Mechanics Arms 1905 - 1909

Folkestone Daily News 7-6-1905

Wednesday, June 7^th: Before Alderman Vaughan, J. Stainer, W.C. Carpenter, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, and G.I. Swoffer Esqs.

Mr. Lawrence, of the Mechanics Arms, applied for an occasional licence on the occasion of a cricket match on the Folkestone ground on Friday and Saturday next, and also for a licence for Whit Monday on the occasion of a Fete in Ashley Park.

Both were granted.

 

Folkestone Chronicle 10-6-1905

Wednesday, June 7^th: Before Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Mr. W.C. Carpenter, and Mr. J. Stainer.

The application of Mr. Johnny Lawrence for an occasional licence to serve liquor on the Folkestone Cricket Ground yesterday (Friday) and today (Saturday) was granted. Mr. Lawrence was also granted a similar licence on the occasion of the Ashley Park Fete on Whit Monday.

Folkestone Express 10-6-1905

Wednesday, June 7^th: Before Alderman Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, J. Stainer, W.C. Carpenter and G.I. Swoffer Esqs.

Mr. J. Lawrence was granted occasional licences at the Folkestone Cricket Ground on June 9^th and 10^th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and at Ashley Park Fete on Whit Monday from 12 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Folkestone Herald 10-6-1905

Wednesday, June 3td: Before Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Councillor R.J. Fynmore, and Mr. J. Stainer.

Mr. Johnny Lawrence was granted occasional licences for the new Cricket Ground from 11 to 7 on Friday (yesterday) and Saturday (today), and also for the Fete at Ashley Park on Whit Monday from 12 to 8.

Folkestone Daily News 8-7-1905

Saturday, July 8^th: Before Ald. Penfold, Ald. Vaughan, Ald. Herbert, and Lieut. Col. Westropp.

Mr. Lawrence was granted an occasional licence on the occasion of a cricket match on Wednesday next.

 

Folkestone Express 29-7-1905

Wednesday, July 26^th: Before W.G. Herbert Esq., Lieut. Col. Westropp, J. Stainer and G.I. Swoffer Esqs.

Mr. J. Lawrence applied for the permission of the Magistrates to sell intoxicating liquors from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day next week on the new cricket ground on the occasion of the annual cricket week. The Magistrates granted the application.

Folkestone Herald 29-7-1905

Wednesday, July 26^th: Before Alderman W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, and Mr. J. Stainer.

Mr. Johnny Lawrence was granted an occasional licence to sell on the Cricket Field during the Festival.

Folkestone Herald 5-8-1905

Wednesday, August 2^nd: Before Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Councillor R.J. Fynmore, and Colonel Westropp.

Mr. J. Lawrence, of the Mechanics Arms, was granted an occasional licence for the Ashley Park Fete on Monday.

Folkestone Daily News 9-4-1906

Monday, April 9^th: Before Messrs. E.T. Ward, T.J. Vaughan, and G. Spurgen.

Mr. J. Lawrence, of the Mechanics Arms, applied for an occasional licence for the fete to be held at Ashley Park on Monday next.

Mr. Lawrence made the application, but it was then found that there were not a sufficient number of Magistrates present eligible as Licensing Justices.

Urgent messages were sent to procure another Magistrate.

Folkestone Express 2-6-1906

Wednesday, May 30^th: Before W.G. Herbert Esq., Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Major Leggett, J. Stainer, C.J. Pursey, G.I. Swoffer and R.J. Linton Esqs.

Mr. J. Lawrence was given permission to sell intoxicating liquors at the Ashley Park Fete on Whit Monday.

Folkestone Herald 2-6-1906

Wednesday, May 30^th: Before Alderman W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Major Leggett, Messrs. J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, G.I. Swoffer, and C.J. Pursey.

Mr. J. Lawrence, of the Mechanics Arms, was granted an occasional licence to sell at Ashley Park Fete on Whit Monday.

 

Folkestone Express 16-6-1906

Wednesday, June 13^th: Before Alderman Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, and J. Stainer Esq.

George John Lawrence, the landlord of the Mechanics Arms, was summoned under the Merchandise Marks Act for selling half a pint of soda water with a false trade description.

