Valiant Sailor 1900s

Folkestone Chronicle 7-7-1900

On Saturday, Charles Bowman, a milkman, pleaded Guilty to embezzling £1 1s., belonging to Mr. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor.

Mr. Aird said Bowman had been in his employ for two years and a half. During that period, it had been ascertained, he had embezzled about £70, but the case of £1 1s. was the only one he was proceeding with.

Prisoner, in mitigation, said he had never been in so serious a position before, having had eleven years` good character from his last place. He was very sorry. It was all through drink. He intended to regain his previous good character.

The Chairman pointed out the seriousness of prisoner`s breach of trust, and awarded him two months` hard labour.

Folkestone Express 7-7-1900

Saturday, June 30^th: Before J. Fitness, W. Wightwick, and W.G. Herbert Esqs.

Charles E. Bowman pleaded Guilty to a charge of stealing £1 1s. 1d. from his employer, Mr. W. Aird.

Alfred Edward White said he was a licensed victualler, and was landlord of the Martello Tower (sic), in Dover Road. He was supplied with milk by Mr. Aird, and sometimes it was delivered to him by the prisoner. He produced a book, in which an account of the milk was kept, and it was made up once a month. Last month he owed £2 8s. 7d., and paid £1 7s. 6d. to Mr. Aird personally. At the end of the month of May he paid the remainder £1 1s. 1d. to the prisoner, who took the book and never returned it.

William Aird, of the Valiant Sailor, said he was a dairyman, and the prisoner was in his employ about two and a half years. His duty was to deliver milk, take the cash, and account for what he had taken every night. He was paid £1 7s. 6d. by Mr. White, which left a balance of £1 1s. 1d., for which sum the prisoner did not account. When witness asked him what he had been doing, he said he had been “fooling about”, and had spent it all. He could not give him a good character, because he had embezzled other sums.

The defendant said he was never in such a position before, but of late he had been drinking. He had previously acted upright and honest.

The Bench informed him they had the power to send him to prison for three months, but as he previous conduct was good, they reduced the sentence to two months.

Folkestone Herald 7-7-1900

Folkestone Police Court

Charles Bowman, employed by Mr. W. Aird, dairyman, the Valiant Sailor, was charged with stealing £1 1s. 1d. from his master. It appeared that a balance to that amount was due to Mr. Aird by one of his customers, Mr. Alfred White, landlord of the Martello Tower, Dover Road, and that it was duly paid at the end of May to the defendant, but never accounted for.

Sentenced to two months` imprisonment.

Folkestone Express 23-2-1901

Local News

Dover Hill was the scene of a series of accidents on Friday last. About half past two in the afternoon a man named Hogben, who had been in the employ of Mr. W. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor, for over twenty two years, was walking down the hill, and when opposite the lime kiln he slipped down and broke his leg. The unfortunate man sent a passer-by to the Martello and to the Junction Station for a cab, but without result, as the road was too slippery for the vehicles to ascend, and he was compelled to lie where he had fallen for over two hours before he received any attention. Eventually Mr. Aird was informed of the man`s plight, and he at once sent a constable who was with him at the time to bandage the injured limb, following directly after with his wagonette, into which the man was lifted. Mr. Aird was driving, and they had not proceeded 100 yards down the hill when the wagonette suddenly swerved right round, and turning over, threw all the occupants into the road. Mr. Aird`s shoulder was dislocated, but the constable, who fell on top of Mr. Aird and the injured occupant, sustained nothing more serious than a shaking. The man Hogben was conveyed to the Victoria Hospital, and Mr. Aird returned to the Valiant Sailor, where at the time of going to press he is progressing very favourably, though much bruised and shaken. It will be remembered that some three or four years ago Mr. Aird`s wife was killed and his daughter seriously injured by a similar accident almost at the same spot.

Folkestone Herald 8-2-1902

Hythe Petty Sessions

Thursday, February 6^th: Before J. Du Boulay, H. Strahan, A.S. Jones, J.E. Quested, W. Wightwick, and C.H. Smith Esqs.

John Brian, a stableman, of Folkestone, was summoned for using obscene language at Hawkinge on Boxing Day.

P.C. Crapps said the defendant had been ejected from the Valiant Sailor, and when witness spoke to him he turned round and committed the offence named.

Defendant now said that it was Boxing Day, and the P.C. called him a liar. He admitted having had a little to drink because it was Christmas.

Fined 6s. and 10s. costs, or seven days`.

Defendant: I would do the 7 days, but I don`t think I will. (Laughter)

James Wraight was summoned for a like offence at the same place and time.

