Granville Inn 1915 - 1919

Folkestone Express 22-1-1916

Obituary

The death took place on Saturday at the Granville, Dover Street, of Mrs. Margaret Skinner, at the age of 49, the wife of the proprietor, Mr. F. Skinner. Her demise followed an illness of only a few days.

The funeral took place on Tuesday at Canterbury.

Folkestone Express 29-1-1916

Thursday, January 27^th: Before G.I. Swoffer, G. Boyd, A. Stace, and C.E. Mumford Esqs.

Horace Dennis Kingsley and Rose Edwards were charged with supplying cocaine to soldiers, contrary to section 40 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations on January 26^th.

Pte. Herbert Welch, of the Canadian Force, said he belonged to the “Black Devils”. He was billeted at 46, Dover Road.  He recognised the two prisoners, whom he had known about two months. He had purchased from the man, whom he knew as “Horace”, stuff called “cocaine” on 20 or 30 occasions, or perhaps 40. Some times had had paid for it and on others not. He had received the stuff in small packets and had paid 1/- and 2/6 for it, according to the size of the packets. He had received from the female prisoner small packets of cocaine on ten or twelve occasions. He had not paid her anything, but the stuff had been a gift from the woman. He had mainly received the packets from the male prisoner in the Harvey Hotel, but from the female he had received it at the Theatre, in the streets, and in restaurants.

The Clerk: Have you ever been to a house in Shellons Street?

Witness: I cannot say that I have.

Have you ever been to a house to see these prisoners? – No, sir.

Kingsley said he noticed the charge against him was dated the 26^th January. He wished to ask Welch if he sold him any on the previous day.

Welch: No, you did not.

The Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew) said at the present stage it was immaterial whether he was charged with committing an offence on a certain date. The Bench could receive evidence of any similar transaction within six months of that date.

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said that was as far as he could take the case that day and asked for a remand.

The Chairman said the Magistrates had decided to remand the prisoners until next Thursday.

Both prisoners asked to be allowed to have bail, and the Bench fixed the sureties at £25 each defendant, and one surety of £25 each, the sureties to be to the satisfaction of the Chief Constable.

Folkestone Herald 29-1-1916

Thursday, January 27^th: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor G. Boyd, Mr. A. Stace, and Councillor C. Edward Mumford.

Horace Dennis Kingsley and Rose Edwards were charged with supplying cocaine to members of His Majesty`s Forces, contrary to Section 40 of the Defence of the Realm Regulations. Both pleaded Not Guilty.

In answer to questions put by the Chief Constable, Herbert Welch, a private in the 8^th Canadian Infantry (the Black Devils), stated he was billeted at 46, Dover Road. He recognised the prisoners. Kingsley was known to him as Horace. He had known them about two months, and had purchased something from him. It was stuff called cocaine. He had purchased it on twenty or thirty, perhaps forty, occasions. Sometimes he had paid him for it, sometimes he had not. He had received it from him in small packets. Sometimes he paid him 1s., and sometimes 2s. 6d. It depended upon the size of the packet. With regard to the female prisoner, he had received things from her ten or twelve times. He had received small packets of cocaine. He had not paid her anything at any time. It had been a gift from the woman. The packets had generally been handed to him from the male prisoner at the Harvey Hotel, and from the female prisoner in different places, sometimes in the theatre, sometimes in the street, and sometimes in a restaurant.

The Chief Constable said that was as far as he could go with the case that day, and asked for a remand.

The Bench adjourned the case for a week.

Prisoners asked for bail, which was allowed, each in his or her recognisances of £25 and a surety of £25 in each case.

Folkestone Express 5-2-1916

Local News

Yesterday at the Police Court, Horace Dennis Kingsley and Rose Edwards appeared on remand charged with supplying cocaine to soldiers, contrary to Section 40 of the Defence of the Realm Act.

The Chief Constable (Mr. Reeve) said the two prisoners were before the Court a week previously, and were remanded in order that further inquiries could be made. He had been instructed by the Director of Public Prosecutions to state that he was willing to conduct the prosecution. Therefore he asked for a further remand for a week on the evidence already given. An analysis had to be conducted, and other matters had to receive attention.