Mr. De Wet appeared on behalf of the Kent and Sussex Association of Mineral Water Manufacturers, and Mr. Minter represented the defendant.

Mr. Minter said he had an application with regard to that and five other similar summonses against the defendant to have them adjourned, because the summonses were so indefinite that it was utterly impossible for him to prepare the evidence, and he was going to ask the Magistrates to order the prosecution to supply to the defendant who the soda water was served to. The summons was to the effect that the defendant sold half a pint of soda water in a syphon to which a false trade description was applied. He asked for the name of the person to whom the water was sold, so that they could prepare their defence. He imagined the prosecution would not refuse to supply them, and he was sure the Magistrates would not let an act of injustice be done to the defendant by refusing to order that which was only reasonable. He was going to say, and would say later on, that he considered those summonses were an abuse of the process of that Court.

Mr. De Wet said if his friend had asked for the information he required the previous day, he would certainly have given it to him with the greatest of pleasure.

Mr. Minter: I did apply and found that Mr. De Wet was away on a holiday. Therefore I could not get the information from his office.

Mr. De Wet said he had his witnesses down there from London, Dover, and Maidstone, and he thought he ought not to be asked for that information at the last moment. Moreover, he had an apology from the defendant in respect of those alleged offences, and he alleged in that apology that the cases were so few and far between. Surely, therefore, it could not be at all inconvenient or impossible for him to ascertain to whom those sales were made. He also contended that there was no obligation on them to say to whom the article was sold.

The Magistrates, after consultation, decided to hear the evidence.

Mr. Minter: I have no witnesses here.

The Clerk: If at the end of the case the Magistrates see any reason to adjourn the case they will do it.

Mr. De Wet said the defendant was liable either to imprisonment or a fine not exceeding £20. The prosecution in that and the other cases had been instigated by the Kent and Sussex Association of Mineral Water Manufacturers, and the proceedings were commenced owing to complaints the Association had received from various manufacturers as to their syphons being used and filled up. It was true the article which was sold was of infinitesimal value, but when he told them that a syphon cost 2/-, they could quite understand the great benefit it rendered to the defendant in filling up other people`s syphons with his own mineral water, and the great saving on his capital outlay of not having syphons broken or mislaid. So far as the contents of the syphon mentioned in that case, he would show it was not Idris water, and he would show that it was nothing more or less than Folkestone tap water aerated. He considered that the apology sent by the defendant was if anything an aggravation of the offence.

Ernest Henry Philpott, residing at Riverdale, Thannington Road, Canterbury, said he was a representative of the Idris Mineral Water Company, of London and Southampton. In consequence of complaints received, he attended at the Mechanics Arms, on Friday, April 20^th, at 4.10 in the afternoon. He asked for a drop of Scotch and a splash of soda in it. The syphon produced was handed to him by the barman. He did not use the syphon. He told the man he was an inspector of the Company, and wanted to take the syphon away with him. He asked the man to take the money from the 2/6 he offered for the syphon and the soda as well. There was approximately half a pint of soda in the syphon. Witness told the man he would hear more of it in a day or two. He took the syphon straight to Mr. McKenzie`s manager and showed it to him. When he took the syphon he expected to find the water in it to be their water. He had submitted the contents of it to an analyst. His firm had never supplied Lawrence with syphons of their water, neither had they ever consented to the defendant filling up the syphons.

Cross-examined, he said his firm sold Idris to many people in Folkestone. The defendant could have got the syphon from them if he liked. He could not say whether he so got it or not.

