Updates

29th June, 2013: Folkestone Chronicle Reports for 1905 Added.

White Lion (2) 1900- 1904

Folkestone Herald 13-1-1900

Hythe Police Court

Thursday, January 11^th: Before Mr. Du Boulay, The Mayor, Capt. Smythies, Capt. Baldwin, Mr. Brockman, Mr. A.S. Jones, and Mr. Denne.

Thomas Myers was charged with being in a pair of military boots, value 10s., the property of Her Majesty, the Queen.

P.C. Wratten deposed that on the 8^th inst., at 4 p.m., he was on duty in the market at Cheriton, and saw defendant leave the White Lion. He had something concealed under his coat. Witness asked what he had got. He said “What has it to do with you?” Witness took him into a stable, and defendant produced the pair of boots in question. Witness asked him how he came to be with them, and defendant said that he had bought them from some soldiers in the White Lion for 4s. Witness asked if he knew the soldiers from whom he had bought them. He said “No, I should not give the man away if I picked him”.

Defendant said that he stated that, under the circumstances, he really did not know the man. He bought the boots.

Capt. Arthur Slessor, Derbyshire Regiment, stationed at Shorncliffe, deposed that the pair produced were regulation boots. The stamp “R.I.” presumably meant Royal Irish. No authority had been given to dispose of the boots. There had been a company of the Royal Irish as mounted infantry.

P.S. Stone, of Cheriton, deposed that on the day mentioned he was on duty at the White Lion, and visited the house, where he saw about a dozen of the Royal Irish Regiment offering boots for sale, including the pair produced. A number of the men were arrested. He was present when the defendant left the house with the goods in his possession. Witness asked him who he had bought them off. He said “Of some soldiers in the White Lion”. Witness told defendant that it would be as well for him to go and identify the man. Defendant said that he did not think he could.

Defendant, who said that he was a labourer, stated that a soldier offered him the boots, and he paid for them. He put them under his coat.

Corporal Viney, Military Police, said they were ammunition boots.

Fined £1, and the costs £1 17s. 6d.

Defendant said that it was too much money.

Folkestone Chronicle 17-2-1900

County Police Court

Monday, 12^th February: Before Capt. Baldwin and Mr. H. Strahan.

Henry Loveday, a labourer, was charged with breaking a plate glass window at the White Lion Hotel, Cheriton, on the previous Friday, and doing damage to the extent of 50s.

Joseph Sidney Saunders, landlord, stated that the man came into the house shortly before dinner time, but as he appeared to be of a quarrelsome character he refused to serve him. The defendant took off his coat and struck at the barman, and witness then tried to persuade the man to go away, but he would not do so. He then ejected him from the premises, and when outside the prisoner struck at him. Witness then went in, and Loveday ran up to the door and put his fist through the embossed plate glass of the door.

Sergt. Stone stated that when he went to arrest prisoner, the latter refused to come, and he had to handcuff him and take his boots off before he could get him to the station. The man afterwards told him that he had been discharged from the Elham Workhouse Infirmary that morning after having been in three weeks with bronchitis, and he had had a little drink, which overcame him.

It was stated that the prisoner had been convicted eleven times since 1883, and the Magistrates sent Loveday to prison for six weeks with hard labour.

Folkestone Express 17-2-1900

Hythe Police Court

Monday February 12^th: Before The Mayor and Captain Baldwin.

Henry Loveday was charged with wilfully smashing a window and doing damage to the amount of £2 10s. to the property of Mr. Saunders, of the White Lion public house, to which he pleaded Guilty.

Joseph Sidney Saunders said on the 9^th February he was in his room when defendant went in and asked for some Jamaica rum. As he was rather quarrelsome he was refused. He then took off his coat and waistcoat and struck the assistant and challenged him to a fight. Witness tried to persuade him to leave the house, which he refused to do. Prisoner then wanted to fight a soldier, and afterwards wanted a few rounds with witness, who ejected him from the premises and shut the door. Prisoner returned, and finding he couldn`t get it, deliberately put his fist through the window. Witness then sent for Sergeant Stone. He estimated the damage at £2 10s.

