Folkestone Express
9-10-1920
Inquest
Quite a sensation was caused in the town on Friday when it
became known that Mr. Frederick William Hurley, the manager for the Swift Beef
Company, Grace Hill, had been found dead with his throat cut at No. 34,
Surrenden Road. He was well-known in the town, particularly amongst the
butchers and other traders, and his death was received with great regret. He
leaves a widow and four children, with whom every sympathy is felt.
Mr. G.W. Haines (Borough Coroner) conducted an enquiry into
the tragic circumstances on Monday afternoon at the Town Hall, a jury of seven
being sworn in. A good number of the public were present.
Mrs. Edith Rebecca Hurley, 3, Coolinge Road, the wife of the
deceased, said her husband was 42 years of age. There were four children, the
eldest being 12 years of age. Her husband worked for the Swift Beef Company,
and had been in Folkestone eight years. She last saw her husband on Thursday at
breakfast time, and he scarcely touched his breakfast. She said to him “Why
don`t you get on with it?”, and he replied that he did not feel up to it. He
left for work about ten o`clock. He usually arrived home about 2.30 for dinner,
and though she was usually there to meet him at that time, she was not there on
Thursday, as she had arranged to go out. She told her husband of this, and left
his dinner for him. He usually went in to tea at 5.30 or 6. She returned home
on Thursday about 6.15. Deceased`s dinner was untouched, but the children told
her her husband had been home. She did not see him again that day. She was at
home the whole of the evening, and deceased did not return that night. He had
stayed out once or twice all night some months ago, but she had never asked for
any reason. They had never had a quarrel, and they parted on the best of terms.
The razor and case produced were in the breakfast room, and so far as she knew
there were two razors in the case. Deceased had been rather worried last week
about his business, as he could not sell so much meat as he wished. As a rule
he was a man of cheerful habits, and he was a temperate man.
Mr. Thomas John Mabbitt said he was cashier to the Swift
Beef Company, and resided at 87, Dover Road. Deceased was manager of the local
branch, Grace Hill. Witness had been at the branch for nine years, and had
known Hurley for some years. On Thursday deceased would probably arrive at
6.30, and he was there when witness arrived at eight o`clock. He last saw him
between 10 and 11 a.m., when deceased left and said he was going round the
town. He was in cheerful spirits and not depressed. They had some meat in the
shop. Deceased was generally there at closing time, but was not there on
Thursday, and did not return that day. Deceased`s accounts were correct so far
as they knew. The accounts were being audited at the present time, but the
audit had not started on Thursday last.
Mr. George Dowson, landlord of the Royal George, Beach
Street, said he had not known deceased previous to Thursday last. About 8.30
deceased went into the saloon bar, and there were four or five other people in
the bar. He joined in the conversation with the people there, and appeared to
be normal. He left about 9.45. Mrs. Baker went into the bar after deceased had
gone in. Deceased was drinking bitter beer, and was far from being drunk.
Mrs. Mary Baker, 34, Surrenden Road, said she was a married
woman, the wife of Harry Baker, but she had not lived with him for the past two
years. On Thursday evening last she went to the Royal George Hotel about 8.30
or 8.45, and had a small Guinness before returning home. Hurley spoke to her
first, entering into a general conversation with others as to some conjuring
tricks, which had been performed by someone in the bar. After a little while
she said she must be going to catch her car, and deceased asked her if she
could put him up. She said “Do you want rooms?” and he said “Yes”. She said “I
will give you my address” and she gave it to him. She thought deceased was
going the next morning to see the rooms, and a little later he said “Can I see
them tonight?” She replied “It is rather late; I would sooner you come in the
morning”. He said he would like to see them that night, and she said “Very well”.
She caught a bus near the Harbour, and deceased went with her. That would be
about 9.40 or 9.45, and they both took the bus to Surrenden Road. She showed
him the rooms, and about the same time there was a bad storm, and he said “Can
I stay?” She consented owing to the storm. She offered to make deceased a cup
of tea, and he said “No” She had no drink in the house. About a quarter to
eleven she showed him his room, and he went to bed. She had two bedrooms in the
house, and she let deceased have her bedroom, and she slept on the chair-bed,
with blankets, in the other room. There was no key in the door of his bedroom.
