was charged with attempting to commit burglary at the Morehall Wine Stores.

Mr. J.H. Kent, of 284, Cheriton Road, said there was an entrance to a cellar at his house by means of a double flap door, one half of which flanged over the other and was fastened below by a chain. The door was secured safely at 8.10 the previous night. At 10.15, from something that was told him, he examined the door and found the upper half of the door had been forced, so that the other half could be raised and entrance effected into the cellar. The chain, which was attached to the half door by a staple, and secured in the cellar by another staple, had been removed, and was lying in the cellar, where the case containing wine had been removed from its position and placed under the flap, and six bottles were missing from it. He secured the flap and watched it until about 10.30, when he saw three soldiers come across the road to the flap. One took out an instrument, and he and another knelt down and tried to force the flap, the third man standing close by. He watched them for two or three minutes, and then rushed out. He caught hold of one of the soldiers and the other two struck him, making him release his man. The three men ran towards Cheriton, and he gave chase, shouting “Stop them”. A soldier, whom he afterwards found to be Sergt. Hurley, of the Royal Canadian Dragoons, knocked the prisoner down about thirty yards from witness` premises. He took charge of the prisoner, who was taken back to his house. He telephoned for the police, and P.C. Pritchard arrived. He gave the prisoner into his custody. He examined the door, and found marks of an instrument on the woodwork.

P.C. Pritchard said about 11 o`clock the previous night he went to 284, Cheriton Road, where he saw the prisoner detained by the last witness. Mr. Kent told him that he had caught the prisoner trying to get into his premises, and wished to give him in charge. Prisoner made no reply. He examined the flap, and on it he found the knife (produced) with the spike open. There were marks on the wood, and he should say they were similar to those which might have been done by the spike. At the police station, when formally charged, he replied “I made no attempt”.

Prisoner said he could not get a bus to get to Cheriton, so he walked. When opposite to Mr. Kent`s he saw two men kneeling down, and another soldier asked him for a cigarette. He asked that man what the two soldiers were doing, and he said they had lost some money. He went across and he knelt down by the side of them, but one of the men went away. At that moment Mr. Kent came round the corner, and he stood up. Mr. Kent got hold of him, but when he found he was released he ran. The sergeant tripped him in the road, and placed him under an escort. Mr. Kent came up, and he went down to the house. He knew nothing about the wine.

The Magistrates committed the prisoner to the Quarter Sessions.

Folkestone Herald 16-9-1916

Monday, September 11^th: Before Alderman Jenner and other Magistrates.

James Ballantyne, a Canadian soldier, pleaded Not Guilty to a charge of attempted burglary.

Mr. J.H.O. Kent, of the Morehall Wine Stores, Cheriton Road, said he had an entrance to his cellar from the front by means of a double flap door, fastened below by a chain. On Sunday evening he saw the door safely secured about 8.10. About 10.15 the same evening he examined the door and found the upper flap had been forced, so that the other half could be raised and an entry effected into the cellar. Someone had apparently been down the cellar, as the chain had been unfastened. A case of wine had been carried from one place to another in the cellar, and six bottles of wine were missing from it. Witness secured the flap, and watched it till about 10.30, when he saw three soldiers come across the road and try to force the flap open with some instrument which one of them produced. Witness rushed out and took hold of one of them, whereupon the other two struck him, making him release his prisoner. The three men ran towards Cheriton, witness pursuing them and shouting “Stop them”. A soldier stopped prisoner by throwing him in the road. Between them they took the man to witness`s house and telephoned for the police, into whose custody prisoner was given.

By the Clerk: On examining the flap later, witness found marks of an instrument on the lower flap.

P.C. Pritchard said about 11 p.m. on Sunday he wnet to prosecutor`s premises, where he found prisoner detained. When handed over to witness accused made no statement. Outside the flap witness found a large knife with a strong spike, and there were marks of a similar instrument on the woodwork of the lower flap. When charged at the police station, prisoner said “I made no attempt”.

