George III 1910s

Folkestone Express 8-8-1914

Monday, August 3^rd: Before The Mayor, J. Stainer, G.I. Swoffer, E.T. Morrison, W.J. Harrison, A. Stace, and C.E. Mumford Esqs.

 

Francis John Maidment was charged with stealing six woollen mats in Wear Bay Road on Saturday.

 

Eleanor Hogben, a charwoman, of 10, East Street, said she was employed on Saturday at 11, Wear Bay Road, by Miss Louisa Remnant. She placed the mats in the back yard of the house about half past eleven. Later she went into the yard and the mats had gone. She saw Mrs. Cozzi, of Beach Street, who handed her the mat produced. The mats were valued at 34/6 and were Miss Remnant`s property.

 

Teresa Cozzi, wife of Antonio Cozzi, of 9, Beach Street, said on Saturday about one o`clock she met the prisoner in Radnor Street. He was carrying the mat (produced) in his hand, and also a bulky bag on his back. He said “Would you like to buy this mat for sixpence?” She replied “No, I don`t want it. It is no use to me”. He put the mat on the ground and said “Give me twopence, please”. She gave him the twopence, and the prisoner left the mat on the pavement and walked away. She picked it up and took it home.

 

The Clerk: It is rather a cheap way of getting a mat.

 

Witness: I did not want it, bit it would be silly to leave it on the ground for other people to take it. Proceeding, she said Mrs. Hogben came to her later, and from what she said she had at once handed the mat over to her. She had never seen the prisoner before.

 

Henry William Cork said he resided with his mother, who kept the George the Third, and assisted her in the work. The prisoner came into the public bar on Saturday afternoon shortly after two with the five woollen mats (produced). Prisoner said “Would you care to buy a few mats, guv`nor?” Witness was serving a customer at the time, and the prisoner repeated the question two or three times. Maidment was a stranger to him. After worrying him several times he (witness) asked him what the price was, and he placed two of them aside and said “One shilling”. He replied “I don`t know that I want them”, and he placed a third mat with the other two, and said he could have the three for 1/4. He bought them for that money, and eventually took them out in the back yard and hung them on the line. When he returned into the bar the prisoner was still there. He served several customers, and the two remaining mats were on the counter. Prisoner said “Well, you may as well buy the other two”. He asked him what he would take for them, and he replied “Ninepence”, which he paid for the two mats. He placed them on the line in the back yard. He looked at the mats before he purchased them.

 

The Clerk: You did not pay too much for them?

 

Witness: The usual price for such mats from caravans is sixpence or eightpence. They were not very good mats. Continuing, he said the prisoner remained and had a drink, and a few minutes later Det. Sergeant Johnson came in. From what the officer said to him he handed the five mats to him, and Johnson then arrested the prisoner.

 

Det. Sergt. Johnson said on Saturday, from information received, he went to the George the Third, in Fenchurch Street, where he saw the last witness in the bar, and from what he said to him he handed him the five woollen mats produced. He then went to the prisoner, who was sitting in the public bar, and showed him the five woollen mats. He cautioned him, and told him he would be charged with stealing them from No. 11, Wear Bay Road, the property of Miss Remnant. He replied “I did”. He brought the prisoner to the police station, and the six mats were later identified by Mrs. Hogben, and subsequently by Miss Remnant. Prisoner had a sack and two fish bags in his possession.

 

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said if the Magistrates were satisfied that a prima facie case had been made out against the prisoner, he asked them to commit the prisoner for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

 

Prisoner, who had nothing to say, was then committed to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions.

 

The Mayor said the Magistrates wished to express their regret at the readiness with which people in the town bought things which they must know must be considerably under their value. The five mats, which were at least valued at 25/-, were bought for 2/1. If there were not so many ready receivers in the town there would not be so many thieves.

Folkestone Herald 8-8-1914

Monday, August 3^rd: Before The Mayor, Councillor C. Ed. Mumford, Mr. J. Stainer, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor W.J. Harrison, Mr. E.T. Morrison, and Councillor A. Stace.

Francis John Maidment was charged with stealing six woollen mats.

Mrs. Hogben, a charwoman, stated that on Saturday last she was employed at 11, Wear Bay Road, at the residence of Mrs. Louisa Remnant. About 11.30 she placed six mats out in the back yard, and later when she went out for them they were gone. Susequently she saw Mrs. Cozzi, of Beach Street, who handed over one of the mats to her.

Mrs. Cozzi, wife of Antonio Cozzi, an ice cream vendor, said on Saturday prisoner, in Radnor Street, asked her if she wanted to buy some mats. At first she refused, but after accused had lowered his price to twopence she bought a mat. He had at the time a bundle on his back. Later in the day she saw Mrs. Hogben, and after what she said witness handed over the mat she had purchased.

