Guildhall Hotel/Tavern 1910 - 1914

3rd Hussars, Guildhall Street, 1914, with Guildhall Hotel just left of Town Hall. Credit Christine Warren

Folkestone Daily News 31-1-1910

Monday, January 31^st: Before Messrs. Herbert, Swoffer, Linton, Stainer, and Leggett.

Sydney Arthur Smith, a tall young fellow, was charged with committing an indecent assault on Ellen Staples on Saturday night.

Prosecutrix deposed that she was the wife of Edward Staples, an engine fitter, residing at 7, Garden Road. On Saturday night at 11.30 she was going home through Bradstone Road, and when near the Viaduct she saw the prisoner coming in front of her. As he passed her he said “Goodnight” and she replied “Goodnight”. She looked round to see who it was. Prisoner was a stranger to her, and she had never seen him before. He commenced to follow her, and overtook her just through the arch. He took hold of her by the shoulder and spoke to her. She replied that it would pay him better to go about his business as she was a married woman. He then dragged her across the road towards the passage in Kent Road, near Bradstone Avenue. She resisted him, and said she was not going along there. Finding he was getting the best of her she commenced to scream and threatened to give him in charge. He then put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming, but she bit his hand, and he threatened to choke her. He then put a cap, or bag, or something in her mouth. At this time prisoner had got her near the back gates of the second house in the passage. Her clothes were disarranged. She screamed “Murder” and “Police”, and he pushed the cap further into her mouth so that she could not holler. He lifted her clothes and assaulted her. Someone then called from a house in Bradstone Avenue, asking what was the matter, and prisoner then ran away in the direction of Foord Road. Constable Waters came up, to whom she complained of what had taken place. She then saw P.C. Butler near Kain`s shop in Foord Road, and asked him if he had seen a tall man about. Prisoner came up and said “I am the tall man you are looking for”. She then gave him into custody. She had been down the town shopping with her husband, whom she left at 8.30 in the High Street. From that time she had been in the company of two girls who worked in the laundry with her. She left them in South Street at ten minutes to eleven, when she went to look for her husband. The whole affair of the assault lasted about ten minutes. Nobody passed along during that time.

In reply to prisoner: She did not see him in the Brewery Tap. She had never been in the Brewery Tap in her life. She denied speaking to him in Bradstone Road. She did not ask him for a shilling, and did not say she would tell his wife.

P.C. Waters deposed that he was in his bed at his lodgings, 5, Bradstone Avenue, at 11.30 on Saturday night, when he heard screaming shouts of “Murder” and Police” from the passage mentioned leading into Kent Road. He opened his window and asked what was the matter. He then heard someone run away. He also heard a woman`s voice saying “Won`t someone come to help me?” He dressed and went down into the passage and saw the prosecutrix, who was excited and bleeding from the lips. She complained to him of the assault, saying she did not know the man, but he had gone in the direction of Foord Road, where he accompanied her. They met P.C. Butler, whom the prosecutrix asked if he had seen a tall man go that way. Just then prisoner crossed the road and said he was the tall man they were looking for. Prosecutrix replied “That`s the man”. Witness and Butler brought prisoner to the police station and charged him. He made no reply at that time. He was taken below by Butler, and on his way down he said he gave the woman a shilling to go up the passage with him. He also said he had been in the Guildhall Vaults with her during the evening.

P.C. Butler corroborated the previous witness, also testified as to the evidence of a struggle having taken place in the passage, where he found a bag belonging to prisoner. On being charged at the police station prisoner said he went out with the bag to get some coal. Prisoner`s hand was bleeding. Both prosecutrix and prisoner appeared to be perfectly sober.

Prisoner was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

Folkestone Express 5-2-1910

Monday, January 31^st: Before Messrs. W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, G.I. Swoffer, and R.J. Linton, and Major Legget.

A young man named Sidney Alfred Smith, married and living at Folkestone, was charged with indecently assaulting Ellen Staple on Saturday evening. The court was cleared and the case was heard in camera.

