Folkestone Herald
8-2-1941
Local News
Albert John Prior, of the Ship Inn, The Stade, summoned at the Folkestone Police Court on Friday
last week for having a chimney on fire, told the Magistrates it was a difficult
chimney to sweep. He attributed the fire to the fact that a quantity of soot had been
dislodged by a bomb explosion recently. The chimney had been swept last summer.
The Magistrates fined defendant 2s.
6d..
Folkestone Herald 5-1-1946
Local News
On Christmas day the death occurred of Mr. George
William Prior, of 6, Bonsor Road, Folkestone, one of the oldest and best-known
licensed victuallers in the district. He was 80. Mr. Prior was born on a farm
at Preston, near Dumpton Park, Kent, and was only seven when he began work on a
milk round.
He came to Folkestone 51 years ago, and opened a
restaurant in Beach Street. Later he acquired the licence of the Wonder Tavern,
which was demolished by a land mine in 1940. In 1901 he left the Wonder to take
over the licence of the Ship Inn, which he held until 1938, when it was transferred
to his son. Altogether Mr. Prior had been in the licensed trade for 42 years,
and for some years was Chairman of the Folkestone and District Licensed
Victuallers` Association. His hobbies included gardening and rough shooting.
Mr. Prior, who had been a widower for 31 years, leaves two sons and two
daughters.
The funeral took place at Folkestone Cemetery,
Cheriton Road, last Friday.
Folkestone Herald
19-1-1946
Local News
Pte. Joseph Henry Dimery (18) pleaded Not Guilty at
Folkestone Magistrates` Court to stealing a doormat, valued 12/-, from the Ship
Inn, The Stade, Folkestone.
Albert J. Prior, licensee of the Ship Inn, said on
Friday last after the premises were closed he found a doormat missing.
P.C. McFazdean said on Friday night he saw several
soldiers boarding a bus. Defendant was carrying a doormat. He questioned
Dimitry, who said “I have been down the
Ship Inn in the Fishmarket and when I left I bought the mat from a bargeman for
3/-“.
Dimery
told the court that he was drunk when he bought the mat.
An officer
said defendant had a very good character.
Chief
Insp. R.J. Butcher said Dimery was fined £5 in 1942 for stealing cases of
corned beef.
The
Magistrates fined Dimery 10/-.
Folkestone Herald 1-5-1948
Local News
An inquest was held yesterday afternoon on Albert
John Prior, ager 49, licensee of the Ship Inn, The Stade, Folkestone, who was
found dead in the kitchen of the inn on Tuesday morning. His wife, who had only returned from a
holiday in America a few days before, made the discovery.
Mr. Prior was a member of the Folkestone L.V.
Association and followed his father as licensee of the Ship Inn before the war.
Folkestone Herald 8-5-1948
Local News
"I am certain the
gas had not been turned on deliberately with the idea
of taking his life”, said the Folkestone Coroner (Mr. B.H. Bonniface),
returning a verdict of “Death by
misadventure” at an inquest last Friday on Albert, John Prior, 49, licensee of
the Ship Inn, The Stade, who was found dead in a gas-filled kitchen.
P.C. Seeker said when he
saw Prior's body his head was as far away from the gas stove as it could be; if
the man had taken his own life the position of the body would be
extraordinary.
Dr. W.C.P. Barrett said
Prior was suffering from a disease of the heart and it might be possible that
he turned on the gas and then collapsed.
George Charles Prior,
cellarman, of 27, Stuart Road, Folkestone, said he last saw his brother
about five weeks ago and he told him that Mrs. Prior was going to America.
Mrs. Dorothy Lilian M.
Prior, the widow, said her husband’s health had not been good for a long time. She had left
Folkestone for America on March 31st, making the
trip by air. She went to see her two sisters.
The Coroner: You went
with the approval of your husband?
Mrs. Prior: Yes.
The Coroner: I ask that
because I understand there have been certain suggestions down the Fishmarket
and I want to clear that up.
