Folkestone Herald
28-6-1941
Local News
A deal in coal belonging to the Secretary of State for War
cost a Folkestone licensee a fine of £20 with three guineas costs when he
pleaded Guilty at the Folkestone Petty Sessions on Tuesday to receiving coal
which had been stolen.
The defendant was John Farrell, licensee of the Star Inn,
Newington. Two other men, Thomas Martin Wilcocks, of Phillip Road, Cheriton,
and Ernest E. Kendall, of Royal Military Avenue, Cheriton, were charged with
stealing 3 tons 7 cwts. of coal, valued £10 14s. 6d., belonging to the
Secretary of State for War. They were each fined £3. The case against Wilcocks
and Kendall was heard first.
Mr. B.H. Bonniface, who prosecuted in each case, said he put
the case against Wilcocks and Kendall before the Magistrates as being a
deliberate theft. Kendall was employed as a barrack labourer and part of his
duty was to check in deliveries of coal. The other defendant was in the employ
of a contractor and he had been taking delivery of coal arriving at Shorncliffe
Station. On June 16th there was a load of coal containing 10 tons 9
cwts. at Shorncliffe Station and Wilcocks was instructed to cart it away. It
was collected but in fact there was a shortage. On the following day Wilcocks
received instructions to collect some more coal. With him was a man named
McMeakin. On arriving at the place where the coal was to be unloaded there was
some delay because Kendall, who had the keys, was not there. Kendall arrived a
little later and opened the shed. McMeakin delivered his coal but when he came
away he noticed that Wilcocks had left with his lorry full of coal. Later that
day Major Rowe went to the Star Inn at Newington, and there found a
considerable quantity of coal, which was subsequently identified and collected.
It weighed three tons and seven cwts. Further enquiries were made and defendants were
interviewed. Wilcocks said that he had delivered the coal to the Star Inn, but
he had taken it there on instructions from Kendall, adding “I have got a chit
here for it”.
Charles J. Rodwell, 12 Joyes Road, a barrack
labourer, said Wilcocks was a driver employed by a local contractor. On June 16th
a truck containing over 10 tons was at Shorncliffe Station and he instructed
Wilcocks to collect the coal and deliver it. On the following day he gave
Wilcocks further instructions to carry on and finish the delivery.
Frederick W. Wiltshire, a barrack warden, said the
form produced and signed by Kendall showed that 10 tons 9 cwts. had been
delivered to him. On June 17th he saw a quantity of coal at the Star
Inn, Newington. He had it removed and weighed.
Major G.R. Rowe said on June 17th he
went to the Star Inn, Newington, and saw a large quantity of coal. It was
Northumberland coal and identical to that being supplied to his department.
William McMeakin, of Woodfield Close, Cheriton,
said on June 17th he went to Shorncliffe Station to load coal. He
took the coal to its destination but had to wait for Kendall to arrive with the
key. He unloaded his coal in a shed. When witness went in Wilcocks was outside with a
load but when he came out five minutes later Wilcocks was not there.
Det Const. Walsh said on June 18th he
saw Wilcocks and told him the nature of his enquiries. Wilcocks said “I
delivered a load of coal to the Star Inn yesterday, but I took it there on
instructions from Kendall. I have got a chit”. He then produced a delivery note which showed that
there were three tons of coal to be delivered at the Star Inn. It was signed by
Kendall on behalf of Major Rowe. Witness later saw Kendall, who said “I will tell
you the truth. It was Wilcocks’s idea and he took the money”. On the way to the Police Station with Kendall he saw Wilcocks and told him that he would be taken to the Police Station. He said “Have you got Kendall?” Later, at the police Station, Kendall
asked to make a statement.
Mr. Bonniface read the statement in which Kendall
said that Wilcocks asked him if he could arrange for a load of coal, either
three or four tons, to go to the, Star Inn. He (Kendall) replied that it was a bit risky, and Kendall then alleged that Wilcocks said "If you make out a chit for it, it will cover me”. Kendall said he would do so. The statement went
on, said Mr. Bonniface, “I wrote out the chit for the Star Inn and gave it to
Wilcocks. Later I went to the Star Inn and saw Wilcocks unloading it. I helped
him to unload. Before I left Wilcocks gave me £1 10s. I knew this money was for
the coal we had taken to the Star Inn. I later put the money on a horse”.
Det. Const. Walsh said Wilcocks said “I gave my
share of the money to my wife”. When charged Kendall said “I am sorry that it
happened. I realise what a fool I have been”.
Addressing the Magistrates, Wilcocks said he was
very sorry it had happened. Kendall said he felt thoroughly ashamed of himself.
He had just received his calling-up papers for the R.A.F.
The Magistrates then heard the case against
Farrell, who was charged with receiving 3 tons 7 cwts. of coal, well knowing at
the time that it had been stolen.
Mr. G.P. Medlicott, who appeared for Farrell, said
he was prepared to plead Guilty in respect of two tons.
Mr. Bonniface said it made no difference as far as
he was concerned.
Evidence was given by witnesses appearing in the
case against the other two defendants.
Major Rowe said on June 17th he went to
the Star Inn, Newington, and saw a quantity of coal there. He spoke to
defendant and asked him where he had obtained the coal. He replied that it was
delivered by a man who had come on a lorry and had a chit stamped at the back
and signed for by a major.
By Mr. Medlicott: The coal was in a fairly open
place and defendant gave every possible explanation.
Det. Const. Walsh said he saw Farrell and asked him
where obtained the coal. He replied “A man came with a lorry and delivered it
and I gave him £3”. After being told that he would be charged with receiving
the coal defendant said “I am sorry, is necessary for us to go as far this?”
Replying to Mr. Medlicott, witness said Farrell
made no attempt to conceal anything.
Mr. Medlicott said defendant was a man of excellent
character. He had been a licensee for seven years and there was no stain upon
his character. Defendant was in the Merchant Navy from the time he was 17 to 40, except
during the last war when he was with the R.N.V.R.
When he was offered the coal defendant thought
there were only two tons and he paid £3 for it. There was no concealment by defendant.
He could not have been more frank. It was difficult to know why a man should do such a
thing. Defendant must have known there was something “fishy” about it, but why
he did it he (Mr. Medlicott) did not suppose defendant could say. Of course he ought to have been more
careful. He ought to have had nothing to do with it before finding out from
where the coal had come.
Chief Inspector W. Hollands said Wilcocks was a married man with
four children. He served in the last war with the Middlesex Regiment. There was
nothing against him. Kendall was a local lad. He served with the Queen`s Royal
Regiment for eight years. He was also married. On September 21st,
1937, at that Court, he had been bound over for embezzlement. He had four
children.
After retiring, the Mayor (Alderman J.C. Clark),
presiding with Alderman W. Hollands and Mr. P. Fuller, announced that Farrell
would be fined £20 with three guineas costs, and Wilcocks and Kendall would be
each fined £3 or one month`s imprisonment. The Bench allowed Wilcocks and
Kendall a fortnight to pay their fines.
Folkestone Herald
2-8-1941
Local News
At the Folkestone Police Court on Tuesday the Magistrates
granted a protection order to Mr. W.G. Hoare, of New Romney, in respect of the
Star Inn, Newington. The outgoing tenant was Mr. J.B. Farrell.
Folkestone Herald 11-6-1949
Local News
At Folkestone Magistrates
Court on Wednesday last week an application in respect of the Star Inn,
Newington, for permission to carry out certain alterations to the premises was made. Plans for
interior alterations were approved, but the magistrates decided to inspect the
site of a proposed outdoor convenience.
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