Prince Of Wales 1920 - 1924

Folkestone Express 14-2-1920

Annual Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 11^th: Before The Mayor, Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor G. Boyd, Mr. J.H. Blamey, Councillor A. Stace, Col. Owen, Rev. Epworth Thompson, Councillor Hollands, Councillor Morrison, and Mr. L.G.A. Collins.

Mr. H. Reeve (the Chief Constable) presented the following report: I have the honour to report that there are at present within your jurisdiction 113 places licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquor by retail, viz.; Full licences 70, beer on 7, beer off 6, beer and spirit dealers 15, grocers, etc. off 6, confectioners wine on 8, confectioners wine off 6, a total of 113. This gives an average, according to the Census of 1911, of one licence to every 296 persons, or one on licence to every 495 persons. During the past year 13 of the licences have been transferred. Since the last annual licensing meeting the licensees of the undermentioned premises have been convicted as follows: Prince of Wales Tavern, fined 10s. on 23^rd May, for allowing a child to be in the bar of his licensed premises; East Kent Arms, fined 10s. on 29^th August for supplying drink for consumption off the premises after 9 p.m.; Star and Garter, fined 10s. on 30^th November for supplying intoxicating drink for consumption off the premises after 9 p.m.; Globe Hotel, fined £10 on each of two summonses on 4^th December for charging more for whisky than the maximum price allowed under the Order made by the Food Controller. During the year ended 31^st December, 46 persons (35 males and 11 females) were proceeded against for drunkenness; 34 were convicted and 12 discharged after being cautioned by the Bench. In the preceding year 26 persons (17 males and 9 females) were proceeded against, of whom 14 were convicted and 12 discharged. The regulation of the Liquor Control Board restricting the hours for the sale and consumption of intoxicating liquor remains in force. Eleven clubs where intoxicating liquor is supplied are registered under the Act. There are 24 premises licensed for music and dancing, 2 for music only, and 2 for public billiard playing. Numerous visits have been made by the police at irregular intervals during the year to the licensed premises and places of entertainment, and I am pleased to report that the houses generally have been conducted in a satisfactory manner.

The Mayor said the Magistrates had considered the report, and they thought it very satisfactory. There had been a little increase in drunkenness, but they hoped that would disappear again. With reference to the licences, the Bench had decided to renew them all, except the Prince of Wales Tavern, East Kent Arms, Star and Garter, and Globe Hotel, in consequence of new legislation that might come on. The licences referred to would come up for consideration at the adjourned meeting.

The adjourned sessions were fixed for the 10^th March.

Folkestone Herald 21-2-1920

Annual Licensing Sessions

The annual licensing sessions for Folkestone were held at the Police Court, the Mayor presiding.

Mr. H. Reeve presented his report (for details see Folkestone Express).

The Mayor said the report was very satisfactory, although there was a little increase in drunkenness. They would renew all the licences to the licensed premises, except the five mentioned in the report, which would be adjourned to a later court.

Folkestone Express 13-3-1920

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, March 10^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Messrs. G.I. Swoffer and G. Boyd, Col. Owen, and Messrs. A, Stace and G.H. Blamey.

The licences of the East Kent Arms, the Prince of Wales, the Globe, and the Star and Garter were renewed, they having been adjourned from the annual meeting.

Folkestone Herald 13-3-1920

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, March 9^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor G. Boyd, Colonel G.P. Owen, Councillor A. Stace, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson, and Mr. J.H. Blamey.

The licences of the East Kent Arms, Star and Garter, Globe, and Prince of Wales, deferred at the annual sessions, were now renewed.

Folkestone Express 28-5-1921

Local News

On Wednesday at the Police Court the following transfer was granted: Prince of Wales beerhouse, from Mr. C.J. Stay to Mr. J.C. Lee.

Folkestone Herald 28-5-1921

Local News

At the Folkestone Police Court on Wednesday, Councillor W.J. Harrison being in the chair, the licence of the Prince of Wales Inn, Guildhall Street, was transferred from Mr. C.S. Stay to Mr. J.C. Lee.

Folkestone Herald 6-5-1922

Local News

Mary Ann Williams appeared at the Folkestone Police Court on Tuesday to answer a charge of being drunk and disorderly. Mr. G.I. Swoffer was the presiding Magistrate. Prisoner pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Pritchard said about 9.30 p.m. on Monday he was on duty in Guildhall Street. Prisoner came out of the Prince of Wales public house, shouting and using obscene language. He took her into custody. She had been refused a drink at this house, and turned out by the landlord.