Ellen Staple said she was the wife of Edward Staple, an engine fitter, and lived at 7, Garden Road. On Saturday evening, about 11.30, she was in Bradstone Road. She was returning home alone. She was near the Viaduct, when she saw the prisoner walking towards her. As he was passing he said “Goodnight”. Witness answered “Goodnight” and looked round to see who it was. Prisoner was a stranger to her. As she looked round, prisoner also looked round, and then turned and followed her. She continued to walk on. Prisoner overtook her near the Corporation gate, just through the Viaduct, and caught hold of her by the shoulder. He said something to her, and she replied “It would pay you better to go about your business. I am a married woman”. The prisoner then dragged her across the road towards Kent Road, in the direction of the passage which runs at the rear of Bradstone Avenue. Witness resisted him, and said she was not going along there. Finding he was getting the better of her, she screamed and told prisoner if he did not let her go she would give him in charge. Prisoner then put his hand over her mouth and she bit his hand, which caused him to remove it. Prisoner then said that if she screamed he would choke her, and he placed some soft substance in her mouth. He was carrying a bag under his arm. Prisoner and witness at that time were in the passage at the rear of the second house in Bradstone Avenue. Witness screamed “Murder” and “Police”, and prisoner then pushed the soft substance further into her mouth. He then indecently assaulted her. Someone called from one of the windows of the houses in Bradstone Avenue “What`s the matter over there?” and prisoner ran away in the direction of Foord Road. Witness walked to the top of the passage, where she met P.C. Waters. She made a complaint to him as to what had happened. P.C. Butler was at the corner of Kent Road and Foord Road, and witness went across to him and said “Have you seen a tall man about?” Prisoner immediately came from the direction of the Viaduct, in Foord Road, and said “I`m the tall man you`re looking for”. Witness then gave him into custody. Witness had been in the town with her husband shopping, and met two young women who worked in the same laundry. She left her husband at 8.30 in High Street, and from that time until ten minutes to eleven she was in company with the two women. She left them in South Street, and then went to look for her husband, but she did not find him. The affair with the prisoner lasted about ten minutes. Nobody passed during that time.

Cross-examined by prisoner, witness said she did not see him in the Brewery Tap in the early part of the evening, and she did not ask him to treat her. She did not see him outside of his house in Bradstone Road and ask him for a shilling.

P.C. Waters said at about 11.30 on Saturday evening he was in bed at his lodgings, 5, Bradstone Avenue, when he heard screaming and shouting coming from the passage at the rear of Bradstone Avenue. He got up and opened the back window and shouted out “What`s the matter out there?” He then heard footsteps running away up the passage into Kent Road. He also heard a woman`s voice say “Oh, won`t someone come to help me?” Witness partly dressed and ran down into the passage, and as he did so he tripped over the sack produced. He saw the last witness at the top of the passage. She was very excited and bleeding from the lips. She told him a man had dragged her up the passage and had assaulted her. Witness asked her if she knew the man, and she replied “No”. He asked her in what direction he had gone, and she replied “Out in the Foord Road”. Witness accompanied her to the Foord Road end of Kent Road, where they met P.C. Butler at the corner of Kent Road. The last witness ran across the road and asked Butler if he had seen a tall man run along that way. Almost immediately, just across Foord Road, prisoner came up to them and said “I am the tall man you are looking for”. Mrs. Staple said “That`s the man”, and P.C. Butler then took him into custody on the charge of indecently assaulting Staple. Prisoner made no reply. On the way to the police station prisoner said he gave the prosecutrix a shilling to go up the passage with him. He further said he had been in the Guildhall Vaults with her during the evening, and also in the Honest Lawyer public house.

P.C. Butler corroborated. He gave evidence of finding the bag, and spoke of seeing marks of a struggle in the passage in Kent Road. In reply to the charge at the police station, prisoner said he went out with his bag to get some coals. Witness noticed prisoner`s clothing was disarranged, and that he had a slight cut on the knuckle of his right hand, which was covered with blood. Prosecutrix and prisoner both appeared to be perfectly sober.

The Chairman advised Smith to reserve his defence, which he did.

