Updates

31st August, 2013: Folkestone Express Reports for 1907 Added

White Lion (2) 1905 - 1909

Folkestone Express 1-4-1905

Hythe County Police

Thursday, March 30^th: Before J. Du Boulay Esq., Col. Hutchins, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, F.E. Burke, F.D. Brockman, A.S. Jones, T. Amos, F.A. MacKinnon and H.P. Jacques Esqs.

Frederick Barker was summoned for refusing to quit the licensed premises of the White Lion Hotel when requested to do so by the landlord, Mr. J.G. Smiles, on March 17^th. Defendant pleaded Guilty. Mr. B.C. Drake prosecuted on behalf of the complainant.

Mr. Smiles said on Friday, March 17^th, there were a number of men in the house, when he was sent for by his son into the bar. He asked a man to go out because he had had sufficient to drink. Defendant then began to use obscene language, and complainant asked him to go out three or four times, but he refused to do so. He used more bad language, and eventually defendant went out on the arrival of a policeman. Defendant was not drunk.

Defendant said under the circumstances he was a bit put out. His comrade was “chucked” out of the house, and he felt “a kind of hurt” about it.

Fined 10s. and 35s. costs.

Folkestone Herald 1-4-1905

Elham County Bench

Thursday, March 30^th: Before Mr. J. Du Boulay, Councillor T. Amos, Councillor H.P. Jacques, Councillor R.J. Fynmore, Colonel Hutchins, Messrs. A.S. Jones, F.E. Burke, and F.D. Mackinnon.

Fredk. Barker, an out porter, of Cheriton, was summoned for refusing to quit the White Lion, Cheriton, on the 17^th March.

Mr. Drake, who appeared for complainant, said that the White Lion was a licensed house which had always been conducted in a proper way, and if people were allowed to come in and be abusive, it would become very difficult to carry on the house as it should be. The licensee was determined to let the public know that the house was to be conducted as it had been in the past.

Mr. Joseph G. Smiles, landlord of the White Lion, said that on the 17^th March he was called into the bar to ask a man who had had enough to drink to leave the premises. Defendant, who was in the bar, declared that the man was sober, and interfering, he became quarrelsome. The defendant protested against the man being put out, and witness advised him to go. He refused to go, and witness sent for a constable, who took his name. The defendant was not drunk, and had only had a half of ale on the premises.

Defendant pleaded Guilty, and explained to the witness that his reason for interfering was because he thought it was right to stick up for a mate.

To the Bench he said “My comrade was chucked out, and I felt a kind of hurt”.

He was fined 10s. and 35s. costs.

Defendant asked for a month in which payment would be allowed, and the Bench agreed to let him pay half in fourteen days, and the remainder in another fourteen days.

The Chairman pointed out that the Magistrates were very severe with publicans if they allowed certain people to remain on their premises, but when those people obstructed the licence holders and were summoned, then the Bench had no sympathy with them.

 

Folkestone Chronicle 10-6-1905

Elham County Bench

Thursday, June 8^th: Before Capt. Mansell, Capt. Hutcheson and Mr. F.E. Burke.

Thomas Sutton was summoned for being drunk and disorderly at Cheriton.

P.C. Stevens stated that on Saturday evening, May 27^th, he saw the prisoner in High Street very drunk. He entered the White Lion Hotel, but was ejected by the landlord. When outside he became very excited, and after considerable persuasion his friends succeeded in taking him home.

Defendant, who pleaded Guilty, was fined 10s. and 11s. costs, or in default 14 days` hard labour.

Folkestone Express 3-2-1906

Inquest

An inquest was held at the White Lion, Cheriton, on Monday, by the County Coroner (Mr. R.M. Mercer), respecting the death of the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Giddy, of 25, Dunnett Road, which was suffocated on Friday morning.

Alfred James Giddy said he was an agent for an assurance company. He was 25 years of age and had been married about fourteen months. Deceased was his child. It had not been registered or christened. It was born on January the 23^rd. About half past two on Friday morning he heard the baby crying. At three o`clock he got up and made some tea for his wife. She asked him to put deceased on the pillow, which he did. Upon his wife asking him if deceased was all right, as she thought he looked funny, witness looked at him and put his lips to deceased. They felt clammy, and holding deceased to the light, he saw his face was blue. He then sent for Dr. Madden. Witness`s mother was present.

