Mechanics Arms 1925 - 1929

Johnnie Lawrence. Photo from Folkestone Herald.

Folkestone Herald 9-5-1925

Obituary

We regret to announce the death on Sunday, at Farnborough, of Mr. George John (Johnnie) Lawrence, of 37, Canterbury Road. He was fifty six years of age. At the time of his death he was employed as chef in the officers` mess of the 1^st Batt. Northamptonshire Regiment at Dettengen Barracks, Blackdown, near Aldershot.

The late Mr. Lawrence had had a varied career. Coming to Folkestone many years ago with a travelling minstrel troupe, “busking” on the beach and in different parts of the town, he settled down in the town. He tried his hand at many things. If one venture failed, he would tackle another. He appeared on many a concert platform as a comic singer, and his efforts were generally well received. He often appeared with his old friend, Tom Taylor. There was a time, too, when deceased was engaged with others in painting the barracks at Shorncliffe. Subsequently he became proprietor of the Mechanics Arms, St. John`s Street. Here he turned his attention to catering, installing special ovens for the cooking of steak and kidney pies. During the war these had a great vogue, and he supplied hundreds of thousands to the steamers that conveyed the troops across the other side. Deceased subsequently established a food factory in Ash Tree Avenue, off the Canterbury Road. At one period he was a mineral water manufacturer. Mr. Lawrence often catered for great parties, notably at the Drill Halls. He was responsible on various occasions for the dinners provided for the men of the Navy when sections of the Fleet were anchored off these shores. On one occasion, so pleased were the jolly tars, that they, as with one voice, called for the chef, and “Johnnie”, attired in the usual chef`s garb, made a speech which was cheered to the echo. Deceased had lately acted as chef in various officers` messes at Shorncliffe and elsewhere. The marvel of it was how, without any training, he adapted himself to the chef`s calling, but he did so with some success, as his many testimonials proved. He made a great hit on one occasion when he took a leading character in a local pantomime written by the late Mr. Austin Wilshire, and produced in the Drill Hall. “Johnnie” was regarded in the light of a “character” and though ill-health affected him of late, he still had the will to work, which he did also up to the last.

To his widow and family sympathy is extended.

The funeral took place quietly at Frimley Churchyard (Hants) on Thursday, the mourners being confined to the widow and members of the family.

Folkestone Express 9-10-1926

Tuesday, October 5^th: Before Alderman Spurgen, Alderman Wood, Mr. J.H. Blamey, and Miss A.M. Hunt.

George Vickery Drysdale was charged with stealing from outside 2, Dover Road, a maga­zine of the value of 7d. Mr. G. W. Haines defended.

P.C. Whyman said that at 6.30 .p.m. on Monday he was in Dover Road, where he saw defendant take from a shelf outside No. 2, Dover Road, a magazine (“The Corner”). Defendant folded it up, and put it in his left-hand side breast pocket, and walked away. He went into the shop, and spoke to Mrs. Grinstead. From what she said he went in search of defendant. He saw him about eight yards in Rendezvous Street. He stopped him, and | told him he was a police officer. The book was then protruding from the top of his pocket. Pointing to the book he said “Where did you get that book?” Defendant said “Down the roadway. I know the lady there”. He took defendant back to the shop, and asked Mrs. Grinstead if she had sold defendant the book. She said “No”. He took de­fendant to the Police Station, where he was charged, and he said “I had no intention of stealing it”. Defendant seemed to be quite sober, but rather dazed.

Cross-examined by Mr. Haines: He was not in uniform.

Mrs. Grinstead said she resided at 2, Dover Road, and carried on business as a confec­tioner and newsagent. On Monday morning magazines were placed on a shelf, which was in view of the shop. Amongst them was the magazine, valued at 7d. Later in the day prisoner went into the shop, about six o’clock, and purchased a packet of cigarettes, and paid for them. He turned to leave the shop, and she left the shop. A little later the police constable went in, and she told him some­thing, and he left the shop. He returned in a few seconds with the prisoner. She saw the magazine, and left the matter in the policeman’s hands. Defendant had on cer­tain occasions been a customer. When defendant bought the cigarettes no mention was made of any book.