Prisoner asked for bail, as he had a wife and three little children. He was committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions. Bail was allowed, himself in £20 and one surety in £20, or two in £10.

The Chairman commended P.C. Waters on his prompt action in the matter.

Folkestone Herald 5-2-1910

Monday, January 31^st: Before Mr. W.G. Herbert, Major Leggett, Messrs. G.I. Swoffer, J. Stainer, and R.J. Linton.

 

Sidney Arthur Smith was charged with indecently assaulting Emily Ellen Staple, a married woman. 

 

The Chairman ordered the Court to be cleared.

 

Mrs. Staple stated that she was the wife of Edward Staple, and she lived at 17, Garden Road. Last Saturday, at about 11.30, in Bradstone Road, as she was returning home alone, prisoner, who was a stranger to her, spoke to her, caught hold of her by the shoulder, and dragged her across the road towards the passage in Kent Road. She resisted him, and finding he was getting the better of her, she commenced to scream. She said “If you don`t let me go, I`ll give you in charge”. He then held his hand over her mouth and tried to stop her from screaming. She bit his hand, which caused him to remove it. He said “If you scream, I`ll choke you”. He then placed some soft substance in her mouth, either his bag or cap. She screamed “Murder” and “Police”. He tightened the substance which was in her mouth so that she could not scream. Prosecutrix deposed to the nature of the assault alleged, and, proceeding, said someone shouted out of a window at the back “What`s the matter over there?”, which caused accused to run away. She only had time to get to the passage before P.C. Waters saw her. She then told him what had occurred, and accompanied him to the corner of Kent Road and Foord Road, where they met P.C. Butler. She said to him “Have you seen a tall man about?” Prisoner then came from the direction of Foord Road, and said “I am the tall man you are looking for”. She then gave him into custody. She had been out shopping. She met two young women that worked with her in the laundry. She left her husband at 8.30 p.m. in the High Street, and she was with her companions until 10.50. She left them in South Street, and then she looked for her husband, but missed him.

 

In answer to the accused, Mrs. Staples said she had never seen him before. She did not ask accused to “treat” her, and she did not see him at the Brewery Tap. She did not ask accused for a shilling.

 

P.C. Waters stated that at about 11.30 p.m. on Saturday evening he was in bed at his lodgings, at 5, Bradstone Avenue, when he heard someone screaming “Murder”, “Help”, and “Police”. The sound came from the passage at the rear of Bradstone Avenue, at the beginning of the Kent Road. He opened his window and shouted “What is the matter out there?” He heard a woman shouting “Oh, won`t someone come to help me?”, and he heard someone running away. He then partly dressed and ran down into the passage. He tripped over something which was lying there. He then saw complainant at the Kent Road end of the passage. She appeared to be very excited and was bleeding from the lips. She told him that a man had assaulted her. He asked her if she knew the man, and she replied “No”. He then asked in which direction he had gone. She replied “Out into Foord Road”. She then accompanied him to the corner of Kent Road and Foord Road, and he there met P.C. Butler. The prosecutrix asked “Have you seen a tall man run along this way?”. Almost immediately the prisoner crossed the Foord Road. He came right up to them, and said “I am the tall man you are looking for”. He was then told by P.C. Butler that he would be brought to the police station and charged with indecently assaulting Mrs. Staples. Prosecutrix, when she saw the prisoner, said “That`s the man”. Prisoner made no reply at the time

.

Prisoner: I said I was innocent.

 

Witness, continuing, said that P.C. Butler took accused away, and he (witness) accompanied him. Prisoner said on the way that he gave prosecutrix a shilling. He also said that he had been in the Guildhall Vaults with complainant during the evening, and also in the Honest Lawyer public house.

Prisoner: If I was Guilty, why did I come back again? She asked me for 1s.

 

P.C. Butler also gave evidence. He said he went to the passage and saw evidence of a struggle. He found the bag owned by accused. In reply to the charge, accused said “I went out with my old bag to get some coal”. He noticed a slight cut on the right knuckle of prisoner`s hand. His hand was covered in blood.

