Shakespeare Hotel 1925 - 1929

Folkestone Herald 21-2-1925

Local News

At the Folkestone Police Court on Tuesday (before Colonel G.P. Owen, the Rev. H. Epworth Thompson, Mr. J.H. Blamey, and Miss A.M. Hunt) various licensing matters were dealt with.

Mr. Mason, of the Shakespeare Hotel, was granted an occasional licence to sell at the Drill Halls, Shellons Street, from 8 p.m. on February 20^th until 1 a.m. on February 21^st for the annual ball of the Territorial Buffs.

Folkestone Express 19-12-1925

Local News

The Magistrates on Tuesday at the Police Court granted an occasional licence to Mr. W.J. Mason, of the Shakespeare Hotel, to sell at the Territorials` Ball, to be held in the Drill Halls this (Friday) evening from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Folkestone Express 26-2-1927

Tuesday, February 22^nd: Before The Mayor and other Magistrates.

Mr. E.T. Mason, of the Shakespeare Hotel, was granted an extension from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. on the 25^th-26^th February, for the Drill Halls, on the occasion of the annual ball of the Buffs.

Folkestone Herald 26-2-1927

Local News

At the Folkestone Petty Sessions on Tuesday, before The Mayor and other Magistrates, Mr. E.T. Mason, of the Shakespeare Hotel, applied for an occasional licence to sell intoxicating liquor at the Drill Halls, Shellons Street, between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. on February 25^th, the occasion being the annual ball of the Territorials. The application was granted.

Folkestone Herald 26-3-1927

Local News

At the Folkestone Petty Sessions on Friday an application was made by Mr. E.T. Mason, of the Shakespeare Hotel, for an occasional licence to sell intoxicating liquor at the Marine Gardens Pavilion from eight o`clock on the evening of March 23<sup>rd</sup> until one o`clock the following morning, on the occasion of a dance in aid of the Folkestone Football Club.

The Chairman (Colonel G.P. Owen): Why do you want it so late as one o`clock?

Mr. Mason: Dancing continues until two o`clock. We close one hour before.

Mr. Mason added that the dance was in support of the Folkestone Football Club. The club had gone down and down and down, and they were trying to get some money to keep football in Folkestone. Everything which was taken from the place was going to the Folkestone Football Club.

The Chairman: I wish you all success. It is all right.

Folkestone Express 24-11-1928

Thursday, November 22^nd: Before Col. G. P. Owen, Miss A. M. Hunt, and Eng. Rear Admiral L. J. Stephens.

Ronald Rusk Cann, a youth of 18 years, was charged with stealing from the Shakespeare Hotel, two half-crowns, the property of Mr. Edward Thomas Mason. He pleaded guilty, and asked the magistrates to deal with the case.

Mr. E.T. Mason, the licensee, said the defendant lived in the Hotel. In consequence of something that had happened, he called in Det.-Sergt. Rowe on Tuesday, and the officer, in his presence, marked some coins, the two half-crowns (produced) being amongst them. On the sergeant’s instructions he (witness) placed the coins in the till at 3 o’clock on Wednesday.  There were altogether £1 of half-crowns, and £1 of two shillings. At five o’clock he went to the till, and on examining the contents missed two of the marked half-crowns. He accompanied the officer up to the bedroom occupied by the defendant, and he saw the Detective-Sergeant produce the two coins from the top of the beading of the bedroom door. The defendant was in the house during the afternoon, but the doors of the bar were locked, and the key was in his pocket. He was unable to say how the defendant got into the bar, but possibly one of the doors, which was bolted, could be lifted up. The defendant had lived with him since 1915, as he was his stepson.

Det.-Sergt. Rowe said on Tuesday evening the defendant made a complaint to him, and, in consequence, he went to the Shakespeare Hotel, where he marked a number of coins, and gave Mr. Mason certain instructions. The two half- crowns produced were among those marked. On Wednesday afternoon Mr. Mason came to the Police Station, and in consequence he went to the Shakespeare Hotel, where he saw the prisoner and told him he was a police officer, and was making enquiries respecting five shillings missed from the till. He told him he believed he (the defendant) had been down to the bar, and with his permission he wished to search his property. He did so, and while searching the prisoner, he said “All right, I did take it.”. Defendant took him upstairs and pointed to the beading over the door of the bedroom, and said “It is up there”. He felt on the top of the beading, and found 9s., including the two marked half- crowns produced, which he identified as two amongst those which he had marked. He told him he would take him to the Police Station, and charged and cautioned him. Defendant made no reply. When formally charged at the Police Station defendant made no reply.

Defendant said he was out of work, and could not get unemployment benefit. That was why he took the money.

Mr. Mason, in reply to the Clerk, said the defendant had been practically brought up in his house, but he did not, pay him anything for his keep.

Defendant said when he was working he paid his mother what he could.             

Mr. Mason said the boy’s mother gave him pocket-money. He did not want to press the case, but it would clear the atmosphere, and his staff who might have been accused.