Daniel Thomas Lyle, of Maidstone, secretary of the Kent and Sussex Mineral waters Manufacturing Asociation, and Ale and Porter Bottlers` Trade Protection Society, Maidstone, said these proceedings were authorised by the directors of the Society on his information. The object of the Association was to save a good deal of their expenditure in connection with the bottles and syphons. In consequence of certain complaints he visited Folkestone on April 23^rd, on the afternoon of which day he saw the defendant. After telling him who he was, he asked him if he had any property belonging to other manufacturers on his premises. He told him that he had received reports from the Folkestone members of the Association that he had filled bottles belonging to them. He acknowledged he might have filled a few and sent them out accidentally. Witness told him he had sent out several belonging to Idris, and the Silver Spring Company, but he said he had not. Defendant told him he was dealing with Mackeson, and led him to believe that he had purchased the Idris syphon from Mackeson. He said he was willing to apologise if he had done wrong. He further stated that if the Association prosecuted him, he would spend a couple of thousand to try and ruin the trade, who were only jealous because he was serving a few of their customers. The cost of a syphon to the manufacturer was 2/-. The defendant sent an apology to the Council of the Society.

Mr. De Wet then read the apology, in which the defendant said he begged to apologise for the unfortunate position in which his man had placed him. He had been under the doctor since November until a week before Easter, and during that time had had to depend on his man to carry on the business. He could assure them he was exceedingly sorry, and he had promised his man instant dismissal should he find another trade bottle filled. He was going to personally overhaul all his bottling plant, and those which belonged to other manufacturers he would place on one side, so that they could be called for. The secretary had overhauled something like 100 dozen bottles, and amongst them he had only found a dozen strays. In conclusion he asked the Society to accept his apology.

Mr. Lyle said amongst the 100 dozen bottles he found bottles belonging to firms who were not members of the Association. The Council refused to accept Mr. Lawrence`s apology, because they thought it was a bad case.

Cross-examined, witness said he went to the people to whom the bottles belonged, but who were not members of his Association, and asked them to become members of the Association. They, however, refused to do so.

Rowland Martin Wardley, a representative of Messrs. Mackeson and Co., said his firm had never supplied the defendant with syphons of Messrs. Idris` soda water.

Frank Robert Stevens, a member of the Society of Public Analysts and a Fellow of the Chemists` Society, said he resided in London. The syphon produced was submitted to him for the purpose of analysis.

The Clerk: You have to prove it is the same syphon as was taken away by the Inspector.

Mr. Stevens said the syphon was sealed up with paper. As a result of his analysis he found the contents of the syphon, which were approximately half a pint, were really ordinary aerated water. It was certainly not Idris water.

The witness Philpott was re-called, and he stated that when he got to Canterbury with the syphon, he wrapped the top up in paper and sent it away for analysis.

Mr. J.W. Stainer gave the result of an analysis of Folkestone tap water which contained 2½ grains of bicarbonate of soda to the pint.

Mr. Minter addressed the Magistrates on behalf of the defendant, who, he said, was engaged in a very large manufacturing business of table water, soda water, and so on. Through that he had incurred the displeasure of the other manufacturers, and that prosecution was really a matter of spite.

Defendant went into the witness box. He said he was the proprietor of the Mechanics Arms, and was engaged in a large catering business. Some time since he commenced manufacturing mineral waters. He had been unable to attend to his business for five months, and up to April 21^st he had no plant for filling syphons. Had any syphon been brought into his factory where he manufactured mineral waters, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to have filled it previous to April 21^st. He had got some syphons of Idris soda water from Mr. Walsh, the manager of the Victoria Pier, whose predecessor had been a customer of Idris Company. Mr. Lyle, when he called, told him he had found other manufacturers` bottles in his (the defendant`s) possession, and the apology he sent was in reference to the bottles, and not to the syphon. He had always directed his men to examine the bottles, and had told them not to fill anybody else`s bottles, but to put them on one side, so that they could be fetched away when there was a sufficient quantity.

Cross-examined, he said it was true he had a syphon filler on his premises in April, but it was not fixed until May 1^st.

James Fenton Walsh said he exchanged certain soda syphons with Mr. Lawrence, possibly about Easter time.

The barman, Richard Henry Clark, employed by the defendant, gave evidence of supplying Philpott with the whisky, and also handing him the syphon.

Henry Trebell, a bottler in the employ of Mr. Lawrence, stated that they did not use their syphon filler until May 1^st.

After a consultation between the Magistrates, Mr. De Wet said he had an application to make if the Magistrates decided to convict. He might say the prosecution had already cost a great deal, and he asked the Magistrates to grant substantial costs.

