Folkestone Express
10-6-1905
Monday, June 5th: Before The Mayor and Alderman
Vaughan.
George Read was charged with being drunk and incapable in
Sandgate Road on Saturday. He pleaded Guilty.
P.C. Watson said at four o`clock on Saturday afternoon he
was on duty in Sandgate Road, where he saw the prisoner very drunk. He fell
down in the East Kent yard, and was ejected from there; witness, finding he was
unable to walk, brought him to the police station.
The Superintendent said prisoner was a “regular client” of
theirs.
Fined 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. costs, or seven days` hard labour.
Folkestone
Daily News 19-11-1907
Inquest
The Coroner (Mr. W.G. Haines) held an inquest this
afternoon on the body of Thomas Nickalls.
Harry Nickalls, a postman, brother of the deceased,
identified the body as that of Thomas Nickalls. He was 23 years of age, and was
single. He had acted as potman at the East Kent Arms, and lived at 10, Spring
Cottages. Witness last saw him alive on Sunday night at No. 9, The Plain. He
had been in good health up to the last two months, and only said he was down on
his luck. He was in constant work, and had been in his recent occupation about
a week. He had formerly been barman at the Red Cow, Foord Road. As far as
witness knew he had no troubles. There was something in his manner on Sunday
night that witness could not understand. Deceased had been under the doctor,
and had been treared for nervous breakdown, which witness thought was due to
his not being able to get work. Witness parted with him on Sunday night at
9.10. Witness asked him several things, but could not get any satisfactory
answer.
Alice Cladingbowl, wife of Charles Cladingbowl, a
coachman, said she resided at No. 9, The Plain. The deceased was her brother,
and often visited her. She noticed he was strange in his manner about a
fortnight ago, and did not seem himself. She had questioned him about his
breakdown, but he gave no particular reason, and certainly did not lead her to
think he would take his life. He left the house on Monday morning, as if he was
going to work, after having his breakfast.
George Flood, 6, Coastguard Cottages, said on Monday
morning at 8.10 he got as far as the west end of the Switchback, when he saw a
body floating about three or four fathoms from the shore. He got the body out
of the sea and handed it over to Mr. Chadwick. Witness did what he could to
bring the deceased round, but failed. He also sent to the police station.
Dr. Gilbert deposed that on Monday week he saw the
deceased, and found he was suffering from a general breakdown and a love affair.
He also seemed to have a difficulty in getting work. Witness saw him again on
Thursday, and he seemed better, and his trouble seemed to be passing off. On
Saturday deceased called at witness`s house, and asked to be allowed to go off
his Club. The marks on deceased were no doubt caused by the action of the
beach. Death, in his opinion, was due to drowning.
The Town Sergeant gave evidence as to the body being
handed over to him on Monday morning, and also to finding several letters on
the deceased, none of which, however, had any reference to the matter.
The jury, without any hesitation, returned a verdict of
“Suicide whilst of unsound mind”.
Folkestone
Express 23-11-1907
Inquest
On Tuesday afternoon the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W.
Haines) investigated the circumstances attending the death of Thomas Nickalls,
whose body the previous morning was found floating in the sea close to the sea
wall near to the switchback. Unfortunately, Nickalls had for some time been unable
to obtain regular employment and that probably preyed upon his mind, and he had
a nervous breakdown, which proved too much for him.
Henry Gordon Nickalls, a postman, residing at 7,
Geraldine Road, identified the body viewed by the jury as that of his brother,
Thomas Nickalls, who was 23 years of age. He was a single man, and was last
engaged as a potman at the East Kent Arms. He was living at 10, Spring
Cottages. Witness last saw him alive on Sunday night at 9, The Plain, the
residence of his sister. Up to the last two months the deceased had been very
well. He had only seen him twice during the last two months. He had often
complained to witness that he was down on his luck and could not get any work.
He believed he had been in work for about a week. He had been barman at the Red
Cow, Foord Road. He did not know that he had any troubles or any money
troubles. On Sunday night the deceased seemed strange, and he could not make
him out at all. His sister had told him that his brother had been under the doctor
for nervous breakdown. He took it that the cause of the breakdown was worry
because of no work. He did not know it was because he wanted to get married. On
Sunday night the deceased stared so and seemed very distant. He left his
brouther at the Plain Cottages about a quarter past nine.