Mrs. Prior said she left
America on April 22nd and arrived home about 6 p.m. the following
day. When she returned her husband said “You have had
your holiday and now I am going to have mine”, and he went off duty in the ordinary
way, not because of his health. On April 27th she
rose later than usual, at about 9.15 a.m., and went to the kitchen. The door
was closed, and on opening it she smelt gas. At the same time she saw her
husband lying across the room, head towards the pantry and right
away from the gas stove. She could not say whether one or two taps of the gas
stove were turned on. The kettle was not on the stove. The oven door was partly
open, but as far as she could remember the oven taps were not on. Her husband
was wearing pyjamas and dressing gown. She turned the tap or
taps off and opened the windows, which were always closed at night. Her husband had
never threatened to take his life and she knew of no reason why
he should; she did not think he did.
The Coroner: Financially, everything is
all right?
Mrs. Prior: Definitely.
Dr. W.C.P. Barrett said the deceased had been, a
patient of his, and knowing him for many years he did not think he was a man
who would take his own life. Witness
had carried out a post mortem examination and found there was heart disease,
which might have caused deceased to collapse, especially after getting up early
in the morning. Death was due to asphyxia from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Coroner: Do you think it might be possible that
he turned on the gas and then collapsed?
Witness: I think it is quite possible.
In your experience have you ever known a person
turn on the gas and lie with their head as far away from the gas stove as
possible? - All those I have seen have always been careful to put their heads
in the oven.
The Coroner said having regard to what Dr. Barrett
had told him, his own observation of the room and the position of the body he
had no doubt what his verdict should be in that case. “The verdict I shall record, and I have
no doubt about it, is that deceased died
from carbon monoxide poisoning”, said the Coroner. “There is no evidence to
show how the taps became to be turned on, and I am certain that the gas was not
turned on deliberately with the intention of taking his life”.
The funeral took place at St. Peter`s Church on
Saturday. The interment was at Hawkinge.
A member of the Folkestone Licensed Victuallers`
Association, Mr. Prior took over the Ship Inn from his father, who had held the
licence for over 40 years. His premises remained open throughout the war.
Folkestone Herald 28-8-1948
Local News
Alleged to have concealed
himself in the Ship Inn, The Stade, Folkestone, on July 8th, and.
stolen £15 from the till, Walter Henry Todd (29), a labourer, of 11, Invicta
Road, Folkestone, was committed for trial by Folkestone
Magistrates on Wednesday.
The accused pleaded
guilty to breaking into the premises and stealing the money.
Mrs. D.L.M. Prior, licensee of the Ship Inn, said she
closed the bar at 2.30 p.m. on July 8th, locking and bolting the
doors. She left the bar at 2.45 p.m. after cleaning up, and went upstairs to
her private rooms. She
went to the bar again at about 5.55 p.m. and found the till drawer open. One of
the keys of each register had been pushed down to release the drawer and £15 in
notes was missing. The back door of the premises had been
unbolted. Witness said the prisoner, who was a customer
had been in the house that morning.
D/C. Huddart said at 4
p.m. on August 24th he saw Todd detained at Margate police station. He told the
prisoner he was making enquiries about the theft of £15 from the
Ship Inn and that he had reason to believe he had concealed himself on the
premises when the bar was closed. Todd replied: “I admit that. I
have spent the money”.
The accused, who was committed
to Folkestone Quarter Sessions to be held on October 9th, was
remanded in custody.
Folkestone Herald 1-5-1948
Local News
An inquest was held yesterday afternoon on Albert
John Prior, ager 49, licensee of the Ship Inn, The Stade, Folkestone, who was
found dead in the kitchen of the inn on Tuesday morning. His wife, who had only returned from a
holiday in America a few days before, made the discovery.
Mr. Prior was a member of the Folkestone L.V.
Association and followed his father as licensee of the Ship Inn before the war.
Folkestone Herald 8-5-1948
Local News
"I am certain the
gas had not been turned on deliberately with the idea
of taking his life”, said the Folkestone Coroner (Mr. B.H. Bonniface),
returning a verdict of “Death by
misadventure” at an inquest last Friday on Albert, John Prior, 49, licensee of
the Ship Inn, The Stade, who was found dead in a gas-filled kitchen.
P.C. Seeker said when he
saw Prior's body his head was as far away from the gas stove as it could be; if
the man had taken his own life the position of the body would be
extraordinary.
