Folkestone
Express 9-1-1915
Inquest
On Tuesday evening a distressing motor accident
occurred at the junction of Guildhall Street and Cheriton Road near the
Shakespeare Hotel, and as a result of which Madame Elvina L. Andries, the wife
of a Belgian linen manufacturer lost her life. She was run over by a motor
lorry belonging to Messrs. Leney and Co., the heavy vehicle passing over her
left leg and thigh, which sustained dreadful injuries. She was taken to the
Royal Victoria Hospital by Inspector Lawrence and P.C. Thorne, and despite the
careful attention she received there, she succumbed to her injuries on
Wednesday afternoon.
An inquiry into the circumstances was conducted bt the
Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) on Thursday afternoon, when the evidence
clearly pointed to the fact that the whole affair was quite accidental.
Dr. A.H. Bizzaro, the house surgeon at the Victoria Hospital,
said on Tuesday evening at seven o`clock the deceased was admitted into the
Victoria Hospital suffering from shock and a comminuted compound fracture of
the left tibia, and also of the lower end of femur. She had also a deep cut on
the leg above the fracture. She had a Potts fracture of the right ankle. He
could not find any signs of internal injury. She was conscious when she came
in, and all she said was that she could not breathe. Deceased was brought to
the Hospital by Inspector Lawrence. She died on Wednesday at 2.30 p.m. from
shock due to the injuries.
Pierre Decauwer, of 68, Black Bull Road, said he was
formerly a police officer at Antwerp. He identified the body viewed by the jury
as that of Elvina Louise Andries, the wife of Alfred Marie Joseph Andries, of
70, Rue de Chateau Tamise, near Antwerp, a linen manufacturer, now residing at
5, Marine Terrace. Deceased was 47 years of age. He had seen deceased in
Folkestone on many occasions. She always appeared to him to have good hearing
and good eyesight.
Inspector Lawrence, of the Borough Police, said on
Tuesday evening about ten minutes to six he was on the corner of Guildhall
Street, by the Shakespeare. He saw the lorry leave Messrs. Leney and Co.`s yard
adjoining the Shakespeare Hotel. As it came out of the yard a bus came round
from Guildhall Street, and the driver of the lorry pulled in close to the kerb
on his near side. He did not stop, but the lorry came along past him. The
forewheel of the lorry had just cleared the corner of Guildhall Street,
pointing in the direction of Guildhall Street, when he saw a woman, apparently
coming from the direction of Strood`s corner. She was then close in front of
the lorry and she threw up her arms. She stumbled and fell right under the
front wheel of the lorry. He did not think the lorry had touched her before she
threw up her arms and fell. The lorry appeared to go over her legs. The vehicle
was not going at more than two miles an hour. At that particular spot, owing to
the enforced darkening of the street lamps, it was very dark. The lorry had two
lights on the front. He shouted to the driver, who stopped just as the hind
wheel got on to the woman`s dress. He hardly thought it would have been
possible for the driver to have seen if there was anyone in front of the
machine. He did not think the driver could have done more than what he did. He
did not hear the driver sound any bell or hooter before he started. There were
two men on the lorry, the other man being close to the driver.
Job Robins, 12, Caroline Place, Dover, said he was a
driver in the employ of Messrs. Leney and Co., brewers, Dover. On Tuesday last,
about ten minutes to six, he was driving a steam lorry loaded with empties. He
brought the lorry out of the yard near the hotel and proceeded in the direction
of Shellons Street. He was going as slow as he could. The brakes were applied
at the time because of the descent down Shellons Street. He had two motor oil
lamps alight on the front, and they were burning brightly. His assistant, Percy
Neave, was sitting on his near side, and his duty was to keep a look out and to
assist him (witness) generally. When they had just got beyond the lamp he heard
someone shout “Whoa!” His assistant was one who shouted, and the other was on
the road. He had no steam on at the time, he having shut it off just
previously. He pulled up at once, and found that he had run over a woman. He
had not seen the woman approaching. He could not see anyone when close to the
engine. He had a hooter attached to the lorry, and he sounded it when he came
out of the Gun Brewery.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.
Mr. De Wet, on behalf of Messrs. Leney and Co. and the
driver, said he wished to say how extremely sorry they were that the accident
had occurred. With regard to the driver, he might say that he had been
connected with motor lorries since 1887. The only complaint the employers had
against the driver was that he drove too slowly.
