Folkestone
Express 28-9-1935
Local News
Aubrey Newman, a bricklayer, was summoned by Reginald
Marks at the Folkestone Police Court on Friday. The complainant alleged that
Newman struck him in the face on September 14th. Defendant pleaded
Guilty.
Reginald Marks, Hawkinge, said about 8.50 p.m. on
September 14th he had occasion to go to the Royal Standard public
house. He called across to the Secretary of the Dart Club in a jocular manner
and asked him to attend to his business. The defendant then came across to him
and said “I will speak to you outside”. As soon as they reached the door he was
hit on the nose. His dentures were broken and he swallowed some of the teeth.
His nose was broken, and two doctors were sent for. When it was discovered that
they could not come he was taken to the Hospital, where he had an X-ray
examination to find whether his nose was broken.
Defendant: Did I strike you for nothing?
Complainant: Yes.
Defendant: I had three shillings in the Dart Club, and
I was asking the Secretary for the money.
Complainant: I was in the house only three minutes and
did not know anything about it.
You`re a liar. Was I drunk or was I sober? – I could
not say what you were; you walked out as though you were perfectly sober.
What did you follow me out for? – I was quite uncertain
what you wanted me for.
The Chairman: Whu did you go out?
Witness: Because he wanted to talk to me.
The defendant: I did not ask him to come outside. He
asked me, and I can prove it.
Frederick Prior, 5, Page Place, said he was at the
Royal Standard, as he was Secretary of the Dart Club. About 8.45 p.m. he left
his books and cash and spoke to the defendant at the far end of the bar. Marks
walked in, and after a few minutes shouted out “Come on, Mr. Secretary. Come
and attend to your books. What do we pay you for?” This remark appeared to
upset the defendant, for he walked the whole length of the bar, uttering one or
two threats as he went. He walked up to where Marks was standing and said “Come
outside. I want to talk to you”. The complainant replied “Aubrey, what`s the
matter?” Newman walked to the door and closed it. The next thing he knew was
that Marks was being thrown back against the door. The defendant returned to
the house and threatened one other person there. The defendant`s knuckles were
bleeding.
Defendant: I have no marks on my hands at all.
Witness said at any rate there was blood on his hands.
The Chairman, addressing Prior: We thank you very much
for the clear and lucid way you have given your evidence. It has been very
helpful indeed.
John Joyce said he was in the bar when the complainant
came in. The defendant appeared to him to be quite sober.
Frederick Croucher, 41, Linden Crescent, said he was in
the bar and saw the defendant, who, he thought, was quite sober.
Defendant, on oath, said he had left the Royal Standard
Dart Club and had 3/- in it, which he thought he might as well have. The
Secretary said it had been absorbed in the fines, which he knew was different.
He stood there arguing the matter, when Marks shouted out “Don`t give him the
three bob”. He told Marks to shut his mouth, and Marks then said “If you come
outside I will shut yours”. With that he walked out of the bar and as he did so
Marks punched him in the ribs. He therefore struck him back. He would not have
struck Marks if he had not struck him.
The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): But you struck him more than
once.
Defendant: I struck him twice.
The Clerk: His mouth was bleeding?
Defendant: Yes.
What about his teeth? – His teeth were broken before I
hit him. I never broke his dentures.
Mr. Prior was re-called, and in answer to questions by
the Magistrates he said Newman and he were leaning over the counter, and he was
positive that Marks` remarks were not made to the defendant.
The Chairman said the Magistrates were inclined to take
a serious view of what they regarded as an unprovoked and brutal assault. “It
is a very bad case” he added.
Defendant said he did not strike first.
Complainant, in reply to the Chairman, said his
dentures cost £5 10s.
The Chairman said the Bench considered that was a very
serious assault. The defendant would be fined 10/- and he would also have to
pay 30/- as compensation for the complainant`s dentures, making £2 in all, or
in default a month`s imprisonment. A month would be allowed for payment.
The Clerk told him he could pay the money by weekly
instalments of 10/-.