Henry William Cork, residing with his mother at the George III Inn, deposed that on Saturday prisoner came into the public bar and put on the counter several mats, asking witness if he would care to buy two of them. Witness asked him how much he wanted for them, and prisoner said he would take 1s. for two. Witness told him he did not want them, and then prisoner said he would let him have three for 1s. 4d. Witness gave him 1s. 4d., and put the mats out on the line. Returning, he served several people, and then accused asked him if he would buy the other two remaining mats, saying he would take 9d. for them. Witness gave him the money. Prisoner stayed in the bar for some time and had a drink. Whilst he was there Det. Sergt. Johnson came in, and after making enquiries of witness, he arrested prisoner.

Det. Sergt. Johnson deposed that on Saturday he went to the George III Inn in Fenchurch Street. There he saw the last witness, and from what passed between them he told prisoner who he was. He showed prisoner the mats and cautioned him, and took him to the police station. When charged accused replied “I did”. Later the six mats were identified by Mrs. Hogben and subsequently by Mrs. Remnant.

The Chief Constable wished the prisoner to be sent to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions.

The Mayor, in sending prisoner to take his trial at the next Quarter Sessions, said it was a lamentable fact that people in this town should buy goods for so cheap a price when they must know something was wrong. Those mats were worth something like 25s. and they had been bought for 2s. 1d. If there were not so many ready receivers in the town there would not be so many thieves.

Folkestone Express 3-10-1914

Quarter Sessions

 

Monday, September 28^th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

 

Francis John Maidment, aged 68, a tailor, pleaded Guilty to stealing six doormats valued at £1 14s. 6d., the property of Miss Remnant, on August 1^st.

Mr. L.S. Fletcher prosecuted. In detailing the case, he said it was an extremely simple one, but there was one very remarkable circumstance about it, and that was the way in which the prisoner succeeded in disposing of those doormats. He seemed to have disposed of one to Mrs. Cozzi, who had never seen him before, for twopence. He then took the five remaining mats to a public house, where the son of the licensee, who had never seen him before, gave him 1/4 for three,, and then bought the remaining two for ninepence.

 

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said there were several convictions for felony against the prisoner dating back to 1888, when on October 20^th he had three months at Dorking for stealing. On October 5^th, 1891, 21 days` hard labour for stealing; 3<sup>rd</sup> March, 1892, 18 months at Surrey Sessions for housebreaking; 7<sup>th</sup> August, 1894, one month at Lambeth; 30<sup>th</sup> March, 1895, ten days for stealing; in 1897, 14 days for stealing; 17<sup>th</sup> May, 1902, two months for stealing at Taunton; 8<sup>th</sup> April, 1904, three years` penal servitude at West Kent Sessions; on 29^th November, 1906, three months at Aldershot for failing to report himself; on July 13^th, 1912, at those Sessions, twelve months` hard labour for stealing a window blind.

 

The Recorder asked why the prisoner was not prosecuted as an habitual criminal.

 

Mr. Fletcher said that was not for him to say, but there had hitherto been a considerable difficulty in getting the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions in such cases.

 

The Chief Constable, in reply to the Recorder, said the man was liberated from prison in May, 1913. Maidment was a man who tramped the country, and stayed in lodging houses.

 

Mrs. Teresa Cozzi, wife of an ice cream vendor, was called, and in reply to the Recorder she said she did not but the mat. She gave him twopence, and the prisoner left the mat on the floor. She gave him the money out of charity, and when the prisoner went she picked the mat up. She had it in her hands a quarter of an hour down Radnor Street, and then took it home.

 

The Recorder: Do you often buy things like that?

 

Witness: No.

 

The Recorder: You ought to be standing there where he (prisoner) is. It passes my comprehension why charges should not be made against you. If I had the power I would order a bill of indictment to go before the jury. I disallow your expenses. Get out of the Court and out of the way.

 

Henry William Cork was also called. He said he did not know the prisoner. He had never bought mats in that sort of way from a stranger before. He reason why he did so that time was a fortnight before they had put some new lino on the side of the bar, and it was slippery. The prisoner came into the bar, and he took the mats to be the usual type of mat sold by individuals who came round their neighbourhood.

 

The Recorder: You gave him at the rate of 5d. a mat for them. What did you do with them?

 

Witness: I carried them in the back yard and hung them on the line.

 

The Recorder: A good place for them.

 

Witness: Yes, because they smelt obnoxious

 

The Recorder: I think your conduct is disgraceful. I think you ought to be standing there, too, with that man. Anyone could have seen the mats were worth more. If there were no receivers there would be no thieves. I am surprised to think that a man, the son of a licensee of a public house, should go and do such a thing as this. Stand down. I disallow all your expenses. Get out of Court.

 

Prisoner said he stole the mats through starvation. He sold the mat to Mrs. Cozzi to get twopennyworth of bread and cheese.

 

The Recorder said he was going to give the prisoner another chance. He gave it to him to mark his sense of the way in which he found so ready a market to dispose of the mats. He would have to go to prison for six months.

