Clarendon Hotel 1880s

Folkestone Chronicle 14-5-1881

Local News

On Thursday evening last a farewell supper was given at the Clarendon Hotel by Mr. E. Wilton, the landlord, to several of his friends and customers, and in proposing the health of Mr. Wilton, the chairman spoke in warm terms of approval of the successful manner in which the landlord had conducted the hotel and raised its reputation.

Folkestone Express 4-6-1881

Saturday, May 28^th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Banks and R.W. Boarer Esq.

The license of the Clarendon Hotel was transferred to Mr. Foster.

 

Folkestone Chronicle 22-8-1885

Bernard Joseph Moran, a waiter, was charged with stealing four decanters, a quantity of wine and spirits, and various other articles, the property of Mr. Foster, of the Clarendon Hotel. Mr. Minter prosecuted.

From the evidence adduced it appears that prisoner had been in the employ of prosecutor about a month. He received notice to leave, and suspicion attaching to his actions, a box lent to him by prosecutor to keep his things in was searched, and the stolen property found.

Edgar Bache, a lad, was charged with stealing a decanter containing port wine and other things.

The discovery of this robbery arose out of the other. Prisoner was boots at the same hotel, and having made a statement when Moran was apprehended, his box was also searched, when the decanter, and bottles containing shrub and cloves, and other articles belonging to the landlord were discovered. Prisoner when apprehended said ” The waiter made me take it, and only last Sunday he slipped into me because I wouldn`t get him more”.

In defence, Mr. Ward, who appeared for Moran, said Moran bought the articles of the boy.

Mr. Forster wished not to press the charge against the boy, who he believed was led astray by Moran, and he was sentenced to one month`s imprisonment, and Moran to three months with hard labour.

Folkestone Express 22-8-1885

Tuesday, August 18^th: Before The Mayor, Aldermen Caister and Sherwood, Captain Carter, W. Bateman and J. Fitness Esqs.

Bernard Joseph Moran, a waiter, was charged with stealing four decanters, a quantity of wines and spirits, and various other articles, the property of Mr. Joseph Foster, proprietor of the Clarendon Hotel. Mr. Minter prosecuted, and Mr. Ward defended the prisoner.

Mr. Minter briefly explained the facts of the case, and called Mr. Foster, who said: Prisoner, Bernard Moran, had been in my service as a waiter for about a month. I gave him notice yesterday to leave. He wished to go out after and I refused to let him go. Upon that he said he would go at once. On his coming into my service I lent him a box for his clothes, as he hadn`t one. He kept the box in his bedroom. He went upstairs and I followed him. I told him he should not go unless he gave me a week`s wages. He refused to do that. When we got upstairs I told him to open the box, and he refused. It was locked. I then sent for Supt. Taylor. On his arrival I again requested the prisoner Moran to open the box. He still refused, and I forced it open with a hammer, and there found three decanters, one containing about a pint of brandy, another containing a pint of Irish whiskey, and the third was empty. There was also a bottle containing a small quantity of Burgundy, two empty port wine bottles and a claret bottle. In a small handbag Superintendent Taylor found a plated spoon. The decanters and spoon belong to me. I gave the prisoner into custody. He shook his hand at me, and told me it would do me no good. I have Burgundy, claret and port in my cellar in bottles exactly similar to those produced. I had missed two of the decanters during the week from the pantry and a cupboard in the bar parlour. I made enquiries of the prisoner about them on Sunday. He did not make any reply.

In reply to Mr. Ward, Mr. Foster said he received a character with the prisoner Moran. He was receiving 12s. a week wages. The other prisoner did odd work in the house, but he could not go to the cellar without asking for the key. He had not missed anything from the cellar. The boy may have taken the wine.

Supt. Taylor said he went to the Clarendon Hotel about four o`clock on Monday afternoon. He found the prisoner Moran in a room at the top of the house. Prisoner refused to open a box at prosecutor`s request, and prosecutor forced it open. The articles produced were in the box. Prisoner then handed him a key. On the way to the station prisoner said “Foster can`t do anything with me, as I bought the stuff from one of the servants”.

Edgar Blanche, a lad, was then charged with stealing a decanter containing port wine, and other things.