Mrs. Alice Cladingbowl, the wife of Charles
Cladingbowl, a coachman, residing at 9, The Plain, said the deceased was her
brother. He had very often been in the habit of visiting her lately. He had
been out of work a good deal. Previous to getting work at the Red Cow he worked
for Mr. Lukey. During the past fortnight she noticed he was strange in his
manner. He seemed to be very absent minded. After he was ill he stayed with
her, so she sent for Dr. Gilbert, who attended him for nervous breakdown. She
had often questioned him as to the strangeness, and he answered “Nothing in
particular”. He had never said anything to lead her to think he would take his
life. On Monday morning, between a quarter and twenty past seven, he left the
house to go to work at the East Kent Arms. He had been away from work a week.
Mr. Major was willing to take him on again. The deceased did not say anything
to her. He appeared to be a little better. She, however, asked him to have
another week from work, but he took himself off the club.
Thomas Flood, of 6, Coastguards` Cottages,, a collector
at the Metropole Lift, said on Monday morning, about ten minutes past eight, he
was walking to his work along the Marine Walk and when just beyond the
switchback he saw a body floating in the sea. He got it out, and with
assistance carried it up the beach and handed the body over to Mr. Chadwick at
ten minutes past nine. He turned the body over and got the water out of him. He
appeared to be quite dead and cold. There was frothing at the mouth, the face
was bruised and the eyes were blood red.
Dr. Thornton Gilbert said he first saw the deceased at
9, The Plain. He was suffering from nervous breakdown, and seemed to have some
worry about a love affair and a difficulty of getting work. He suggested that
he should take a little rest and not look at the black side of life. He saw him
the following day and he appeared much better and more cheerful, and the other
matter seemed to be passing off. A gentleman, who was acting for him, saw the
deceased on Saturday and the latter suggested that he should be taken off the
Friendly Society, as he wanted to get work. He had examined the body that day,
but there were no marks of violence upon it. The marks on the face would be caused
by the beach. In his opinion death was caused by drowning. The deceased`s
condition on the Monday did not lead him to suppose that there would be a more
serious breakdown.
Edwin John Chadwick, the Coroner`s Officer, said he
took over the body from Mr. Flood about ten minutes past nine. He undressed the
body and found a quantity of letter upon him in addition to other articles.
A verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane” was
returned.
Folkestone
Herald 23-11-1907
Inquest
A very sad story was unfolded at the Town Hall on
Tuesday afternoon, when the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) held an enquiry
regarding the death of Thomas Nickalls, a young man, aged 23.
Henry Gordon Nickalls, of 7, Geraldine Road, a postman,
identified the body as that of his brother Thomas. He was a single man, and had
recently been employed as potman at the East Kent Arms. He lived at 10, Spring
Cottages. On Sunday night witness last saw deceased at No. 9, The Plain Cottages, where his sister
resided. Up till the last two months deceased had been very well in health.
During that time witness had not seen much of him. He had complained that he
was down on his luck, and could not get any work. He had been in his last
situation about a week, and before that had been barman at the Red Cow, in
Foord Road. Deceased had no money troubles. Witness could not understand his
brother on Sunday night, for he seemed so strange. He had been under the
doctor, owing to a nervous breakdown, as the result of his worrying through his
inability to get work. Witness did not know that deceased wanted to get
married. On the Sunday night, soon after nine o`clock, witness left deceased at
The Plain Cottages.
Mrs. Alice Cladingbowl, wife of Mr. Chas. Cladingbowl,
a coachman, living at No. 9, The Plain, said deceased was her brother. Very
often he visited her. He had been out of work for a long time, and had not been
in regular employment since he left Mr. Lukey`s employ as a cellarman. A
fortnight ago witness noticed deceased was strange in his manner. He seemed
very absent in his manner, and was not himself. Witness asked Dr. Gilbert to
attend him. She often asked deceased what had caused the breakdown, but her
brother never gave any definite answer. On Monday morning, about 7.15, the
deceased left her house with the intention of going to work at the East Kent
arms. He had been away from there a week, owing to his illness. Mr. Major had
expressed his willingness to take deceased back to work on the Monday morning,
and was surprised that he did not reach there. On the Saturday he took himself
off the club, though witness advised him to have another week at home.