Mrs. Giddy corroborated, adding that deceased must have been suffocated against its mother`s breast.

The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.

In dismissing the jury, the Coroner said it was ridiculous so many men having to be taken away from their work to attend that inquest. He hoped the new Parliament would do something to reduce the number of the Coroner`s jury.

Folkestone Herald 3-2-1906

Inquest

An inquest was held by the East Kent County Coroner (Mr. R.M. Mercer), at the White Lion Hotel, Cheriton, on Monday, regarding the death of the infant son of Mr. A.J. and Mrs Giddy.

Alfred Jas. Giddy stated that he was 25 years of age, and had been married fourteen months. He lived at 25, Dunnett Road, and was an agent for the Prudential Insurance Company. The child was born on January 23^rd, and had neither been registered or christened. On Thursday evening he went to bed as usual, and on rising in the morning got some tea for his wife. She asked him to remove the baby, which was lying face downward on her breast, so that she might take it. He did so, and discovered that its face was blue. He concluded that the child was dead, but sent for Dr. Madden. His mother was there, and she was an experienced person.

Mrs. Giddy (the last witness`s mother) stated that she was there when the doctor came, and he stated that the child had been suffocated. She stripped the child while he was there, and found that there were no marks of violence on the body; only those indicating suffocation.

The Coroner said he was sorry for the parents. What was true years ago was true today. They preached against mothers taking the children to sleep with them, but they would do it. It was rather ridiculous that thirteen men should be taken from their work to hold that enquiry, and he hoped that the new Parliament would do something to reduce the number of inquests.

The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.

Folkestone Express 11-5-1907

Inquest

An inquest was held at Cheriton on Tuesday afternoon by the East Kent Coroner (Mr. R.M, Mercer) respecting the death of Mary Dow (61), who met with a fatal accident at 5, Albert Road, Cheriton, on Saturday morning.

Henry Dow, widower of deceased, said he was an Army pensioner. He came home at 11.30 on Saturday morning. Deceased was washing, and he said he had better get the dinner. Deceased went downstairs, and then witness heard her fall. Witness went down and saw her at the bottom of the stairs. She came up the stairs carrying a kettle. Deceased was 61 years of age. She had never suffered from fainting fits, and witness could not account for the accident. Witness sent for a doctor, and he came at 12.30. Deceased died at 4.30 in witness`s presence.

Henry Moseling, barman at the White Lion Hotel, said he heard the accident at ten minutes to twelve. He went to the house and found deceased lying at the bottom of the stairs. She was unconscious. Witness bathed her head and got deceased upstairs. A nurse came soon after and witness then left. Deceased was not able to tell witness how it happened.

Dr. Walter W. Nuttall, practicing at Folkestone, said he arrived at the house at 12.40. Deceased was lying in bed. Her head was bandaged and she was unconscious. Witness examined her and found she had a cut on her head about an inch and a half long. There was another large bruise on the right forearm and the skin was broken. Witness advised deceased`s removal to the Hospital, but there was some difficulty in obtaining an ambulance, and she was not removed. Witness did not see deceased again. He could not say what the specific injury was from which she died. Presumably it was shock, but he could not say for certain.

The Coroner advised the jury to bring in a verdict that death was due to injuries received from accidentally falling downstairs, and a verdict was returned to that effect.

The Coroner then asked if anything had been done with reference to having a medical officer nearer to the district. He had written to the Clerk to the Guardians, and was assured they would take it into consideration. What had been done he did not know.

Mr. Smiles, a Guardian, said the Board had communicated with the Local Government Board, but as there was no medical man resident in the district the Guardians could not alter the existing state of affairs.

The Coroner said he did not think they had got any more forward.

Mr. Smiles said they were very reluctant to appoint a doctor for that district alone.

The Coroner said he could not help thinking something ought to be done, and intimated that he would see into the matter.