Defendant, who said he had never been up before the Magistrates in his life, was fined 2s. 6d. and 10s. costs, or 7 days` imprisonment.

 

Folkestone Chronicle 14-6-1902

Saturday, June 7^th: Before Alderman Banks and other Magistrates.

A respectable-looking lad named Sidney Geo. Hadlow was charged with embezzling various sums of money, the property of his employer, Mr. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor public house, Dover Road.

Jeanette Keeler, residing in Langhorne Gardens, said Mr. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor, was her milkman. On the morning of the 23^rd of May she placed the milk jug in the usual place. In the jug she placed a book and some money. She knew that the accused picked the money up, as she saw him count it.

Edith Foord, a housemaid, deposed to paying the accused 7s. 6d., and receiving 3d. change.

Mr. Aird said prisoner had been in his employ for four months. The amounts mentioned by the witnesses and written in the charge sheet had not been accounted for by the prisoner in his books.

Detective Sergt. Burniston said when he arrested the prisoner, his reply to the charge was that he had lost the money.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty, and said he did not know what had driven him to take the money.

Two months` hard labour was the sentence.

Folkestone Express 14-6-1902

Saturday, June 7^th: Before Alderman Banks, G.I. Swoffer, W. Wightwick, and C.J. Pursey Esqs.

Sidney George Hadlow, (19), was charged with embezzling £2 2s. 9d. and 7s. 3d., the money of his employer, Mr. William Aird.

Janet Keeler, of 9, Langhorne Gardens, identified prisoner as the man who had delivered milk at the house for the past three months. On the 23^rd May witness placed £2 2s. 9d. in a jug, and she afterwards saw prisoner counting the money.

Edith Foord, a housemaid at 20, Westbourne Gardens, said on the 2^nd June she gave prisoner 7s. 6d. and the book. The following day prisoner returned the threepence change, but did not bring the receipted book.

William Aird, residing at the Valiant Sailor, stated that prisoner had been in his employ about four months. Any money handed to prisoner should have been accounted for the same evening.

Detective Burniston deposed to arresting the prisoner, who said “I have received the money, but did not pay it to Mr. Aird”. When searched, prisoner had in his possession 1s. 9½d. and five dice.

The Chairman said the prisoner had pleaded Guilty to a very serious charge. Instead of protecting his master`s property he had robbed him, and spent the money in a very wrong manner. He would be sentenced to two months` hard labour.

Folkestone Express 26-7-1902

Thursday, July 24^th: Before Alderman Banks and W.G. Herbert.

Saunders Berry White, a full-blooded Ethiopian, was charged with stealing £5 10s. 6d. from the ship Rose.

William Stevenson, captain of the ship Rose, said prisoner was cook on board and was shipped at Hartlepool on the 2^nd inst. He then had no clothes and no money. The ship arrived at Folkestone on the 18^th, and prisoner was on Saturday given half a crown on account of his wages. On Tuesday night, before going to bed, witness put his purse containing £5 10s. 6d. under his pillow in his own cabin. Next morning when he got up the money was safe. About half past eleven he missed his purse, and ascertained that the prisoner, who had access to the cabin, had gone ashore.

Charles Carlson, mate of the vessel, said only the Captain, himself, and the prisoner were allowed to enter the cabin. He did not see prisoner enter or leave the cabin, but saw him walking aft towards the cabin.

The Captain was re-called, and said the prisoner very seldom made up his bed. He had about 25s. due to him on Wednesday for wages.

A seaman named Sollenson said prisoner told him on Tuesday night that he had no money.

Elizabeth Harriett Petty, barmaid at the Valiant Sailor, Dover Road, said the prisoner went into the bar on Wednesday morning about 11.15, and asked for a packet of “fags”. She served him, and he tendered half a sovereign in payment. She gave him the change. She did not see the purse.

Detective Sergt. Burniston said he went by rail to Dover and returned by road towards Folkestone. At a public house near the Priory station he saw the prisoner and questioned him. He then took him into custody on a charge of stealing £5 10s. from the ship. Prisoner said “I only had one half a sovereign, and I changed that on the road”. Witness searched him and found 8s. 10d. on him. When formally charged at Folkestone, prisoner made no reply.

Prisoner was remanded till next Wednesday.

Folkestone Herald 26-7-1902

Thursday, July 24^th: Before Alderman Banks and Mr. W.G. Herbert.

Saunders Berry White, a black, was charged with having stolen £5 10s. 6d. in a purse from the ship Rose, lying in the harbour.