Sergt. Amos Stone, stationed at Cheriton, said about one p.m. on Friday he was sent for by last witness, who charged prisoner with wilfully breaking a pane of glass. He told prisoner he should take him into custody, when prisoner “set about him”. Witness threw him to the ground and handcuffed him, and also took off his boots, as he was very violent.

The Clerk then read out eleven previous convictions for similar offences against the prisoner since 1883. Defendant said he had just come out of the Infirmary at Elham Union.

The Bench sentenced him to six weeks` hard labour.

Folkestone Herald 17-2-1900

Hythe Sessions

On Monday, before The Mayor and Captain Baldwin, Thos. Geo. Loveday, a seaman, of Folkestone, was charged with being drunk and disorderly, and doing wilful damage at the White Lion Hotel on the 9^th.

Fined £2, in default 6 months` hard labour.

There were 14 previous convictions against the defendant.

Folkestone Herald 10-3-1900

Hythe Divisional Sessions

Thursday, March 8^th: Mr. J. Du Boulay presiding.

William Sands was summoned for being drunk and disorderly at Cheriton on the 24^th February.

A constable deposed that at 10.30 p.m. he saw the defendant in a mad state of drunkenness, making use of very bad language. He first saw him close to the front door of the White Lion. He said he had been thrown out by Mr. Wilson.

P.S. Stone also gave evidence, and deposed that at 12.30 the same night he saw the defendant in the road with his coat off.

The defendant said that he was wild at the time, being thrown out. Were they supposed to keep a potman in the public house to “chuck” him on the back and put him out of the door? They put him out for nothing, for he did not speak a word to anybody. He did not say anything to Mr. Wilson. He was talking about the plough, so defendant said “You know nothing about ploughing”. He said “Darkie, I shall chuck you out”.

Fined 5s. and 10s. costs.

Folkestone Herald 28-7-1900

Hythe Police Court

At Hythe, on Thursday, Alfred Freid, who was summoned for refusing to quit the White Lion, on Sunday, when requested to leave by Mr. Saunders, the landlord, was fined 5s. and 10s. costs. The evidence went to show that defendant was not drunk, but excited. A week allowed for payment.

Folkestone Herald 6-10-1900

Hythe Divisional Sessions

On Thursday last, before Mr. J. Du Boulay, the Mayor, Capt. Mansell, and Mr. A.S. Jones, Mary Ann Fraser, whose husband is at the front, was summoned for being drunk and disorderly on the 17^th September.

P.S. Stone, of Cheriton, saw her carrying a young child in a careless manner, and swearing because the landlord of the White Lion refused to serve her. She wanted gin to put in the baby`s bottle.

Fined 11s. and 9s. costs.

Folkestone Express 12-1-1901

Hythe County Sessions

Thursday, January 10^th: Before J. Du Boulay, A.S. Jones, and H. Strahan Esqs., and Capts. Mansell and Baldwin.

John Steinbach was summoned for being drunk at Cheriton on Sunday, December 23^rd. He pleaded Not Guilty.

P.S. John Stevens said about 8.30 p.m. on the 23^rd December he saw the defendant leave the White Lion. He went into the highway and fell down. Witness helped him up and found he was incapable, and he was obliged to see him home.

Defendant, who is an old man, said there were a lot of rough stones, and he tripped up.

The Bench dismissed him with a caution.

Folkestone Express 2-11-1901

Hythe County Sessions

Thursday, October 31^st: Before J. Du Boulay, A.F. Mackinnon, A.S. Jones, F.D. Brockman, H. Strahan, O.H. Smith and E.C. Lane Esqs., and General Knowles and Captain Baldwin.

A temporary transfer of the licence of the White Lion, Cheriton from Mr. Ed. Saunders to Mr. J. Smiles, late of the Railway Bell, Folkestone, was granted.

Note: Date is at variance with More Bastions.

Folkestone Express 19-4-1902

Hythe County Sessions

Thursday, April 17^th: Before J. Du Boulay, A.S. Jones, J.E. Quested, and E.C. Lanes Esqs., and Captain Mansell.

