Black Bull 1950s

Folkestone Herald 1-9-1951

Local News

Walter Henry Todd, 32, of no fixed abode, pleaded Guilty at Folkestone on Tuesday to breaking into the Black Bull Hotel oon August 1st and stealing £50 belonging to the licensee, Mr. Cyril Nicholas Jones. Accused also pleaded guilty to stealing £54 10/- from Mr. James Alfred Thompson, of 73, Joyes Road, Folkestone, on Saturday. He was committed for trial at West Kent Quarter Sessions.

D.C. Payne said at 5.25 p.m. on Saturday he saw Todd in Dover Road. He took him to the police station where, in different poc­kets, £50 was found in accused’s possession. Todd then made a statement in which he was alleged to have said that some time after 3 p.m. that day he visited 8, Downs Read in order to get a suit. While he was in the fitting room he saw a jacket. He felt in the pockets and found some money. He took some and left some; he did no know how much he took. Referring to the Black Bull Hotel, Todd said at the begin­ning of August he went to the hotel and opened a door at the back. He went inside and took some money from a handbag and a desk

Cyril Nicholas Jones, licensee of the Black Bull Hotel, said at 3 p.m. on August 1^st there was £50 in the dining room. At the time the doors of the hotel were all locked except the main entrance door. At about 5.20 p.m. he went to his desk and the money was missing.

James Alfred Thompson, 73, Joves Road, Folkestone, an out­fitter, carrying on business at 8, Downs Road, said on the Sat­urday afternoon accused called at his place of business. He gave his name as Todd and an address in Invicta Road. He asked terms for the supply of a ready-made suit. He tried on two suits and one was satis­factory. Todd paid £2 deposit and left about 4 p.m. After Todd had gone witness went to his jacket on a rail in the fitting room and felt for his wallet which should have con­tained £62 10/-. There was only £8 in it.

Folkestone Herald 8-9-1951

Local News

After serving two years in prison for housebreaking Walter Henry Todd, 32-year-old plasterer, of Folkestone, was released on July 14^th. A fort­night later he stole £50 from a Folkestone public house. On Wednesday, at the West Kent Quarter Sessions at Maid­stone, Todd returned to prison to serve a sentence of three years’ corrective training. He pleaded guilty to break­ing into the Black Bull Hotel, Canterbury Road, Folkestone, and stealing £50 belonging to Cyril Nicholas Jones and on August 25^th to stealing £54 10/-, the property of James Arthur Thompson.

Mr. A.L. Stevens, prosecut­ing, stated that when the pub­lic house closed during the afternoon of August 1^st Mr. Jones, the licensee, placed £50

in a desk. About two hours later he discovered that the money had been stolen. On August 25^th, continued Mr. Stevenson, Todd went to a house in Downs Road, Folke­stone, where Mr. Thompson carried on a business as a tailor. Todd said he wanted a ready-made suit and after try­ing one or two suits he paid a deposit of £2 on one of them and left the house. While Todd was trying on the suits Mr. Thompson was twice out of the room, leaving behind his jacket which con­tained £62 10/-. After Todd had left, Mr. Thompson discovered that there was only £8 left in his jacket. A couple of hours later Todd was arrested in Dover Road, Folkestone and although he at first denied the theft, when he was searched he had £50 on him. He then admitted stealing the money and made a state­ment in which he also admit­ted stealing £50 from the hotel.

Det. Const. William Payne stated that Todd had eight pre­vious convictions; he asked for two other offences to be con­sidered.

Sir Frederick Gentle, K.C., deputy chairman, told Todd he was reaching the time of life when he was liable to be sen­tenced to a long term of pre­ventive detention, up to 14 years, if he did not alter his ways.

Todd was ordered to return the £50 found on him to Mr. Thompson.

Folkestone Herald 19-4-1952

Local News

Approval of plans for alterations to the servery at the Black Bull Hotel, was given by Folkestone Licensing Justices on Wednesday.

Folkestone Herald 12-2-1955

Annual Licensing Sessions

A music licence for a radio-gramophone at the Valiant Sailor was granted, and plans for the provision of a store at the Black Bull Hotel approved.