During the night she did not hear a sound, and she did not lock her door, as
she was rather superstitious about locking it. Deceased said he would like to
be called between 9 and 10. She got up about 9.30, and heard deceased coughing
and reaching. She went to the door and said “Aren`t you well? May I come in?”
When she went into the bedroom his remark was “I was out all day yesterday”.
Deceased was then in bed. She said “I will make you a cup of tea, perhaps you
will feel better”. He agreed to this, and she went downstairs to make the tea,
leaving the bedroom door open. She was downstairs ten minutes or a quarter of
an hour, and did not hear a sound. On going upstairs with the tea and a few
biscuits, she asked him if he felt better, and got no reply. She put the tray
down and looked into the room. As she could not see the deceased, she called
out “Where are you?” She found deceased lying on his face on the floor in front
of the fireplace. When she saw him there she touched him, and said “What`s the
matter?”, and then saw the blood and the razor. The razor was lying on the
floor, and deceased was quite still. She put her hat on and ran for Mr. Harris,
Morehall Avenue, and they went for Dr. Gore, but he was out. She went to Dr.
Pridmore and said “A man has cut his throat and may bleed to death”. Dr.
Pridmore was in Folkestone, and Mrs. Pridmore telephoned for other doctors and
the police. She went back to the house, and Mr. Harris went back with her.
There was no-one else sleeping in the house on the night in question.
Mr. R.L. Hurley, the deceased`s father said he would like to
ask if anything in the nature of immorality was spoken of on the journey. He
would like his son to be cleared. This woman was either speaking the truth or
not. If he did not go away for the purpose of immorality, what did he go away
for?
The Coroner: It will be for the jury to deduce their own
inferences. I don`t feel inclined to ask the question.
Mr. Hurley: I ask the jury to take notice of it.
Mr. John James Harris, 53, Morehall Avenue, lodging house
keeper, said he had known Mrs. Baker for 2½ years. During that time she had
lived at Surrenden Road. On Friday morning last, about 10.10 or 10.15, Mrs.
Baker called at his house, and she appeared to be very excited, and said “Mr.
Baker, put your hat and coat on, and come with me to the doctor; there`s a man
at my house who has cut his throat”. Mrs. Baker was properly attired. They went
to Drs. Gore and Pridmore, and on going to 34, Surrenden Road, he went into the
bedroom, and saw the body of a man lying on his face. The deceased was not
dressed. There was a lot of blood on the carpet, and an open razor with blood
on it. His hands appeared to be underneath the body. He touched deceased`s
neck, and the body was warm. Subsequently the police arrived.
P.C. Cox said that on Friday morning last he went to 34,
Surrenden Road, and was admitted by Mr. Harris. He saw the body of the deceased.
There was a large pool of blood, and the razor was lying on the right hand side
of the body. Over the mantelpiece there was a mirror, and there were several
spots of blood on it, and there was a lot of blood in the fireplace. He found
several business documents on deceased, and 8s. 6d. in money. The razor
produced was the one he found on the floor. A cup of tea was standing outside
the bedroom. In his opinion it was a single bed, and only one person had slept
in the bed, and someone had slept in the other bedroom.
Dr. Pridmore said that on Friday morning last, about 11
o`clock, he went to 34, Surrenden Road, and saw the body of the deceased, and
he had apparently been dead about an hour. There was a deep gash in the throat,
starting from the left, and completely severing the windpipe and the jugular
vein on the right. Some very considerable force must have been used.
Mr. E.J. Chadwick (Coroner`s Officer) said that on Friday
morning he went to 34, Surrenden Road, and subsequently saw the widow at 3,
Coolinge Road. She produced a case containing one razor, which she said was her
husband`s. He had compared the two razors, and they bore the name of the same
maker, Stuart Apps, Folkestone, and were identical in appearance. The body was
identified by Mrs. Hurley as that of her husband.