Defendant said he could not get a bus to Cheriton, and started to walk. When he was opposite prosecutor`s premises a soldier stopped him and asked him for a cigarette. Two men were kneeling on the pavement, and prisoner asked what they were doing. The soldier replied that they had lost some money. Prisoner went and knelt beside them, and one got up and ran away. At that moment prosecutor came round the corner and prisoner waited for him. Prosecutor got hold of him, but prisoner soon found himself free and ran. He was tripped up in the road and taken back to prosecutor`s premises. He knew nothing about the wine being gone.

Prisoner was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions on September 29^th.

Folkestone Herald 30-9-1916

Quarter Sessions

Friday, September 29^th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

James Ballantyne, 21, a Canadian soldier, was indicted for attempted burglary at the premises of James Henry Kent, with intent to steal, on 10^th September. He pleaded Not Guilty.

Mr. J.W. Weigall prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and briefly outlined the facts.

Mr. Kent, licensee of the Morehall Wine Stores, 284, Cheriton Road, said he left the cellar flap locked at 8 p.m. on September 10^th, and at 10 o`clock found it was partly open. He secured it, and found that a case of Hall`s wine in the cellar had been opened, and six bottles taken out. Going outside, he saw three soldiers come to the flap. One attempted to open the flap with a jack-knife, the second man helping him, whilst the third appeared to be directing. Prisoner was the one who tried to force the flap. Witness took hold of prisoner, but was struck by the other two, and released the man. They ran away, with witness in pursuit, and a soldier tripped up prisoner, whom witness brought to his house, where he telephoned to the police.

By the Recorder: Prisoner did not attempt to strike him.

P.C. Pritchard spoke to receiving prisoner into custody at Mr. Kent`s premises on September 10^th. He found a knife (produced) on the cellar flap, with the spike open, and several recent marks on the flap corresponding with the spike. Charged at the police station, prisoner said “I made no attempt”.

By the Recorder: Prisoner was in the Canadian Forces. The knife was one of a Canadian knife issue, each man being given one. Accused had no knife on him when he was arrested.

Prisoner said he was in the First Canadian Battalion, and came from St. Lomas, Ontario. On the night in question a soldier stopped him outside prosecutor`s premises and asked him for a match. Two men were kneeling down, and on him asking what they were doing, he was told that they had lost some money. Mr. Kent came out and took hold of him, and when he found himself free he ran with the others until tripped up by a soldier. Mr. Kent was then 30 yards behind, and there were two soldiers between him and prosecutor. He was quite innocent of the charge.

Cross-examined: He had had a jack-knife, but had lost it in France He had not had one since returning to England. He must have run over 100 yards when he was tripped. He did not know why the soldiers should strike Mr. Kent, or that they did strike him.

By the Recorder: He had not applied for another knife because it was not necessary.

The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.

The Chief Constable Ballantyne was in February last charged with assaulting a woman at Folkestone and fined 40s. The facts were that he struck the woman and snatched a bottle of stout from her.

The Recorder: Knocked a woman down in Folkestone, and the Magistrates did not order imprisonment. Monstrous!

Captain Bridges, C.A.M.C., handed in prisoner`s crime sheet.

In passing sentence, the Recorder said however little it was desired to send accused to prison, in view of the fact that he came from Canada and was prepared to fight for his country, he must be imprisoned for a term he richly deserved. He would be committed to prison for six months, with hard labour.

 

Folkestone Express 7-10-1916

Quarter Sessions

Friday, September 29^th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

James Ballantyne, 21, a Canadian soldier, pleaded Not Guilty to a charge of attempted burglary at the premises of James Henry Kent, with intent to steal, on 10^th September. Mr. J.W. Weigall (instructed by Mr. A.F. Kidson) prosecuted on behalf of the Crown.

