Star (2) 1880s

Folkestone Chronicle 10-1-1880

Quarter Sessions

Thursday, January 8^th: Before J.J. Lonsdale Esq.

George Bumpstead, 30, surrendered to his bail, charged with unlawfully wounding William Higgins on 13^th November, who prosecuted.

Mr. Stuart Sankey, having detailed the facts of the case, called William Higgins, who deposed that on Thursday night, Nov. 13^th, about a quarter past eleven, he was at the harbour in company with a man named May. He saw defendant in a boat near the jetty, and May asked him to leave the boat, and he refused. Prisoner came to the jetty and struck him, May`s son, and a man named William Cornish. He came ashore and said he should strike every man that was there. When he came to strike old May with his hand, he stepped between them and received the blow in his face. He returned the blow and knocked him down. He lay there about three minutes, and he then got up and struck him in the ribs, and afterwards on the shoulder. He found he had lost the use of his arm and ran away. He did not see anything in prisoner`s hand. He went into the Star Inn, in Radnor Street, and when there, found that he was bleeding from the shoulder and the ribs. He found he had been stabbed. Dr. Perry was sent for and bound up the wounds. He was laid up for three weeks.

Cross-examined by prisoner: It was about eleven o`clock. The four cuts were received in the scuffle. I did not see the knife in your hand; did not know that I was cut until afterwards.

James May, the owner of the boat, gave corroborative evidence. The first intimation he had of prosecutor being stabbed was when he told him, but he saw no knife used.

Cross-examined by prisoner: I heard prisoner crying out “There are four of them murdering me”.

Mr. Sankey: There were four of you murdering him?

May: Lor! No, sir, not one of us lifted our hand against him (Laughter)

Edward May and William Cornish gave confirmatory evidence.

Dr. Charles Perry, sworn, said that on the occasion referred to he was called to see the prosecutor at the Star public house in Radnor Street. He examined him and found a deep wound nearly three inches long on the left shoulder joint, extending nearly to the bone. Another wound he found in the muscles of the back, below the left ribs, and a small wound on the ring finger of the right hand. The wounds were caused by some sharp instrument. The wound under the ribs might have been a dangerous wound if it had been deeper.

P.C. Hills deposed to apprehending prisoner, when his father said to him “What does all this mean?”, and prisoner replied “I have stabbed a man”.

In defence, prisoner stated that he saw his father from the jetty, in his boat from Hastings, when his father called to him to come aboard. The four men then came down, and they had a scuffle when he took out his knife to cut the painter, and whilst engaged in this act, defendant threw himself upon him, when he must have met with the injuries he received.

Thomas White, a lad, deposed to hearing a scuffle, and also the voice of prisoner`s father calling upon him to cut the painter and set the boat loose.

Alfred Bumpstead, father of the prisoner, said he told prisoner to go round and get a punt, and when he heard the scuffle, told him to get a knife and cut the painter.

The Recorder, in summing up, said the Jury must recollect there had been a scuffle, but on the other hand, could four separate wounds, such as prosecutor had received in that fray, and one of the wounds, if it had gone a little deeper, would in all probability have terminated fatally. First they must consider whether this was the result of accident, and secondly, whether the danger was such as to justify him using it in self-defence.

The Jury retired to consider their verdict, and after an elapse of about a quarter of an hour, returned with a verdict of Guilty.

Asked whether he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed upon him, prisoner answered “I have nothing more to say”.

The Recorder said that he quite concurred with the verdict. He should not make any remarks upon it. This was the first case he remembered of the use of the knife being brought before that Court. He was informed that he was not a Folkestone man.

Prisoner: No, sir.

The Recorder: I am glad to hear it. The sentence I shall pass upon you is that you be imprisoned for two years with hard labour.

The sentence seemed to excite considerable surprise in Court.

Folkestone Express 10-1-1880

Quarter Sessions

Thursday, January 8^th: Before The Recorder.

George Bumpstead, a fisherman, of Hastings, on bail, was indicted for unlawfully wounding William Higgins at Folkestone on the 13^th November, 1879. A true bill was returned by the Grand Jury. He pleaded Not Guilty.