 

Prisoner, who protested his innocence, was committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions for the borough, and was allowed bail, himself in £20, and one surety of £20, or two of £10.

 

The Chairman said the Bench complimented the constables on their very smart conduct.

Folkestone Herald 12-2-1910

Local News

In reference to the charge of assault heard before the Folkestone Magistrates last week, we are requested to state that Mrs. Staple, the prosecutrix, does not live at 17, Garden Road, but at another house in the road.

Folkestone Daily News 2-4-1910

Quarter Sessions

Saturday, April 2^nd: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

Sidney Alfred Smith was charged on the 31^st January with indecently assaulting Mrs. Ellen Staple, a married woman. He was also charged with a common assault.

Mr. Dickens, who prosecuted, elected not to proceed with the serious charge.

Mr. Pitman advised accused to plead Guilty to the common assault, which he did, and was bound over to be of good behaviour for six months.

Folkestone Express 9-4-1910

Quarter Sessions

Saturday, April 2^nd: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

Sidney Alfred Smith, 23, a labourer, was charged with indecently assaulting Ellen Staple on January 20^th. He pleaded Guilty to a charge of common assault.

Mr. Dickens prosecuted, and Mr. Pitman (instructed by Mr. G.W. Haines) defended.

Mr. Dickens said no doubt the Recorder had read the depositions, and he was going to suggest that owing to the various circumstances, as well as certain information above suspicion, which the Chief Constable had received from other persons, that the man and woman were seen talking quietly together before the assault, it would be advisable for him not now to press the charge of indecency against the man, for he felt it would be practically impossible under the circumstances to obtain a conviction. The prisoner, however, did assault the woman in such a way that she bit his hand enough to make it bleed. He would be satisfied with the plea that the prisoner had made, and take a verdict of Guilty of the common assault.

Mr. Pitman said, having regard to what Mr. Dickens had said, and also to certain circumstances which had impressed themselves very much on his mind, it would have resulted in a verdict which would amount to guilty of a common assault. Mr. Dickens was satisfied that the additional information the defence could bring forward could not be doubted for one moment, and that the two were seen talking together and walking quietly along to the place into which the woman alleged she was dragged could not be doubted. The case he was instructed to put forward was entirely consistent with the story told by independent witnesses, and that the suggestion of indecency came not from the man, but from the woman, he being a married man, living with his wife quite close to the spot. The prisoner absolutely denied the suggestion that he put anything into her mouth, but he pushed her away with the sack which he was carrying. He would like to point out that Smith had been four or five weeks in prison, he not being bailed out until March 7^th, and he should ask the Recorder, having regard to the whole circumstances of the case, and the undoubted unreliability of the woman`s story, to take a lenient course. The woman, according to his instructions, made a demand for money, and threatened to cry if he did not accede to his request. He then lost his temper.

The Recorder said at the Police Court the prisoner said he reserved his defence.

Mr. Pitman said the prisoner outlined his defence in cross-examinating the witnesses, and he was beginning to make a statement, when, at the Magistrates` suggestion, he reserved his defence.

The Recorder, addressing Smith, said he had heard what both counsel had said, and he had already formed his own opinion. He did not think it desirable to go into details. The less said about the case the better. He advised him to be careful in the future. He would be bound over to be of good behaviour for six months.

Folkestone Herald 9-4-1910

Quarter Sessions

Saturday, April 2^nd: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

Sidney Alfred Smith, aged 23, a labourer, was indicted first for an indecent assault, and secondly for a common assault, on Ellen Staple, on January 29^th, at Folkestone. He was committed for trial on the first count only on January 31^st, and was not bailed out till March 7^th. Mr. Dicken prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, and Mr. Pitman defended.

Acting on the advice of his counsel, prisoner pleaded Guilty to a common assault, but Not Guilty to an indecent assault.

Mr. Dickens intimated that he would accept the plea of Guilty to a common assault, and not proceed with the other charge. He said that the prisoner and the woman were seen talking quietly together before the assault, by a witness who did not appear at the Police Court, and he thought it would be inadvisable for him to press the charge of indecency against the man; indeed, he might also say that it would be impossible to obtain a conviction for indecent assault. That there was a common assault there was no doubt. The prisoner put something into the woman`s mouth, and as a result she bit his hand till the blood came.

