Updates

10th August, 2013: Folkestone Express Reports for 1906 Added

Pavilion Hotel 1900s

Folkestone Chronicle 5-5-1900

Thursday, May 3^rd: Before Alderman Banks and Messrs. Herbert and Fitness.

Caroline Norris and Harriett Hall, alias Rye, were charged with larceny from the bakehouse of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, the articles stolen being some electric incandescent lamps.

Detective Burniston and Wm. Jenner, the engineer at the Pavilion, gave evidence, and the Chief Constable said he would like a reman for a day. From a statement made by one of the prisoners he had reason to believe that they were taken into the hotel by one of the employees. He wished to investigate this statement.

The Bench granted the application.

When the case was resumed on Friday, before Messrs. J. Banks, J. Fitness, and Wightwick, the Chief Constable explained that a certain man had been found, but the accused failed to positively identify him. Under the circumstances he did not intend to carry that part of the case any further.

Thursday`s witnesses had the evidence of the previous day read over to them, and prisoners pleaded Guilty. They were, they said, coming down the slope, when an employee of the Pavilion whistled to them, and took them inside. He gave Norris a shilling and a loaf. They were both very sorry for the theft.

The Chief Constable said neither of the prisoners had been charged with a similar offence, but Norris had been before the Bench on five occasions for drunkenness.

The Chairman told the prisoners that even if they were taken into the hotel there was no reason why they should commit a theft. They would both be sentenced to one month`s hard labour.

Folkestone Express 12-5-1900

Friday, May 4^th: Before J. Banks, W. Wightwick, and J. Fitness Esqs.

Caroline Norris and Harriett Hall were charged with stealing five electric lamps, of the value of 9d., from the Pavilion Hotel, the property of Messrs. Frederick and Co.

Detective Officer Burniston said about 12.05 a.m. on Thursday he saw the prisoner Norris in Dover Road carrying something under her shawl. He followed her and saw her go into a gateway. After a few minutes she came out again and went away. He went to where she had been and found three electric lamps. He stopped her and asked her what she had just hidden, and she then admitted hiding the electric lamps and confessed she stole them. About one a.m. on the same morning he went to 14, Fenchurch Street, where the other prisoner lived, and found she was asleep. He woke her and asked her for the other two lamps. He was handed them, and then took her to the police station and charged the two prisoners together with the theft.

Mr. C. Jenner, engineer at the Royal Pavilion Hotel, said he identified the lamps produced, and there were some similar ones still in the engine room. They were the property of Messrs. Frederick and Co., and valued at 9d.

The two prisoners pleaded Guilty and said they were very sorry.

Norris said they went down the slope and saw a man standing at the door of the Pavilion. They asked him for some food, and he gave them a shilling and a loaf.

Supt. Reeve said the prisoners declined to identify the man.

The Bench sentenced the two prisoners to one month each.

Folkestone Daily News 8-1-1901

Local News

The swell thief who was arrested at the Pavilion Hotel some weeks ago by Sergeant Lilley, and who, it will be remembered, was a young fellow of good position and education, has just received eighteen months` hard labour for a jewel robbery at Kensington, and six months` for an hotel affair at Worthing. When arrested at Folkestone, he was evidently planning operations on a large scale, for he had taken rooms at the Metropole, the Pavilion, and St. Osyth`s.

 

Folkestone Chronicle 1-3-1902

Local News

The authorities at Folkestone are seeking to clear up the mystery attached to an alleged daring safe robbery at the Royal Pavilion Hotel. A few of the particulars, which are religiously guarded, have leaked out. From these it is gleaned that between Friday night and Sunday last the safe at the hotel was in some mysterious way rifled of its contents, one item being the proceeds in gold of a recently cashed cheque amounting to considerably over £100. A peculiar circumstance of the case is that the safe was locked up with every precaution, and the key deposited elsewhere. What then was the astonishment of one of the responsible officials, when, on visiting the safe, it looked as if the money had disappeared without any evidence of the iron walls having been tampered with? That is all we know for certain at present, but it is understood that the police have a clue.

Folkestone Chronicle 21-2-1903

Local News

Just twelve months ago a great mystery attended the loss of £100 in gold from a safe at the Royal Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone. Many people were suspected, and many were shadowed, yet the money was never found.

The mystery was on Saturday morning voluntarily cleared up by a person whom neither management nor police had ever suspected.