Prisoner said she was very sorry. She had met some friends and had a little drop to drink. She got her drink at Cheriton. She went to the Prince of Wales, and the landlord said he would throw her out if she did not leave. That made her lose her temper. She was very sorry to be brought there again. She had a drop of drink, and that overcame her. She had tried to be good since she was last here. She asked for another chance.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew): She was here about three months ago. No longer a period than usual.

The Chief Constable (Mr. H. Reeve): There are thirty convictions against her.

The Chairman said they would give her one more chance. She would be fined £2, or a month`s imprisonment.

Prisoner: Can I have time?

A fortnight was allowed for payment.

Mr. Andrew: Some day you will be bound over to be of good behaviour for twelve months and you will not be able to find the sureties, and then you will have to go to prison for a year. Just think that over.

  

Folkestone Express 9-2-1924

Tuesday, February 5^th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Miss I. Weston, Mr. A. Stace, Alderman C.E. Mumford, Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. Morrison, and Mr. W.R. Boughton.

John Charles Lee, Prince of Wales Inn, was summoned for an alleged breach of the Licensing Act in regard to closing hours.

Patrick McBrine, Herbert Walters, Charles Skinner, Sidney Rye and Charles Phillips were summoned for alleged consuming liquor during prohibited hours.

The Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew) said he had received a letter from Mr. Rutley Mowll (Dover) stating he had been instructed to defend the case, and asking for an adjournment.

The Bench acceded to an adjournment until Friday in next week.

Folkestone Herald 9-2-1924

Tuesday, February 5^th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. E.T. Morrison, Mr. A. Stace, Alderman C.E. Mumford, Mr. W.R. Boughton, and Miss E.I. Weston.

John Charles Lee, the licensee of the Prince of Wales public house, was summoned for a breach of the Licensing Act by supplying liquor during prohibited hours. Patrick McBrine, Herbert Walters, Charles Skinner, Sidney Rye and Charles Phillips were summoned for consuming liquor during prohibited hours.

The Clerk read a letter from Mr. Rutley Mowll stating that he had been instructed for the defence, but he was unable to attend, having been previously engaged in another case, and asking for the Magistrates to adjourn the case.

The Chief Constable said he had no objection to an adjournment.

The case was adjourned until Friday, February 15^th.

Folkestone Herald 16-2-1924

Friday, February 15^th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. A. Stace, Mr. E.T. Morrison, and Mr. W.R. Boughton.

John Charles Lee, the licensee of the Prince of Wales public house, was summoned for selling intoxicating liquor during prohibited hours. Defendant, who was represented by Mr. Rutley Mowll, of Dover, pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Laurence said at 10.05 p.m. on the 26^th ultimo he was in Guildhall Street near the Prince of Wales public house in company with P.C. Nicholls. He noticed a number of men leave the public bar of the Prince of Wales, and through the open door he noticed a number of men consuming liquor from glasses. He kept observation through the bar door window and saw five men consume liquor. At 10.08 p.m. he saw Patrick McBrine served by Mrs. Lee, the wife of the defendant, with a pint of beer, and she received payment for same. The licensee was in the bar at the time. Witness entered the bar with P.C. Nicholls at 10.10 p.m. The clock in the public bar was 10.16, six minutes fast. He asked Mr. Lee whether he was aware of the time. He replied “My clock is fast. I`ve just called time”. Witness had not heard defendant call “time”. He could have heard him if he had. McBrine still had his glass of beer in his hand, and was drinking it. He said to the defendant “There you are, Mr. Lee. There`s a man drinking here now”. McBrine said “I paid for this beer before time, and I am going to drink it”. McBrine then finished the beer up. It was then 10.13. Witness told the landlord that he would be reported for selling, supplying and allowing intoxicating liquor to be consumed on his premises during prohibited hours between 10.05 p.m. and 10.10 p.m. Defendant replied “Nothing was served here after time”.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll, witness said he was giving the time by his own watch, which had been set by the Town Hall clock. He left the Town Hall at 9.57 p.m. He put his watch on then. It was a very short walk from the Town hall to the Prince of Wales. He joined the other constable outside the Shakespeare Hotel. They went to the Prince of Wales at 10.05, and when they got there he saw some people coming out. The door of the public bar was not closed. He kept observation standing on the doorstep, and if anyone had come out they must have passed very near to him. He did not hear defendant call “Time”. He could not say what happened between 10 and 10.05.