The Clerk said he understood that the prosecution at the next hearing would be represented by Mr. Travers Humphreys.

Prisoners were remanded for a week, bail being offered, themselves in £25 each, and one surety of £25 each.

Folkestone Herald 5-2-1916

Thursday, February 3^rd: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor G. Boyd, and Councillor A. Stace.

Horace Dennis Kingsley and Rose Edwards were charged on remand with supplying cocaine to members of His Majesty`s Forces, contrary to Section 40 of the Defence of the Realm Act.

The Chief Constable (Mr. H. Reeve) said the two prisoners appeared before them a week ago, and on that occasion they were remanded till today. He had been instructed that the Director of Public Prosecutions had expressed his readiness to take the case up and prosecute, and he had asked for a remand for another week. Enquiries had to be made.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew): They are still being made, I think?

The Chief Constable: Yes, they are.

The Magistrates` Clerk said the drugs were being analysed.

The male prisoner asked for bail.

The Chairman said they would both be remanded till Thursday next, bail being allowed, each in his or her own recognisance of £25 surety and a surety of £25.

Folkestone Express 12-2-1916

Thursday, February 10^th: Before Alderman Spurgen and other Magistrates.

Horace Dennis Kingsley pleaded Not Guilty to three separate charges of selling cocaine to a Canadian soldier on different dates in January. The cases were heard together.

Mr. Travers Humphrey, who appeared on behalf of the Public Prosecutor, said the prosecution was taken under regulation 40 of the Defence of the Realm Act, which provided that if any person gave or sold to a member of His Majesty`s Forces any intoxicant when not on duty with intent to make him drunk or less capable of efficiently discharging his duties would be guilty of an offence. The arrest of the prisoner, together with a woman who would also be brought before the Magistrates, was considered to be a matter of some importance, because Major Morrison, A.P.M., had for some time been endeavouring to find out the source from which Canadian soldiers were getting large quantities of cocaine. The effect of the habit which they acquired was pitiable, and most disastrous. It made it absolutely useless to try and control the man, who was made unreliable, and very often resulted in insanity. If a Canadian soldier was found to have acquired the habit, he was considered absolutely useless for the sake of the Army from that day henceforth.

Corporal Price, of the 8^th Batt., C.I., said he had known the prisoner two months. On January 12^th he was in the Granville public house in Dover Street, when he saw the prisoner with some soldiers and women. He saw the prisoner hand small paper packets, similar to the one produced, to two soldiers and a woman. He spoke to him and asked him what it was, and he replied “Snow”. He asked him how much it was, and he said he would sell him one for 2/-. He bought one. The packet contained white powder, and he marked it January 12^th. On January 16^th he saw the prisoner in Harbour Street, and asked him if he could have more “snow”. He gave him a packet, and witness purchased it for 2/-. He was exactly in the same uniform as he was that day. He was acting under the orders of his superior officers, and to that extent was on military police duty. On January 26^th he accompanied the prisoner to Dover and went with him to Thompson`s  chemist shop, 186, Snargate Street. He waited outside while he went in. When he came out witness asked him if he had been able to purchase any “snow”, and he replied “I have been able to gat half a drachm, and have ordered two drachms for Wednesday”. On Wednesday afternoon, the 26^th, he went to Dover with the prisoner. That was early closing day. The man opened the side door, and prisoner handed him an empty bottle. He afterwards left the shop. They returned in three quarters of an hour, and prisoner went to the side door. The man answered the door again and handed him the bottle, which was full of powder. It was marked “Poison, cocaine hydrochloride”. The label bore the name Lewis Thompson, Snargate Street, Dover. Prisoner put the bottle in his pocket, and after he left the shop he asked him if he would sell him some. Prisoner went into a lavatory, and when he came out he handed him a small packet containing powder, for which he paid 2/6. They came back to Folkestone, and on their arrival prisoner was arrested by Det. Sergt. Johnson with the bottle in his possession. The packets were handed over to Johnson also.