This individual was William James Abbott, late a plateman at the Royal Pavilion, who was charged upon his own confession with having stolen, in February, 1902, the sum of £100 in gold from a safe in the manager`s office.

Samuel Eeley, manager of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, and the Burlington, Dover, said that he mostly resided at the Dover hotel, the assistant manager, Mr. Percy James Hope, being left in charge in his absence. He remembered Tuesday, February 18^th, 1902, because on that date he placed £100 in gold in a canvas bag, and put the bag in a cash box in a drawer in a safe. The money was made up of 80 sovereigns and 40 half sovereigns. The safe, which stood in the general office, was not locked, but the drawer inside it was. No-one but himself had a key to the drawer, and the key was with others on a bunch. When he left the hotel he always left the key in charge of the assistant manager. On the 22^nd of February witness went to the safe, and on looking into the cash box missed the money. The canvas bag remained, but was empty. Prisoner had been employed in the hotel as plateman from February 23^rd, 1901, until April 21^st, 1902, and formerly from July, 1898, until September, 1900. In the dates between those mentioned he had been employed at the Burlington, Dover.

Percy John Hope, assistant manager, said he saw the money placed in the safe by Mr. Eeley. He was in the habit of placing the keys in one of the drawers of the manager`s office. It had been usual to leave the drawers unlocked.

Minnie Bassett, book-keeper at the Royal Pavilion, said she remembered the 22^nd of February last year, when she found a half sovereign on the desk in the general manager`s office just underneath the ledge. She had kept it ever since, and now produced it. The key of the safe was left in her charge. The drawer in the safe was always kept locked.

Det. Sergt. Burniston said that on Saturday, from information received, he proceeded to London, and at 9 p.m. saw the prisoner detained at Tottenham Court Road police station. Witness, after duly cautioning him, said “I am a police sergeant from Folkestone, and shall charge you with stealing £100 in gold between the 18^th and 22^nd February last year, from a locked drawer in a safe at the Royal Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone”. Prisoner replied “There was only £99 10s. I dropped one half sovereign. I counted the money when I got into my bedroom. It was about midnight when I took it. I found the key of the safe in the office, I opened the safe and unlocked the drawer, and took out the money. The reason I gave myself up to the police is because I had no work and no money”.

Inspector Ellis, of the Metropolitan Police, who was present, then handed witness (the inspector) the written statement produced, which had been signed by the prisoner. Inspector Ellis said “This is a written and voluntary statement made by prisoner to Inspector Moody”. Prisoner testified to its being his handwriting and signature.

The Clerk of the Court read over the statement, but owing to the noise made by the new electric fans not a word could be heard by anyone in Court.

When formally charged, prisoner made no reply.

The Bench committed him for trial at the next Quarter Sessions, offering bail, himself in £50 and two sureties in a like amount.

Folkestone Express 21-2-1903

Saturday, February 14^th: Before W. Wightwick and W.G. Herbert Esqs.

William James Abbott was charged on his own confession with stealing £100 from the Royal Pavilion Hotel between the 18^th and 22^nd February, 1902.

Samuel Eely, manager of the Royal Pavilion Hotel and the Burlington Hotel, Dover, said he resided at Dover, but used to make daily visits to Folkestone. On Tuesday, the 18^th February, 1902 he placed £100 in gold (80 sovereigns and 40 half sovereigns) in a canvas bag. This in turn was placed in a cash box, which had no lock, and locked in his private drawer in the safe, which stood in the general office. On leaving the hotel, he gave his keys in charge of the assistant manager. On Saturday, the 22^nd of February, about one o`clock (noon), he visited the safe, and then found the money missing; the canvas bag, however, had been left behind. Prisoner had been employed at the hotel as plateman from February 3^rd, 1901 to April 1^st, 1902. Previous to that he was at the Pavilion from July, 1898 to September, 1900, and between those periods at the Burlington Hotel, Dover.

Percy John Pope, assistant manager at the Royal Pavilion Hotel, said he saw the previous witness place £100 in the cash box on the 18^th February, 1902, but did not see the box placed in the safe. He was present when the robbery was discovered on the 22^nd. He had placed the keys in a desk in the Manager`s office. That, however, was unlocked.

