Ship Inn 1905 - 1909

Folkestone Chronicle 17-6-1905

Local News

 

“It would take all the ---- policemen in Folkestone to lock me up” was the defiant remark of Thos. Riley, who hails from the Emerald Isle, when P.C. Simmonds asked him to go home quietly and not make such a noise. It did not require the whole force as Mr. Riley prophesied, but still a goodly number of stalwart constables found plenty of employment in conveying him to the cells.

 

On Friday Mr. Riley appeared before the Folkestone Bench, charged with being drunk and causing a disturbance, and had a little conversation with The Mayor.

 

The Mayor: Well, Riley, what have you to say for being drunk in the highway?

 

Prisoner: Nothing, sir. I am very sorry.

 

The Mayor: Well, you know, Riley, you have been found Guilty of being drunk, and under the circumstances you will have to pay a fine of 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. costs, or in default seven days` hard labour.

 

Prisoner: Will you allow me time, sir?

 

The Mayor: Is there anything known about him?

 

The Chief Constable: He was here two years ago.

 

The Mayor: Are you a ratepayer?

 

The Chief Constable: He is a visitor at the Old Ship, Radnor Street. (Laughter) On the last occasion when he was allowed time it took him 18 months to pay.

 

The Mayor: You must go to Canterbury, and don`t let us see you again.

 

The prisoner left the dock with a smile which seemed to say that he rather enjoyed the prospect.

Folkestone Daily News 11-12-1908

Friday, December 11^th: Before Messrs. Banks, Leggett, Stainer, and Swoffer.

George S. Weatherhead was charged with wilfully damaging a plate glass window at the Ship Inn, Radnor Street, doing damage to the extent of 7s. 6d.

Mr. Prior, landlord of the Ship Inn, said just before eleven last night the prisoner came into his house, and commenced to quarrel with a man inside. Witness ordered him to leave the house, and he refused, so witness ejected him. When prisoner got outside he stood on the doorstep and prevented witness from closing the door. Witness pushed him off the step and closed the door, whereupon prisoner put his fist through the plate glass panel of the door. The damage done amounted to 7s. 6d. A constable came along, and witness gave him into custody.

Prisoner said the window was broken accidentally, and he had offered to pay for it.

He was fined 5s., 4s. 6d. costs, and the damage 7s. 6d., or 14 days` hard labour.

Prisoner asked for time to pay, but was refused.

Folkestone Express 19-12-1908

Friday, December 11^th: Before Alderman Banks and Messrs. J. Stainer, G.I. Swoffer, and R.J. Linton.

George S. Weatherhead was charged with committing wilful damage by breaking a panel of glass in the door of the Ship Inn. He pleaded Guilty.

Mr. Prior, landlord of the Ship Inn, Radnor Street, said shortly before eleven the previous night defendant came into the house. He began to quarrel with someone, so witness ordered him to leave the house. He would not go, so he ejected him. He prevented witness from closing the door, and when he asked him to go home he refused to go. Witness pushed him off the step and closed the door. The prisoner then put his fist through the glass panel, which would cost 7s. 6d. to replace. P.C. Simmons came up, and witness gave him into custody.

Prisoner said he broke it accidentally. He offered to pay for the damage done. He was sorry it had occurred, and he had not broken it for the purpose.

The Chief Constable said the prisoner was a Folkestone man, and had eight convictions against him, the last being fifteen months ago.

Fined 5s. and 4s. 6d. costs, and the damage, 7s. 6d., or fourteen days` hard labour.

Folkestone Daily News 24-8-1909

Tuesday, August 17^th: Before Messrs. Herbert, Penfold, Spurgen, Vaughan, Fynmore, and Stainer.

Henry Johnson, on remand, was charged last week, was charged with stealing three dozen and a half teddy bears, the property of Louis Freeman.

At the last hearing the accused was remanded in order that further enquiries might be made. The Chief Constable now said he had a further charge to prefer against him, and also further evidence in relation to the first charge.

Richard May said he bought a teddy bear off the prisoner for 2d.

The second charge was now taken, viz., that of stealing two pairs of tennis shoes.

William Henry Hammerton deposed that he was a gardener, of 1, Shorncliffe Terrace. He had charge fo the tennis courts on the Plain. There were two pairs of tennis shoes in the pavilion. On the 13^th inst. they were secure, but on the 16^th they were missing. The door had been forced, the lock laid inside on the floor, and two pairs of tennis shoes were missing. Later he went to the police station and was shown the tennis shoes (produced).