George Flood, collector in the employ of the Metropole
Lift Company, deposed that on Monday morning, about eight o`clock, he was going
to work. He usually went to work along the Marine Walk. At the westward of the
Shelter, about five fathoms out, he saw a body floating. Witness dragged it out
of the water, and the Coroner`s officer was sent for. To witness the man
appeared to be dead. He was quite cold, and was frothing a very little at the
mouth. His face was very bruised, and his eyes were bloodshot.
Dr. J.W. Thornton Gilbert proved having attended the
deceased. He first saw him on Monday week, when he was suffering from nervous
breakdown. He appeared to have a general upset about a love affair, and the
difficulty of getting work. Witness suggested that he should take some rest,
and not to look on the black side of life. Next day he was more cheerful, and
his trouble seemed to be passing off. On Saturday he visited witness`s house,
and saw the gentleman who was acting for him in his absence. Deceased suggested
that he should be removed from the sick books of his club, as he wanted to get
work. Death had been caused by drowning. The abrasions on the face were
probably due to contact with the shingle. Witness did not presuppose that
deceased would take his life.
Edward John Chadwick, Coroner`s Officer, proved
receiving the body from George Flood. Witness undressed him, and found a
quantity of letters, an Oddfellows Club card, a silver watch and chain, etc.
A verdict of “Suicide whilst temporarily insane” was
returned.
Folkestone
Herald 31-10-1908
Felix
My last week`s yarns anent “Pompey” and the corpse, the
wheelbarrow, and the church steeple, appear to have gone down very well. Here
is another one that I and many others can vouch for. The late Mr. J.P. Scott, a
prince of local whips, who met with such a tragic death at Barham, was also
proprietor of the East Kent Arms. Scotty was one of the rough and ready sort,
taciturn, very outspoken, true as steel to his friends, and straightforward to
a degree. He was not, however, “anybody`s ha`porth”. Although there was,
perhaps, something stern about him, yet he had a certain magnetic quality that
made him much sought after by many “lively boys” and “young bloods”. Thus one
day a bill was posted about the town that Scotty`s 50th birthday
would be celebrated at the well-known hostelry in Sandgate Road, at 11 a.m.,
with free champagne and cigars. What a gathering there was. Those “in the know”
were looking on with glee, whilst what became of poor Scotty on the occasion I
do not remember. However, I do know that everything was taken good-humouredly,
and in the nature of an innocent practical joke.
Just now I was referring to Scotty. Well, it reminds me
how fond he was of reading. Similarly to many others, he enjoyed “a quiet five
minutes” to himself. Although a licensed victualler, he never, at least in
later years, allowed any alcoholic liquors to pass his lips. Very often he
could be seen with one leg perched in a chair (he was lame), pince-nez balanced
on his nose, and a book in hand. Thus, sitting in the cosy parlour of the East
Kent, he would often be deeply immersed. Those of us who knew him well were
aware that such a time was not opportune to open a conversation with our hero.
To do so would mean a deserved snub. Yes, there`s no harm in stating it, some
of us really loved old Scotty. I remember once some years ago one of those
hee-haw gilded dons came in. He was a complete stranger. The famous whip was
enjoying his book, briar, and a cup of cocoa, when the young don suggested that
the weather was fine. Came a curt “Yes” from Scotty. Then came a string of
inane questions and remarks from the “toff”. This was too much. Whether Scotty
had a particularly interesting book in hand, I know not, but he removed his
pince-nez, and, liking the stranger in the face, said “I don`t know who the
Mephistopheles you are, but of this I am certain, you have never been to a
school of manners. Haven`t you got the common sense to see that I am reading?”
The don collapsed, drank up his ginger ale, and departed a wiser, if a sadder
man. Scotty renewed his reading. And when we come to think of it the rebuke,
though perhaps forcibly expressed, was deserved.
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