Driver Fredk. Cavendish, R.F.A. was fined 1s. and 9s. costs for being disorderly on Easter Monday at Cheriton.

Sergt. Stevens, who proved the offence, said the defendant had been ejected from the White Lion because he would fight. He then shouted “If anyone wants to fight, follow me!” One soldier did so, and a fight ensued under the railway arch.

Folkestone Express 4-10-1902

Hythe Police Court

Thursday, October 2^nd: Before A.S. Jones, W. Wightwick, R.T. Denne, and J.H. Du Boulay Esqs.

Mary Bone, who did not appear, was summoned for sending her daughter, who was under fourteen years of age, for liquor.

Sergt. Stevens said about 9.30 p.m. on the 13^th Sept. he saw Laura Bone leave the White Lion Hotel with a pint of stout in an unsealed bottle. The same evening he saw the defendant, who admitted sending the child for beer, but said she was over 14 years of age. Witness said the child had not left school, and then defendant said “Yes, I am very sorry”. The next day witness went to defendant`s house, and saw the following entry in the family Bible “Laura Bone, 3^rd Feb., 1889”. Witness took the girl back to the White Lion and saw Mr. Smiles, the proprietor. The girl then admitted having repeatedly told the proprietor she was 14 years of age, and said he mother had told her to say so.

Joseph Smiles, landlord of the White Lion, said he had asked the child her age on several occasions and she had told him fourteen years of age. He had a notice in the bottle and jug department stating that children under fourteen years of age would not be served, and he also kept a record of when the children were asked their ages and what replies they gave. The girl looked fourteen years of age.

The Superintendent said he had reported the circumstances to the Chief Inspector, who instructed him to prosecute Mrs. Bone only.

The Chairman said as it was the first case of the kind to come before them the Magistrates would deal leniently with defendant and fine her 1s. and 9s. costs.

Folkestone Herald 11-7-1903

Hythe County Bench

Thursday, July 9^th: Before Capt. Baldwin, Messrs. Jacques and Johns.

Thomas Collins was summoned for unlawfully sending a child, under fourteen years of age, to fetch intoxicating liquor in an unsealed bottle on June 23^rd last. Defendant pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Stephen deposed to seeing the boy, named Frederick Forman (of whom defendant is the step father), outside the front premises of the White Lion Hotel, Cheriton, on the day in question, with a quart of beer in an unsealed bottle. He asked the boy who sent him for the beer, and he replied his father, meaning the defendant. He (witness) took the boy to his step father, who admitted sending the boy for the beer, but said he meant him to go and meet his sister and tell her to get it. The age of the boy was 12 years and 8 months.

Defendant said his wife was ill in bed, and he was going to stop with her, so he sent the boy for the beer. He had been sitting up with his wife for the last three nights.

A fine of 1s. with 4s. costs was imposed, defendant being allowed fourteen days in which to pay.

Folkestone Express 25-7-1903

Inquest

On Friday the East Kent Coroner, Mr. R.M. Mercer, investigated at an inquest at the White Lion Inn, the circumstances attending the death of Elizabeth Gosford, and the evidence showed that deceased had literally drank herself to death.

Dr. Madden deposed that he only knew the cause of deceased`s death from hearsay. He made a post mortem examination and found the body covered with small haemorrhages, which indicated a very low state of health. The right lung was much contused, and the left lung slightly so. The brain was congested, and the liver enlarged. Death was due primarily to alcoholism, secondly to congestion of the lings due to alcoholism, and thirdly of heart failure due to congestion of the lungs.

Maria Godden, of 12, Primrose Villas, said that about 10 days previously deceased stopped her in the street and asked where she could procure rooms, and witness took her to a Mrs. Hopkins, who resided at No. 8, Camden Terrace. On Thursday morning, about 10.15, witness was working at a house next door to Mrs. Hopkins when she was called to No. 8, Camden Terrace by the tenant, who asked her to go into the room as she thought there was something wrong with deceased. On entering a back bedroom on the ground floor witness saw deceased lying on the floor between the door and fireplace. Witness roused deceased`s husband, who was lying on the bed, but he appeared to be in a dazed condition, and witness could make nothing of him, so sent for the police.