Supt. Taylor said in consequence of a statement made to him by the prisoner Moran, he returned to the Clarendon Hotel on Monday afternoon, and there saw the prisoner Blanche. He told him the waiter was in custody on a charge of stealing wines and spirits belonging to Mr. Foster, and that he said he bought them from one of the servants. As he (Blanche) was the only one who had access to the cellar, he wished to ask him some questions. He asked him if at any time he had sold wines or spirits to Moran. He replied “No”. He then asked him if he had at any time fetched any spirits for Moran. He said “Yes”. He had bought half a pint of port and half a pint of whisky at a public house at the end of the alley (pointing in the direction of South Street). At that point he cautioned him and told him he was not obliged to answer his questions. He then asked him the name of the house, so that he might make enquiries. He made no reply to witness, but turned to Mr. Foster and said “I am sorry I took it, sir, but the waiter made me”. Witness then went with prisoner and Mr. Foster to prisoner`s bedroom. In a box which was locked he found a decanter containing port wine, a bottle containing shrub, a bottle containing cloves, an empty hock bottle, two soda water bottles, a port wine bottle, some sealing wax, a corkscrew, and a pillowcase marked “Clarendon Hotel 1884”. Mr. Foster gave prisoner into custody. Prisoner then said “The waiter made me take it, and only last Sunday he slipped into me because I wouldn`t get him more”. He added that he was very sorry.

Mr. Foster said the prisoner was in his service as boots, and occasionally worked in the cellar. The prisoner occupied a bedroom by himself. He corroborated the evidence of Supt. Taylor, and identified the articles, which were similar to others he had in his cellar.

In reply to the Bench he said the value of the articles was about 50s. The lad Blanche had been in his service about five months.

Mr. Ward, for the defence, said Moran bought the wines of the boy.

Mr. Bradley: You admit that he is the receiver, but not the thief?

Mr. Ward: Yes.

Mr. Minter said Mr. Foster did not wish to press the charge badly against the boy, who he thought had been led away by the elder prisoner.

The lad`s father said he left home to go to Mr. Foster, and had always been a very good boy.

Moran was sentenced to three months` hard labour, and Blanche to one month`s hard labour.

Folkestone News 22-8-1885

Tuesday, August 18^th: Before The Mayor, Aldermen Caister and Sherwood, Dr. Bateman, Captain Carter, J. Fitness and J. Clark Esqs.

Bernard Joseph Moran, waiter, and Edgar Blanch, 15, boots at the Clarendon Hotel, were charged with stealing a quantity of spirits of different sorts, the property of their master, Mr. Foster, of the value of £2 10s.

Mr. John Minter was instructed to prosecute, and called Mr. Joseph Foster, proprietor of the Clarendon Hotel, who said: The prisoner Moran has been in my service about a month as waiter. Yesterday I gave him notice to leave, and after I had done so he wished to go out. I refused permission, and he then said he would leave at once. When he came into my service I lent him a box, as he had none. He kept it in his bedroom. On saying that he would go, I followed him upstairs and told him he should not go unless he chose to give me a week`s wages. He refused to do so. When upstairs, I told him that I wanted him to open his box, but he refused. The box was locked, and on his refusal I sent for Superintendent Taylor. When he arrived I asked prisoner again to open his box. He still refused, and I then forced it open with a hammer, and found the contents of the basket now produced, viz., three decanters, one with about a pint of brandy, one with a pint of whiskey, and one empty. A plated spoon I found in a handbag opened by the Superintendent in my presence. The decanters and the spoon belong to me. I gave prisoner into custody. The brand of whiskey is the same as I have in my cellar. When I gave him into custody he shook his hand at me, and said it would do me no good. The bottles are similar to those I have containing Burgundy, claret, and port. I had missed the decanters last week from the pantry and from the cupboard in the bar parlour. I made enquiries respecting them on Sunsay.

Cross-examined by Mr. Ward: I received a copy of a character with prisoner, and was satisfied with it. He was receiving 12s. a week all found, except washing. The other prisoner is boots, and has access to the cellar sometimes, but not as a rule. He could not go there without asking for the key. The boy had 5s. per week, and all found. As far as I know, they both took the stuff.

John Taylor, Superintendent of Police, said: About four o`clock yesterday I went to the Clarendon Hotel. I found Mr. Foster and the prisoner Moran at the top of the house. I heard him several times asked to open his box, which he refused to do. Mr. Foster told him that as the box belonged to him he should force it, and did so with a hammer. The articles produced were found in the box, except the spoon, which was in a black bag in Moran`s bedroom. On taking Moran into custody he handed me the key produced, which fits the box. On the way to the police station, prisoner said to me voluntarily “Foster can`t do anything for me. I bought the stuff from one of the servants”.