Folkestone Herald 25-2-1956

Local News

A 59 year old credit outfitter, who was said to have told a police officer that he would be 90 next month, was fined £25 and costs at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday, after pleading not guilty to attempting to drive a motor car whilst under the influence of drink or drugs, on February 7^th. Defendant, who was not represented, was Robin George Thomson, of 8, Downs Road, Folkestone.

Mr. R.P. Tunstall, prosecuting, said it was a case in which, because of defendant`s state, had he been successful in driving away he would have been a menace on the road. The fact that he could not drive the car was not due to anything wrong with the car, but to something being wrong with defendant.

Dr. E.S. Pearlman said he examined defendant at Folkestone police station at 1.37 p.m. on February 7^th, and came to the conclusion that he was under the influence of drink or drugs, so as to be incapable of being in control of a car.

P.C. Atkins stated that he was in Dolphins Road in plain clothes at 12.40 p,m, on February 7^th, when he heard the sound of a car being given full acceleration from the direction of the Black Bull Hotel, and he saw Thompson seated in a car in the front drive of the hotel. The sar was stationary, he said. Thompson appeared to be endeavouring to engage the gears, but did not appear to be using the engine at all. Witness came to the conclusion that defendant was under the influence of drink or drugs, and phoned the police station.

P.C. Warner said he arrived at the scene at 12.55 p.m. and saw Thompson in the driving seat of a car. The engine was running and Thompson was trying to engage the gear without success. Witness stated that he asked Thompson “Can I help you? Is there anything I can do?” to which Thompson mumbled a reply which was incoherent. He (witness) switched off the engine, and Thompson got out, but could only stand by supporting himself against the side of the car. Thompson then got back into the car. Witness arrested him, locked the car, and took the ignition key. Thompson said “I am 90 next month”. When charged at the police station Thompson replied “I did pass all the doctor`s tests, or did I?”

P.C. Martin said he saw Thompson in the driving seat of his car at 1 p.m. on February 7^th; he was smoking a cigarette, and his eyes were glazed and staring. Thompson had to be assisted into the police car, and he refused to stoop to pick up a sixpence which had fallen on the ground. At the police station Thompson was very unsteady on his feet and collided with a wall.

P. Sgt. Barnes said he saw Thompson at the police station at 1.30 p.m. on February 7^th, and he asked him if he knew why he was there, but he received only a mumbled reply. Witness told him he would be examined by a doctor, and asked if he had any objection. Thompson replied “Right, but what about my dinner?” Witness stated that he asked Thompson three times if he wanted a doctor or any relative called, on his behalf, but he made no reply. When witness asked him to stand up he made one unsuccessful attempt, and the second time he had to hold the table before he could do so. Thompson was continually smoking cigarettes and was wearing woollen gloves. He burnt holes in the left glove. On his way to the detention room Thompson twice collided with a wall in a short passage.

Giving evidence, defendant said on the day of the alleged offence he drove from Cheriton, and on the Black Bull hill he found the clutch of his car was beginning to fade out, so he pulled off the highway into the forecourt of the Black Bull Hotel. He tried the engine; it was a very cold day, and he thought it was wise to keep the engine warm. After a while he thought he would go home for lunch. He went into the Black Bull for a drink, and came back to the car to warm the engine up again. He revved it and a police officer came up, took his key away, and arrested him. As to driving the car, or attempting to drive it, it was quite out of the question, Thompson added. Had the clutch been in order he would have gone straight home to lunch.

Cross-examined by Mr. Tunstall, Thompson said he made no attempt to drive the car. He did not consider he was under the influence of drink; all he had had was a shandy and a gin. He told the police officer he would be 90 next month “for a bit of fun”.

Thompson produced a pair of what appeared to be fur-backed gauntlet gloves, which he said he was wearing on February 7^th, and pointed out that there were no holes in them.

Mr. Tunstall: The officer said you were wearing woollen gloves.

Thompson, who had seven convictions for minor motoring offences, was fined £25, with £4 17/- doctor’s fees, and £2 2/- advocate’s fee. He was disqualified from driv­ing for a year and his licence was endorsed.