Folkestone Express
3-9-1921
Local News
Last (Thursday) evening, shortly after six o`clock, John
Page, a potman in the employ of Mr. Henry Toomer, the licence holder of the
Eagle Tavern, Guildhall Street, made a sensational discovery in the cellar at
the rear of the house. Having occasion to go down into the cellar he there made
the shocking discovery of Mr. Toomer hanging by means of a sash cord fastened
to a bolt just over six feet from the floor. He was quite dead. Page at once
went for assistance, and Mr. S.H. Kennett, of 12, Darlington Street, returned
with him and cut Mr. Toomer down. An inquest will be conducted by the Borough
Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) this afternoon.
The late Mr. Toomer was 52 years of age, and his tragic end
will come as a shock to a large circle of friends, with whom he was most
popular. For many years he was the steward at the Folkestone Club, leaving
there to take over control at the Eagle Tavern. The greatest sympathy will be
extended to Mrs. Toomer and the members of the family in their sad bereavement.
Folkestone Herald
3-9-1921
Local News
A painful sensation was caused on Thursday evening when it
became known that Mr. H. Toomer, landlord of the Eagle Tavern, Guildhall
Street, had been discovered dead under distressing circumstances.
The deceased, who appeared to be in his usual health and
spirits during the day, was found by an employee, named Page, hanging in his
cellar about six feet from the floor. The body was cut down by Mr. S. Kennett,
a neighbour, but it was found that Mr. Toomer was dead.
Deceased, who was in his fifty second year, was widely
known, and much respected. At one time he was Head Waiter at the Radnor Club,
and subsequently Steward at the Folkestone Club, which he left to become licensee
of the Eagle Tavern. He had suffered of late with acute rheumatic gout, and
this, at times, caused him much pain. Sympathy is felt with the widow and
family in their great affliction.
Inquest
An inquest was held at the Town hall yesterday afternoon by
the Borough Coroner.
Mrs. Edith Toomer, wife of the deceased, said her husband
was 52 years of age. They had been married nineteen years and had two children;
one was eighteen and the other fifteen. They had been at the Eagle Tavern six
years. Deceased last saw a doctor about two months ago. He had been very well
during the past few days. He never told her anything about his money affairs.
As far as she knew he had no money or other troubles. He seemed rather
depressed, however, and continually remarked that trade was bad. There had been
no differences of opinion between them. He had been taking barley water for the
past few months because of his gout, and he had taken very little stimulant. He
had never threatened to take his life.
John Page, assistant barman at the Eagle Tavern, said on
Thursday evening he opened the house at five o`clock. When he went out earlier
he left deceased in the house. He naturally thought Mr. Toomer was out, as he
did not see him when he returned at 6 o`clock. Mrs. Toomer came back, and just
afterwards she went upstairs to find deceased, but he was not in his bedroom.
He next went down to the cellar, and saw deceased hanging from a beam close
against the wall.
Percy Wright, 29, Darlington Street, said he and Mr. Kennett
were called in by the last witness, who said “I think there is something the
matter with Mr. Toomer”. They found him hanging in the cellar, and Mr. Kennett
cut him down.
Stephen Henry Kennett, 12, Darlington Street, also gave
evidence.
A representative of Messrs. Ash and Company said deceased
had no financial embarrassment. The company expressed their sympathy with the
widow.
The Coroner found that deceased hung himself, but that there
was nothing to show the state of his mind at the time.
Folkestone Express
10-9-1921
Inquest
The inquest on the body of Mr. Harry Toomer, the licensee of
the Eagle Tavern, Guildhall Street, who was found hanging in a cellar at his
residence on Thursday evening, was held on Friday afternoon at the Town Hall
before the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines).
Mrs. Edith Toomer said the deceased was her husband, Harry
Toomer, the licensee of the Eagle Tavern. He was 52 years of age. They had been
married nineteen years, and there were two boys, the eldest eighteen, and the
other fifteen years of age. Decesaed was formerly steward at the Radnor Club,
and later at the Folkestone Club. They went to the Eagle Tavern six years ago.
His general health had not been good, and for the past few years he had
developed gout, which made him very depressed. He was last seen by a doctor
about two months ago. During the last few days his health had been very good.