Det. Sergt. Johnson said on January 26^th, about 3.40 p.m., he was in company with P.C. Butcher on Grace Hill, and saw the prisoner and Price arrive from Dover. He went to Kingsley and told him they were two police officers, and should take him to the police station. He replied “All right”. At the police station he found in prisoner`s possession the bottle marked “Cocaine; poison”, and an empty bottle which had got the label of Mr. Thompson, and also a packet containing powder. He later charged the prisoner with selling a certain quantity of powder to members of H.M. Forces with intent to make them less capable of performing their duties. Prisoner said “How can I make them less capable? They are my friends”. He later received the packets from Price, and took them to the Laboratory, Shorncliffe, and handed them to Capt. Malone.

Capt. Reginald Malone, M.D., said he was in the C.A.M.C. he received and analysed the contents of packets and bottles. They all contained a soluble salt of cocaine.

Capt. J.B. McMurray, C.A.M.C., said he was acquainted with the effect of cocaine, and had had experience of it. He was in charge of Moore Barracks Hospital. Cocaine was a most dangerous drug and a poison. Taken in repeated small doses it would become a habit. The effect of acquiring the habit eventually led to insanity. It was very difficult to get rid of the habit once acquired. In the early stages of that habit it gave very brilliant ideas, supernatural ideas, and nothing was impossible. The reaction left the man sullen, morose, bad tempered and totally unfit for duty. They had had in Moore Barracks over forty cases of the drug habit. He had examined one or two of the samples, and, in his opinion, if taken in quite small quantities, would have rendered a soldier less capable. Cocaine was a great stimulant drug.

In reply to the Clerk, the forty cases he referred to had acquired the habit. It took about two or three weeks to acquire the habit.

Questioned by the prisoner, witness said one of the small packets would certainly affect a man.

Major Morrison, A.P.M., said he had seen the effect of the cocaine. What first drew his attention to it was the men under its influence coming into the guard room. The effect of cocaine taking rendered a man less efficiently capable of discharging his duties. The cocaine was known as “snow” by the Canadians.

Prisoner elected to give evidence on oath. He said he was living at No. 6, Shellons Street. He had been to Dover on the day he was arrested because his chemist in Folkestone had run short. Owing to the price of the cocaine he was not in a position to give it away, but he did not sell it to the soldiers in a direct manner, receiving 2/6 or 2/- more as a gift when hard up. The men were personal friends of his, and he had known them three months. The Corporal was a little scared that he would be arrested. Corporal Price did not give him any money, although he lent him money to get it. He had no recollection of giving the first two packets to Corporal Price. He was an old soldier himself, and had been 12 years in the Army, had been wounded at the Front, and had been invalided out. He came to Folkestone to recuperate. He had been willing to do his bit and he did not want to injure other people. He had a North West Frontier medal of 1911, having seen service in India. He asked the Magistrates to deal leniently with him.

Cross-examined, prisoner said he had not his military papers with him. They were at 14, Storr Street, Tottenham Court Road. He had a small pension of 1/6 a day from the War Office. He had not applied for it lately, because when he got it he had a “grand slam”, and was no good for three weeks after. He had no occupation at Folkestone. He distributed the cocaine because the men were his personal friends. He got the stuff from chemists at Folkestone, but he would not give the names at present. The soldiers could not get it from chemists, because Major Morrison had put a bar on it for soldiers. He only knew that from what the soldiers said. He knew Rose Edwards, who had given a little cocaine to soldiers. She and he lived in the same house. She came from London. Other people besides themselves gave the soldiers cocaine. The soldiers had given him some because he took cocaine.

Mr. Travers Humphrey: What effect has it upon you?

Prisoner: It makes you more keen on what you are doing than what you would be without. It has a stimulating effect.

The Magistrates retired, and on their return the Chairman said that was a very serious offence. The Bench had found the prisoner Guilty of the charge, and he would be sentenced to six months` hard labour on each charge, but the sentences would run concurrently.

Rose Edwards was then placed in the dock. She pleaded Not Guilty to three charges. Mr. Travers Humphrey prosecuted.