The Recorder said that having regard to what Mr. Dickens had said, and to certain circumstances which had impressed themselves very much on his mind in connection with the deposition as to the time and the hours that the woman appeared to have been about the town, he thought that Mr. Dickens had taken a very proper course.

Mr. Pitman, for the defendant, said that his story was that the prisoner and the woman met, that they walked and conversed together, and that the suggestion came not from the man, but from the woman. They all knew the story of Potiphar`s wife. Prisoner had been recently married, and his wife lived near. Being indignant with the woman, prisoner did push her back, and she, according to a threat she had made before, cried out for the police, and so on. Prisoner absolutely denied the suggestion that he put anything into her mouth. He was carrying a sack at the time, having been picking up coal, and that might have accidentally struck her. Prisoner had already been in prison for four or five weeks, since he was committed on January 31<sup>st</sup>, and not bailed out till March 7<sup>th</sup>. In conclusion, counsel referred to the “undoubted unreliability of the woman`s story”, and said that it was a little difficult to know what a man was to do under the circumstances.

The Recorder said that in such cases he always desired to see what answer the prisoner made at the time when he was first charged. He saw that at the Police Court this man said “I reserve my defence”. Why was that?

Mr. Pitman said that the prisoner`s remark was one that was often made. At the Police Court he had put a good many questions to the woman, and as those questions disclosed his defence, the Magistrates` Clerk afterwards advised him to reserve the defence.

The Recorder said that that cleared up his doubt on the point, but he always did feel himself that it was very desirable to know what the answer of the man was at the time. He thought that the less said about that case the better. He would advise prisoner to be careful in the future. He would now bind him over to be of good behaviour for six months. 

 

Folkestone Express 6-8-1910

Tuesday, August 2^nd: Before Aldermen Penfold, Spurgen, and Vaughan, and Lieut. Col. Fynmore.

Frank George Lee, who was fined for drunkenness by the Bench on Saturday, pleaded Guilty to a similar charge.

P.C. Cox said at 9.30 the previous evening he saw the prisoner very drunk in Guildhall Street. Lee was reeling about the pavement, and when he went into the Guildhall Vaults he was turned out. As he was incapable of taking care of himself, witness took him into custody.

Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was fined 10s. and 4s. 6d. costs, or 14 days` hard labour in default.

Folkestone Daily News 16-11-1910

Wednesday, November 16^th: Before Justices Ward, Spurgen, and Fynmore.

Edward Stapley was fined 25s. or 14 days` for being drunk and disorderly and assaulting the police.

Stapley is what might be called a “safe cop”. He is a native of the town, and was a very respectable hard working man until his wife left him a few years since. He then gave way to drink, and seemed to be somewhat queer in the head. About four years since he was charged with being drunk. He alleged he had been cruelly knocked about by the police at the police station, and his condition certainly corroborated his statement. He has also been convicted with not complying with the Hackney carriage bye-laws when he owned a charabanc.

On Tuesday he got a little drop too much, and Constable Boorn followed him into the Guildhall Tavern and warned them not to serve him; he then followed him to the Shakespeare, and eventually locked him up.

Stapley became excited, and the constable alleged that he struck him in the eye, which Stapley denied.

The Justices fined him 25s. or 14 days`. He elected to go to Canterbury.

We think it would have been better if Constable Boorn had taken Stapley home than to have dogged him from public house to public house, which is very irritating to a half-drunken man.

 

Folkestone Herald 19-11-1910

Wednesday, November 16^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward Lieut Col. Fynmore, and Alderman G. Spurgen.

Edward Stapley was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and assaulting P.C. Bourne in the execution of his duty. Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty to both charges.

