Folkestone Express
14-2-1903
Thursday, February 12th:
Before W. Wightwick Esq., Colonel Hamilton, Alderman Salter, W.G. Herbert, and
G.I. Swoffer Esqs.
Two little lads, Frederick Thomas Clark (10), and John
Keeling (9) were charged with stealing a contribution box from the Richmond
Tavern.
Florence Ovenden, wife of Charles Ovenden, landlord of the
Richmond Tavern, said she recognised the defendants. They come into the bar of
their house on Tuesday afternoon about four o`clock. She asked them who they
were looking for. Clark replied “My father”, and said his father`s name was
Green. She said she had not seen him and did not know him. One stood on the
step, and the other just inside on the mat. She had a contribution box on the
bar counter, which anyone could reach standing on the mat. When they left she
went into her sitting room, and while there she thought she heard the sound of
a footstep. She went into the bar. She could not see anyone, but missed the box
at once. She went into the street, but only saw a number of little children.
The value of the box was one shilling. There was money in it, but she did not know
how much.
The box (in pieces) was produced for inspection by the
Bench.
Detective Burnsiton said on Wednesday morning he called on
the last witness at the Richmond Tavern, and acting on the description given to
him he went to 7, Norris Place, Mill Bay, where he saw the boy Clark. He said
to him “You answer to the description of a boy in the Richmond Tavern yesterday
afternoon, and shortly after you left the bar Mrs. Ovenden missed a
contribution box. I am going to take you there for the purpose of identification”.
He replied “John Keeling took the box. There was only 2½d. in it. I buried the
box in the garden”. He was taken to the Richmond Tavern, where he was
identified as one of the lads. In the garden of Brook Cottage he found the box
buried. Later on he saw Keeling in the Fishmarket and charged him with being
concerned in the theft of the box. He replied “Clark took the box. There was
only 2½d. in it. He gave me a farthing”.
He Chief Constable said three weeks ago Clark received
twelve strokes with the birch rod and Keeling eight strokes for a similar
offence.
Two little urchins only seven years of age and brothers of
the boys before the Bench were brought forward, and the Chief Constable
explained that these children had been taken to the police station on several
occasions for being concerned in several petty thefts, but on account of their
tender years they could not bring any charge against them. It seemed to him
that the parents were more to blame than the children, and he was only sorry
that the Bench had not the power to send the parents to a prison or a
reformatory for not doing their duty to the children.
The boys pleaded Guilty and elected to be tried summarily.
The boy Clark apparently has a tender regard for bad
characters, for on Tuesday night, thinking no doubt to meet a kindred spirit,
he went to the theatre to see “The Worst Woman In London”, and arrived home at
the respectable hour of one a.m.
The Bench said it was very difficult to decide what to do,
and adjourned the case for a week, the defendants to remain in the custody of
their parents.
Folkestone Herald
14-2-1903
Thursday, February 12th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick,
Mr. W. Herbert, Alderman Salter, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, and Mr. G.I. Swoffer.
Frederick Thomas Clark (10), and John Keeling (9) were
charged with the theft of a contribution box from th bar of the Richmond Tavern,
Richmond Street. Both lads pleaded Guilty.
Florence Ovenden, wife of Charles Ovenden, landlord of the
Richmond Tavern, said that the two boys came into the bar on Tuesday afternoon
about four o`clock. She asked them what they were looking for, and Clark
replied his father, whose name, he said, was Green. Mrs. Ovenden told the lad
that she did not know such a person. The lads then went into the roadway.
Immediately afterwards, whilst in the sitting room, she thought she heard the
sound of a footstep in the bar. When she got there she could not see anyone,
but missed the contribution box at once. She looked out into the street, but
there was nobody about except a number of little children. The value of the box
was 1s., and it contained some money, but she did not know the amount. On
Wednesday afternoon, about half past one, Detective Sergt. Burniston brought
the boy Clark to her, and she recognised him as being one of the boys who had
been in the bar the previous afternoon. Neither of the lads desired to ask
witness any questions.