Folkestone Herald 3-10-1914

Quarter Sessions

Monday, September 28^th: Before J.C. Lewis Coward Esq.

Francis John Maidment, aged 68, a tailor, against whom the Grand Jury found a true bill, was indicted for feloniously stealing six door mats, valued £1 14s. 6d., at Folkestone, on August 1^st, 1914. He pleaded Guilty, and also admitted being previously convicted of felony at Folkestone Quarter sessions on July 13^th, 1912.

Mr. Fletcher, who appeared for the prosecution, said the case was a simple one, but he desired to call attention to the very easy way in which the prisoner succeeded in disposing of the door mats. He seemed to have disposed of one to a Mrs. Cozzi, who had never seen him before in her life, for twopence, after first asking sixpence for it. He then took the five remaining mats to a public house, where the son of the licensee, who had never seen him before in his life, gave him eventually 1s. 4d. for three, and bought the remaining two for 9d. So that those six mats, valued at 34s. 6d., were sold to two persons who had never seen the prisoner before for 2s. 3d.

The Chief Constable stated that there were several convictions for felony against the prisoner, dating back to 1888. His convictions included nine for stealing and one for housebreaking. In April, 1904, he was sentenced to three years` penal servitude at the West Kent Quarter Sessions for stealing, and in 1906 was sentenced to three months` imprisonment for failing to report. In July, 1912, he was sentenced to 12 months` hard labour at Folkestone Quarter Sessions for stealing in the Borough.

The Recorder: Why was this man not prosecuted as an habitual criminal?

Mr. Fletcher said he did not know, but there was a considerable difficulty in getting the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute under the Act.

In reply to the Recorder, the Chief Constable said the prisoner was not a Folkestone man. He was a man who tramped the country. He came to Folkestone and stayed for a time in lodging houses, and then went off again.

The Recorder: He gives a lot of trouble.

Mrs. Cozzi was called, and the Recorder inquired how she came to buy the mat for twopence.

Mrs. Cozzi said she did not buy it. She gave the prisoner twopence out of charity, and he left the mat on the floor. As he went without the mat she took it. She did not know the value of it. She did not look at it.

The Recorder: Do you often buy things like that? Don`t you do it again. You ought to be standing there where the prisoner is. It passed his comprehension why a charge was not made against people like her. He disallowed her expenses, and told her to get out of the Court.

Mr. Henry William Cork was also called, and in answer to the Recorder said he did not know prisoner.

Do you often buy things in this sort of way from strangers? – Never before.

Then why did you do it this time? – Witness said he took prisoner for the usual type of caravan man.

The Recorder said the witness`s conduct was disgraceful, and he ought to be standing in the dock with the prisoner. To buy a mat like that for fivepence, when everybody who saw them would know they were worth more! If there were no receivers, there would be no thieves. He was surprised that a man who was the son of a licensee should do such a thing as that. He disallowed his expenses, and told him to get out of the Court.

Prisoner said he was driven to steal the mats through starvation.

The Recorder said he would give the prisoner another chance, to make his sense of what Counsel for the Crown had said as to there being an easy and ready market for stolen goods in the Borough. He sentenced prisoner to six months` hard labour.

Folkestone Express 24-5-1919

Thursday, May 22^nd: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Alderman G. Spurgen, Lieut. Col. Fynmore, the Rev. Epworth Thompson, Mr. E. Condy, and Mr. W. Griffin.

Mary Ann Williams was charged with being drunk and disorderly the previous evening.

P.C. Whitehead said he saw the prisoner about eight o`clock at the bottom of Seagate Street. She was drunk and causing a crowd to assemble owing to her conduct. He advised her to go away and she went up Fenchurch Street, and into the George the Third public house. She was, however, ejected by the landlady`s son, and then attempted to smash the windows with two umbrellas she was carrying. He, therefore, took her into custody, and another constable and himself had a difficult job to get her to the police station.

Prisoner said she had only two small sunshades and could not break any windows with them.

P.C. Kettle said when the prisoner was brought into the police station she was very drunk and used very obscene language.

Williams said she was very sorry. Her husband was so bad to her that she got some drink. She was nearly blind, and if they would give her another chance she would not drink any more.

Mr. Reeve, the Chief Constable, said the prisoner was a perfect nuisance. She had been there no less than 20 times previously, 18 being for drunkenness. In June last she was sent to prison for a month.

The Chairman said the prisoner`s record was a bad one. They were going to deal leniently with her, and she would be fined 10s., or 14 days` hard labour. A week would be allowed for payment.

Folkestone Express 16-8-1919

Wednesday, August 13^th: Before Mr. E.T. Ward, Col. Owen, Councillor Stace, Rev. Epworth Thompson, and Mr. Swoffer.

The following transfer of licence was granted: the George Third public house, from Mrs. Cork to Mr. Henry William Cork.

Note: No record of Mrs. Cork or Henry William Cork at George III in More Bastions.