Mrs. Baker was re-called, and in reply to the Coroner, said
she had a private income, and it was not necessary for her to let a room for
the night. She had let several times lately. Nothing was said about the charge
for the room for the night.
Mr. Richard L. Hurley, 84, Oxford Avenue, Southampton, said
deceased was his son. He heard from him on the 21st September, it
being quite a normal letter between son and father, ebclosing photographs of
his family. He knew of nothing that had been troubling him, and had never heard
a complaint. He never said he required any money, and had said “I will bring
little Fred down for my holiday”. Deceased had never made a complaint about his
home affairs, and would never have committed this act if he had been in his
right senses.
The Coroner said that although a search had been made, it
could not be found that deceased had taken any shaving soap. He had simply
taken a razor with him. There was very little to show the state of deceased`s
mind. Even in his pocket book he carried about with him a phtoo of his wife and
children. For a man to stand in front of a glass and, looking into it, cut his
throat, he did not think the man`s mind could be properly balanced.
The foreman said the jury found that deceased committed
suicide, and that he was temporarily insane at the time.
Folkestone Herald
9-10-1920
Inquest
An inquest was held to the Town Hall on Monday afternoon by
the Borough Coroner (Mr. G.W. Haines) on Frederick William Hurley, of 3, Coolinge
Road, who, as stated in our last issue, was found dead with his throat cut at
34, Surrenden Road on Friday of last week. Considerable interest was manifested
in the proceedings, the court being crowded.
Mrs. Edith Rebecca Hurley, wife of the deceased, stated that
she resided with her family at 3, Coolinge Road. There were four children in
the family, the eldest being twelve years of age. Her husband had been local
manager for the Swift Beef Company, a position he held for eight years. Witness
last saw her husband at breakfast time on Thursday morning. He did not complain
about anything, but scarcely touched his breakfast. He left his home for
business about ten a.m. Deceased usually had his dinner about 2.30 p.m. On this
particular afternoon witness went out, and had previously intimated to her
husband that she intended to do so. She left the dinner on the table for him,
but on returning at 6.15 p.m. she found it was untouched. Witness was in the
whole evening, but did not see her husband again. He did not come home all
night. Some months ago deceased had stayed out once or twice, but not recently.
On those occasions witness did not enquire the reason, nor did he enlighten her
on the matter. They had had no quarrels, and on the Thursday they parted on the
best of terms. The razor and case (produced) she identified as her husband`s
property. As far as she knew there were generally two razors in the case. Of
late deceased had seemed a little worried about his business, and complained
that he could not sell so much meat as he would like to. As a rule deceased was
of a cheerful disposition.
Mr. Thomas James Mabbett, cashier to the Swift Beef Company,
living at 87, Dover Road, said deceased was local manager of the branch.
Thursday would be a busy morning, and deceased would have been due at the
office about 6 a.m. Witness saw deceased at his work at 8 a.m. The business
varied. On some days his presence would not be required until between ten and
eleven a.m. Later on Thursday morning deceased left the office, remarking that
he was going round the town. He appeared to be in his usual spirits, and not
depressed in any way. His accounts, so far as they knew at present, were
perfectly in order. They were being audited at the present time.
Mr. George Dowson, proprietor of the Royal George Hotel,
Beach Street, said he did not know deceased until Thursday last, when he
visited his premises about 8.30 p.m. Deceased came into the saloon bar and
entered into general conversation with other people there. He appeared to be quite
normal, and perfectly sober. Mrs. Baker was one of those present. Deceased was
drinking bitter beer.