Mr. Kent, of the Morehall Wine Stores, 284, Cheriton Road, said he left the cellar flap locked at 8 p.m. on September 10^th, and in consequence of what he was told at 10 o`clock he found it partly open. He secured it, and found that a case of Hall`s wine in the cellar had been opened and six bottles taken out. He decided to keep observations on the cellar door, and when he had got to the corner of his premises he saw three soldiers come across the road and go to the flap. One attempted to open the flap with a jack-knife, the second man helping him, whilst the third, who was standing up, appeared to be directing them. Prisoner was the one who tried to force the flap. He rushed out and caught hold of prisoner, but was struck by the other two, which made him release the man. They ran away, with witness in pursuit, and a soldier tripped up prisoner. He was on the prisoner`s heels all the time. He brought him to his house, where he telephoned to the police.

P.C. Pritchard said he received the prisoner into custody at Mr. Kent`s premises on September 10^th. He found the knife (produced) on the cellar flap, with the spike open, and several recent marks on the flap corresponding with the spike. When charged at the police station, prisoner said “I made no attempt”.

In reply to the Recorder, prisoner said the knife was a Canadian issue, each man being given one. Accused had no knife on him when he was arrested.

Prisoner, giving evidence on oath, said he was in the C.A.M.C., and came from St. Thomas, Ontario. On the night in question a soldier stopped him outside prosecutor`s premises and asked him for a match. Two men were kneeling down, and on him asking what they were doing he was told that they had lost some money. He therefore helped them to look for it. Mr. Kent came round the corner and took hold of him, and when he found himself free he ran with the others until tripped up by a soldier. Mr. Kent was then thirty yards behind, and there were two soldiers between him and prosecutor. He was quite innocent of the charge.

Cross-examined: He had a jack-knife, but had lost it in France. He had not had one since returning to England. He must have run over 100 yards when he was tripped. He did not know why the soldiers should strike Mr. Kent, or even that they did strike him.

Questioned by the Recorder, he said he had not applied for another knife because it was not necessary.

The jury returned a verdict of Guilty.

The Chief Constable said Ballantyne, on February 19^th, was charged with assaulting a woman at Folkestone, and fined 40s. He met the woman, who was carrying a bottle of stout, and struck her a violent blow. He then snatched the bottle from her. A Military Police officer caught him, and the Magistrates fined him 40s.

The Recorder: What! Knocked down a woman in the streets of Folkestone and got off with a fine of 40s. and without imprisonment.

Captain G.W. Bridges, C.A.M.C., handed to the Recorder the prisoner`s conduct sheet.

The Recorder, after examining it, said the man appeared to be a liar.

Captain Bridges: Yes.

The Recorder, in giving judgement, said in his opinion the Magistrates` sentence was very light treatment for a grave assault on a poor woman in that town. He, however, that day was before the Court of Quarter Sessions and a jury had found him Guilty, a decision with which he agreed. His conduct on his sheet was described as indifferent. However much one would desire that he should not be sent to prison, especially considering that he was a Canadian and was prepared to fight for the country, he must be imprisoned for a term he richly deserved. The sentence was that he should go to prison for six calendar months with hard labour.

Folkestone Express 10-2-1917

Annual Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 7^th: Before E.T. Ward, G.I. Swoffer, R.J. Linton, G. Boyd, H. Kirke, and J.J. Giles Esqs., and the Rev. Epworth Thompson.

Mr. H. Reeve read his annual report as follows: Gentlemen, I have the honour to report that there are within your jurisdiction 115 places licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor by retail, viz; Full licences 71, Beer on 7. Beer off 5, Beer and spirit dealers 15, Grocers etc., off 7, Confectioners, wine, on 3. Chemists, wine, off 6, Total 115. This gives an average, according to the census of 1911, of one licence to every 291 persons, or one on licence to every 429 persons. This is the same number of licensed premises as were in existence last year.

At the adjourned licensing meeting, held on 6^th March last, the licence of the Clarence Inn, Dover Road, was referred to the Compensation Committee on the ground of redundancy, and at the principal meeting of that Committee held at Canterbury on 21^st June, the renewal of the licence was refused. The question as to the amount of compensation to be paid was referred to the Inland Revenue Authorities, and has not at present been determined, consequently a provisional renewal of the licence will be applied for. During the past year five of the licences have been transferred.