On Thursday morning he told her there was going to be a change in the weather,
because he felt pain in the elbows. They had dinner at the usual time, about
1.45, and closed at three o`clock. He went into the bar after dinner. Witness
went out about 2.30, and told her husband that she intended to do so, and he
was then in the bar serving. He asked her to bring back with her some “Tatcho”
for his hair. On her return about six o`clock the house was open. She had to
pass through the saloon bar, and there were no customers in any of the bars.
John Page was in charge of the bar, and he said “Mr. Toomer is not back yet”.
He usually went for a walk to the Star at Newington. She went into the sitting
room, and saw that his caps were hanging on the stairs, and she said “That is
funny; where`s his stick?”, and she saw it in the corner. She told the boy he
must be doing something in the cellar, and told him to go and look. He went,
and came back, and said “He has hung himself”. The boy went and fetched
someone, who went downstairs. She did not know anything about his financial
position, but the only thing he had complained about was that trade was bad. As
far as she knew he had no money troubles at all. She simply thought he had got
run down and was worried. He had said he thought he would rather go back to
club life again. He was most considerate that day, and she did not think he
would have gone and done such a thing. He had been drinking barley water for
about three months, and he said it was doing him good. He had never suggested
taking his own life, and had always said it was a cowardly thing to do.
John Page (17), assistant barman at the Eagle Tavern, said
he had been at the Eagle Tavern since the 31st December, and had
always got on ver well with Mr. Toomer. After dinner deceased went into the bar
and relieved him, and he returned to the bar himself about 1.40. They both
remained in the bar until three o`clock. Witness assisted Mr. Toomer in closing
the premises. Deceased went into the sitting room, and witness saw him reading
the paper. He went out about 3.10, and returned at five o`clock. He thought Mr.
Toomer must be out. Mrs. Toomer returned about six o`clock, and he said “The
boss is not in yet”. She said “It is an unusual thing for him not to be in
now”. Mrs. Toomer saw deceased`s hat and stick, and she went upstairs to the
bedroom, but Mr. Toomer was not there. Mrs. Toomer then told him to go and see
if he was downstairs, and he went into the cellar. On switching on the electric
light he saw Mr. Toomer hanging, close against the wall. He had never noticed
the rope (produced) in the cellar or elsewhere.
Mr. Percy Wright, 29, Darlington Street, labourer, said he
saw the deceased on Wednesday night, and he had always been cheerful. On
Thursday, at 6.10 p.m., he was walking along Guildhall Street, with a man named
Kennett, and saw Page, who asked them to go in. Page said he thought there was
something the matter with Mr. Toomer in the cellar. He proceeded into the
cellar, and saw Mr. Toomer hanging on the wall. Mr. Kennett cut the body down.
He thought deceased must have got on the steps, thrown the rope over the nail,
and swung himself clear.
Mr. Stephen Henry Kennett, 12, Darlington Street, storeman`s
assistant, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness.
A representative of Messrs. Ash, brewers, said there was no
financial embarrassment whatever.
The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased hung himself,
but there was nothing to show the state of his mind.
The representative of the brewery, on behalf of the
Directors, expressed sympathy with the widow.
The Coroner said Mr. Toomer was very well known in
Folkestone, and he was surprised to know he had done such a thing.
The
Bench agreed to the following transfer: The Eagle Tavern, from the late Mr.
Toomer to his widow.
Folkestone Express
8-10-1921
Local News
On Wednesday the Folkestone Magistrates at the special
transfer sessions had before them the question of hours for the sale of drink.
Folkestone Express 9-2-1924
Annual Licensing Sessions
Wednesday, February 6th: Before Alderman R.G.
Wood, Dr. W.J. Tyson, Miss Weston, Miss Hunt, the Rev. Epworth Thompson,
Alderman Pepper, Col. Owen, Col. Broome-Giles, Messrs. G.I. Swoffer, G. Boyd,
A. Stace, W. Hollands, E.T. Morrison, J.H. Blamey, and W.R. Boughton.
The licence of the Eagle Tavern, Guildhall Street, was
transferred from Mrs. Toomer to Mr. F. Burchett.
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