Inspector Pittock said nothing was known against the defendant, who had worked as a barman in various places.

The Chairman said it was very unfortunate that a young man should be in that position. He would be bound over on probation for twelve months, to be under the supervision of Mr. Holmes. The Magistrates hoped that he would realise that his whole future depended upon him keeping straight.

Folkestone Herald 24-11-1928

Thursday, November 22^nd: Before Col. G.P. Owen, Miss A.M. Hunt, and Engineer Rear Admiral L.J. Stephens.

Ronald Rusk Cann was charged with stealing 5s., the money of Edward Thomas Mason, licensee of the Shakespeare Hotel, Guildhall Street. He pleaded Guilty.

Mr. Mason said the prisoner was an inmate of the hotel. Witness called in Detective sergeant Rowe on Tuesday, November 20^th, and in his presence Sergt. Rowe marked some coins, including the two half crowns produced. Acting on Sergt. Rowe`s instructions, witness placed these coins in a till in the bar at about three o`clock the previous afternoon. Eight half crowns and ten florins were marked. Later, at just turned five, he visited the till and examined the money, and found two half crowns missing. He informed the police, and Sergeant Rowe came to the house at 5.30 and saw the prisoner.

The Magistrates` Clerk: Was the prisoner in the house yesterday afternoon from three to five? – Part of the time.

Would he have access to the bar? – No, sir. Both doors were locked. One door is locked by a key, the other is bolted by a sliding bolt. I slide the bolt of this door from the inside first, and then lock the other door from the outside.

Are you unable to say how anyone got into the bar yesterday afternoon? – Yes, sir.

Mr. Mason added that when he went to examine the money he found the doors locked and bolted respectively. Of course, it was an old building, and it might be possible to lift up the bolted door and open it, but he had been unable to do that.

Replying further to the Magistrates` Clerk, Mr. Mason said that prisoner had been an inmate of the hotel since 1915, and was his stepson.

Detective Sergeant Rowe corroborated Mr. Mason`s evidence, and added that the previous afternoon he went to the Shakespeare Hotel and told the prisoner that he was making enquiries respecting 5s. that had been missed from the bar. He added that, with Cann`s permission, he wished to search his property. While he was doing this the prisoner said “All right, I did take it”. He took witness upstairs and pointed to the beading in his bedroom, saying “It`s up there”. Witness felt on top of the beading and found 9s., including the two marked half crowns. Witness told prisoner he would take him to the police station, where he would be charged, and cautioned him. He made no reply. Witness took prisoner to the police station, formally charged him, and cautioned him. He made no reply. Accused had been in custody all night.

“I was out of work and could get no unemployment benefit” was Cann`s excuse to the Bench.

Mr. Mason, re-called, said that Cann had several times been in employment.

The Clerk: Used he to pay you for his boar? – No, sir.

You kept him? – Yes.

The Clerk (to prisoner): You have heard what Mr. Mason said – that he kept you. So your explanation to the Magistrates doesn`t go very far.

Prisoner: When I was in work I paid my mother what I could.

The Chairman (to Mr. Mason): Used you to give this lad any pocket money? – His mother always gave him money when he wanted it.

Will you tell me how you kept your till; is it in an open drawer? – No, sir. It`s an ordinary cash register.

Does any bell ring? – There`s a little thing in this till – I have had it for six years and a half, and didn`t know until yesterday – that if you press this little thing the till will open without ringing the bell.

Mr. Mason added: I didn`t want to press this case. It has cleared the atmosphere, and it has cleared my staff, who may have been accused.

The Clerk: Yes, I quite understand; he wanted to clear his staff.

The Clerk: Is it a fact that you have been missing money for some time? – Yes, sir.

Inspector Pittock said that Cann was born at Harrow, Middlesex, in 1910, and was educated at Margate College and the Efield Grammar School, Brighton. He had worked as a motor mechanic and an electrical engineer. He had never been before the Court before.

Saying that Cann would be placed on probation for 12 months, under the supervision of the Probation Officer (Mr. Holmes), the Chairman added that the case was one of those very unfortunate ones, and concerned a young man who had just got his chance in life, was 18 years of age, and had created an atmosphere of suspicion where he lived, making all the staff very uncomfortable, and then it was found that he had stolen this money.

“We most sincerely hope that you realise that your whole future depends on your keeping straight”, the Chairman concluded.

Folkestone Express 12-10-1929

Local News

A special transfer sessions was held at the Folkestone Police Court on Wednesday, when transfers in connection with several well-known licensed houses were made.

The following full licence was transferred: The Shakespeare Hotel, Guildhall Street, from Mr. Mason to Mr. Pat Attwood.

Folkestone Herald 12-10-1929

Local News

The transfer of several licences was approved by the Folkestone Magistrates at the Folkestone transfer sessions on Wednesday. Mr. Attwood had the licence of the Shakespeare Hotel transferred to him from Mr. E.T. Mason.