Cross-examined by Mr. Haines: It might be a year or two that she had known him as a customer. He bought a paper occasionally, and on two occasions she had given him credit. He had never bought a book from her.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Haines said that in this particular instance, strange to say, defendant was a licensed holder, and had been in the town for some years, but his business was being man­aged by someone, and ultimately it would be­come the manager’s business. One reason why he had had a manager was that his con­dition was not altogether a normal one. Whether it was drink or not it was his nerves. At one time he was on the Stock Exchange, and dabbled in boats. Defendant might have taken the magazine up intending to go in and pay for it. It was an unfortunate error, and for a man in his position to put himself in that position for sevenpence. He thought the magistrates should say it was a case where he did not intend to put himself in that posi­tion. They would not want to put a conviction against him for a petty thing like this. He asked the magistrates to consider, looking at the type of man, and the circumstances, and that this was a trivial thing. He put it before them that they had no evidence before them that there was malicious intent to want to steal, and deprive this woman of the book. He thought the man was not normal. His wife had met with an accident, and as a rule she had kept him steady, and he had run a little wild.

The Chairman said the magistrates had carefully considered the case, and they were not satisfied he had the intention to steal the book within the meaning of the law. Un­fortunately, circumstances might have put him in a position that he did not know what he was doing, and the case would be dis­missed.

Folkestone Herald 9-10-1926

Tuesday, October 5^th: Before Alderman G. Spurgen and other Magistrates.

George Vickery Drysdale, licensee of the Mechanics Arms, was charged with stealing, on October 4^th, from outside 2, Dover Road, a printed book, valued at 7d., the property of Mrs. Grinstead. Mr. G.W. Haines defended.

P.C. Whyman said that at about 6.30 p.m. the previous day he was in Dover Road, where he saw defendant take a magazine (produced) from the shelf outside 2, Dover Road, a small shop which sold newspapers and periodicals. He saw defendant fold the magazine up, put it in his inside left breast pocket, and walk away. Witness went into the shop and saw Mrs. Grinstead, the proprietress. From what she said he went in search of defendant, and saw him in Rendezvous Street, close to the shop. He stopped him and told him he was a police officer. The book was protruding from the top of his pocket. Witness pointed to the book and said to him “Where did you get that book?” He said “Down the roadway. I know the lady there”. Witness took him back to the shop, and in his presence asked Mrs. Grinstead if she had sold him a book. She said “No”. Witness brought him to the police station, where he was charged with stealing the book. He said “I had no intention of stealing it”. He was quite sober, but seemed rather dazed.

In reply to Mr. Haines, witness said he was in plain clothes.

Mrs. Emma Jane Grinstead, proprietress of the shop, said the shelf of books was put outside the shop at 9.30 a.m. The shelf was in front of the shop, but in view of the door. Among the books was the magazine produced, which was valued at 7d. At about six o`clock in the evening prisoner came into the shop and purchased a packet of Woodbines. He turned to leave the shop after he had the cigarettes, and as the baby was screaming with toothache she turned and left the shop. A little later the last witness came and from what she told him he left the shop and returned in a few seconds with prisoner. The constable handed her the book, and she left the matter in his hands.

Replying to Mr. Haines, witness said prisoner had on rare occasions over a long period of time come to the shop. He did not ask for a book when he came for the Woodbines. She agreed that he might have thought she was coming back into the shop after she had seen to the baby and he had selected a magazine.

Mr. Haines entered a plea of Not Guilty, and read a section of an Act which stated that in a Court of summary jurisdiction, if the Magistrates considered it proved that a defendant was not normal, and the value of the article stolen (if the case was one of larceny) was negligible, they could dismiss the case. In this particular instance, he added, strange to say, the defendant was a licence holder and had been in the town for some years, but had not taken an active part in the business, which was being managed by some person, who was being paid for it, and would ultimately possess the business. The reason that he had a manager was that his condition was not altogether a normal one. He did not know whether it was through drink or what it was. Defendant was at one time on the Stock Exchange. He was often visiting the shop and purchasing books, and he might have taken the book up intending to go in and pay for it. He submitted that there was no malicious intent to steal the book.

The Chairman said the Magistrates had carefully considered the case and were not satisfied defendant did steal within the meaning of the law. Unfortunate circumstances might have put him in a position in which he did not exactly know what he was doing. The case would be dismissed.

Folkestone Express 20-11-1926

Wednesday, November 17^th: Before The Mayor, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Col. Owen, Mr. A. Stace, Mr. H.J. Blamey, and Mr. G. Boyd.

The following application for transfer of licence was granted: Mechanic’s Arms, from Mr. G. Vickery Drysdale to Mr. W. Grant.

Folkestone Herald 20-11-1926

Wednesday, November 17^th: Before The Mayor, Mr. G.I. Swoffer, Councillor G. Boyd, Colonel G.P. Owen, Mr. A. Stace, and Mr. J.H. Blamey.

The licence of the Mechanics Arms, 37, St. John`s Street, was transferred from Mr. George Vickery Drysdale to Mr. Walter Grant, who has been acting as manager at the house for the past seven years.