Folkestone
Herald 9-1-1915
Inquest
An inquest was held at the Folkestone Town Hall on
Thursday afternoon by the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) concerning the
death of Madame Elvina Louise Andries, a Belgian lady, aged 47 years, who was
run over by a steam lorry belonging to Messrs. A. Leney, Ltd., of Dover, on
Tuesday evening near the Shakespeare Hotel, Guildhall Street. Mr. De Wet
appeared on behalf of Messrs. A. Leney, Ltd.
Dr. Albert H. Bizarro, the house surgeon at the Royal
Victoria Hospital, said that deceased was brought in on Tuesday at seven p.m.
She was suffering from shock, and a compound fracture of the left thigh, and
also the lower end of the fibia. She had big cuts on the upper third of the
thigh and the upper third of the left leg. It was possible to see the fracture.
The ankle of the right leg was also fractured. Deceased was conscious and she
was able to speak. She did not say anything with regard to the accident, but
said she could not breathe. She was brought to the hospital by Inspector
Lawrence. She died on Wednesday at 2.30 in the afternoon from shock, due to the
injuries she had received.
Pierre Decuwer, of 68, Black Bull Road, said he was
formerly a police officer at Antwerp. He identified the body viewed as that of
Elvina Louise Andries, the wife of Alfred Marie Joseph Andries, of 70, Rue de
Chateau, Tamyse, near Antwerp, a linen manyfacturer. He now resided at 5,
Marine Terrace. Deceased was 47 years of age. Witness had seen her in
Folkestone on many occasions. She always appeared to have good hearing and good
eyesight.
Inspector Lawrence said that on Tuesday at 5.50 he was
in Guildhall Street, by the Shakespeare Hotel. He saw the steam lorry of
Messrs. A. Leney, Ltd. leave Messrs. Leney`s yard. It got clear of the yard,
and as it came round the corner a red bus came round by Singer`s from the Town hall, and the driver of the
lorry pulled in close to the kerb on his near side. He did not stop. The lorry
proceeded to cross to where witness stood. As the lorry passed witness, he saw
a woman, who apparently came from Strood`s bakery, stumble right in front of
the wheel, which was pointing in the direction of Shellons Street. She was then
close in front of the lorry. She threw up her arms, and stumbled right under
the near fore wheel. Witness was standing right on the corner of the pavement.
He could not see whether the lorry touched her before she threw up her arms and
stumbled. The lorry appeared to go over deceased`s legs. The pace of the engine
was not more than two miles per hour, quit a snail`s pace. The lighting at the
point where the accident occurred was very bad. The day was a very dull one.
There was a considerable amount of light in the windows of the shops, but there
was steam on the windows. There were two lights on the front of the lorry.
Witness shouted to the driver, and he stopped just as the hind wheel got on to
the woman`s skirt. He did not think it would have been possible for the driver
to see anyone right in front of him. The lorry was very high. He did not think
the driver could have done anything other than what he did. There was no sound
of a gong or a hooter before starting. There was one other man on the lorry
besides the driver, who was on the off side.
John Strood, a private in the 7th Royal
Sussex Regiment, stationed at Shorncliffe, said that he was standing at the
corner of the street by the Shakespeare Hotel on Tuesday evening about 5.45.
There was not very much light. He saw the lorry come out of the yard and
subsequently pull into the kerb to let a red omnibus pass. There were two lights
on the lorry. These gave a good and strong light. The lorry did not pull up.
When the front of the lorry had got about three or four feet beyond the lamp at
the corner he saw a woman coming towards the engine. She was walking, and just
at that moment he saw her throw up her hands and fall. He thought that she had
slipped and fell in front of the engine. If she had not slipped she would have
most likely got clear of the approaching vehicle. The speed of the lorry was
about a mile and a half to a mile per hour. He heard deceased scream as she
threw up her arms. The lorry pulled up in about a few feet.
Joe Robbins, of 12, Caroline Place, Dover, said that he
was a driver in the employ of Messrs. A. Leney, Ltd., of Dover. On Tuesday
about 5.50 p.m. he was driving a steam lorry loaded with empties. He brought
the lorry out of the yard adjoining the Shakespeare Hotel, and he proceeded in
the direction of Shellons Street. He was going as slowly as he could. He had
the brakes applied before he got to the top of Shellons Street. The hill down
Shellons Street was a steep one. He had in the front two motor oil lamps. They
were both alight and burning brightly. His assistant was sitting on his near
side. The assistant had to attend to the fire and water while they were travelling.