Minnie Bissett, head bookkeeper at the hotel, said on the 22^nd February last she found half a sovereign on a desk in the general office. She had kept it in her possession ever since, and now produced it.

Detective Burniston said the previous day, from information received, he proceeded to London, and about nine p.m. saw the prisoner detained at the Tottenham Court Road Police Station. Witness charged him, and after the usual caution, prisoner replied “There was only £99 10s. I dropped one half sovereign in the office. I counted the money when I got back to my bedroom. It was about midnight when I took the money. I found the keys of the safe in the office. I opened the safe, unlocked the drawer, and took out the money. The reason I gave myself up to the police was because I had no work or money”. In the presence of prisoner, Inspector Ellis, of the Metropolitan Police, handed witness the written statement produced, made in the presence of Inspector Moon.

When charged at the Folkestone police station, prisoner made no reply.

Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was committed to the Quarter Sessions, bail being fixed at £50 and two sureties in like amount.

Folkestone Herald 21-2-1903

Local News

About a year ago the town was somewhat startled when it was spread abroad that a daring safe robbery had been committed at the Royal Pavilion Hotel. £100 in gold, which had been under lock and key in the Manager`s Office, had suddenly disappeared, and in spite of searching enquiries, both by local and London detectives, the affair remained a mystery up to Friday morning of last week, when a message was received by the local authorities from Tottenham Court Road Police Station that a man had surrendered himself there and made a full and detailed confession.

The sequel was heard at the Folkestone police Court on Saturday morning last, before Mr. W. Wightwick and Mr. W.G. Herbert, when William James Abbott was charged with stealing £100 in gold from a safe at the Royal Pavilion Hotel between the 18^th and 22^nd February of last year.

Mr. S. Eeley, manager of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, and Burlington Hotel, Dover, said he generally visited the Pavilion daily. In his absence Mr. Pope acted as assistant manager. Witness placed eighty sovereigns and forty half sovereigns in a canvas bag on Feb. 18^th, 1902. This money was placed in a private drawer in the safe in witness` general office. No-one had the key of the drawer but himself. The key was in a bunch, and this he gave into the charge of Mr. Pope when leaving the hotel. On the 22^nd February, about 1 p.m., he had occasion to go to the safe, and found the cash had been taken out of the bag. Prisoner had been employed as plateman from February 23^rd, 1901 to April 1^st, 1902, and from July, 1898 to September, 1900. Between those dates he had been employed at the Burlington hotel, Dover.

Percy J. Pope, assistant manager, said he remembered Mr. Eeley placing the gold in the cash box, but not in the safe. Witness had charge of the keys, and on this occasion they were kept in an unlocked drawer.

Miss Bisset, head bookkeeper at the hotel, said on the afternoon of February 22^nd she found a half sovereign near the ledge of a desk in the general office. She now produced the coin. The safe was always kept locked. Witness had a duplicate key.

Mr. Eeley, re-called, said that on the bunch of keys there was a key of the safe, and also a key of the drawer within the safe.

Detective Sergeant Burniston said, from information received he went to London, arriving at Tottenham Court Road Police Station about 9 p.m. Witness here saw prisoner detained, and told him he should charge him with feloniously stealing £100 in gold from a locked drawer at the Royal Pavilion Hotel between 18^th and 22^nd of February last year. After witness had given prisoner the usual caution, the latter said “There was only £99 10s. I dropped a half sovereign in the office. I counted the money when I got in the bedroom. I found the key of the safe in the office. I opened the safe and then unlocked the drawer and took out the money. The reason I gave myself up was that I had no work and no money”. Witness now produced a statement made by prisoner to Inspector Moon. It was signed William Abbott, and when witness read this over to prisoner he replied “That is my handwriting and signature”. Detective Sergt. Burniston further added that on charging prisoner at Folkestone he made no reply.

Prisoner, who asked no questions, nor desired to make any further statement, was formally committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions. 

Folkestone Chronicle 25-4-1903

Quarter Sessions

Monday, April 20^th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward.

William James Abbott, 23, pleaded Guilty to stealing from the Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, £100 in money, belonging to the Fredericks Hotels Limited, on the 22^nd of February, 1902.

Mr. T. Matthew (instructed by Mr. J. Minter), for the Crown, said the prisoner had been employed in the hotel, where he had by some means got possession of the keys of the safe, from which he stole £100 in gold, less half a sovereign, which he dropped. Almost twelve months afterwards he made a voluntary confession to the police. Needless to say, by that time the money had gone.