Mr. Minter said that would be the case against Moran, and he would prefer a separate charge against Blanche, the boots, and re-called Superintendent Taylor, who said: In consequence of a statement made by the prisoner Moran I returned to the Clarendon Hotel, and then saw the prisoner Blanche in the presence of Mr. and Mrs. Moran. I said to him “The waiter is in custody for stealing wines and spirits from Mr. Foster. He states he bought them from one of the servants, and you are the only one who has access to the cellar. I want to ask you some questions”. He said he had never sold any wine or spirits to Moran. I asked him if he had ever fetched any for him. He said yes, he had bought half pint port wine and half pint of whiskey at a public house at the corner of the alley, indicating South Street. I cautioned him and told him he was not obliged to answer. I said “If you will tell me the name of the house I will make enquiries”. He made no reply, but turned to Mr. Foster and said “I am sorry I took it, sir, but the waiter made me”. I then went to his bedroom to look at his box. His room is on the same floor as the other prisoner`s. He gave me the key and I unlocked the box, and found in it the contents produced – a decanter containing port wine, a bottle containing shrub, and another with cloves. An empty pint bottle, two soda water bottles containing a small quantity of spirits, port bottle, empty, some sealing wax, a pillow case marked Clarendon Hotel, and a corkscrew. Mr. Foster gave prisoner into custody, and he again said “The waiter made me take it, and last Sunday he slipped into me because I did not take more”.

Mr. Foster corroborated Superintendent Taylor`s evidence, and said prisoner Blanche had been in his employ about five months.

Both prisoners pleaded Not Guilty.

Mr. Ward, on behalf of Moran, said he had bought the stuff, as was stated by the other prisoner, and that therefore it was his property. He could not call witnesses to character that day, and would leave the case in the hands of the Bench.

Mr. Minter said he was instructed by prosecutor not to press the case against the boy, who perhaps had been influenced by the other prisoner, by whom he had possibly been betrayed into temptation.

The father of the prisoner Blanche said he was a tanner, living at Canterbury, that prisoner had been a good boy, and he was surprised he had taken these things.

The Bench considered the cases proved and sentenced Moran to three months` imprisonment with hard labour, and Blanche to one month with hard labour.

Southeastern Gazette 22-8-1885

Local News

On Wednesday at the police court, a waiter named Moran, engaged at the Clarendon Hotel, was charged with a robbery of a somewhat extensive character.

The prisoner, who had only been at the hotel about a month, was discharged, and on his boxes being searched three decanters of wine and spirits were found, and several wine bottles, some of them empty, all of which belonged to the hotel.

From the evidence of Supt. Taylor and the witnesses, it appeared that the prisoner had been carrying on extensive thefts with the assistance of the boots of the hotel, a boy aged 15, whom he induced to steal the goods and take them up to Moran’s bedroom.

Moran was sentenced to three months' hard labour, and the lad, against whom the charge was not pressed, was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment.

 

Folkestone Express 21-11-1885

Wednesday, November 18^th: Before The Mayor, Aldermen Caister and Sherwood, Capt. Carter, J. Holden and J. Fitness Esqs.

Joseph Sanders was charged with assaulting his wife, Elizabeth Sanders. He pleaded Guilty.

Complainant said she was living apart from her husband. He saw her in the street and struck her three times and knocked her down. She had not lived with her husband for nine months.

Defendant said his wife had left him three times and he had taken her back again. He wanted to have nothing at all to do with her, but she was continually molesting him. On Saturday night he was drinking in a public house with two men and he pulled her out. He did not strike her. He was guilty of “insulting” her, but not “assaulting” her.

Complainant was therefore sworn, and gave evidence as to the assault. She said she was at the bottom of High Street, and defendant came behind her and flung her on one side. She walked away and defendant followed her and struck her three times, knocking her down. He had repeatedly threatened her.

Harriett Weatherhead, who was with Mrs. Sanders, said they went together to the Clarendon with two men. Defendant went in, but did not speak to them. When they went out defendant dragged his wife across the road. He accused her of misconduct and followed her, and when near the Congregational Church he knocked her down.

Defendant was ordered to enter into his own recognizances in the sum of £20 to keep the peace for six months, and to pay the costs, 13s.

The defendant, who was evidently the worse for drink, declined to enter into a bond, saying he would rather go to prison. After endeavouring to make the defendant understand his position, but without success, the Magistrates ordered him to be imprisoned for one month.

Folkestone News 1-5-1886

Thursday, April 22^nd

Eliza Oppery was charged with being drunk and refusing to quit the Clarendon Hotel, and also with being found drunk in Seagate Street the following morning.

It appeared that the prisoner was locked up on Tuesday until she was sober, and then discharged. An hour later she was found helplessly drunk in the streets.

She was fined 5s. and 3s. 6d. costs in each case, or seven days` in default.

Folkestone Express 21-1-1888

Local News

On Wednesday afternoon a young man named Loach, a waiter at the Clarendon Hotel, fell over the cliff at a point between The Warren and Eagle`s Nest. He received some severe cuts and bruises on his head and face and dislocated his ankle. He was taken to the hospital where his injuries were attended to.