P.C. Nicholls corroborated.

Mr. Rutley Mowll, for the defence, said defendant had been conducting a licensed victualler`s business for twenty years. The customers were leaving at the time the constable arrived. His submission to the Court was that the two police officers would have been doing their duty quite effectively, and more acceptably, if they had gone into the house and helped the landlord to get rid of the few remaining stragglers. Instead of that they remained outside, and got a case against the defendant. If two police officers were unable to prevent McBrine from drinking his beer, how in the world could they expect the unfortunate landlord to be powerful when two police officers were powerless?

The Chairman said they considered the case proved and defendant would be fined £2. They thought the police gave their evidence very fairly.

Patrick McBrine, Herbert Waters, Charles Skinner, Sidney Rye and Charles Phillips were summoned for consuming drinks during prohibited hours at the Prince of Wales, Guildhall Street, on the 26^th ultimo. Mr. Rutley Mowll defended.

P.C. Laurence said that at 10.10 p.m. on the 26^th ultimo he entered the Prince of Wales public house, where he saw the defendants finishing their beer. Between 10.05 and 10.10, when he was keeping observation through the window, they all drank from their glasses. At 10.20 he was overtaken by Walters, who asked why witness had put his name in his book. As Waters was not satisfied with witness`s statement, he advised him to go to the Police Office. At first he demurred, and said he would stick to witness all night, but after a time they both went to the office. Witness told the officer in charge that proceedings might be taken against the defendant, who then appeared to be satisfied. At the time he was in the bar he did not tell the defendants that they would be reported.

By Mr. Mowll: At the Town Hall he told Walters that he would be wanted to give evidence. The men were drinking from beer glasses, but witness did not test them.

By the Magistrates` Clerk: He intended to make a report on the matter, and leave it to his superior officer to decide whether proceedings should be taken.

P.C. Nicholls corroborated.

McBrine, on oath, said at 9.45 he entered the Prince of Wales Inn and called for a pint of beer. He drank a little of it and then left the bar. He heard the landlord call “Time”, and when he returned he took the glass in his hand, but did not drink anything. The police then rushed in.

Defendants were fined 5s. each.

There was a further summons against Mr. Lee for selling, through his wife, liquor for consumption on the premises without it having been paid for before or at the time of sale. Mr. Rutley Mowll defended, and pleaded Not Guilty.

Miss Harriett Hood said that about the 18^th December she went to the Prince of Wales and asked Mrs. Lee for a bottle of stout and a glass of burgundy, saying that she would pay for them on the following Saturday. Mrs. Lee said that would be all right, and witness drank the burgundy and took the stout away. She paid for the drink the following Saturday night. Witness had recently had a letter from Mrs. Lee, as follows: “Please pay the money you owe to us for drinks, otherwise I am going to see your mistress. I may then tell her something to interest her. Also please stop your lying tongue”. Witness showed the letter to a police constable, and to Inspector Pittock.

By Mr. Mowll: There had never been any trouble about her not paying for drinks, and she had never been turned out of another public house for a similar reason. It was before she consumed the drink that she told Mrs. Lee that she would not pay for it at the time. 

Sergeant Pittock said that at 6.20 p.m. on the 8^th instant he saw the defendant and Mrs. Lee at the Prince of Wales, the latter telling him that Miss Hood owed them some money. She also admitted sending the letter produced. When told he would be reported, defendant said that he did not call the sale a credit one, adding that after the last witness had consumed the drink she said that she could not pay for it until the following Saturday.

Mrs. Chapman, of 16, Darlington Street (called by the defence), said that she was at the Prince of Wales when Miss Hood was there. Miss Hood asked for a bottle of ale or stout, and also for something to drink. Mrs. Lee was very busy, and did not ask for the money at the time, but when she did ask for it Miss Hood said that she would pay the following day, or when she got paid. Mrs. Lee said that if she had known that, she would not have supplied Miss Hood.

Mrs. Kate Lee said that when Miss Hood obtained the drink there was no arrangement that she should have it on credit. After she had had the stuff she said that she had left her purse in the kitchen draw, and witness said “You know my husband does not allow that”. She also told Miss Hood that if she had known that, she would not have supplied her with the drink.

The Bench dismissed the case, but the Chairman said the police were quite justified in bringing it forward.