In answer to the Coroner, witness said she only saw a small glass on the table, but P.S. Stevens stated that there were two lemonade bottles in the room.

Emily Hopkins, of No. 8, Camden Terrace, said deceased came to lodge with her on Monday week. The previous day, on opening the bedroom door, she saw deceased lying on the floor, and thinking there was something wrong sent for Mrs. Godden, who went in, and at once said “It didn`t want any looking as as the woman was dead”. Deceased drank a good deal, but she never saw her drunk.

The Coroner: What do you call drunk? – When they lie down helpless.

Where did she get the money? – I think she had it left her.

Had she paid you? – Yes, one week.

The Foreman: Are you in the habit of taking people into the house, and then sending for drink when they have been refused it at public houses? – No.

Did you send for drink for this woman? – Yes, on Wednsday.

How much? – Two half pints of whisky in the morning.

How many half pints did they have during the day? – Five or six.

Deceased`s husband stated that his wife was 58 years of age, and a native of Wigan. She was a laundress, and had a legacy of £100 in April last.

The Coroner: Have you been out lately? – Yes, I have been to the Victoria, but never had anything to drink.

They refused to serve you? – Yes; there, and here, too.

You sent other people for drink? – Yes, now and then.

How much did you drink on Wednesday? – I don`t know. I don`t recollect anything lately.

The Coroner: I don`t wonder! Did you go to bed on Wednesday night? – Yes. I have had plenty of sleep lately.

When did you wake up? – At 10 o`clock on Thursday morning, and then saw my wife lying on the floor.

Do you know the doctor says she died of drink? – Perhaps so.

Have you nothing to say to that? – No. I would like to excuse her if I could.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from alcoholic poisoning”.

Folkestone Express 26-9-1903

Inquest

The East Kent Coroner (Mr. R.M. Mercer) held an inquest at the White Lion Hotel, Cheriton, on Tuesday evening, touching the death of Vincent Gosford, 68 years of age, formerly a colour sergeant in the Grenadier Guards.

It will be remembered that some two months ago deceased`s wife died from excessive drinking, and at the time Mr. Mercer warned the husband that he would also die from the same cause unless he was very careful.

Emily Hopkins, of No. 8, Camden Terrace, said that deceased had lodged with her for some time and occupied the same room in which his wife died. On Saturday afternoon witness saw deceased sitting in a chair, and on Sunday morning, on her entering the room, deceased was lying under the bed with only his feet showing. In the afternoon deceased was still in the same position, and witness asked whether he would have a cup of tea. He, however, told her to clear out as he did not want anything to eat or drink. On Monday morning deceased was lying in the same position, but as witness could get no answer from him she went for Sergt. Stevens. He had not been in bed since Saturday.

The Coroner: When did he have any food? – On Saturday morning.

What sort? A herring and bread and butter.

Had he been drinking? – Not so much lately. On Saturday morning I fetched him a quart of stout, and 1s. worth of ginger brandy in the afternoon.

This man has been living in the room since his wife died. He eventually died after lying under the bed for two days. Why did you not send for a doctor? – On Saturday I asked whether I should send for a doctor, and he said no. He once threatened to shoot anyone with a revolver who went in and disturbed him, and I was afraid of him.

The Coroner: I think you should give up keeping lodgers. You are rather unlucky. – I think I shall after this.

P.S. Stevens said that he was called by the last witness at 9.30 the previous morning to No. 8, Camden Terrace. He there saw deceased lying under the bed with his head in the corner of the room.

The Coroner: How high was the bed from the floor? – About 18 inches.

Then he must have crawled there? – Yes.

Continuing, witness said that he found several papers lying near the body. They were mostly respecting the transfer of his wife`s money to him.

The Coroner: How much had he left? - £40

Hadn`t they £70 when his wife died? – They had about £60.

They had two separate accounts? – Yes; one in the Post Office and also some money in Lloyd`s Bank. Deceased gave the last witness and another woman £2 each for attending to his wife, and he had also paid a solicitor for the transfer of the money, so that was where the rest had gone. There was 6s. 6d. on the body.

In answer to the Coroner, witness said that on the table there was a herring, and also some bread and butter, none of which had been touched.

