Folkestone Herald
7-7-1951
Local News
Seven Folkestone public houses were granted an extension
of licence on weekdays until 11 p.m. and on Sundays to 10.30 p.m. until
September 30th at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
Mr. W.J. Mason, appearing for the applicants, said
a similar application had been granted to a number of hotels for the summer
season and Festival of Britain. At Eastbourne 44 applications of the same kind
had been granted and 115 at Hastings. The extension had been granted to all
those who desired it in the other two towns.
The application was granted in respect of the Star
Inn, Bouverie Hotel, Shakespeare Hotel, Guildhall Hotel, Prince Albert Hotel,
Globe Inn, and George Inn.
Folkestone Gazette
20-8-1952
Local News
The secretary of a Folkestone sick and dividend
society admitted at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court yesterday that he had
appropriated £28 belonging to members of the society.
Ernest Charles Stephen Tanner (39), of 26a,
Woodfield Close, Cheriton, pleaded guilty to two charges of making false
entries in the society’s records purporting to show that two members had
received sick payment, and charges of converting 12/- and 24/- to his own use. He admitted 26 other cases of obtaining
money, which he purported had been paid as sick benefit to other members of
the society.
Fining Tanner £20, with 8/6 costs, the Chairman (Ald.
W. Hollands) said his action of robbing his workmates was despicable. He said it was a society where men came
together to make provision for sickness. At the end of the year any balance
was shared amongst the members. “They honoured you by giving you the post of
secretary and you were paid”, said Ald. Hollands, “but you robbed your fellow
men. It really warrants imprisonment but you have had a good character before
and the Magistrates hope that you will retain it so they have decided to impose
a fine”.
Tanner was given a month in which to pay the fine
but was told that the alternative would be two months’ imprisonment.
Mr. Norman Franks, prosecuting, said Tanner was
elected Secretary of the George Inn Sick and Dividend Society in December, 1947.
His remuneration was 1/6 per member, and the membership was approximately
240. Tanner had several duties to perform. Each week he had to make out a
schedule of sick members entitled to benefit.
The schedule contained the names of sick members
and there was a space in which members signed upon receipt of the money. Having
made out the schedule Tanner made out a cheque drawn on the Society and signed
by the Treasurer, a trustee and himself. Having done that it was his duty to draw the money
from the bank and put the sick members’ money in separate envelopes with the
name of the member upon them.
The envelopes were then handed with the schedule to
a committee man, who acted as sick visitor. He took the envelopes round to the
sick members and obtained their signatures when the money was paid over. At the beginning of July Mr Luckhurst
was sick visitor and on the third day of the month Tanner called upon him and
handed him the schedule of sick visits for the week. He also handed Mr. Luckhurst four envelopes,
but there were several more names on the schedule, including a Mr. Ernest James
Pilcher. When Mr. Luckhurst drew Tanner’s attention to it his answer was that he
had already paid the other members. According to the schedule Mr. Pilcher had
received his money and had signed for it. Two days later Mr. Luckhurst was in Cheriton Road
when he saw Mr. Pilcher, a postman, riding his bicycle and wearing his uniform. He asked Mr. Pilcher why he was working
when he was drawing sick benefit. Mr. Pilcher explained that he was perfectly
well and was not receiving any benefit and, in fact, had not asked for any. Mr. Franks said Mr. Luckhurst went to
see defendant and at first Tanner said there had been a mistake. Further enquiries were made and it was
found that the previous week there had been a similar instance concerning a
Mr. Wilson, who was not entitled to benefit and, he believed, was not even a
member of the Society. Further enquiries were made and it was found that there were 28
instances altogether over a period of 14 months, instances where defendant had
made out schedules including persons who were not entitled to benefit, and where he had collected
the money and appropriated it for his own use.
D.C. Bibby said when he first saw Tanner on July 2nd
he said: “I know what you have come to see me about. It is about Mr. Pilcher’s
sick money.” He explained
to defendant that there was a signature against Mr. Pilcher’s name and that
24/- sick money had been drawn. Tanner replied that somebody
had told him that Mr. Pilcher was sick at the beginning of the previous week.
As he did not see him he drew the money and signed for it himself. He was going to give it to his
boy but had not seen him. Witness said he pointed out to Tanner that Mr Pilcher’s name appeared on
the schedule for the previous week, showing that 24/- benefit had been drawn. Tanner said “Yes, I signed for that but
as he was not sick I paid it back in the club, along with the contributions I
took at the George on Monday”. The detective informed Tanner that he was not satisfied with his
explanation and told him he was taking possession of the Society’s documents
for the current year. After examining the documents he saw Tanner at the police station on July 9th and
pointed out that he could find no method whereby he could have repaid the money
into the Society's funds. Tanner then said “I had the money and signed
Pilcher`s name”.
After admitting that he had done the same thing in
23 cases, Tanner made a statement in which he said he had been a member of the
George Inn Sick and Dividend Society for about 20 years, and was appointed
Secretary in 1947. He said he was helped by his wife and the assistant
secretary. Some time during the early part of the year, he did not know exactly
when, he put a person down on the schedule as being sick when, in fact, he was
not ill. He entered 24/- against the person`s name and totalled it up with the
rest. He signed the person`s name and had the money, telling the sick visitor
that he had paid the money out himself. “I then found that I could obtain the
money and was not being found out”, his alleged statement continued. “I cannot
explain why I did it. I was not really in need of any money. I expect it was
because of the easy method in which the club is run”.
Tanner, a married man
with two children, told the Magistrates that ne was willing to repay all the
money.
The Chairman, announcing
the Magistrates’ decision, said they had noted that Tanner intended to refund
the £28. i
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