P.C. Bourne deposed that at 7.05 the previous evening he saw the prisoner drunk in Guildhall Street. Stapley was rolling from one side of the pavement to the other. He went along the street and entered the public bar of the Shakespeare Hotel. The barmaid refused to serve him, and requested him to leave, but he refused. Witness then told him to leave, and he did so. When outside he commenced to shout and used bad language. As he would not be quiet, witness took him into custody. He then became very violent, and struck witness in the right eye with his fist. It was a severe blow. With the assistance of P.C. Piddock, he handcuffed him and brought him to the police station. He was kicking and struggling the whole time. Witness added that at 7 o`clock accused went into the Guildhall Vaults, and he cautioned him.

Prisoner denied using bad language.

P.C. Piddock corroborated as to the prisoner shouting and using bad language, and also as to the assault.

Prisoner denied the assault.

P.S. Sharp, who was on duty at the police station when the prisoner was brought in, corroborated as to his drunken condition, and his violence in the station.

Prisoner denied being drunk. He said he never insulted anyone, and wherever he went they should not have refused him.

There were eight previous convictions against prisoner, two of which were for being drunk and disorderly.

Prisoner was fined 5s. and 5s. 6d. costs, or 7 days`, for being drunk and disorderly, and 10s. and 4s. 6d., or 7 days`, for the assault, the sentences to run consecutively.

Folkestone Express 20-5-1911

Wednesday, May 17^th: Before W.G. Herbert, Lieut. Cols. Fynmore and Hamilton, Major Leggett, and J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, G.I. Swoffer, and G. Boyd Esqs.

Mr. Camburn produced plans on behalf of Mr. Filmer for the alteration of the front of the Guildhall Vaults. He explained the alterations to the Magistrates, and stated that they wished to carry out the work before the Coronation.

The Justices sanctioned the alteration.

Folkestone Herald 20-5-1911

Wednesday, May 17^th: Before Mr. W.G. Herbert, Col. Hamilton, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Major Leggett, Messrs. J. Stainer, G.I. Swoffer, R.J. Linton, and G. Boyd.

Plans were submitted by Mr. Filmer for alterations to the front of the Guildhall Hotel, and the alterations were explained by Mr. Camburn.

The application was granted, on the condition that they were at once carried out.

Folkestone Herald 9-3-1912

Wednesday, March 6^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Lt. Col. Hamilton, Lt. Col. Fynmore, Major Leggett, and Messrs. W.G. Herbert, J. Stainer, R.J. Linton, and G. Boyd.

Plans were passed for slight alterations to the billiard room of the Guildhall Hotel.

Folkestone Herald 18-5-1912

Local News

Geneva Association. The Club Rooms of the Folkestone-Dover Branch are now at Mr. James Filmer`s Guildhall Hotel, No. 4, Guildhall Street. A meeting is held on the first Tuesday of the month in the afternoon at 3.15.

Folkestone Express 19-10-1912

Tuesday, October 15^th: Before Alderman Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, R.G. Wood Esq., Captain Chamier, and Colonel Owen.

John William Minter was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Guildhall Street on Saturday night. He pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Bourne said at five minutes to eight on Saturday evening he saw the defendant in front of the Town Hall. He was drunk, and shouting and swearing. He refused to go away, so he took him into custody.

Witness, in reply to the defendant, said he (Minter) did not say he was not drunk. He gave him every chance to go home.

P.S. Sales said when the prisoner was brought in he was drunk and most abusive.

Mr. Filmer, the licence holder of the Guildhall Vaults, called by the defendant, said he heard bad language in the bar and on going there he saw it was the defendant who was using the bad language He had to call the police constable in to eject him because he was disorderly. He would not say that Minter was drunk, although he might have been worse outside owing to his being excited.

Isabel Hambel, the barmaid, said she refused to serve the man as he was disorderly in the bar the previous Saturday.

In reply to the defendant, witness said she did not serve him. He might have taken someone else`s off the counter. He had had sufficient drink.

Defendant said he was sorry. He meant to go home, and he should have gone, had not the constable taken him to the bottom. He had a good bed to go to, and he did not want their hard bed. (Laughter)

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said there were twelve convictions against the prisoner, eight of which were for drunkenness. The last was four years ago, however.