Mr. Stuart Sankey prosecuted, and the prisoner was undefended. The following evidence was taken:

William Higgins said he was a seaman, living in Folkestone. On the 13^th November, about a quarter before eleven, he went to see if their boat was going to sea. Not seeing anybody on the back way, he went to the Star public house and saw the captain. He then went to the jetty, and heard May, the owner of the ferry boat, calling to the prisoner, who was in the boat, to bring it back. He replied that he should bring it back when he liked. Witness went to the jetty to receive the boat when prisoner brought it back, but prisoner struck at May with an oar, which fell overboard. Prisoner then came ashore and wanted to fight, and as he was about to strike May, who is an old man, witness got between them and received the blow, returning it and knocking prisoner down. Prisoner was on the ground two or three minutes, and then got up and struck witness again. It was not a light night. Prisoner struck him first in the ribs, and then on the shoulder. Finding he had lost the use of his arm, witness ran away and went to the Star public house. Dr. Perry was called, and he bound up the wounds, one of which had to be sewn up. He had not known prisoner previously, and there had been no cause of quarrel between them. When prisoner was in the boat he had no knife. Witness was ill three weeks.

In cross-examination by prisoner, witness said he was on the lower landing with May`s son when the boat came in. Neither of them said “Now we are here we`ll give you something”. Prisoner did not try to push the boat off again, and young May did not threaten to throw him out. Did not hear the prisoner call out to his father. When prisoner jumped up, witness did not jump on the top of him. Witness received the wounds while they were scuffling, and did not feel them until he had lost the use of his arm.

James May said he had not given prisoner leave to use the ferry boat, and asked him to get out, but he refused, saying he would not get out till he thought proper, using very bad language. Witness then went to the Star to call his son, and when they returned Higgins followed. Witness saw the scuffle, but did not notice any knife in prisoner`s hands. Prisoner called for his father, and witness laughed at him, saying he had got his boat and didn`t care. Afterwards he heard Higgins say he was stabbed. In reply to prisoner, witness said he heard prisoner call out to his father to come ashore as “there were four of them murdering him”. Did not hear his father answer, nor did he see prisoner get up after he was knocked down.

In re-examination, witness said not one of them touched him besides Higgins. It was not true that four were attacking prisoner.

Edward May, son of last witness, gave evidence of a similar purport. He did not threaten to throw prisoner overboard. He saw the prisoner in the boat, but could not say if he had a knife in his hand or not.

In reply to prisoner, witness said his father was on the upper landing when he struck at him. He got into the boat and made it fast after prisoner got out.

William Cornish corroborated some parts of the foregoing evidence, but he left just as the second scuffle commenced.

Dr. Perry said he was called to see the prosecutor. He found him suffering from a wound on the left shoulder joint about three inches long and 1½ in. deep, extending nearly to the bone, another about two inches long beneath the left ribs, but not a deep one or it would have been dangerous. There was another flesh wound in the muscles of the back, apparently caused by a blow given from the side, and another on the third finger of the right hand. The wounds were evidently made by blows from a sharp instrument given with great force. They could not have been caused by accident.

In reply to prisoner, witness said the wound under the fifth rib was caused in all probability by the knife just catching the skin as it was struck upwards.

P.C. William Hills said prisoner`s father came to see him in the police station, and asked him if he should telegraph to his mother. Prisoner made no reply. His father then asked what it all meant, and he replied “I`ve stabbed a man”.

This was the case for the prosecution.

Prisoner, in his defence, said he called to his father to send a boat in, and he told him to go round the jetty and borrow a boat. He did so, and when he got half way between the jetty and his own boat he heard someone call out to bring it back, and four of them who were there threatened him. He therefore tried to push off, but the oar slipped into the water. He called out to his father that four men were murdering him, and his father helloed to him to take out his knife and cut the painter of the boat and get away. He did so, and prosecutor threw himself on the knife and cut himself. He did not know prosecutor was cut until the next morning.

He called Thomas White, a lad, who said he heard prisoner call to his father to haul the boat in so that he might get aboard. He heard some men threaten him when he took the boat back, and heard him call out to his father the men were murdering him. Prisoner had his arm cut, and was wet through.

In cross-examination witness said he could hear distinctly all that took place on the top landing. He did not see any knife, nor did he see prosecutor fall on prisoner.

Alfred Bumpstead, father of the prisoner, said he told his son to borrow a punt. He heard the row on the jetty, and he called out to his son to get a knife and cut the “painter” and come aboard.

In reply to the Recorder he said he did not see any scuffle after he called out to cut the boat loose.

