White Lion (2) 1940s

Folkestone Herald 12-4-1941

Local News

A Sergt. Major who has been recommended for a commission appeared before the Folkestone Magistrates on Friday last week to answer a charge of stealing a mirror.

His battery commander des­cribed the taking of the mirror as “an irresponsible prank”, and the case was dismissed under the First Offenders’ Act, defendant being ordered to pay 15s. costs. The accused was T. Sergt. Major Edward C. Cave.

Herbert J. Samways, licensee of the White Lion, Cheriton, gave evidence that there was a mirror, valued about £, on the wall of the hotel lounge. He saw it there last Saturday night, but he could not say whether defendant was in the lounge that evening.

P.C. Barrett said at 8 p.m. on March 31^st he received informa­tion that a mirror was missing from the White Lion Hotel, and following enquiries he saw Cave in the presence of his commanding officer. Defendant said “We took the mirror but not in the light of theft. There were three other men with me”. Witness said the mirror was lying on the floor by the side of defendant’s bed.

Defendant’s Battery Commander asked the Magistrates to allow the case to be dealt with by the mili­tary, but the Bench would not acquiesce.

His Battery Commander, a solicitor, said although in law it was a case of theft, the motive was not theft in the ordinary sense of the word. It might be more properly described as an irrespon­sible prank.

Defendant told the Magistrates that he went to the public house with several of his friends. He had just been granted leave and they went there to celebrate. They had several drinks and were rather merry and he removed the mirror from the wall. On the night the police officer called they were considering how they could restore the mirror to its owner, realising that it was not “playing the game,” but they were rather “stuck” as to know how to take it back.

The Battery Commander said defendant enlisted in May, 1939. In four months he was promoted from lance-bombardier to troop sergt-major. He had done ex­tremely well and had been recom­mended for a commission in either the R.A.O.C. or the R.A.S.C. be­cause of his knowledge as a mechanical motor engineer.

The Chairman (Alderman R.G. Wood) said the Magistrates had decided to dismiss the case under the First Offenders’ Act on pay­ment of 15s. costs.