Detective Sergt. Burniston proved arresting the lads. When
charged, Clark said “John Keeling took the box. There was only 2½d. in it, and
I buried the box in a garden”. On the way to the police station Clark pointed
out the place where he had hid the box, and the detective found the box
(produced) as indicated. Subsequently, Detective Sergt. Burniston saw Keeling
in the fish market, apprehended him, and charged him with being concerned in
the theft of the contribution box. He replied “Clark took the box. There was
only 2½d. in it, and he gave me a farthing”.
Prisoners had nothing to say, and their fathers, who were
also in Court, did not desire to make any statement on their behalf.
The Chief Constable informed the Bench that this was not the
only occasion on which they had had trouble with the lads. On the 4th
of October Keeling was charged with stealing some money from a little girl in
the street, but as the girl`s mother declined to take proceedings he was let
off with a caution. On the 14th of January Keeling was again before
the Court for larceny, but on this occasion also the charge was withdrawn.
Next, both prisoners were before the Court on the 23rd of January,
on a similar charge to the present one, and also for stealing a set of chessmen
from the Masonic Hall. Clark received 12 strokes and Keeling eight strokes with
the birch rod. It seemed to him, added the Chief Constable, that the parents
were more to blame than the lads themselves, as owing to their neglect, the lads
had caused a great amount of trouble. He only wished the Bench had the power of
sending the parents to prison or the reformatory instead of the boys.
After a long consultation with his colleagues, the Chairman
said the Bench would adjourn their decision for a week.
Folkestone Express
21-2-1903
Thursday, February 19th: Before W. Wightwick, W.C.
Carpenter, W.G. Herbert, and G.I. Swoffer Esqs., Aldermen Salter and Penfold,
and Lieut. Col. Westropp.
The two boys, Clark and Keeling, who were remanded a week
ago on a charge of stealing a contribution box from the Richmond Tavern, were
again brought before the Bench.
They were ordered to receive six strokes each with a birch,
the Chairman expressing a regret that they could not send them to a Reformatory
because they were too young. If they came before the Bench again, the parents
would be bound over to be responsible for their behaviour.
Folkestone Herald
21-2-1903
Thursday, February 19th: Before Mr. W. Wightwick,
Aldermen Penfold and Salter, Lieut. Colonel Hamilton, Lieut. Colonel Westropp,
and Messrs. W.G. Herbert, G.I. Swoffer, and W.C. Carpenter.
Frederick Thomas Clarke (10), and John Keeling (9), who were
last week charged with stealing a contribution box from the bar of the Richmond
Tavern, and remanded in order to give the Bench time to consider their
decision, were brought up for sentence. Clarke was accompanied by his mother,
and the other lad by his father.
The Chairman said that, unfortunately, they could not send
the lads to a Reformatory because they were too young. Both were bad boys, and
the Bench thought that the parents encouraged them. If ever the lads were again
brought before them on a similar charge they would bind the parents over in a
large sum to keep the peace. In the present case, however, they ordered each
defendant to receive six strokes with the birch rod, administered in the presence
of the parents. If they came again, the parents, whom the Bench thought were in
a great measure responsible, as they did not look after the children as they
ought to, would have to suffer as well as the lads.
Keeling`s father told the Bench that he could not deal with
his lad, as when he was at home he was always in mischief.
The Chairman: You will have to look after your own children.
If he does not behave himself you must flog him a bit, if you don`t we shall
bind you over.
Keeling: If I use extreme measures, then I am taken for
ill-treatment.
The Chairman: It is absurd a man like you saying you can`t
manage a child like that. You will have to manage the child.
Mrs. Clarke said that she took her lad to school twice every
day, but the Chairman said she would have to look after him better.
The lads were then taken below to receive their punishment.
Folkestone Express 12-9-1903
Local News
The death is announced of Mr. George Burgess, formerly of
the Richmond Tavern, who latterly carried on a fruitrerer`s business in
Cheriton Road. The funeral took place on Tuesday.
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