Clarendon Hotel 1935 - 1939

Folkestone Express 7-12-1935

Local News

William Milton, a fisherman, was bound over to be of good behaviour and ordered to pay 4/- costs at the Folkestone Police Court on Friday, when he was summoned by Mrs. Elvie Flynn, of 24, Tontine Street, for assault. The complainant alleged that Milton threw the contents of a glass of beer at her when they were in the Clarendon Hotel. Defendant pleaded Not Guilty.

Complainant said on the previous Sunday evening she went into the Clarendon Hotel and the defendant was there. He said “Good evening” to her and then added something insulting to her. She walked round to the other side. He ran after her to hit her and he threw some beer at her, but she ran and the beer went all over the back of her head and the wall. She heard no crash of glass. She called a police officer, who asked the defendant whether he had thrown it, and he said “Yes, I did”. She knew the defendant but had never spoken to him before.

P.C. Brittain said at 8.30 p.m. on November 24^th he saw the complainant, and her hair behind the right ear was saturated with beer. He saw the defendant and told him of the complaint and he said “I don`t deny or admit it”.

Defendant, on oath, said he was in the Clarendon when the complainant came in. He said “You here again, you whelp?” He told her to keep at arm`s length and in doing so the beer he had in a glass went over her.

Roland Noble, 2, Seagate Street, said he went into the Clarendon with the defendant. She came up to him and he put out his arm. He had a glass of beer in his hand and the complainant knocked his arm and the beer went over her.

Folkestone Herald 7-12-1935

Local News

Three versions of the story of a scene at a public house were told at Folkestone Police Court on Friday last when William Milton was summoned for assaulting a young woman, Elvie Flynn, of 29, Tontine Street, Folkestone, by throwing a glass of beer over her i on November 24th.

The Magistrates were Dr. W.W. Nuttall, Alderman Mrs. E. Gore and Mr. R.J. Stokes.

Elvie Flynn, in evidence, said on the previous Sunday evening, about 8 o'clock, she went into the Clarendon and defendant was already there. He spoke to her and said “Good evening” and added an insult. She walked round to the other side and he ran after her. She went through a door and he threw a glass of beer at her. She did not know if he threw the glass as well. The beer went on the wall and all over her head. She went and telephoned for a policeman who came and fetched Milton from the Clarendon. He asked their names and told defendant of complaint. The policeman asked defendat if he had thrown beer over her, and he replied “Yes, I did”. She had never spoken to him before the Saturday evening when there had been a “bit of trouble” between defend­ant and her mother. She was not there at that time.

P.C. Brittain said at 8.20 on Sun­day evening he was called to the Clarendon Hotel. He examined com­plainant’s hair and found it was soaked behind the left ear and smelt of beer. He asked defendant to come outside the Clarendon and repeated the complaint. Defendant replied: “I don`t admit it and I don't deny it.’'

In evidence, defendant said com­plainant followed him into the hotel. He said “You here again, Elf?”She said “Yes”. He said “I give you arm's length” and held out his hand with the glass in it and the beer went. “I could not get it back, could I?” he said. “I was annoyed about it”.

Roland Noble, 2, Seagate Street, said he went into the Clarendon with Milton and the woman followed them. They had just called for beer when com­plainant entered. She had a word or two with Milton and then she went up to him and Milton put his arm out: she pushed against his arm and the beer went over her.

Another witness Milton had intended to call had been turned out of Court earlier in the case and did rot appear.

The Chairman said defendant would be bound over for 12 months and would have to pay 4s. costs.

Folkestone Express 27-6-1936

Local News

On Saturday William Fraser, a man of no fixed address, was sent to prison for six weeks on a charge of attempting to assault Mr. A. J. Taylor, the licensee of the Clarendon Hotel.

The magistrates were Dr. W.W. Nuttall (in the chair) and Eng. Rear Admiral L. J. Stephens.

Mr. Taylor said at ten o’clock the previous night the defendant came into the saloon bar and tried to sell heather. He approached him and said to him “I do not allow that sort of thing here”. He then asked him to go out and the defendant became abusive and attempted to hit him in the face, but missed. He (complainant) pushed him to the door

and when outside the defendant again attempted to hit him but fortunately he dodged to miss the blow. He told him he was sending for the Police and the defendant said “If you get me 28 days I will shoot you when I get out of gaol”. He repeated that several times after the police constable arrived.

Eng. Rear-Admiral Stephens (a magis­trate): Did he actually hit you?

Mr. Taylor: No.