Corporal Price said he knew the prisoner. He saw her on January 14^th at the Bellevue Hotel. When he came out of the house he saw empty some white powder in a soldier`s handkerchief from a small box. He asked her what it was and she said “Snow”. He asked her if she could spare some for him and she said she could. She gave him some for which he gave her 2/6. At half past four the same day he saw her again and he asked if she could sell him another packet, and he paid her 2/- for it. On January 17^th he saw her in the Granville Hotel and he bought a packet of “snow” from her for 2/6. On the 24^th January he visited her house at 9.15 a.m., and he purchased a packet from her for 2/-. She wrapped the cocaine up in an envelope bearing her address as Little Fenchurch Street.

Mr. Travers Humphrey: It is a Y.M.C.A. envelope. (Laughter)

Detective Sergt. Johnson said on January 26^th he saw the prisoner at the police station and he charged her with selling the powder to soldiers with the intent of making them less capable of efficiently performing their duties.

Captain Malone gave evidence of analysing the contents of the packets produced by Corporal Price.

Captain McMurray gave evidence as to the effect of the drug.

Prisoner gave evidence on oath. On the 14^th January she gave Price a little “snow”, but she did not sell it to him. On January 17^th and 24^th she did not see Price at all, as she was in bed.

Cross-examined by Mr. Travers Humphrey, she said she obtained the cocaine from a fellow who sold it in the West End of London. He was not a chemist, but the man sold it to the girls in London. He sold it in the streets. She had never tried to purchase it from a chemist in Folkestone. She had only given it to two Canadian soldiers. She had been in the habit of taking cocaine, but she had broken herself of the habit since Christmas. She had only given “snow” to Price on two occasions. She could get a pill box full of the stuff in London for 2/6.

Kingsley, called by Edwards, said he had never known the prisoner to take money for the cocaine.

The Chief Constable mentioned that the woman belonged to London, and was a well-known prostitute.

The Magistrates sentenced her to six months` hard labour on each charge, the sentences to run concurrently.

Corporal Price was called forward and the Chairman said the Bench wished to express their appreciation on the way he had given his evidence and had acted in the case.

The Chief Constable said with regard to Kingsley`s statement, they had found that on January 17<sup>th</sup>, 1913, he was sentenced to two months` hard labour for felony in London.

Charges under the Pharmacy Act against both prisoners were withdrawn.

Folkestone Herald 12-2-1916

Thursday, February 10^th: Before Alderman G. Spurgen, Mr. J. Stainer, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Lt. Col. R.J. Fynmore, Councillor G. Boyd, Colonel G.P. Owen. Councillor A. Stace, Councillor C. Edward Mumford, and Mr. H. Kirke.

Horace Dennis Kingsley and Rose Edwards were charged on remand with committing a breach of the Defence of the Realm Act by giving cocaine to soldiers. Mr. Travers Humphrey appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. It was decided to take the cases separately, so the woman was removed from the dock.

The Magistrates` Clerk (Mr. J. Andrew), addressing Kingsley, said he would be charged firstly with that he on January 26<sup>th</sup> did sell to a member of His Majesty`s Service a certain intoxicant with intent to make him drunk or less capable of performing his duties, contrary to Section 40 of the Defence of the Realm (Consolidation) Act.

Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty, and also denied two similar offences on January 12^th and 16^th.

Mr. Travers Humphreys said the Director of Public Prosecutions had taken up these proceedings at the request of the military authorities. It would not prejudice the prisoner if the three charges were taken together. The arrest of the man and the woman was considered to be a matter of considerable importance, because Major Morrison had been for some time trying to find out who were the persons supplying the Canadian soldiers with this drug. The effect of this drug on the soldiers was most pitiful and most distressing. Defendant was a distributing agent for this drug amongst the soldiers. The drug made the person unreliable, delusional, and sometimes produced insanity. If a man was treated for it, he did not get over the ill-effects it produced. They would have certain evidence to show that. If a Canadian soldier was found to have acquired the habit of taking cocaine, he was absolutely useless for the Army from that day forth.