Dr. W.C.P. Barrett said
Prior was suffering from a disease of the heart and it might be possible that
he turned on the gas and then collapsed.
George Charles Prior,
cellarman, of 27, Stuart Road, Folkestone, said he last saw his brother
about five weeks ago and he told him that Mrs. Prior was going to America.
Mrs. Dorothy Lilian M.
Prior, the widow, said her husband’s health had not been good for a long time. She had left
Folkestone for America on March 31st, making the
trip by air. She went to see her two sisters.
The Coroner: You went
with the approval of your husband?
Mrs. Prior: Yes.
The Coroner: I ask that
because I understand there have been certain suggestions down the Fishmarket
and I want to clear that up.
Mrs. Prior said she left
America on April 22nd and arrived home about 6 p.m. the following
day. When she returned her husband said “You have had
your holiday and now I am going to have mine”, and he went off duty in the ordinary
way, not because of his health. On April 27th she
rose later than usual, at about 9.15 a.m., and went to the kitchen. The door
was closed, and on opening it she smelt gas. At the same time she saw her
husband lying across the room, head towards the pantry and right
away from the gas stove. She could not say whether one or two taps of the gas
stove were turned on. The kettle was not on the stove. The oven door was partly
open, but as far as she could remember the oven taps were not on. Her husband
was wearing pyjamas and dressing gown. She turned the tap or
taps off and opened the windows, which were always closed at night. Her husband had
never threatened to take his life and she knew of no reason why
he should; she did not think he did.
The Coroner: Financially, everything is
all right?
Mrs. Prior: Definitely.
Dr. W.C.P. Barrett said the deceased had been, a
patient of his, and knowing him for many years he did not think he was a man
who would take his own life. Witness
had carried out a post mortem examination and found there was heart disease,
which might have caused deceased to collapse, especially after getting up early
in the morning. Death was due to asphyxia from carbon monoxide poisoning.
The Coroner: Do you think it might be possible that
he turned on the gas and then collapsed?
Witness: I think it is quite possible.
In your experience have you ever known a person
turn on the gas and lie with their head as far away from the gas stove as
possible? - All those I have seen have always been careful to put their heads
in the oven.
The Coroner said having regard to what Dr. Barrett
had told him, his own observation of the room and the position of the body he
had no doubt what his verdict should be in that case. “The verdict I shall record, and I have
no doubt about it, is that deceased died
from carbon monoxide poisoning”, said the Coroner. “There is no evidence to
show how the taps became to be turned on, and I am certain that the gas was not
turned on deliberately with the intention of taking his life”.
The funeral took place at St. Peter`s Church on
Saturday. The interment was at Hawkinge.
A member of the Folkestone Licensed Victuallers`
Association, Mr. Prior took over the Ship Inn from his father, who had held the
licence for over 40 years. His premises remained open throughout the war.
Folkestone Herald 28-8-1948
Local News
Alleged to have concealed
himself in the Ship Inn, The Stade, Folkestone, on July 8th, and.
stolen £15 from the till, Walter Henry Todd (29), a labourer, of 11, Invicta
Road, Folkestone, was committed for trial by Folkestone
Magistrates on Wednesday.
The accused pleaded
guilty to breaking into the premises and stealing the money.
Mrs. D.L.M. Prior, licensee of the Ship Inn, said she
closed the bar at 2.30 p.m. on July 8th, locking and bolting the
doors. She left the bar at 2.45 p.m. after cleaning up, and went upstairs to
her private rooms. She
went to the bar again at about 5.55 p.m. and found the till drawer open. One of
the keys of each register had been pushed down to release the drawer and £15 in
notes was missing. The back door of the premises had been
unbolted. Witness said the prisoner, who was a customer
had been in the house that morning.
D/C. Huddart said at 4
p.m. on August 24th he saw Todd detained at Margate police station. He told the
prisoner he was making enquiries about the theft of £15 from the
Ship Inn and that he had reason to believe he had concealed himself on the
premises when the bar was closed. Todd replied: “I admit that. I
have spent the money”.
The accused, who was committed
to Folkestone Quarter Sessions to be held on October 9th, was
remanded in custody.
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