In reply to questions by the defendant, Mr. Taylor said he should say Fraser was absolutely sober. He denied that he did anything to provoke the defend­ant to assault him.

Defendant: You came up to me in an hostile manner.

Mr. Taylor said he certainly pushed him to get him out of the house.

P.C. Austin said at 10.05 p.m. he went to the Clarendon Hotel and saw the defendant standing in the roadway. He was talking very loudly, and he (wit­ness) heard him use a very obscene expression to Mr. Taylor. He also attempted to strike Mr. Taylor and he then took him into custody and brought him lo the Police .Station. He only hung back a little as he came to the Police Station.

The Chief Constable (Mr. A. S. Beesley) said fortunately the defendant did not often come to Folkestone, but he was a nuisance when he did come. The last time he was there he was sentenced to 21 days’ for begging. There were ten previous convictions against him for larceny and other offences, two of them in New York, from which he was deported in 1933. They did not want him in Folkestone.

Fraser: I don’t know what that has to do with this case at all.

The Chairman to the prisoner: You are a general nuisance. You are a man who will not take advice when you receive it. You will go to prison for six weeks’ hard labour.

 

Folkestone Herald 27-6-1936

Local News

“He`s a nuisance in the town when he does come here, which, fortunately for us, is not very often”, said the Chief Constable of Folkestone (Mr. A.S. Beesley) at the Folkestone Police Court on Saturday, when William Fraser was charged with assaulting William A.J. Taylor by attempting to strike him in the face with his fist. Fraser pleaded Guilty, and was sentenced to six weeks` imprisonment.

William Alfred James Taylor, the licensee of the Clarendon Hotel, Ton­tine Street, said at 10 o’clock the previous night defendant came into the saloon bar and tried to sell heather to customers. He approached Fraser and said “I do not allow that sort of thing”. When he asked him to go defendant became abusive and attempted to strike witness. Defendant took his jacket off and attempted to hit him in the face. He pushed Fraser to the door and while he was doing so defendant used very bad language. Fraser again tried to hit him when they got outside and said if he got him 28 days he would shoot witness when he came out of jail. A police officer afterwards took Fraser into custody. Defendant was sober.

Cross-examined, witness denied that he pushed defendant or provoked him first.

Fraser: He came at me in a hostile manner and said he would get “stuck into me”.

Witness denied this.

P.C. Austin said at 10.05 p.m. he re­ceived a request to go to the Clarendon public house and on his arrival he saw defendant standing in the roadway talking very loudly to the witness. He saw him attempt to strike Mr. Taylor. After being brought to the police station and charged Fraser said “I reserve my defence”.

Fraser said he was provoked. His nerves were not too good, and the way Mr. Taylor spoke provoked him.

The Chief Constable said in March, 1935, Fraser was sentenced to 21 days` imprisonment at Folkestone for begging. There were then ten previous convictions for larceny and begging. They did not want him in Folkestone.

The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): Do you want to say anything about it?

Fraser: I don`t see what that has got to do with the case at all.

The Chairman (Dr. W.W. Nuttall), who sat with Engineer Rear Admiral L.J. Stephens, said: You are a general nuisance, and you won`t take advice when you receive it. You will go to prison for six weeks with hard labour.

Fraser: Thank you.

Folkestone Express 7-11-1936

Local News

Alexander Harris, a restaurant pro­prietor, of 6/8, Harbour Street, Folke­stone, appeared before the Folkestone magistrates on Tuesday on two summonses of selling beer without a licence to do so. He pleaded guilty. Miss Vivien Potter, a waitress, was also summoned in respect of the same offences, but they were withdrawn when her employer pleaded guilty.

The magistrates were Dr. W.W. Nuttall, Dr. F. Wolverson and Mr. R.J. Stokes.