When he got just beyond the corner he heard someone shout out “Whoa!”. His
assistant was one who shouted, and the person on the ground likewise shouted
out. There was no steam on. He pulled up at once and found out that he had run
over a woman. He did not see her approach the engine. One was not able to see
anyone right up close. A hooter was attached to the engine. He sounded it as he
came out of the Gun Brewery.
The Coroner, in summing up, said there was very little
doubt that deceased died from shock. He thought from the evidence that the
lorry was going very slowly. The accident could not have been avoided. There
had been many accidents during the last year, and he thought that as much
precaution as possible should be taken against loss of life. He considered that
the hooter of the lorry should have been sounded on approaching the crossroads.
The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.
Mr. De Wet said that he was instructed on behalf of
Messrs. Leney, Ltd. and the driver to express their deep sympathy with the
husband. The driver was a very trusted man, he having driven a lorry since
1887. The only complaint against him was that he went too slowly.
Folkestone
Express 17-6-1916
Saturday, June 10th: Before G. Boyd and W.J.
Harrison Esqs., and the Rev. Epworth Thompson.
John Thomas E. Broom was charged with embezzlement from
his employers, Messrs. Leney and Co.
Mr. G.W. Haines, who prosecuted, said they were only
taking one charge against the prisoner, that of embezzling 30s. on June 5th.
Edward Wm. Ratcliffe, 8, Kitchener Road, Doover, said
he was a seaman aboard the t.s. Queen, and he had been a customer of Messrs.
Leney, the prisoner having delivered the goods to him. On June 5th
he owed 30s. to Messrs. Leney for goods previously supplied and handed that
amount to a man named Hogg for the purpose of paying on Monday last. On Tuesday
morning Hogg handed him the receipt (produced), which was signed by the
prisoner.
James Percy Hogg, 1, Douglas Road, Tower Hamlets,
Dover, said he was a seaman on the Queen. On Monday Ratcliffe handed him 30s.,
which he paid to the prisoner in Folkestone. Broom said he had left his receipt
book in his van, and subsequently gave him the receipt produced, which he
handed to Ratcliffe on Tuesday morning.
Frank Charles Hatcher, a clerk in the employ of Messrs.
Leney and Co., Gun Brewery, Folkestone, said the card produced was in the
prisoner`s handwriting. Broom was a van man, and it was his duty to deliver
minerals and receive cash for the sale of them, and also to receive any cash
for them which might be outstanding. The card showed the number of minerals he
took out on June 5th and the returns he brought back. The sales
receipt (produced) was in the prisoner`s handwriting, and that showed the cash
he had received and the goods he had sold on credit. The card showed that 5s.
had been received. There was no corresponding counterfoil in the book to the
receipt produced by Ratcliffe. He only received 5s. on the previous Tuesday
from the prisoner when his Monday`s receipts had been paid in. Prisoner left
the employ of the firm on Tuesday.
Det. Sergt. Johnson said the previous day he arrested
the prisoner near the Eagle`s Nest, Dover Road. He made no reply to the charge.
He found the receipt book (produced) in his possession.
Prisoner elected to be dealt with by the Magistrates,
and he pleaded Guilty.
Mr. Haines said that was not an isolated case, as the
total amount of embezzlements totalled £10. Prisoner had five years` good
conduct in the Army.
The Chairman said it had been a difficult matter to
deal with the prisoner. The Magistrates, however, had decided, after a
conversation with the wife, to bind him over for twelve months to be under the
supervision of the Probation Officer.
Folkestone
Herald 17-6-1916
Saturday, June 10th: Before Mr. G. Boyd,
Councillor W.J. Harrison, and the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson.
John Thos. E. Broom was charged with embezzling 30s.
belonging to Messrs. Leney and Co. Mr. G.W. Haines prosecuted.
Evidence was given showing that the money was paid to
defendant on June 5th by Ed. Wm. Ratcliff, of 8. Kitchener Road,
Dover, a seaman, for mineral waters purchased from Messrs. Leney. Accused left
the employ of Messrs. Leney on June 6th, and did not pay the money
in.
Det. Sergt. Johnson arrested prisoner on the top of the
cliff near Eagle`s Nest.
Prisoner pleaded Guilty. He said he did not know why he
took the money.
Mr. Haines said it was not an isolated case, the total
amount involved being £10.
The Chairman said they felt Messrs. Leney had acted
very well to defendant. They had already overlooked a deficiency on his books.
The Bench had great difficulty in deciding whether they should send him to
prison or not, but they had come to the conclusion to deal with him under the
First Offenders` Act. They must ask him to think what he was doing in the
future. He would be bound over for twelve months.
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