Corporal C.F. Price, of the 8^th Battalion, Canadians, said he had known the accused about two months. On the 12^th January he was in the Granville public house, Dover Street, where he saw accused with some soldiers and woman. Prisoner handed packets to two soldiers and one woman. The packets were small, and similar to those produced. He spoke to the accused, and asked him what it was, and prisoner said “Snow”. He asked how much it was, and the reply was “2s.”. Witness bought a packet, which was quite plain, with no writing on it. It contained white powder. He saw the accused again on the 16^th January in Harbour Street, and bought another packet. He asked prisoner if he could have some more “Snow”, and accused said “Yes”. He paid 2s. again for another packet. He was in uniform, and was acting under the orders of his superior officers. He was on police duty. On the 24^th January he went to Dover with the accused. They went to Lewis Thompson`s chemist shop, 186, Snargate Street, Dover. He waited outside whilst prisoner went in. Witness asked him when he came out if he had got any “snow”, and he said “Yes, only half a drachm. I ordered two drachms, and I have to fetch it on the following Wednesday or Thursday” On Wednesday, January 26^th, he went again with accused to the same chemist. Prisoner went to the side door, as it was early closing, and it was opened by a man.

Prisoner: A lie.

Witness, continuing, said prisoner handed over a bottle to the man at the chemist`s (produced). To his knowledge accused had not more than 7s. or 8s.

Prisoner: No.

Witness said they then left and returned later. The bottle, which was empty, was handed over to accused, full of white powder. The bottle was marked “Poison. Cocaine Hydrochloride. Lewis Thompson, Chemist, Dover”. They left, and witness said he would like some “snow”, asking him to spare him 2s. 6d. worth. Prisoner said he would, and gave witness a little packet containing the white powder. They returned to Folkestone, where they were met by Detective Sergeant Johnson, who arrested the accused with the bottle in his possession. Witness handed over the packets on the 26^th inst. in the evening to the detective.

Detective Sergeant Johnson said on January 26^th, about 3.40 p.m., he was in company with P.C. Butcher on Grace Hill, and saw the prisoner and Price arrive from Dover. He went to Kingsley, told him they were two police officers, and would take him to the police station. He replied “All right”. At the police station he found in prisoner`s possession the bottle marked “Cocaine. Poison”, an empty bottle, which had got the label of Mr. Thompson, and also a packet containing white powder. He later charged the prisoner with selling a certain quantity of powder to members of H.M. Forces, with intent to make them less capable of performing their duties. Prisoner said “How can I make them less capable? They are my friends”. He later received the packets from Price, and, incompany with Major Morrison, took them to the laboratory at Shorncliffe, handing them to Captain Malone.

Captain Reginald Malone, M.D., of the C.A.M.C., said he analysed the contents of the packets and bottles. They all contained a soluble salt of cocaine.

Captain J.B. McMurray, of the C.A.M.C., said he was acquainted with the effect of cocaine, and had had experience of it. He was in charge of the Moore Barracks Hospital. Cocaine was a most dangerous drug and a poison. Taken in repeated small doses, it would become a habit. The effect of acquiring the habit eventually led to insanity. It was very difficult to get rid of the habit once acquired. In the early stages of the habit it gave very brilliant ideas, supernatural ideas, and nothing was impossible. The reaction left the man sullen, morose, bad-tempered, and totally unfit for duty. They had had in Moore Barracks over forty cases of the drug habit. He had examined one or two of the samples, and in his opinion, if taken in quite small doses, would have rendered a soldier less capable. Cocaine was a great stimulant drug.

In reply to Mr. Andrews, witness said the 40 cases referred to had acquired the habit. It took about two or three weeks to acquire the habit.

Questioned by the prisoner, witness said one of the small packets would certainly affect a man.

Major Morrison, Assistant P.M., said he had seen the effect of the cocaine. What first drew his attention to it was the men coming into the guard room. The effect of cocaine taking rendered a man less capable of discharging his duties. The cocaine was known as “snow” by the Canadians.

Prisoner elected to give evidence on oath. He said he was living at No. 6, Shellons Street, Folkestone. He had been in Dover on the day he was arrested because his chemist in Folkestone had run short. He would like to state that owing to the price of hydrochloride cocaine he could not give it away. When he ran short of money his friends would give him a shilling or two. He did not sell it to the soldiers. The soldiers were friends of his, and he had been about with them for two or three months. The Corporal had nit given him any money, although he had lent him money to get it. He had no recollection of giving the first two packets to Corporal Price at all. He had been in the Army for twelve years, and had been to the front. He had only just come out of hospital. He came to Folkestone to recuperate himself. He had a relapse, and was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. He had been willing to do his bit, and did not see why he should want to prevent these soldiers doing their bit. He had got the Indian North West Frontier medal. He was in a very weak state of health.