William Featherbee said he lived at 12, Warren Road, and was a ship`s carpenter. On the 16^th inst. at 8.30 a.m. he was in the Packet Boat Inn when the prisoner came in with the two pairs of tennis shoes, which he offered for sale. He asked 2s. 6d. for a pair of them. Witness asked him if they were his property, and prisoner replied “Everything is fair and above board”. Witness bought one pair for 2s. 6d., and the next day witness handed them to the police.

Emily Minter deposed that on the 16^th the prisoner came into the Lord Nelson public house, and had with him a pair of shoes, which he asked witness to buy. She declined, as they were too large for her. Later she bought them for 2s. 6d.

P.C. Watson said that at 5 o`clock on the 16^th inst. he went to Radnor Street, where he saw the prisoner being detained by Louis Freeman, who said he wished to give the prisoner into custody for stealing three and a half dozen teddy bears. Witness took him into custody, whereupon he became very violent. Prisoner had in his possession ten teddy bear toys. On being charged, prisoner replied “All right”. On the 16^th last witness received information of two pairs of shoes being stolen from the lawn tennis pavilion on the Plain. At 8.30 a.m. on the 17^th inst. he went to the Lord Nelson, Radnor Street, and saw the last witness, who handed him a pair of shoes. Later in the day he was in High Street when William Featherbee handed him the other pair of shoes. This morning witness charged him with stealing the two pairs of tennis shoes, valued at £1, and he replied “All right”.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty, and said 12 months ago he had an accident to his head, and as soon as he took anything to drink he did not know what he was doing. He knew he had been a fool to steal such paltry things, and said it was through drink.

The Chief Constable said there was a long list of convictions against the prisoner in different parts of the country.

He was sentenced to six months` hard labour.

The witnesses Featherbee and Minter were severely reprimanded by the Chairman for buying the stolen shoes.

Folkestone Express 28-8-1909

Tuesday, August 24^th: Before Messrs. W.G. Herbert and J. Stainer.

Harry Johnson was charged on remand with stealing 3½ dozen mechanical toys, the property of Jules Freeman.

The Chief Constable intimated that he had an additional witness to call to complete the case. A further charge would be preferred against Johnson.

The evidence given at the previous hearing of the case was read over.

Richard John May, a fisherman, of 34, Radnor Street, said on August 16^th he was in the private bar of the Ship Inn, at half past two, when the prisoner came in. Johnson had a teddy bear top with him. It was in a box. The prisoner asked him if he would buy it for twopence, and witness bought it for that amount. As soon as he got it he tried it, but found it was broken. Later in the day he took the top to the police station and handed it to P.S. Sharpe.

The prisoner was then charged with stealing two pairs of tennis shoes.

William Henry Hammerton, a gardener, of 1, Shorncliffe Terrace, said he had charge of the tennis courts and pavilion of Bayham House School, on the Plain. In the pavilion, which was locked, there were two pairs of tennis shoes. On Friday evening, the 13^th, the pavilion was secure, and on August 16^th, in consequence of what he was told, he went to the pavilion. The door was swinging home, and the lock, which had been forced, was lying inside on the floor. Two pairs of tennis shoes were missing, and he gave information to the police. A day or two afterwards he went to the police station, where he was shown the two pairs of tennis shoes produced, which he identified as those left in the pavilion, and the property of Miss Irene de Tiere, of Avondale, Shorncliffe Road.

William Featherbe, a ship`s carpenter, of 12, Warren Road, said on August 16^th he was in the Packet Boat Inn, Radnor Street, at about half past eight, when the prisoner came in. Johnson had the two pairs of shoes with him and offered them for sale. He asked 2s. 6d. for one pair, and witness asked him if they were his property. He said that everything was fair and above board, and witness gave him 2s. 6d. for one pair. The next day he handed the shoes to the police.

Emily Minter, the wife of Albert Minter, the landlord of the Lord Nelson, Radnor Street, said on August 16^th the prisoner came into the bar, and had the pair of shoes produced with him. He asked her if she would buy them, but she said she would not, as they were too large for her. She asked him if they were his property, and he said they were. She eventually bought them for 2s. 6d. The next day she gave the shoes to P.C. Watson.