For the year ended 31^st December last 55 persons (28 males and 27 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness, of whom 32 were convicted and 23 discharged without conviction. Of the persons proceeded against 17 were residents of the Borough, 9 members of the Naval and Military Forces, 13 persons of no fixed abode and 16 residents of other districts. In the preceding year 174 persons (109 males and 65 females) were proceeded against, of whom 129 were convicted and 45 discharged.

Proceedings have been taken during the year against 14 of the licence holders for various offences, 7 of whom were convicted and 7 dismissed. The following are the cases in which convictions have been recorded, viz; 9^th March, the licensee of the Guildhall Hotel was fined £1 for a breach of the “No Treating” Order; 24^th March, the licensee of the Mechanics Arms Inn was fined £1 for allowing a child under 14 years to be in the bar of his licensed premises; 23^rd June, the licensee of the Chequers Inn was fined £1 for dispatching intoxicating liquor from his licensed premises without a licence; 30^th June, the licensee of the Morehall Wine Stores was fined £1 for dispatching intoxicating liquor from his licensed premises without the same having been previously paid for; 30^th June, the licencee of 27 Rendezvous Street (off licence) was fined £1 for a similar offence; 1^st December, the licensee of the London and Paris Hotel was fined £5 for a breach of the No Treating Order; 1^st December, the licensee of the Pavilion Shades was fined £5 for a similar offence.

Nine clubs where intoxicating liquor is supplied are registered under the Act. There are 16 places licensed for music and dancing, 7 for music only, and 1 for public billiard playing.

The Order of the Liquor Control Board which came into operation on 10^th January last year, restricting the hours of sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to 4½ hours each weekday and 4 hours on Sunday remains in force, and in my opinion is mainly the cause of the decrease in the cases of drunkenness recorded.

Under Regulation 10 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations, Orders have been made by the Competent Military Authority, and are still in force, closing 3 of the licensed houses to all members of H.M. Forces. The houses are the Jubilee Inn, Radnor Street, the Wonder Tavern, Beach Street, and the True Briton, Harbour Street.

The Chairman said with regard to the report the number of convictions was very satisfactory. Mr. Reeve said in his opinion that was due to the restricted hours. He (Mr. Ward) was sorry to see so many convictions of publicans – seven – which was a greater number than he remembered in any year. There was no doubt that publicans were faced with very great difficulties with so many restrictions placed upon them. He urged upon them the necessity of being very careful not to serve any wounded soldiers, or any soldiers waiting embarkation. There were very heavy penalties laid down for offences of such a nature – imprisonment for six weeks or £100 fine. He hoped all of them would be very careful. All the licences would be renewed with the exception of the seven against which convictions had been recorded, but those seven licences would be granted until the adjourned sessions in a month`s time.

The Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew) said with regard to the premises licensed for music and dancing the Magistrates had made new regulations. In future no structural alterations should be made in the licensed premises, and no alterations should be made in the stage, gangways, passageway or exits without the previous approval of the justices, and such gangways should be kept free from chairs or other obstruction during the hours of public entertainment, and all performances should be of an unobjectionable character, and good order and decent behaviour should be kept and maintained on the premises during the hours of licence.

Folkestone Herald 10-2-1917

Annual Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 6^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. R.J. Linton, Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. J.J. Giles, Mr. H. Kirke, and the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson.

The Chief Constable read his report (for details see Folkestone Express).

The Chairman said he was sorry to see so many convictions of publicans, the greatest number he had seen for years. No doubt the difficulties of publicans were great owing to abnormal times. He would advise them to be very careful not to serve wounded soldiers or those who were soldiers about to embark. In regard to the licences, they would all be renewed, with the exception of seven, which would be considered at the adjourned sessions on March 7^th.