Defendant said he had been trying to keep himself straight. He had no work at the present time, and he was trying to get a living by selling fish.

Fined 2s. 6d. and 7s. costs, the defendant being allowed until Saturday to pay.

Folkestone Herald 19-10-1912

Tuesday, October 15^th: Before Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Mr. R.J. Linton, Councillor R.G. Wood, Col. C.P. Owen, and Capt. A.C. Chamier.

John William Minter, on bail, was charged with being drunk and disorderly. Accused pleaded Not Guilty.

P.C. Bourne said that at bout 7.55 p.m. on Saturday he saw accused in front of the Town Hall. Defendant was drunk and shouting and swearing.

Accused: That`s a lie.

Continuing, P.C. Bourne said he told defendant to go away several times and to be quiet, but he refused to, and said he did not care a ---- for anyone. Eventually witness took him to the police station, charging him with being drunk and disorderly.

In answer to prisoner, witness stated that defendant absolutely refused to go home. He was given every possible chance, but refused to go.

P.S. Sales deposed that at about 8 p.m. on Saturday he was on duty at the police station, when the prisoner was brought in and charged with being drunk and disorderly. He was excited and most abusive.

Prisoner said he had some witnesses to call, and he wished to call the landlord of the public house first.

Mr. James Filmer, the landlord of the Guildhall Hotel, deposed that at about 8 p.m. on Saturday evening he heard bad language being used in the public bar. He went there and saw prisoner, and asked him to leave the house. Defendant refused and used bad language, and finally witness obtained the services of the last witness, who put prisoner out. The policeman asked him several times to go away, but he would not. Witness did not think there was very much the matter with prisoner. He was very excited. Witness did not want him to leave the house because he thought he was drunk. He would not have been ejected, but he was using bad language.

Miss Isabel Hambel, barmaid at the Guildhall Hotel, stated that she saw prisoner at about 7.45, when he came into the bar. Witness refused to serve him, as he had given her considerable trouble the Saturday night previous. She asked him to go out, and he started to swear.

Prisoner: Lies!

Proceeding, witness said Mr. Filmer came and asked prisoner to go. Accused refused, and said he would not go out for anyone. He was in the house about ten minutes before she asked him to leave.

Prisoner questioned witness closely as to whether he had any drink or not, but she was positive that he did not have any.

Accused said he meant to go home, only the constable took him.

The Chairman: You did not go.

Defendant said he had a good bed to go to, and did not want the hard bed in the station.

The Chief Constable said there were twelve previous convictions against prisoner. Eight of them were for drunkenness. The last conviction was about four years ago.

Prisoner: I have been trying to keep myself straight.

The Chief Constable said prisoner had been fairly well behaved.

Prisoner was fined 2s. 6d. and 7s. 6d. costs, or seven days`, being allowed till Saturday to pay.

Folkestone Daily News 1-8-1913

 

Friday, August 1^st: Before Messrs. Vaughan, Wood, Owen, Ward, Fynmore, and Giles.

 

The licence of the Guildhall Hotel was transferred from Mr. Filmer to Mr. Jacobs.

 

Folkestone Express 9-8-1913

Friday, August 1^st: Before Alderman Vaughan, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, and Col. Owen.

An application was made by Mr. G.W. Haines for the temporary transfer of the Guildhall Vaults from Mr. Filmer to Mr. A.M.R. Jacobs, late head waiter at the Hotel Metropole. Granted.

Folkestone Express 23-8-1913

Local News

At the Police Court on Wednesday the following licence was transferred, temporary authority having been sanctioned previously by the Magistrates: The Guildhall Vaults, from Mr. Filmer to Mr. A.R. Jacobs

 

Folkestone Herald 23-8-1913

 

Wednesday, August 20th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Alderman T.J. Vaughan, Lieut. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Capt. Chamier, and Councillor W.J. Harrison. 

 

The licence of the Guildhall Vaults was transferred from Mr. James Filmer to Mr. Jacobs

Folkestone Express 2-5-1914

Monday, April 27^th: Before E.T. Ward Esq. and Colonel Owen.