Folkestone Express 23-2-1924

Friday, February 15^th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. W.R. Boughton, Mr. A. Stace, Mr. E.T. Morrison and Mr. G. Boyd.

John Charles Lee, landlord of the Prince of Wales Hotel, was summoned for selling one pint of beer at 10.08 p.m. on the 26^th January. Mr. R. Mowll appeared for defendant, and pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Lawrence said that at 10.05 p.m. on the 26^th January he was in Guildhall Street, near the Prince of Wales public house, in company with P.C. Nicholls. He noticed a number of men leave the public bar of the Prince of Wales, and through the open door he noticed a number of men consuming liquor in the public bar, He kept observation through the window, and saw five men consume liquor, and at 10.08 p.m. he saw Patrick McBrine served with a pint of beer by Mrs. Lee, who received payment. The licensee was in the bar at the time. He entered the bar with P.C. Nicholls at 10.10 p.m. Town Hall time, and the clock in the bar was 10.16, six minutes fast. He asked Lee if he was aware of the time, and he replied “My clock is fast. I have just called time”. He had not heard defendant call “time”, but would have done so had he called “time”. McBrine still had the beer in his hand, and was drinking it. He said to the licensee “There you are, Mr. Lee, there`s a man drinking here now.”. McBrine said “I paid for this beer before time, and I am going to drink it”. He finished it up, and it was then 10.13. He told the landlord he would be reported for selling intoxicating liquors to be consumed on his premises during prohibited hours, from 10.05 to 10.10 p.m., and he replied “Nothing was served here after time”.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll: He gave the time by his watch, which was set by the Town Hall clock. They put their watch right at ten o`clock when they came out of the Town Hall. He put it right that night. He joined P.C. Nicholls near the Shakespeare Hotel and went on to the Prince of Wales. The door was left open five or six inches. He kept observation through the window in the bar door. He could see it was a pint of beer supplied by Mrs. Lee to McBrine. He saw him hand Mrs. Lee something. He could not say what happened between 10 and 10.15, or whether the landlord closed all the doors, with the exception of the public bar.

P.C. Nicholls corroborated.

Mr. Mowll said the police constables would have been doing their duty quite as effectively, and much more acceptably, if they had gone into the house and helped the landlord to get rid of the few remaining stragglers. Instead of that they stayed outside, and apparently they had got a case against the man. If two police officers, standing in the bar, were apparently unable to prevent McBrine carrying out his intention, how in the world could they expect the unfortunate landlord to be powerful when two police constables were apparently powerless? The landlord said he was trying to get the people out, and had already turned them out of four other rooms. Defendant had been a licence holder for 20 years, and 20 years` character in the public eye ought to stand a man in good stead when it was a question of eight minutes over the time on a Saturday night.

The Chairman said defendant would be fined £2. They thought the police gave their evidence very fairly.

Patrick McBrine, Herbert Waters, Charles Skinner, Sidney Rye and Charles Phillips were summoned for consuming after prohibited hours. Mr. R. Mowll defended.

P.C. Lawrence said he saw McBrine consume his beer, and the four other men finished their beer between 10.05 and 10.10. At 10.20 he was overtaken by Walters, who asked why witness had put his name in the book. As Waters was not satisfied with witness`s statement, he advised him to go to the Police Office. At first he demurred, and said he would stick to witness all night, but after a time they both went to the office. Witness told the officer in charge that proceedings might be taken against the defendant, who then appeared to be satisfied. At the time he was in the bar he did not tell the defendants that they would be reported.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll: He told the men they would probably be wanted as evidence against the landlord. At the police station he said the man had been found on the premises consuming liquor during prohibited hours.

P.C. Nicholls corroborated.

McBrine said that at 9.45 he entered the Prince of Wales and called for a pint of beer. He drank about half of it, and then left the bar. Mr. Lee called “Time”, and he hurried up to finish the remainder fo his beer. The police rushed in, and he picked his glass up, but he did not drink. It was exactly four minutes past ten, and his watch was right by the Town Hall clock.

Defendants were fined 5s. each.

John Charles Lee was further summoned for having, on the 18^th December, sold, through his wife, a glass of ale to be consumed on the premises without it having been paid for before or after the beer was consumed. Mr. Mowll defended, and pleaded Not Guilty.