Folkestone Express 10-3-1917

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

The Folkestone adjourned licensing sessions were held on Wednesday, Mr. E.T. Ward presiding on the Bench, when the licences of the Guildhall, the Mechanics Arms, the London and Paris Hotel, the Chequers, the Pavilion Shades, the Morehall Wine Stores, and Finn`s Store, Rendezvous Street, were renewed.

 

Folkestone Herald 10-3-1917

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, March 6^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, and Mr. H. Kirke.

The licences of the Pavilion Shades (Mr. E. Bishopp), the Mechanics Arms (Mr. J. Lawrence), Paris Hotel (Mr. G. Gray), Guildhall Vaults (Mr. Cousins), and those of Mr. J. Kent (Morehall), and Messrs. Finn and Co. Ltd. (Rendezvous Street) were renewed.

Folkestone Express 17-3-1917

Friday, March 9^th: Before Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Alderman Pepper, Mr. J.J. Giles, and Mr. H. Kirke.

John Sim, a Canadian soldier, was charged with having stolen two bottles of whisky from a truck at Shorncliffe Station. He was defended by an officer, a Canadian solicitor.

Frederick J. Burbridge, checker employed at Shorncliffe Station, said on March 6^th a truck arrived in the goods yard about 10.15 a.m. Among the goods referred to in the invoice were cases of White Label whisky addressed to Mr. J.H. Kent. Witness checked the contents of the truck and the three cases of whisky were intact. When he next went to the truck on the morning of the 8^th he found one of the cases broken open, and there was nothing of the contents remaining, with the exception of eleven “straw envelopes”. On the afternoon of the 7^th a number of soldiers were employed loading baggage in the goods yard.

Cross-examined: The general public had access to the goods yard.

Corporal Gregson said on March 7^th he was in charge of a fatigue party at the goods yard in question loading baggage into trucks. The defendant was one of the party.

A Corporal in the Canadian Military Police said he was on duty at Shorncliffe Station on the 7^th at 4.30 and saw the defendant asleep in the waiting room. Witness woke him up and told him to go back to his party. Later witness noticed that he was very drunk, and saw a bottle sticking out of his pocket. He was placed under arrest. On the way to the barracks, prisoner produced another bottle of whisky. They were both “White Label” whisky.

Cross-examined: Witness had his name written on the labels before they were handed over to Det. Sergt. Johnson, but when they were first handed over to the military sergeant they were not so marked. He could not swear that the two bottles produced in Court were the identical bottles.

The Chief Constable said if the officer persisted on this point he would ask for an adjournment in order to call another witness who directed the bottles to be marked.

The officer said he would prefer the case to go on.

Detective Sergt. Johnson said on the previous afternoon he saw the prisoner in custody on Shorncliffe Camp. The two bottles of whisky produced were handed to him by the last witness, who said “I found that on him when he was arrested”. Witness brought him to the Folkestone police station, where he was formally charged, but made no reply.

Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty.

The officer asked for the case to be dismissed, submitting that there was no evidence against the man. It was true that the box was opened and the whisky missing and that defendant was found with two bottles of whisky, but there was no connection between these two facts. It had not been proved that the two bottles before the Bench had been stolen. The man had borne a very good character. He was a good soldier, he had been to France, and had come back wounded.

The Bench held that the man was Guilty and sentenced him to one month`s hard labour.

Folkestone Express 14-4-1917

Local News

The following licence was transferred on Wednesday at the Police Court: Morehall Hotel, from Mr. J.H. Kent, who is going on National Service in France, to his wife.

Folkestone Express 4-1-1919

Local News

The off licence of the Morehall, Cheriton Road, was transferred from Mrs. Kent to Mr. J.H. Kent.

Folkestone Herald 4-1-1919

Local News

At a sitting of the Licensing Justices on Wednesday (Mr. E.T. Ward presiding), the licence of the Morehall wine and spirit stores was transferred from Mrs. Alice Kent to Mr. J.H. Kent, the latter being discharged from military service.