The Recorder summed up, telling the jury if they believed Hills, the prisoner said he had stabbed a man, and therefore there could be no doubt about that fact. It was quite unimportant who began the scuffle. They would have to say if the stabbing was an accident, or whether prisoner was in danger of his life and justified in using the knife.

The jury found the prisoner Guilty and the Recorder sentenced him to two years` with hard labour. The Recorder remarked that he quite concurred with the verdict. He would not comment on the case further than to say that the practice of using the knife was most reprehensible, and must be resolutely put down. Happily it was not of frequent occurrence, and during his Recordership he had never before had a case of stabbing to adjudicate upon. He was happy to find in the present case that the prisoner was not a Folkestone man.

The Court then rose.

Southeastern Gazette 10-1-1880

Quarter Sessions

On Thursday morning Folkestone Quarter Sessions were held at the Town-hall, before the Recorder, J. J. Lonsdale, Esq.

George Bumpstead, of Hastings, fisherman, was charged with unlawfully wounding William Higgins, at Folkestone, on November 13th, 1879. Mr. Sankey prosecuted.

Prosecutor said he was a seaman and lived at Folkestone. On Thursday evening, the 18th November, at about a quarter-past eleven, he was at the harbour in company with a man named James May. He saw the defendant in a boat near the jetty, and May asked him to leave the boat as it was his, but he refused. Prisoner subsequently came to the jetty and struck witness, May’s son, and a man named Cornish. He came ashore and said, with an oath, that he would fight every man that was there. He struck at May, when witness stepped between them and received the blow in his face. He returned the blow and knocked him down. He laid on the ground for two or three minutes, and then got up and struck witness again in the ribs and immediately after on the shoulder. He found that he had lost the use of his arm. Witness went into the Star public-house in Radnor Street, and there found he was bleeding from the shoulder and the ribs. He had been stabbed. Dr. Perry afterwards sewed up the wound on the shoulder and bandaged the other places.

Dr. Perry now said he examined the prosecutor and found a deep wound, three inches long, on the left shoulder joint extending nearly to the bone. Another wound he found in the muscles of the back, and another, about two inches long, below the fifth rib, as well as a small one on the ring finger. The injuries were evidently caused by some sharp instrument such as a knife. They must have been given with a great deal of force.

The prisoner, who was undefended, said that when he came ashore the prosecutor and three others set upon him, and he called out to his father, who was on board, to come and help him. His father replied that he could not get ashore but told him to get his knife and out the painter of the boat and come aboard. He attempted to do so, but prosecutor threw himself upon him, and no doubt by that means was out with it.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty, and prisoner was sentenced to two years’ hard labour.

Folkestone Express 7-8-1880

Wednesday, August 4^th: Before General Cannon and R.W. Boarer Esq.

James Spearpoint was summoned for assaulting Sarah Warman, landlady of the Star public house. The assault was of a trifling nature and the Bench dismissed the case.

Southeastern Gazette 5-12-1881

Local News

On Saturday, before General Armstrong, C.B., Captain Crowe, R.W. Boarer, Esq, Alderman Banks, F. Boykett, Esq., and Captain Fletcher, Charles Stone and Richard Reynolds were summoned for assaulting Richard Hart, on Nov. 26.

Richard Hart said he was a seaman on board the Clementine. On Saturday night he had just come out of the Star Inn, Radnor Street, when he was met by Stone who “up” with his fist and knocked him down. He had given him no provocation. On getting up Reynolds struck him with his fist in the face. Witness became insensible and knew nothing more until he was carried into a woman’s house near. He did not see the defendants in the Star. He saw a man named Spearpoint there. He did not see the defendants sitting at a table; he did not knock their beer off the table. He did not challenge them to fight. He did not fight, and a policeman did not separate them.

 Mr. Minter addressed the Bench for the defence, and called the defendant Reynolds, who said he was the mate on board the Flirt. On Saturday night Stone and he went into the Star about twenty minutes past ten. As they were coming out Hart stood in the passage and would not let anyone pass. He said he would fight the best man in the house. Stone said “Get outside”. Witness said to Hart “Dicky, let me come out,” and he replied ‘’Yes, I don’t want any row with you,” and he let him out. They then went to the Ship and stayed until eleven o’clock. On coming out they saw Hart and William Spearpoint. Hart said “Where are those ----?” Stone went to him and they commenced to fight. He (witness) did not interfere with Hart at all. Hart and Stone fought for about ten minutes. He did not see the finish because he was fighting with Spearpoint.