Mr. D J. Willson, prosecuting for the Commissioners of Customs arid Excise, said although the defendant was sending out for the beer for his customers he was making a profit on it. The Customs officers went to the restaurant on August 24^th and asked the waitress for lunch and two light ales, and gave her 2/6. Ten minutes later she brought in the two light ales and 1/6 change. They had paid 6d. each for the bottles of beer. They left the premises at 1.30 p.m. On this occasion observation was kept out side, and no one was seen to leave the premises to obtain the beer. There were two other sales on the same day. Two officers asked for two bottles of beer and paid their 2/6 to the waitress and she brought them 1/6 change and two bottles of beer. Two officers, keeping observation outside, saw a man leave the premises and return carrying two bottles of beer. The following day at lunch time officers went to the premises again and asked for lunch and two bottles of beer and paid 2/6. On this occasion when the waitress brought the beer she did not bring the change until ten minutes after­wards. The officers entered the restaur­ant at 12.15 p.m. They ordered the beer at 12.30 p.m. and some time subsequently the cashier handed them their change. Two officers were keeping watch out­side the premises at 12.25 p.m. when a man left and was followed to the Claren­don Hotel, and going into the saloon lounge handed a piece of paper over to the barman, and on this was “Two Watneys 2/6” with an initial and figure. He obtained the beer and returned to the restaurant, and later a man was seen leaving the premises with three empty bottles. He went to the saloon lounge of the Clarendon Hotel and was handed 6d. back on the bottles. Later the same day the two officers keeping observation saw the defendant, who made a statement. He said his instructions to the staff were that beer should be supplied to customers at cost price, fivepence for the beer plus twopence on the bottle. In such a case the customer would be charged 5d. If thev had been charged 6d. it was a mistake of the waitress. A price list in the restaurant showed the price of the various beers, and Watney was given at 6d. According to Harris the price list was out of date. The officer interviewed the waitress, and she said as far as she knew they were the prices. The kitchen help was sent to the hotel to obtain the beer, and he had been charged 7d., 5d. for the beer and 2d. on the bottle. He came back with the 1/4 change, and the empty bottles were sent down to the kitchen, and the help went to the Clarendon and obtained 6d. on three bottles. Fourpence was sent up to the restaurant in respect of the two Watney bottles, and the cashier took 2d. of that, and the remaining 2d. was paid to the customers. In other words the other 2d. was the profit the defendant was making on each bottle. He was making Id. on each bottle of Watney and ½d. on Bass, Guinness and Worthington. If a man in the defendant’s position, not holding a licence, supplied beer to his customers and made a profit on it he was retailing beer as if he had a large stock and was selling it at full prices.

Mr. John Pesgard, officer of the Cus­toms and Excise Special Enquiry Staff, said he went to the defendant’s restaur­ant on August 24^th with another officer. They ordered two bottles of Watney beer with their lunch. The same evening they went back again and ordered two more bottles. On August 25^th they had lunch and again ordered two bottles of beer.

Mr. Graham J.E. Reid, officer of the Special Enquiry Staff, said ho kept ob­servation outside the premises on August 24^th at lunch, and did not see anyone come out to get the beer, The next day at lunch time a man was seen to leave the premises. He followed him to the Clarendon Hotel. He was carrying three empty beer bottles, for which he was given 6d. at the public house.

Mr. George Binks, another officer, said about 7.40 p.m. he was outside the pre­mises and just before 8 p.m. he saw a man leaving the premises. He saw him coming back carrying two bottles of beer.

Mr. Willson said the deposit the cus­tomer paid on the bottle gave the defend­ant his profit.

Harris said lie was not in the restaur­ant at the time the offence was com­mitted. He had given the waitresses in­structions what to do. When they went out for the beer they had to pay 2d. on the bottle, which they received back when they returned the bottles. There was never any intention of making a profit on the beer. He had been there for ten years, and had never been in trouble before. His waitresses had told him that it was a mistake, although he had not given it a thought. He did not know that drinks were being sent out for in the evening. They only obliged cus­tomers by sending out for the drinks.

The Chairman said the defendant would be fined £1 on each summons, £2 in all.

An application by Mr. Willson for costs was refused.

 

Folkestone Herald 7-11-1936

Local News

Alexander Harris, of 6 - 8, Harbour Street, Folkestone, was summoned for retailing beer without a licence on August 24^th and 25^th. There were two summonses against Miss Vivian Potter, of Queen’s Road, Cheriton, a waitress, for serving, but these were with­drawn after Harris had pleaded guilty.