Cross-examined, accused said he had not got his military papers. They were at 14, Stall Street, Tottenham Court Road. He had written for them several times, but had received no reply. He came to Folkestone in July. He had a little money he had saved, and 1s. 6d. a day from the War Office. It was paid quarterly, and he had not applied for it yet. He did not get it as it was not much, and as he had been ill he could not have a grand slam. He had not sold any cocaine. He had given it away. He bought the cocaine at different chemists in Folkestone. He would not like to give their names at present. He knew the soldiers were not allowed to buy the stuff from chemists, as Major Morrison had put a bar on it. He knew a woman named Rose Edwards, who had been giving a little cocaine to soldiers. They were living in the same house. She was a friend of his. She did not come from London.

Mr. Humphrey: You were very kind to give it to soldiers.

The prisoner: Yes. When I had not got much the soldiers gave me some.

Mr. Humphrey: What effect does it have?

The prisoner: It makes you most keen on what you are doing.

In reply to a question by the Magistrates` Clerk, prisoner said he had taken the drug for five or six years. It had no ill-effect on him.

The Bench retired, and on their return the Chairman said it was a very serious case indeed, and the Bench found him Guilty. He would be sentenced to six months` hard labour in each of the three cases, the sentences to run concurrently, making six months in all. If he was not well enough to do hard labour, the prison authorities would see to that.

Mr. Humphrey said the other charge under the Pharmacy Act would be withdrawn. It was only a minor matter.

Rose Edwards was then charged with three similar offences. Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty to all.

Corporal Price said he knew the prisoner. He saw her on January 14^th at the Belle Vue Hotel. When he came out of the house he saw her empty some white powder in a soldier`s handkerchief from a small box. He asked her what it was, and she said “Snow”. He asked her if she could spare some for him, and she said she could, and she gave him some, for which he gave her 2s. 6d. At half past four the same day he saw her again, when he asked if she could sell him another packet, and he paid her 2s. for it. On January 17^th he saw her in the Granville Hotel, and he bought a packet of “snow” from her for 2s. 6d. On the 24^th January he visited her house at 9.15 a.m., and he purchased a packet from her for 2s. She wrapped the cocaine up in an envelope bearing her address (Little Fenchurch Street).

Mr. Travers Humphrey remarked that it was a Y.M.C.A. envelope.

Detective Sergeant Johnson said on January 26^th he saw the prisoner at the police station, and he charged her.

Captain Malone deposed to analysing the content of the packets produced by Corpl. Price, and Captain McMurray spoke of the effect of the drug.

Prisoner said she was living at 6, Shellons Street. Corporal Price came up on the 14^th inst., and asked if she could spare a little. She gave him some. She never received money for the “snow”. On the 24^th she was in bed and did not see Price.

In reply to Mr. Humphrey, prisoner said she got the “snow” from a fellow in the West End in a public house.

Mr. Huimphrey: What sort of a fellow?

Prisoner: He sells it to all of us girls.

In further reply to Mr. Humphrey, the accused said she did not give it to other soldiers. She had taken the drug herself, but broke herself of the habit just before Christmas. She gave it to Corporal Price on two occasions only.

Mr. Humphrey: How much does this powder cost?

Prisoner: Oh! You can get a pill-box full for 2s. 6d. in London.

Kingsley, on oath, said he had never known Edwards to sell cocaine.

The Chief Constable (Mr. H. Reeve) said the prisoner came from London. She was a well-known prostitute, although there had been no convictions against her.

The Chairman said it was regarded as a very serious offence at the present time by the Government. Prisoner would be sentenced to six months` hard labour for each offence, the sentences to run concurrently, making six months in all.

The Chairman, addressing Corporal Price, said the Bench wished to thank him. They greatly appreciated the way in which he had given his evidence. They were also grateful for the splendid way he took the matter on, and the way he brought the evidence before them.

The Chief Constable said that Kingsley`s statement as to having served in the Army was incorrect. He was sentenced to two months` imprisonment in London in 1913 for felony.