Complainant, recalled, said, in answer to the Bench, he did ask a man named Ford to hold his coat, but he had been previously knocked down by Stone.

The Bench dismissed the case against Reynolds, and inflicted a fine of 40s., oosts 13s., or one month’s hard labour on Stone.

Folkestone Chronicle 10-12-1881

Saturday, December 3^rd: Before General Armstrong C.B., Capt. Crowe, Capt. Fletcher, Alderman Banks, R. W. Boarer, and F. Boykett Esqs.

Charles Stone and Richard Reynolds were summoned for assaulting Richard Hart on November 26^th. They pleaded not guilty. Mr. Minter defended.

Richard Hart said he was a seaman on board the Clementina. On the night of Saturday, November 26^th, in Radnor Street, about eleven o`clock, he had just come out of the Star, when he was met by Stone, who up with his fist and knocked him down. He had given him no provocation. On getting up, Reynolds struck him with his fist in the face. Witness became insensible, and he knew nothing more until he was carried into a woman`s house near. The defendants worked on board a schooner. He had seen them in the daytime, but had said nothing to them. The black eye and the marks he bore on his face were the result of the assault.

Cross-examined: He did not see the defendants in the Star. He saw a man named Spearpoint there. He did not see the defendants sitting at a table; he did not knock their beer off the table. He went to the Ship afterwards, but did not call out “Where are the ----?“. He did not fight, and a policeman did not separate them. He did not go into the Star, throw off his oilskin and say “I will fight the best ---- here”.

Jane May said she lived at 31, Radnor Street. She was in the street on Saturday night and saw Stone on the top of the complainant, punching him. Reynolds had got his coat off, and was about to kick Hart when she pulled him back. Her husband parted Stone and Hart, and picked  Hart up and brought him into the house. He was bleeding from the ears, nose, and mouth, and could not see out of his eyes. He was quite insensible. Sergeant Butcher and police constable Knowles subsequently came in.

Elizabeth Jeffery gave corroborative evidence.

Mr. Minter addressed the Bench for the defence, and called the defendant Reynolds, who said he was the mate on board the Flirt. On Saturday night Stone and he went into the Star about twenty minutes past ten. As they were coming out Hart stood in the passage and would not let anyone pass. He said he would fight the best man in the house. Stone had got outside. Witness said to Hart “Dicky, let me come out”, and he replied “Yes, I don`t want any row with you”, and he let him out. They then went to the Ship and stayed until eleven o`clock. On coming out they saw Hart and William Spearpoint. Hart said “Where are those ----?”. Stone went to him and they commenced to fight. He (witness) did not interfere with Hart at all. Hart and Stone fought for about 10 minutes. He did not see the finish because he was fighting with Spearpoint.

Robert Lepper, a bricklayer, also gave evidence.

Complainant, re-called, said in answer to the Bench, he did ask a man named Ford to hold his coat, but he had previously been knocked down by Stone.

The Bench dismissed the case against Reynolds, and inflicted a fine of 40s. and 13s. costs, or one month`s hard labour, on Stone.

Folkestone Express 10-12-1881

Saturday, December 3^rd: Before General Armstrong, Captain Crowe, Alderman Banks, R.W. Boarer and F. Boykett Esqs.

Charles Stone and Richard Reynolds were charged with assaulting Richard Hart on the 26^th November.

Mr. Minter appeared for the defendants.

The complainant is a seaman on board the S.E.R. Clementine. He stated that he was in Radnor Street just before eleven o`clock on Saturday night. He left the Star Inn to go on board his ship, and just outside met Stone, who knocked him down. Neither of them spoke. Complainant got up, and Stone and Reynolds both struck him again with their fists. They all three fell down, and he (the complainant) became insensible and was carried into some woman`s house. He knew the defendants by sight and had worked with them. They belonged to the Flirt schooner. He had had no quarrel with them. He saw them in the day time working coals about 12 o`clock, but did not speak to them.

Complainant still bore the marks of the injuries he received at the hands of the defendants.

In cross-examination complainant said: I first saw the defendants about a quarter to 11 going into the Star. I saw Spearpoint in the Star. The defendants were not sitting down when I went in, nor did I or Spearpoint knock their beer off the table. I do not know if they went to the Ship. I went by the Star on my way to the harbour. I did not throw my oilskin and say “Where is the ----?”, and I only fought with them in self defence. We did not have a regular round, nor did a policeman separate us. Spearpoind did not, so far as I know, fight with Reynolds. I did not go into the Star, throw my oilskin off, and say “I`ll fight the best b---- here”.