William Stevenson, the Captain of the ship, stated that prisoner was the cook, and was shipped on the 2^nd of July at Hartlepool. He had no clothes at that time, nor any money. Prisoner was given 2s. 6d. on account of wages when he arrived at Folkestone on the 18^th. On Tuesday night witness put his money under his pillow in his cabin. Next morning it was safe. Later he missed it, and found that prisoner, whose duties took him into the cabin, had gone ashore.

Charles Carson, mate, said he did not see prisoner enter or leave the cabin, but saw him going towards it.

One of the seamen, named Sollenson, said prisoner told him on Tuesday night that he had no money.

Elizabeth Petty, a barmaid at the Valiant Sailor, Dover Road, said prisoner went into her bar on Wednesday morning and asked for a packet of “fags”. He gave her half a sovereign, and she gave him the change.

Detective Burniston gave evidence of arrest, and said he found 8s. 10d. on him.

Prisoner was remanded until next Wednesday.

 

Folkestone Express 2-8-1902

Wednesday, July 30^th: Before Alderman Banks, G.I. Swoffer, and W.G. Herbert Esqs.

Saunders Berry White, a negro who was remanded last week on a charge of theft, was again brought up.

The Superintendent said he had no fresh evidence.

The Bench discharged the prisoner, the Chairman remarking that should any fresh evidence be forthcoming he would be arrested and brought up again.

Folkestone Herald 2-8-1902

Wednesday, July 30^th: Before Aldermen Banks and Herbert, and Mr. Swoffer.

Saunders Berry White, a black, was charged on remand with stealing a purse containing £5 10s. 6d. from a ship lying in the harbour.

The Chief Constable said he had made enquiries, but had no additional evidence.

Under the circumstances prisoner was discharged.

Folkestone Chronicle 2-1-1904

Monday, December 28^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. W.C. Carpenter, Mr. T.J. Vaughan and Lieut. Colonel Westropp.

Henry James Fedarb was charged with stealing three fowls, the property of Mr. W. Aird.

Detective Sergt. Burniston said that at 2.45 on Saturday last he saw prisoner in company with a man named Newman near the public baths in Foord Road, carrying a bag. Witness asked what the sack contained that he had given to Newman. On examination he found it contained three dead fowls, which Newman said he bought of Fedarb for 2s. Witness took Fedarb into custody. At the station Fedarb said that he had found the fowls at the back of a house above the Railway Bell Hotel on Thursday night.

William Aird said he was landlord of the Valiant Sailor. He had examined the fowls and identified them as his property. Their necks had been broken. The value was 3s. each.

John Hawkins, head milkman in Mr. Aird`s employ, said he counted the fowls every Monday morning. He missed four on Monday morning. The fowls produced were the same sort as owned by Mr. Aird.

Henry Edward Newman said that Fedarb asked him on Saturday to buy three fowls for 2s., which he did. Detective Sergt. Burniston came up and took the prisoner and the fowls to the police station.

Prisoner was sentenced to 14 days` hard labour. Newman was censured by the Bench for buying the fowls for 2s., and warned that he must be more careful in future.

Folkestone Express 2-1-1904

Monday, December 28^th: Before E.T. Ward, W.C. Carpenter and T.J. Vaughan Esqs., and Lieut. Col. Westropp.

Henry James Fedarb was charged with stealing three fowls, the property of Mr. Wm. Aird.

Det. Sergt. Burniston said at 2.45 on Saturday last he saw prisoner in company with a man named Newman, near the Public Baths in Foord Road. Prisoner was carrying something in a bag. When near the Castle Inn, prisoner handed the sack to Newman, and went into the public bar of the Castle. Witness stopped him, and asked him what the sack which he had given to Newman contained. He replied “You had better see”. He called Newman outside, and then examined the sack, which contained the three dead fowls produced. Newman said he bought the fowls of Fedarb for 2s. Fdarb said he had won them at the Wonder Inn in Beach Street. He told Fedarb, that not being satisfied with his statement, he should take him to the police station, and he would there be detained while further enquiries were made. Witness went to the Wonder Inn, where he ascertained that the statement Fedarb made was false. He therefore returned and charged him with stealing the three fowls from some person or persons unknown. Fedarb replied “I found them at the back of a house near the Railway Bell Hotel on Thursday night”. Subsequently he charged the prisoner with stealing the fowls from Mr. William Aird, of the Valiant Sailor Inn, to which he replied “I am not guilty”.

Prisoner said he found the fowls just over a fence in a meadow at the back of a house in Dover Road.

William Aird, landlord of the Valiant Sailor, said he kept fowls in houses at the back of the inn, in a farmyard. He had examined the three fowls, and identified two of them as his property. Their necks had been broken. He did not miss them until that (Monday) morning, and had seen them safe on Thursday or Friday. The value was 3s. each. He had missed four since the previous Monday. They were counted every Monday morning.