Robert Higgins was charged with begging in Guildhall Street on Saturday night. He pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Butcher said at 9.30 on Saturday evening he was in Guildhall Street when he saw the prisoner begging from customers at public houses and soldiers in the street. He went into the Shakespeare Hotel, where he begged in the bar, and also went into the Guildhall Vaults, where he did the same thing. He (witness) went up to him and told him he should arrest him for begging. On being searched 11½d. in bronze and two insurance cards were found upon him.

Prisoner, who spoke with a strong Scotch accent, said he only begged from soldiers who were countrymen of his own. One of them gave him sixpence. He was a fitter by trade, but he was 51 years of age and could not get any work as he was too old. He came to London to get a job in the East India Docks, but his eyesight failed him. He had done no work since last November.

The insurance cards, which were for sickness and unemployment, showed that prisoner last worked in November.

The prisoner, on promising to leave the town, he explaining that he would make his way north again, was discharged by the Magistrates.

Folkestone Express 24-10-1914

Local News

On Sunday evening considerable feeling against Mr. Jacob, the landlord of the Guildhall Hotel, was shown by a number of his customers, principally soldiers, and at one time matters appeared likely to culminate in damage being done. The efforts of the civil and military police, however, calmed the spirits of those who were most bitter against the landlord, who is a German naturalised British subject.

On Monday morning Mr. Jacob appeared before the Magistrates and asked for a temporary transfer of the licence to Mr. W.H. Vicary.

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said the outgoing tenant was a German naturalised British subject, and owing to a strong feeling at the present moment against all Germans amongst a certain class of people, it was desirable that some other person should take over the management of the house at once. Mr. Vicary, a very respectable man, was willing to take charge of the premises at once.

The Clerk (Mr. Andrew): You consider it is urgently necessary that there should be a change, and on that account you think the ordinary notice of the application should be waived.

The Chief Constable: Yes.

The Clerk explained to the Magistrates that according to the law a protection order should not be granted unless seven days previous notice had been given. In cases of urgency they could waive that notice.

Lieut. Col. Fynmore: You recommend it?

The Chief Constable: Yes, under the special circumstances.

Mr. Vicary said it was the intention of the owners to find another competent tenant at the most convenient moment. He was manager at the branch office of Messrs. Mackeson, in Tontine Street.

The Chief Constable said it was certain there would be a suitable tenant as soon as possible.

Mr. Jacob said he had been tenant of the house since August 1^st, and had been a resident in Folkestone for 16 years. He had been a naturalised British subject between seven and eight years. He thought it was desirable that he should give up the licence under the present circumstances. He would, however, like to say that there was nothing against the conduct of the house.

The Chief Constable said there was nothing against the conduct of the house.

The Chairman (Lieut. Col. Fynmore) said the Bench granted the temporary transfer.

Mr. Vicary said, on behalf of the owners of the house, he wished to say they had every confidence in Mr. Jacob and his conduct of the house. The change was through the unfortunate circumstances of the present time, and owing to the public feeling inflamed by the papers and other things. They were very sorry indeed that they had to have a change in the tenants.

Note: This does not appear in More Bastions.

Folkestone Express 28-11-1914

Wednesday, November 25^th: Before E.T. Ward, G.I. Swoffer, R.J. Linton, G. Boyd, and E.T. Morrison esqs.

Mr. G.W. Haines made an application for temporary transfer on behalf of Mr. Vicary, of the Guildhall Hotel. He stated that they had a tenant in view.

Temporary permission was granted until the next transfer sessions.

Note: This does not appear in More Bastions.

 

Folkestone Herald 28-11-1914

Wednesday, November 25^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr. R.J. Linton, Councillor G. Boyd, Alderman C. Jenner, Mr. E.T. Morrison, and Mr. J.J. Giles.

Mr. Vickery, manager of Mackeson and Son`s Folkestone branch, applied for an extension of his temporary licence at the Guildhall Vaults, Guildhall Street.

Mr. G.W. Haines appeared for the applicant, and said there was a tenant in prospect.

The application was granted.

Note: No record of Vickery in More Bastions.