Prosecuting, Mr. Willson said this was a case of unlicensed sale of beer at Harris’s Restaurant in Har­bour Street. The facts were rather different because the sale by defendant in this case depended upon the fact that although he was sending out for beer for his customers he was making a profit on all the beer which he sold. On August 24^th , Mr. Green and Mr. Pascard, two officers, went to defend­ant’s restaurant and asked the waitress for two light ales, Mr. Green giving the waitress 2s. 6d. at the time of the order. Ten minutes later the waitress brought in two light ales and gave the officers 1s. 6d. change. They drank the beer at lunch and left the premises. On that occasion observation was kept outside and no one was seen to leave the premises to obtain the beer. There were two other sales of beer, one on the evening of the same day. Again the two officers went to the restaurant and asked for two bottles of beer. They paid 2s. 6d. to the waitress and she brought Is. 6d. change back with the two bottles of beer. Two officers on this occasion keeping observation outside saw a man leave the premises and return subsequently carrying two bottles of beer. The next day at lunch-time the two officers again went to these premises, and again asked for two bottles of beer, giving the waitress 2s. 6d. On this occasion when the waitress brought the beer she did not bring the change as well. In fact, not until some ten minutes had passed did the officers get their change and that was rather important in the light of cer­tain enquiries which were made subsequently. The officers entered the restaurant at 12.15 p.m., ordered the beer at 12.20, at 12.30 the beer arrived, and some time later the waitress handed them their change. Two other officers keeping observa­tion outside saw a man leave the premises at 12.25. He was followed and was seen to go to the Clarendon Hotel, in Tontine Street, enter the saloon bar and hand across the counter a piece of paper on which was written “2 Watneys 2s. 6d. A 5”. He obtained the beer and returned to the restaurant about two minutes later, before the beer was actually served to the officers lunching there.  At 12.30 the man was seen again to leave the restaurant and return to the Clarendon Hotel with three empty bottles. After being given 2d. on each bottle he returned to the restaurant. Mr. Willson said later the same day the two officers who had been keeping observation saw the defendant and having cautioned him told him who they were. Harris made a statement in which he said that with regard to beer supplied at meals to customers he had given instructions that the beer was to be supplied at the price it cost him. The Watney ale obtained at the Clarendon cost 5d. a bottle plus 2d. on the bottle, and in such cases the customer should be charged 5d. If a customer had been charged more it was a mistake on the part of the waitress. Mr. Willson, continuing to read from the statement, said Harris stated that during the season the price of Watney light ale had been 5d. a bottle and he had told Miss Potter to charge the same price to customers as was charged to him. If the waitress had charged more a mistake must have been made. Mr. Willson said there was a price list up in the restaurant on which the charge for a Watney ale was 6d. and when this was pointed out to defendant he stated that it was an old list and out of date. The officers spoke to another waitress and she said that so far as she knew the prices on the list were the prices to charge. What happened on this occasion was that the two officers had paid 2s. 6d. and the kitchen porter had been sent out to obtain the beer. He had taken the 2s. 6d. with him and he had been charged 7d. a bottle for the beer; that was 5d. for the beer itself and 2d. on each bottle, the transaction coming to 1s. 2d. altogether. He had taken the beer and 1s. 4d. change back and it had been sent up to the restaurant. When the beer and change got there Miss Potter saw that the change was not sufficient and she spoke to another waitress with the result that the two empty bottles were sent down to the kitchen. The porter then went back to the Clarendon Hotel with these two empty bottles and one other, for which he received 6d. When he got back the money was sent up to the restaurant and Miss Potter took 2d. of it to make up the change to 1s. 6d. and the other was handed over to the cashier. The balance of 2d. was the profit the defendant was making on the beer. He was making a profit of 1d. on each bottle of Watney. This was perhaps not such a serious case, but in law it was an unlicensed sale of beer. If a man in defendant’s position, not holding a licence, supplied beer to his customers and made a profit on the beer, he was retailing beer just as much as though he had a large stock of beer on the premises and was retailing it to custo­mers at the proper price.

Evidence was then given by Mr. John Pascard, Mr. Green and Mr. Graham J.E. Reed, members of the special enquiry branch of H.M. Customs.

 

Further evidence of what he saw while keeping observation outside the premises was given by Mr. Binks, an­other officer.

Harris said he had pleaded guilty but what had been done was without his knowledge. He was not there at the time although he had given his staff instructions what to do. The whole trouble had arisen because when they sent out for beer there was always a charge of 2d. on each bottle. In order to get that 2d. back they had to return the bottles.

There was no intention to make any profit whatever on the beer. He had been there for ten years and there had never been any trouble of this kind before. His waitress told him that it was a mistake. The waitress who served the drinks was learning to be a waitress. If the Magistrates examined the price list which had been referred to they would see the 6d. had been altered to 5d. It had been a mistake, quite uninten­tional, for he had no intention of making any profit.

The Magistrates fined Harris £1 on each summons and made no order as to costs.