Miss Harriett Hood said she had been a customer at the Prince of Wales Hotel, and belonged to the share-out club there. She went there in December and had a drink, and brought a bottle away, for which she paid. About the 18^th she went in again, and asked for a small bottle of stout and a glass of Worthington, and let her pay for it on Saturday. She was allowed to do so, and did not pay for it at the time. She paid for it on the Saturday night. She had received a letter from Mrs. Lee, as follows: “Will you please pay us the money you owe to us for drinks, otherwise I am going to see your mistress. I may tell her something to interest her. Also please stop your lying tongue”. She showed the letter to a police constable, and to Inspector Pittock.

Cross-examined by Mr. Mowll: There had never been any trouble in the house because she had not paid for drinks. She did not play a similar trick on the Lees eighteen months ago, and was turned out of the house. She told Mrs. Lee she had forgotten her purse, and had left it in a drawer in the kitchen.

Inspector Pittock said that at 6.20 p.m. on the 8^th inst. he went to the Prince of Wales public house, where he saw Mrs. Lee and the defendant. He said “I believe Mrs. Hood owes you some money”. Mrs. Lee said “Yes, she does”. At that time he had no intention of reporting her for an offence. He asked Mrs. Lee if she had sent the letter, and she replied “Yes, I did, because what I object to greatly is that she has taken another customer away from this house”. He told Mr. Lee he would be reported for supplying drink for consumption on the premises on credit, and he replied “I don`t call this a credit sale, and what is more, I am the licensee of this house, not my wife. She served her with the drink, I didn`t, and after she had got the drink she said she couldn`t pay for it until the following Saturday”.

This concluded the case for the prosecution.

Mr. Mowll called Mrs. Chapman, 16, Darlington Street, who said she was in the house when Miss Hood went in, and when Mrs. Lee asked for the money she said “I will pay for it tomorrow”. Mrs. Lee said if she had known she was not going to pay for it she would not have had it.

Mrs. Lee, wife of the licensee of the Prince of Wales, said there was no arrangement to supply Miss Hood on trust, and it was not until she had consumed one glass, and partly consumed another glass, that she said she had left her purse at home, and would pay the following night. She had had trouble with Miss Hood before.

The Chairman said there was some conflict of evidence, and the case would be dismissed.

Folkestone Express 1-3-1924

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 27^th: Before Dr. W.J. Tyson and other Magistrates.

Mr. Andrew, the Clerk, said at the annual licensing meeting the licence of the Prince of Wales beerhouse was put back for consideration at that meeting on the ground that proceedings were pending for alleged breaches of the Licensing Act. The licensee had since been convicted.

The Chairman intimated that the licence would be renewed.

Folkestone Herald 1-3-1924

Adjourned Licensing Sessions

Wednesday, February 27^th: Before Dr. W.J. Tyson, Mr. G. Boyd, Mr. A. Stace, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Colonel G.P. Owen, Mr. E.T. Morrison, Mr. J. Blamey, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson, and Miss A.M. Hunt.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew) said at the annual general licensing sessions the renewal of the licence of the Prince of Wales beerhouse in Guildhall Street was deferred for consideration until that day on the ground that proceedings were pending against the house for breaches of the Licensing Act. The licensee was convicted. So far as the application in regard to the Prince of Wales beerhouse was concerned an application would be made for a protection order for an incoming tenant. He might say that the testimonials of the applicant were perfectly satisfactory to the police. There would be a subsequent application for the full transfer of the licence to the incoming tenant, and therefore it would be unnecessary to deal with the renewal of the licence to the old licensee.

A protection order was granted to Mr. Frank Doveton (sic), of Leicester, in respect of the Prince of Wales beerhouse.

The licence of the Prince of Wales was also temporarily transferred from Mr. J.C. Lee to Mr. F.E. Doveton (sic).

Folkestone Herald 8-3-1924

Local News

At the Folkestone Police Court on Wednesday, before Mr. G.I. Swoffer and other Magistrates, the licence of the Prince of Wales Inn, Guildhall Street, was transferred to Mr. F.E. Lupton, of Leicester.

Folkestone Express 24-5-1924

Wednesday, May 21^st: Before the Rev. Epworth Thompson, Mr. L.G.A. Collins, Councillor W. Hollands, Mr. Blamey, and Col. P. Broome-Giles.

Alterations to the Prince of Wales Hotel, Guildhall Street were approved.

Folkestone Herald 24-5-1924

Local News

At the Folkestone Petty Sessions on Wednesday before the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson and other Magistrates, plans for alterations to the Prince of Wales Hotel were submitted to the Magistrates, who approved of them.