Mr. Eeley, the manager of the Pavilion Hotel, said that prisoner had been previously engaged in the hotel for three years.

The Chief Constable said there was no previous conviction against the accused to his knowledge.

The Recorder (to prisoner): Well, what have you got to say?

Prisoner: Nothing.

The Recorder: Nothing! This is a serious offence. What made you write a confession?

Prisoner: Because I had no money, sir.

The Recorder said that, considering that prisoner had been in prison awaiting trial since the 14^th of February, he would now be sentenced to four months` hard labour.

Folkestone Express 25-4-1903

Quarter Sessions

Monday, April 20^th: Before John Charles Lewis Coward

William Jas. Abbott was charged with stealing £100 from the Frederick Hotels Limited, on the 22^nd February, 1902.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty, and was sentenced to four months` hard labour.

It will be remembered that the prisoner was a plateman at the Royal Pavilion Hotel, and he took the money from a safe at night. He left the service and spent all the money. He then gave himself up to the police.

Folkestone Herald 25-4-1903

Quarter Sessions

Monday, April 20^th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

A true bill was returned against William James Abbott (23), plateman, who was indicted on a charge of feloniously stealing in the dwelling house of the Frederick Hotels Ltd., the sum of £100, monies of the said Frederick Hotels Ltd., on the 22^nd February, 1902, at Folkestone. He entered a plea of Guilty.

The facts of the case, as reported at the Police Court proceedings some time ago, were briefly reiterated by Mr. Matthews, prosecuting counsel. In view of the largeness of the sum of money, the offence, he said, was a somewhat serious one. The money was the property of Mr. Eeley, manager of the Pavilion Hotel. On the 18^th of February last year that gentleman placed it in a safe at the Hotel, and on the 22^nd of the same month it was missed. Prisoner had been employed at the Hotel as plateman, and in that way became familiar with the Hotel and the different parts of it. Somehow or other he seemed to have obtained the keys of the safe, and extracted the money, with the exception of half a sovereign, which he left behind. Last February – a year after – prisoner made a confession to the London police and was thereupon arrested and charged. He was instructed that there was no previous conviction against the man, he having, so far as he knew, hitherto been an honest man.

Evidence was given by Mr. Eeley, who said that prisoner, during the three years he was in the service of the Pavilion Hotel behaved himself to his satisfaction.

Prisoner had no defence to offer.

In answer to the Recorder, who impressed upon him the fact that it was a very serious crime, Abbott said he wrote his confession because he had no money. He had been in prison since the 14^th February. He was a single man.

A warder from the gaol said that Abbott had behaved himself all right during the time he had been in prison.

The Recorder remarked that it was a matter of great regret to have to sentence a man who had been in the service of the Royal Pavilion Hotel, where he had spent so many of his days since he had been in this borough. He, however, had a duty to perform, and must perform it. He had taken into consideration the fact that he had been in prison awaiting his trial for a period of two months; otherwise he would have passed a much heavier sentence. The sentence which he would inflict was one of imprisonment with hard labour for four calendar months.

Folkestone Chronicle 16-5-1903

Saturday, May 9^th: Before Alderman Banks, Lieut. Col. Hamilton, Mr. W.G. Herbert and Mr. G.I. Swoffer.

The Manager of the Royal Pavilion Hotel applied for an extension of licence until 4 a.m., for the 15^th and 19^th of May, the occasion of social balls.

Alderman Banks, in granting the application, remarked, amid laughter, that it was rather late for ladies to stop up.

Folkestone Express 13-10-1906

Friday, October 5^th: Before E.T. Ward Esq., Lieut. Colonel Fynmore, and W.C. Carpenter Esq.

James Ryan was charged with being drunk and incapable that morning. He pleaded Guilty.

P.C. Nash said at about five minutes to one he was in South Street, when he was called by the night porter of the Pavilion Hotel, who said there was a man, drunk, lying on the mat in the doorway of the hotel. Witness raised prisoner up, and, finding he was drunk, brought him to the police station. Going up High Street Ryan became very violent. His boots had to be taken off, and he had also to be handcuffed. They had eventually to carry him to the police station.

Prisoner, who was said to hail from Newmarket, was fined 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. costs, or seven days`.