Mrs. Mary Baker, a well-dressed woman, living at 34,
Surrenden Road, said she was the wife of Harry Baker, but had been living apart
from him for two years. On Thursday evening witness visited the Royal George,
and asked for a small Guinness before taking the bus home to Cheriton. There
were several people there. A conjuror came in and performed some tricks. There
was general conversation, and deceased (whom she had never spoken to before)
spoke to her. Subsequently witness said “I must go and catch my car”. Deceased
then said “Could you put me up?” Witness replied “Do you want rooms?”, and
deceased replied “Yes”. Witness gave deceased her address. He said “I will come
next morning”, but added “No, I will come tonight”. Witness, remarking on the
time, said “It`s rather late”. Deceased replied “I would like to see them” (the
rooms). Witness answered “Very well”. She then “picked up” a bus at the Harbour,
deceased accompanying her. This was about 9.45 p.m. They arrived at witness`s
home, and there she showed deceased the room, which he engaged. As there was a
storm raging at the time, deceased asked “Can I stay?”, and witness said “Yes”.
After this she said “Shall I make you a cup of tea or coffee?”, but he replied
“No”. There were no intoxicants of any sort in the house. Deceased went up to
bed about 11 p.m. Witness gave up her own bedroom to deceased. It had no key in
the door. She slept in an adjoining room, placing a chair at the door to secure
it. Witness was rather superstitious about locking bedroom doors. There being a
stranger in the house she slept lightly, and did not hear a sound all through
the night. Before retiring to rest witness asked defendant what time he would
like to be called in the morning, and he replied “Between 9 and 10”. Witness
went to call him about 9.30, and heard deceased vomiting terribly. She knocked
at his bedroom door and asked “Aren`t you well? May I come in?” Deceased replied
“I was out all day yesterday”. Witness then said “I will make you a cup of tea.
It may make you feel better”. Witness went downstairs to prepare the tea, and
in about ten minutes went upstairs with it, calling out “Are you ready for the
tea?” There was no reply. She knocked and then entered the room. For the moment
she could not see deceased and enquired “Where are you?” Then she saw him lying
on his face on the floor in front of the fireplace and near the bed. Witness
approached deceased and said “What is the matter?” She looked down close, and
then saw blood trickling on the floor and an open razor close at hand. Deceased
did not utter a sound. Witness rushed for her hat, and at once called on Mr.
Harris, an acquaintance, who lived at 53, Morehall Avenue, informing him of
what had occurred, and asking for his assistance. He went at once for medical
assistance and the police were communicated with immediately. Mr. Harris came
back to the house with her. Witness repeated she had never seen deceased before,
and knew nothing about him. There was no-one else asleep in the house on the
night of the occurrence but herself and the deceased.
The aged father of deceased here arose, and, with much
emotion, said “I would like to know if there are any evidences of immorality.
Was anything said about immoral conduct on the journey to the house? Why did my
son go home with her? (meaning the previous witness).
The Coroner: I don`t feel inclined to ask the witness the
questions. We are here to find out the cause of death. In any case you will
hear the evidence.
The Father: I would like my son cleared.
John James Harris, lodging house keeper, of 53, Morehall
Avenue, said he had known the previous witness for two and a half years. On
Friday morning she gave a sharp rap at his door, and on witness opening it Mrs.
Baker said “Put your coat on. There is a man in my house with his throat cut”.
After seeking medical assistance, witness accompanied Mrs. Baker back to her
house. He went upstairs and into the bedroom, where he found deceased lying on
the floor with only his shirt on. There was blood on the carpet, and there was
an open razor with blood on it. Deceased`s hands appeared to be under him.
Witness touched deceased, who was still warm, and looked to see if there was any
movement of the muscles or nerves.
P.C. Cox said he went to 34, Surrenden Road on Friday
morning, and on entering the bedroom saw deceased lying on the floor. There was
a mirror over the fireplace, and on this were several spots of blood. Witness
examined deceased`s clothes, and found several business letters in the pockets.
There was nothing in any of them to throw any light on the occurrence. Witness
found 8s. 6d. in deceased`s pockets. There was a cup of tea on a small tray
standing in the bedroom. In witness`s opinion the single bed in which deceased
slept had only been occupied by one person, and he was further of opinion that
the single chair-bed in an adjoining room had only been occupied by one person.
Dr. E.L.N. Pridmore said he was called to see deceased on
Friday morning. He was quite dead, and the body was nearly cold. Deceased`s
throat was cut, the windpipe being completely severed, and the jugular vein
also on the right hand side. Some very considerable force must have been used
to have made such a deep cut. The cause of death was haemorrhage.