P.C. Watson said at five o`clock on August 16^th, from information received, he went to Radnor Street, where he saw the prisoner being detained by the witness Freeman, who said “I wish to give this man into custody for stealing three and a half dozen teddy near toys from the cellar at the rear of 13, Dover Street”. Witness took him into custody, when he became very violent. He had ten teddy bear toys in his possession. He was afterwards charged with stealing the three and a half dozen toys, and he replied “All right”. Shortly afterwards witness returned to Radnor Street, where he was handed four more of the toys by different people. On the same day he received information about the two pairs of shoes having been stolen. He made enquiries, and at 8.30 a.m. on the 17^th he went to the Lord Nelson, where he saw Mrs. Minter, who handed him the shoes produced. Later in the day Featherbe handed him the other pair of shoes. That morning witness charged prisoner with stealing the shoes, valued at £1.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty to both charges, and attributed his thefts to drink. If they would give him a chance he would sign the pledge.

The Chief Constable said the prisoner had been convicted in different parts of the country. There were eight convictions altogether against him, ranging from twenty one days to twelve months.

The Magistrates sentenced the prisoner to three months` hard labour in each case, the sentences to run consecutively.

Mrs. Minter and the witness Featherbe were admonished by the Chairman for purchasing the goods, and were told that they ought to be ashamed of encouraging thefts by purchasing the articles.

Folkestone Herald 28-8-1909

Tuesday, August 24^th: Before Mr. W.G. Herbert and Mr. J. Stainer.

Henry Johnson was charged, on remand, with stealing 3½ dozen mechanical toys.

The Chief Constable explained that the prisoner was before the court a week ago that day, and was remanded until that morning in order that further inquiries might be made.

After the evidence of the previous hearing had been read, Richard John May said that he was a fisherman, living at 34, Radnor Street. On the 16^th inst., at 2.30 p.m., he was in the public bar of the Ship Inn. Whilst he was there the prisoner came in. He had the teddy bear (produced) with him. It was in the box. He asked witness to buy it for 2d. Witness bought it for 2d. He took it out of the box when the prisoner left, and found it was broken. Later witness took it to the police station.

Prisoner was then charged with stealing two pairs of tennis shoes.

Wm. Hy. Hammerton said that he was a gardener, and lived at 1, Shorncliffe Terrace. He had charge of the tennis courts at Bayham House School, situated on the Plain. In the pavilion were two pairs of tennis shoes. The pavilion was locked. On Friday, the 13^th inst., in the evening, he saw that the pavilion was secure. On Monday, the 16^th, in consequence of what he was told, he went to the pavilion and found the door swinging open. The lock had been forced and lay on the floor inside, and witness found that two pairs of tennis shoes were missing. He gave information to the police. Later in the week he went to the police station and was shown the tennis shoes (produced). He identified them as the property of Mdlle. Irene de Tere, of Avondale, Shorncliffe Road.

Wm. Featherbe, living at 12, Warren Road, said that he was a ship`s carpenter. On Monday, the 16^th inst., at 8.30 a.m.. he was in the Packet Boat Inn. Whilst he was there the prisoner came in. He had the two pairs of tennis shoes (produced) with him. He offered them for sale, and asked 2s. 6d. for one pair. Witness inquired if they were his property, and he said that everything was fair and above board. Witness bought one pair for 2s. 6d. The next day he took them to the police station.

Mrs. Emily Minter said that she was the wife of the landlord of the Lord Nelson public house. On Monday, the 16^th inst., the prisoner came into the bar. He had a pair of tennis shoes with him. He asked witness to buy them. She refused because they were too long. On being asked whether they were his property, he said they belonged to his wife. Witness gave 2s. 6d. for them. He left the bar very shortly after. The next day she gave them to P.C. Watson.

P.C. Watson said that at 5 p.m. on the 16^th inst., from information received, he went to Radnor Street, where he saw the prisoner detained by the witness Freeman, who said that he wished to give him into custody for stealing 3½ dozen teddy bear toys from the cellar at the rear of 13, Dover Street. Witness then took him into custody, and he became very violent. He had in his possession ten teddy bear toys (produced). He was afterwards charged by witness Freeman with stealing them. He replied “All right”. Shortly afterwards witness returned to Radnor Street, where he was handed four more of the toys by different people. On the 16^th inst., he received information about two pairs of tennis shoes having been stolen from the lawn tennis pavilion situated on the Plain. At 8.30 a.m. on the 17^th inst. he went to the Lord Nelson public house, where he saw the witness Emily Minter, who handed him the shoes (produced). Later in the day he was in High Street, where the witness Featherbe handed him the other pair of shoes.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty to both charges, and said that he owed the thefts to drink. He asked for a chance, saying that he would sign the pledge.

The Chief Constable said that prisoner was a stranger to Folkestone, but had many previous convictions against him.

Prisoner was sentenced to three months` hard labour for each offence, the sentences to run consecutively, and the Chairman severely censured those who had received the goods.