Folkestone
Herald 28-9-1935
Local News
“It was an unprovoked and brutal assault, and
we consider it a very bad case”, said the Chairman of the Folkestone
Magistrates, Mr. R.G. Wood, on Friday last week, when Aubrey Newman appeared
to answer a summons for assault taken out by Reginald Marks, of The Pantiles,
Hawkinge.
Newman was fined 10s. and ordered to pay
compensation amounting to 30s.
Complainant said about 8.50 p.m. on Saturday,
September 14th, he had occasion to go into the Royal Standard public house to
pay his dart and sick club subscriptions and also to get a drink. He tendered a
£1 note for the drink, and after taking the change, called across to the
Secretary, saying in a jocular manner, “Come along,
Secretary, what do we pay you for? ” The Secretary told him not to be in such a
hurry, and defendant said “I will see you outside afterwards”. Complainant went
outside, defendant following, and Newman then hit him in the mouth and on the
eye. The blow in the mouth broke his dentures and he swallowed his teeth. He
was brought inside and attended to. Two doctors were sent for, but neither was
at home. He was taken to the hospital and. treated. He attended hospital on Sunday
and Monday for further treatment.
Newman: What started the trouble? - I don’t know.
You mean to say that I smacked you in the mouth for nothing? - Yes.
Do you mean to say I struck you for nothing? - Yes.
Defendant: You are a liar. Continuing, Newman said he was talking to
the Secretary of the dart club and, as complainant knew, he had ceased to be a
member of the club. He had 3s. in the club and he was asking the Secretary to
let him have that back.
Putting further questions to Marks defendant asked “Did I walk out of
the bar?”
Complainant: Yes.
Defendant: And you followed me? - Yes.
The Chairman: Why did you go after him (Newman)? - The man said he
wanted to talk to me.
The Clerk (Mr. C. Rootes): Did you say anything at all to Newman? - I
never mentioned a word to him.
Defendant said he had been foolish, otherwise he would have been the complainant
and Marks the defendant.
Frederick Prior, Hayes Place, Folkestone, the Secretary of the Dart
Club, said at 8.45 that evening he was speaking to the defendant at the far
end of the bar. The door opened and Marks walked in. Just after, Marks, in his
usually jovial manner said: "Mr. Secretary, come up here and attend to
your books, what do we pay you for?” Witness told Marks not to be in a hurry. The remarks appeared to upset defendant
in some way, for he walked the whole length of the bar uttering one or two
threats. He said to Marks “Come outside. I want to speak to you.” Marks replied
“Why, what’s the matter?” Defendant walked to the door and Marks followed. The
next thing
witness knew was that complainant was being pushed up against the door. Afterwards
Newman returned and threatened one other person. Defendant’s knuckles were
bleeding.
Defendant: Liar.
Witness: Then there was blood on your hands.
The Chairman: Has there been trouble
between these two men? - Not that I know of. They have been the best of pals.
John Joyce, Rita Place, Folkestone and Frederick Croucher, Linden Crescent,
also gave evidence.
Defendant, giving evidence, said he called the Secretary on one side and
asked him for the return of his 3s. on his resignation from the Dart Club. He
(the Secretary) said the money had been absorbed in fines, which he (defendant)
knew was not correct. Marks then shouted out “Don’t give him the 3s. He knows
he’s lost it and does not like it”. He told complainant to keep quiet, and Marks replied “If you come outside
I will shut your mouth up." Continuing,
defendant said he would never have struck Marks if he had not struck him. Newman refuted the suggestion that he
broke Marks’s dentures. They were broken in the bar, he said.
Recalled, Prior said Newman did not interfere until Marks made the remarks
to him.
After the Chairman (Mr. Wood) had announced that the Magistrates considered
it an unprovoked and brutal assault, Newman said: “I am sorry, but I did not
start it”.
The Magistrates agreed to allow defendant a month to pay the fine and
costs, or In default one month’s imprisonment.
Folkestone Herald 18-3-1939
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| Photo from Folkestone Herald |
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