Mr. E.J. Chadwick, Coroner`s Officer, produced a razor,
which he had shown to the widow of deceased, who identified it as the property
of her husband. It was one of a pair contained in a case. Witness had compared
the two razors. They were of the same make, and bore the name of the same
manufacturer. Witness produced other personal articles and correspondence, but
there was nothing in any of these to throw any light on the occurrence.
Mrs. Baker (re-called) said she was of no occupation. She
possessed a separate income of her own, and had no need to let lodgings. She
had done so recently, however, because of the demands on her income.
Mr. Richard Lewis Hurley, father of deceased, living at 84,
Oxford Avenue, Southampton, produced a letter, dated September 21st.
The Coroner read the letter, which was accompanied by photos
of the deceased`s children, and said it was quite a normal letter, one that
would be usual for a son to write to his father.
Witness, continuing, said he had no reason to believe his
son was abnormal about anything, either in his home life or anywhere. About
twelve weeks ago his son wrote in quite cheerful terms that he would come down
and see witness and bring little Fred and the other child with him. When
deceased was a lad he suffered very badly from St. Vitus Dance. He had,
however, never made a complaint to witness, either good, bad or indifferent. He
looked upon his son as being the last in the world to have taken his life.
The witness, who was deeply affected, was gently led to his
seat.
The Coroner said so far as the evidence showed the actual
cause of death was not in doubt.. They had the evidence before them of the
chance meeting at the Royal George. There might be a suggestion of immorality
in the case, but that did not come within their province. They had heard from
Mrs. Baker about the separate single beds, and that she was not obliged to let
lodgings. There was very little to show the state of mind of deceased at the
time. They had heard an affectionate letter read, telling of attachment to his
wife and children, which on the face of it was quite normal and a letter one
would have expected from a dutiful son to a father. They had evidence that
deceased`s appetite was “off”. It was not a question of depression. There might
be some little imaginary thing – which would possibly appear unaccountable to
others – that would worry him. Yet beyond this deceased appeared to be quite
normal. He (the Coroner) had said on similar occasions, and he repeated it now,
that in the perfectly sane man the preservation of life was the first law of
nature, but in a case such as this the mind must be unbalanced.
The jury, after a brief consultation, returned a verdict of
“Suicide whilst temporarily insane”.
Folkestone Express
7-4-1923
Tuesday, April 3rd: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer and
other Magistrates.
Pte. Sidney George Hibberd, of the King`s Own Royal
Regiment, was charged with stealing two 10s. Treasury notes on the previous day
from the Royal George Hotel.
George Henry Dowson, landlord of the Royal George Hotel,
Beach Street, said the previous day he closed his bar at half past two, and
left the bar empty about a quarter to three. An iron lattice gate separated the
bar from the passage of the house, and he closed and locked that. He then went
upstairs. About half past four he heard one of the bells of the till, so he ran
downstairs and saw the soldier in the private entrance to the hotel from South
Street. From where he was standing he could touch the 10s. key of the cash
register, and he noticed that the drawer was open. He asked prisoner how he had
rung the till, and he replied he had not touched it. Witness told him he should
send for the police, and the prisoner asked him not to send for the civil
police. He sent for the police, and P.C. Allen arrived shortly afterwards. He
unlockd the bar door, and on going in he found the two 10s. notes produced
screwed up on the floor, as though they had been thrown through the lattice
work. Previous to going upstairs, he saw there were two 10s. notes in the till,
but they had gone when he came down. The main door of the hotel was left on the
ordinary spring for the convenience of visitors staying in the hotel.
In reply to the prisoner, witness said he told him he would
have let him go if he had owned up to the theft instead of denying it.