Dr. Madden deposed that he had that afternoon made a post mortem examination. Witness had been told that deceased talked a great deal in his sleep, and was always fancying that he could see the face of his dead wife. His lungs were congested; the left very much so; his liver and heart were fatty – in fact he had a drunkard`s liver. The primary cause of death was alcoholism, and the secondary cause was congestion of the lungs. The hallucinations from which deceased suffered and the fact that he was found in such a peculiar position led witness to suppose that deceased suffered from delirium tremens, and had crawled under the bed to escape imaginary faces.

Sergt. Stevens, in answer to the Coroner, said that he could find no trace whatever of any relatives, and the Coroner therefore ordered the money, &c., to be hand over to Supt. Hollands.

The jury returned a verdict of “Death from alcoholism”.

Folkestone Herald 26-9-1903

Inquest

On Tuesday evening, at the White Lion Hotel, Cheriton, the Coroner, Mr. Mercer, held an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Vincent Gosford, an army pensioner, formerly colour sergeant in the Grenadier Guards, who was found dead, lying underneath his bed, on Monday morning.

Emily Hopkins, widow, was the first witness called. She said that deceased lodged with her at No. 8, Camden Terrace. On Monday morning she went to his room and found him lying under the bed. She went to police sergeant Stevens and asked him to come, as she thought deceased was dead. The policeman came and saw the body with witness. On Saturday at 3 p.m. witness saw deceased sitting in a chair in his room. On Sunday morning she saw him lying on the floor underneath his bed in the same position as when found dead. At five o`clock in the afternoon she again saw him lying in the exact same position. She asked him if he wanted a cup of tea, and he replied “No”. He spoke quite plainly and told her to “clear out”. He had not been in his bed since Saturday. He last had food, to witness`s knowledge, on Sunday morning, when she took him a herring and some bread and butter. He had not had much drink at that place lately, witness fetching him the last on Friday. He had been in his room all alone since his wife died. On Saturday morning witness asked him if she could clean his window, but he told her he had got a six chambered revolver and if she did not clear out he would shoot her. She asked him on Saturday if she should send for a doctor, and he replied “No”. She felt nervous as he had told her he had a revolver, and left.

Police Sergeant Stevens, stationed at Cheriton, deposed that on Monday morning at 9.30, from information received, he went to No. 8, Camden Terrace, where he found deceased lying underneath the bed, on his back, with his head up in the corner of the room. The bed was only about eighteen inches from the floor, and deceased must have crawled there, it being impossible for him to have fallen in the position in which he was. Deceased was infirm, having something the matter with his foot. He had £40 in the bank. In the pockets of decease, witness found 6s. 6d. There was a herring and some bread and butter lying in the room, untouched, but no intoxicating liquor whatever, nor any signs of any.

Mr. F.B. Madden, medical practitioner, Morehall, said Mrs. Hopkins informed him the last Wednesday morning deceased complained to her of feeling poorly. He was shaking and trembling very much. He had kept constantly talking at night lately, so that the other lodgers in the house complained of it. On one occasion he told Mrs. Hopkins that he had seen his dead wife. Witness, continuing, said he had made a post mortem examination of the body. Externally there were no signs of injury whatever. Internally the lungs were congested very much, and the heart and liver were flabby. The trembling and constant talking at night, and the hallucination, pointed to delirium tremens, and the condition of the lungs, liver and heart were quite in keeping with alcoholism. He attributed death primarily to alcoholism.

In reply to the Coroner, Mr. Madden said in his opinion death took place at least thirty six hours before he had examined the body. He thought that deceased had died soon after the first witness last saw him alive.

After a short consultation the jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical evidence.

Folkestone Chronicle 13-8-1904

Folkestone Gossip

Mr. J. Smiles, of the White Lion, Cheriton, has resigned his seat as a Guardian for the North Ward of Folkestone, and been returned unopposed for Cheriton in the place of Mr. Peter Kesby. This changing of horses in the middle of the stream will throw the cost of a by-election upon Folkestone. The Hon. Miss Daly is a probable candidate for the Folkestone vacancy.