Prisoner: I have heard you say in your bar that you never knew how many fowls you had got.

John Hawkins, head milkman in the employ of Mr. Aird, said he counted the fowls every Monday morning. That day week there were nine missing, but on counting them that (Monday) morning he missed four. He could not swear to the fowls produced, but they were the same sort as Mr. Aird kept. He had frequently seen the prisoner about the premises, and he had sometimes slept in stacks there, but not with Mr. Aird`s permission.

Henry Edward Newman, foreman bricklayer, in the employ of Mr. Moody, living at 84, Marshall Street, said he knew the prisoner very well, and saw him on Saturday. Fedarb called him and asked him if he would buy three fowls. He asked where they were, and he replied that he would go and get them. He went away and returned with three fowls in a bag, which he carried to the Castle Inn. Prisoner told witness he won them at the Wonder and did not want them, and he could have them for 3s.

Mr. Ward: So you think you gave a fair price.

Witness: Well, you can buy plenty of fowls for 1s. each.

Mr. Ward: Well, we can`t.

Witness continued his evidence: He gave 2s. for the three fowls. Burniston came up a few minutes after and took the fowls, and also the prisoner to the police station.

The prisoner was then charged with stealing two of the fowls. He said he “wanted the job settled”, but was not guilty. He found the fowls in a bag in Mr. Major`s field.

Mr. Bradley reminded the prisoner that his first story was that he won the fowls at the Wonder.

The Bench considered the case proved. It was prisoner`s first offence, and he was sentenced to 14 days` hard labour.

Newman was called forward and censured by the Chairman for buying the fowls for 2s., and told him he must be more careful in future.

Folkestone Chronicle 17-9-1904

Saturday, September 10^th: Before Aldermen Penfold and Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Westropp, Mr. J. Stainer, and Lieut. Col. Fynmore.

George Tanner was charged with trespassing in the early morning on land of which Mr. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor, is the owner.

P.C. Allen said he saw defendant on the land and he also saw a man shoot a gun off.

Defendant admitted trespassing on the land but denied shooting. He said that he offered the constable the gun to look at but the constable refused to do so.

Fined 20s. and 10s. costs or 14 days`.

Folkestone Express 17-9-1904

Saturday, September 10^th: Before Aldermen Penfold and Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fymnore, Lieut. Col. Westropp, and J. Stainer Esq.

George Tanner was summoned for trespassing in search of game on the previous Saturday morning. Defendant pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Allen said at 5.30 a.m. last Saturday, when near the Valiant Sailor, he looked on land belonging to Mr. Aird and saw the defendant on it. He was carrying a double-barrelled breech loading gun in his hand, and also had a whippet dog with him. Witness saw him fire at something. He watched him for some time and then went to him and asked him who had given him permission to be on the land. Defendant replied nobody had given him permission, but he was searching for white starlings.

Mr. Aird, the occupier of the land, said he had not given defendant permission to be on his land. There was a lot of partridges in the sanfoin, and defendant was among them.

Fined 20s. and 10s. costs.

Folkestone Herald 17-9-1904

Saturday, September 10^th: Before Alderman S. Penfold, Lieut. Colonel Fynmore, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Lieut. Colonel Westropp, and Mr. J. Stainer.

George Tanner was summoned for trespassing on land belonging to Mr. Aird, near the Valiant Sailor, on the 3^rd inst. He pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Allen deposed that at 5.30 the previous Saturday morning he was in plain clothes, when he saw defendant carrying a double-barrelled breach-loading gun. He also had a bag with him. He saw him fire the gun off at something, and then go into a field belonging to Mr. Aird. He went to him and asked him who gave him permission to shoot on the land. He replied “Nobody. I am only searching for white starlings”.

Mr. W. Aird said he was the occupier of the land in question. Defendant was shooting there without his leave. He was a well-known hand, and witness believed he was searching for partridges.

Defendant denied firing the gun. He said he asked the constable to examine the gun to see if it had been fired, but he refused to examine it.

Defendant was fined 20s. with 10s. costs; in default 14 days` hard labour.

 

Folkestone Chronicle 3-12-1904

Folkestone Gossip

An amusing burglary case has been reported this week. On Monday Mr. Aird, of the Valiant Sailor, heard a peculiar knocking at one f the upper doors of the house, and at once assumed that a burglar was at work. A careful net was drawn round the house, a coastguard watched the back entrance, and a cordon of notabilities from the hills watched the front. In the meantime a boy was dispatched for a constable, who arrived breathless upon the scene, and went straight to the source of the tapping, when it was found to be Mrs. Aird`s little boy, who was playing with the window sash.