P.C. Allen said at 4.35 p.m. the previous day he was called
to the hotel, where he saw Mr. Dowson and the prisoner. The former told him
what had occurred, and the prisoner said “I have not touched the till. I
thought this was a restaurant and came in to have a cup of tea”. He (witness)
then noticed some crumpled paper near the till in the bar, and on the landlord
picking it up found it consisted of two 10s. Treasury notes. Witness showed
them to the prisoner, who said nothing. At the police station, when charged,
prisoner said “I do not wish to say anything”.
Prisoner pleaded Not Guilty. He went into the witness box
and said he saw the door of the hotel open and went inside. When he got inside
the passage he heard someone coming along the landing. He then saw Mr. Dowson
hurrying down the stairs, and he asked him what he wanted. Before he could give
him an answer he looked into the bar, and finding the till open he asked him if
he had touched it, and he said he had not. He opened the iron gate, and after
locking the till accused him of stealing straight away. He got in such a temper
as he told him he had not touched it that he got hold of his throat. He then
sent for the police. He went into the hotel as he was looking for a place to
get a cup of tea. He never heard the till bell ring at all, and he did not take
the two notes.
An officer from the Regiment said the man only joined the
Regiment on Thursday, coming from the Depot. His conduct sheet was quite clean.
The Bench bound the prisoner over to be of good behaviour
for six months.
Folkestone Herald
7-4-1923
Tuesday, April 3rd: Before Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Mr.
G. Boyd, Mr. C. Ed. Mumford, and Colonel P. Broome-Giles.
Private Sidney George Mibberd (18), of the King`s Own Royal
regiment, was charged with stealing two ten shilling Treasury notes from the
Royal George, Beach Street, the previous day.
George Henry Dowson, licensee of the Royal George, said that
on the previous day he closed the bar at 2.30, and left about ten minutes
later. He closed and locked an iron lattice door between the bar and a passage
and went upstairs. About 4.30 he heard one of the bells of the till sound, and
on running downstairs he found the defendant in the private passage. From where
he was standing defendant could reach over to the till and touch the 10s. key.
He asked him how it was he had rung the bell, and he said he had not touched
it. Witness then said he would send for the police, and defendant asked him not
to do so. He detained the accused, and sent a man for the police. Shortly
afterwards P.C. Allen arrived. Witness then entered the bar and found two 10s.
notes screwed up on the floor, as though they had been thrown through the
lattice work. Two ten shilling notes he had left in the till were missing. The
main hotel door was left unfastened so that visitors might enter. In reply to
defendant, Mr. Dowson said he would have let him go if he had owned up to
taking the money, but he did not admit it.
P.C. Allen said that he was called to the Royal George about
4.35 p.m. the previous day, and on entering he found the last witness and the
prisoner. There was some conversation with regard to the till, whereupon the
latter stated “I have not touched the till; I thought this was a restaurant, so
I came in for a cup of tea”. Witness noticed some crumpled papers lying on the
floor in the bar and the landlord, picking them up, he found them to be two
10s. notes. Prisoner, when shown them, said nothing. When charged at the police
station he replied “I do not wish to say anything”.
Defendant elected to be dealt with summarily, and pleaded
Not Guilty. Giving evidence on oath, he said that about 3.30 the previous day
he saw the door of the hotel open. He walked inside and let the door bang. When
he got to the passage he heard someone coming along the landing, and saw the
landlord coming down the stairs. Mr. Dowson asked what he wanted, but before he
could reply the landlord looked in the bar. He found the till open, and asked
if witness had touched it. He said he had not. The landlord opened the door,
looked in the till, and straightway accused him of theft. The landlord flew
into a temper because witness said he had not touched it, and got hold of his
throat. He told someone to go for the police, and witness told him to get the
Military Police.
By the Clerk: He entered the hotel because he thought he
could get a cup of tea. He did not hear the till bell ring. He did not reach
over to the till, nor did he take the two notes. He remained in the passage for
two or three minutes so as to tell the people he was sorry for having come to
the wrong place.
An officer stated that the defendant only joined the
regiment the previous Thursday, so they had had very little opportunity of
forming an estimate of his character. While he had been in the army there had
been no charge against him.
The Bench bound defendant over to be of good behaviour for
six months.
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