Jane May, of 31, Radnor Street, said she was in the street about 11 o`clock and saw the defendants there. Stone was on the top of Hart, punching him on the ground. She did not see the commencement of the affray. Reynolds had his coat off, going to fight, saying he was “the master piece of the street”. He appeared to be about to kick Hart, and witness pulled him back, tearing his shirt off. Stone and Hart were parted by her husband and another man. They picked Hart up and took him into witness`s house. He was bleeding from the nose and ears, and could not see out of either eye. He was quite insensible. P.C. Knowles and Sergeant Butcher saw him in that condition. The defendants did not appear to be much the worse for drink.

Elizabeth Jeffrey, living at 7, Radnor Street, said she saw the two defendants. Stone had Hart on the ground, but she could not see what he was doing to him. She assisted to get Hart into Mrs. May`s house.

Mr. Minter said the defence would be that there was a quarrel and a fight, the complainant being the actual aggressor. He got the worst of the fight, and had no right to come to the Bench for redress. He called Charles Reynolds as a witness, who said: I am mate of a cessel, and belong to Maidstone. On Saturday I was in company with Stone. We went to the Ship, and about twenty minutes past ten we went to the Star. We called for three pints of beer for three of us. Whilst we were sitting there William Spearpoint came in, but Hart did not. Spearpoint commenced to kick up a row with his father. Hart was in the passage at the bar. He would let no-one pass. He said “I`ll fight the best man in the house”. I said to him “Dicky, let me come past”. He said “Yes, I don`t want to have any row with you”. Stone was just outside. I and Stone then went to the Ship and remained there until eleven o`clock. We came out and saw Hart and William Spearpoint. Hart said “Where are the ----?” I don`t recollect Stone saying anything. Hart threw down his oilskins and they commenced to fight. I did not interfere. Spearpoint was coming to hit me. He said “Where`s that Charley?” I said “Here I am”, and I struck him first. Hart and Stone fought for about ten minutes. They fell several times. I did not see the finish of it as I was fighting with Spearpoint. I did not see who struck the first blow.

Robert Lepper, a bricklayer, who was in the Ship on Saturday night, said he saw Hart and Stone fighting together for ten minutes. They were falling about on the kerb stones. He could not say which struck the first blow.

Complainant was then re-called at the request of Mr. Minter, and the Bench asked him if he did not ask Mr. Ford to hold his coat. He admitted that he did so, but it was after he had been struck and knocked down by Stone. He fought to defend himself.

Stone was then called as a witness for Reynolds by Mr. Minter, but the Bench intimated that they were unanimously of opinion that the case against Reynolds should be dismissed.

The Bench took some time coming to a decision, and the chairman then stated that they were divided as to whether they ought not to commit Stone to prison without the option of a fine. It was a most gross case, the complainant having been unwarrantably attacked when proceeding on a rough night to make his vessel secure. Defendant would be fined 40s., and costs 13s., or one month`s hard labour in default.

Folkestone Express 1-11-1884

Wednesday, October 29^th: Before Captain Crowe, F. Boykett and A.M. Watkin Esqs.

Transfer Of Licence

The licence of the Star, Radnor Street, was transferred to Robert Carter

Folkestone News 1-8-1885

Saturday, July 25^th: Before The Mayor, J. Holden and J. Fitness Esqs., and Alderman Caister.

Lucy Spearpoint was summoned for assaulting Lucy Carter on the 18^th of July.

In reply to the Magistrates` Clerk, complainant said they could not settle their differences privately.

Complainant, who lives at the Star Inn, Radnor Street, said she sent her servant to ask Mrs. Spearpoint “to pay what she owed”. Mrs. Spearpoint did not send it, and complainant then went herself. Defendant used foul language and asked her what she wanted, and said if she wasn`t off she would throw a jug of water over her, and immediately did so. The water “spoilt her brand new dress”. Defendant went on Monday and wanted to settle it, but she declined.

Alice Bowden, the servant who was sent to ask defendant for the money, said she saw Mrs. Spearpoint come from the tap in the market with a jug of water, which she threw over Mrs. Carter.

Defendant denied the assault, and called her daughter, a little girl, who said Mrs. Carter struck her mother in the face with her fist. She was going to strike her again, when her mother threw half a pint of tea over her.

The Bench dismissed the summons, each party having to pay her own costs.