Folkestone Herald 9-9-1939

Local News

The first summonses for breaches of the new Lighting Restriction Order came before the Folkestone Magistrates yesterday, when after a stern warning by the Mayor (Alderman G.A. Gurr), who presided, fines were imposed. “We wish to make it perfectly clear that this lighting order must be observed”, said the Mayor. “Very heavy penalties can be enforced, and the Bench wish me to state that they will support the police in carrying out this order. People who allow light to be seen are not only a danger to themselves, but also to the general public. If breaches continue, the penalties will increase”.

The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes), said the order provided that “No person shall during the hours of darkness cause or permit any light inside any roofed build­ing to be displayed unless the light is so obscured as to prevent any illumina­tion being observed outside”.

He added that they had summonses for hearing against persons who had com­mitted a breach of the order. The house­holder was responsible in law unless maybe he was absent, and then he pre­sumed the person in charge was respon­sible.

Frederick Wm Humphries, of the Clarendon Hotel, Tontine Street, pleaded Guilty to an offence.

P.C. Alexander said at 10.15 p.m. on Monday he was on duty in Tontine Street when he saw light being shown from two plate glass windows and three glass panelled doors at defendant’s premises. When the bar doors were opened to allow people to leave or enter there was not sufficient screening to prevent a light showing in the streets. He spoke to defendant, who said “I did not think such a state of emergency existed”. Defendant at once switched off all the lights except one which had been dimmed.

Replying to defendant, witness agreed that defendant suggested that he should close down and that he did so.

Humphries told the Magistrates that his wife had endeavoured to get proper black-out cloth but had not been able to do so, and he had had to use any old blinds lie could find.

The Clerk: Has it been done now?

Defendant: Yes.

The Mayor: Is it satisfactory now?

P.C. Alexander: Yes.

Defendant was fined 10s.           

In announcing the penalties the Mayor gave the warning reported above.

The Clerk said the penalties for breaches of any of these lighting orders were a term not exceeding three months` imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £100, or both, on summary conviction. On indictment the penalty was one of imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding £500.

Sitting with the Mayor were Mr. W.R. Boughton, Dr. F. Wolverson, Mr. S.B. Corser, and Mr. P. Fuller.

Folkestone Express 16-9-1939

Local News

The first summonses for breaches of the wartime lighting regulations in Folkestone were heard at the Police Court on Friday, and in each case a fine of not exceeding 10/- was imposed.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes) said he thought he should tell the Magistrates that it was provided that no person should, during the hours of darkness, cause or permit any light to be displayed unless the light was so obscured at to prevent illumination from the front being visible from outside. They would have summonses before them against persons permitting, and others might be persons summoned for causing it. The householder was responsible for his house unless he was absent. There would always be somebody responsible.

Frederick W. Humphreys, licensee of the Clarendon Hotel, Tontine Street, was fined 10/-.

P.C. Alexander said at 10.15 p.m. on September 4^th he was on duty in Tontine Street, where he saw light being emitted in two places from plate glass windows 15 feet square and three glass-panelled doors. The windows and doors were covered by bright yellow blinds, through which light could be seen. He noticed that when the doors were opened to let people in and out there was insufficient screening inside to prevent the light being shown. He pointed it out to the defendant, and he said “I did not think such a state of emergency existed”. The defendant switched all the lights off except one, but the light still showed.

The defendant told the Court that he had endeavoured to get proper blackout cloth, but he had been forced to use any old blind he could get hold of. The officer told him in his opinion it was not effective with all the lights but one extinguished. He asked the officer if he should shut the house completely and he said he thought it would not be a bad idea.

P.C. Alexander said the premises had since been completely blacked-out.

The Mayor (Alderman G.A. Gurr), who presided on the Bench, said “We wish to make it perfectly clear that the Lighting Order must be obeyed. Very heavy penalties can be inflicted for these offences and the Bench wish me to state that they will support the police in carrying out this Lighting Order. People who fail to obscure lights are not only a danger to themselves, but a danger to the general public. If breaches continue the penalties will increase”.

The Clerk said the penalties for breaches of the lighting regulations were a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months, or a fine not exceeding £100, or both, on summary conviction. On indictment the penalties were a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years, or a fine not exceeding £500, or both.

Folkestone Express 25-11-1939

Local News

The Folkestone licensing transfer sessions were held at the Police Court on Wednesday. The Mayor (Alderman G.A. Gurr) was in the chair and also sitting were Councillor R.G. Wood, Dr. F. Wolverson and Alderman Mrs. E. Gore.

James R. Muddiman applied for the transfer in respect of the licence of the Clarendon Hotel, pre­viously held by Mr. Frederick Hum­phreys, and the magistrates acceded to the request.