The Chairman said the Bench were unanimously of the opinion that the case had been proved. They therefore fined the defendant £5 and £5 18s. 6d. costs.

Mr. De Wet said there were five other summonses against the defendant, and one against a customer of his. Under the circumstances they were prepared to withdraw the other cases if the defendant would pay the costs the prosecution had been put to.

The Chairman said it was rather like piling on the agony to issue all the summonses.

Mr. De Wet: They are in respect of different things.

Mr. Minter agreed to pay the costs, so the summonses were withdrawn.

Folkestone Daily News 1-8-1906

Wednesday, August 1^st: Before Messrs. Fynmore, Swoffer, and Carpenter.

An application from Mr. J. Lawrence for permission to sell drink at the Ashley Park fete was granted.

Folkestone Herald 4-8-1906

Wednesday, August 1^st: Before Councillor R.J. Fynmore, and Mr. W.C. Carpenter.

An application by Mr. J. Lawrence to sell intoxicating liquors at Ashley Park on Monday, August 6^th, between the hours of 12 and 8, was granted.

Folkestone Herald 23-2-1907

Saturday, February 16^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Colonel R.J. Fynmore, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, and Councillor G. Boyd.

Mr. Johnnie Lawrence applied for an occasional licence at the Town Hall, from 7 till 10 o`clock on February 27^th on the occasion of the installation of Sir Edward Sassoon and others as Oddfellows. Granted.

Folkestone Daily News 20-3-1907

Wednesday, March 20^th: Before The Mayor, Messrs. Spurgen, Ward, Fynmore, Vaughan, Carpenter, and Ames.

An occasional licence was granted to Mr. Lawrence on the occasion of the distribution of prizes at the Drill Hall.

Folkestone Express 23-3-1907

Wednesday, March 20^th: Before The Mayor, Aldermen Spurgen and Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, E.T. Ward, W.C. Carpenter, and T. Ames Esqs.

Mr. J. Lawrence was granted an occasional licence to sell intoxicating liquor at the annual distribution of prizes in connection with teh Artillery Volunteers at the Drill Hall on Monday evening.

Folkestone Daily News 8-5-1907

Wednesday, May 8^th: Before The Mayor, Messrs. Ward, Vaughan, and Fynmore.

Mr. Lawrence was granted an occasional licence to sell intoxicants at the Drill Hall during the visit of the Oddfellows to Folkestone.

 

Folkestone Express 11-5-1907

Wednesday, May 8^th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, and E.T. Ward Esq.

Mr. J. Lawrence, of the Mechanics Arms, applied for an occasional licence to sell refreshments in the Volunteer Drill Yard during the visit of the Oddfellows (each day) from nine o`clock in the morning to six o`clock in the evening. He proposed to erect a tent.

Granted.

Folkestone Herald 11-5-1907

Wednesday, May 8^th: Before The Mayor, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Messrs. E.T. Ward and R.J. Fynmore.

Mr. J. Lawrence, of the Mechanics Arms, applied for an occasional licence to sell at the Volunteer Drill ground on the occasion fo the visit of the Oddfellows. He wanted the licence granted from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m. in the evening during the week, from Monday till Saturday. He proposed to erect a tent in the ground.

The Chief Constable said it was quite in accordance with the custom at the Conference to have a licence granted, and he had no objection.

The licence was granted.

Folkestone Daily News 22-5-1907

Wednesday, May 22^nd: Before The Mayor, Messrs. Herbert, Pursey, Stainer, Boyd, Swoffer, and Leggett.

Mr. Lawrence was granted a temporary licence on the occasion of the levee of the Grand Master of the Oddfellows on Thursday.

Folkestone Herald 25-5-1907

Wednesday, May 22^nd: Before The Mayor, Messrs. W.G. Herbert, C.J. Pursey, J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, G.I. Swoffer, and Councillor G. Boyd.

Mr. J. Lawrence was granted an occasional licence to sell liquor at the Woodward Hall on Thursday evening from 7 till 10 on the occasion of the Grand Master`s levee (in connection with the Oddfellows` visit).