Folkestone Express 29 May 1875.

Hythe Police Court.

Monday, May 24th: Before John Taylor Esq.

William Sparrow, Robert Gorton, and John Cassidy, the former a corporal and the two latter drivers in the Royal Artillery, stationed at Shorncliffe Camp, were brought up on a charge of highway robbery.

The prosecutor, John Clooard, who is a labourer, residing at Cheriton, said: On the 17th inst. I was coming from Folkestone to Cheriton. As I was going across some fields, three Artillerymen came up. I identify Sparrow as one of the men; the other two I am not quite certain about. Sparrow asked me what time it was. I told them I did not exactly know. We then engaged in conversation, and they walked with me till we got nearly to the Shorncliffe Inn. One of them asked me the way to the camp. I showed him, and I went into the inn for my coat. The prisoners followed me, two of whom came inside, and one remained outside; they wanted me to treat them, but I refused. I came out of the house, and was going over the bridge, when I turned round and one of the men struck me. I was using my knife for cutting up some tobacco, and one of the men took it away and gave it to Sparrow, and said they should take me into custody for attempting to stab them. They marched me towards Seabrook, and on the road struck me by the side of the head several times because I did not walk fast enough. When we got to the coastguard station at Sandgate they again struck me, and I screamed out “Murder!”, and the prisoner Sparrow put his hand over my mouth. A coastguardsman came up and I informed him what had occurred and asked him to go for a policeman, and he went in the direction of Sandgate for that purpose. While he was gone, they marched me as far as the meter house, and when we got there they said they should take me no further. I was then thrown down, and I bled from the nose and mouth and became insensible. When I recovered consciousness about a quarter past one I found my watch and chain were gone, and all my money, between 5s. and 6s., and also the prisoners. I went to the Camp and informed the sentries what had occurred, and on Wednesday morning I went to the Camp to see if I could identify the prisoners. Some of the men were paraded, and were dressed in their stable dress, but I could not then identify any of them. I again went on Friday morning, and the men were dressed in their regimentals, and I picked Sparrow out as one of the men.

Peter Barouche, a coastguardsman at Sandgate, was called, and identified Sparrow as one of the men who was in company of the prosecutor when he made the complaint to him.

George Martin, Sergeant Major, Royal Artillery, said: On Sunday last I went to the Police Station at Folkestone, when Sparrow made the statement now produced. This was to the effect that he met the prosecutor and they went into the Shorncliffe Inn, and there was some dispute about the payment for some beer prosecutor had called for, and on looking round he saw Gorton with prosecutor, and noticed a knife in his hand. Prosecutor was then taken on the way to the station for attempting to stab someone; in the road met the prisoner Cassidy, who was asked to help them and he did so. When they passed the coastguard station prosecutor sat down in the road and called out “Police. Murder!” and a coastguardman came up. They went on some distance and he advised the men to let the matter drop and go home. He left them, and saw one of them attack prisoner.

The witness further said: From Sparrow's statement I arrested the prisoners Cassidy and Gorton and charged them with stealing the watch, but they both denied all knowledge of it. I was afterwards sent for by Gorton and he told me he had got the watch, and said if I would go along with him he would show me where it was. I went with him and in the dungpit he removed a brick and pulled out the watch, which I produce. He said “There is the watch, and it will ease the Commanding Officer's mind. I did not steal it”.

John Wilshere, Superintendent of Police, Folkestone: On Sunday afternoon I sent for the prisoner and said I understood he wished to make a statement. I told him that whatever he said I should take down, and should produce it on his examination. I took down his statement and he signed each page of it.

The prisoner Sparrow, in his defence, denied the charge.

Cassidy and Gorton both made long statements to the effect that they only assisted to take prosecutor on the way to the station at the request of Corporal Sparrow. The latter stated that Sparrow gave him the watch and chain and told him to make away with it till all was quiet.

The prisoners were all committed to take their trial at the next Quarter Sessions at Canterbury.

Note: I suspect this Inn to be the Shorncliffe Arms.

Folkestone Express 17 November 1877.

Monday, November 12th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Caister, General Armstrong, and Captain Willoughby Carter.

Thomas Stokes, a lad, was charged with obtaining by false pretences from Eliza Victoria Quested six shillings, the monies of Edward Quested, of the Shorncliffe Arms, with intent to cheat and defraud.

Eliza Victoria Quested, daughter of the prosecutor, said that on the 24th October last, about two in the afternoon, her father was from home, and she and her sister were in charge of the house. Prisoner went to the house and said “The master told me to bring this bushel of apples here”. He had some apples with him in a basket. She replied “Did he?” and prisoner said “Yes, he did. I saw him down the road here”. Witness told him to take the apples round to the back door, which he did, and left them. Prisoner then said to witness “He told me I was to ask for six shillings for them”. She replied “For these?” Prisoner replied “Yes. He knows me and he has bought things of me before”. Her sister said “If father knows him it is all right”. She gave him the money because she believed his statement. She would not have bought the apples on her own account.

Harriett Quested, sister of the last witness, gave corroborative evidence. Her sister gave the prisoner 6s. in her presence.

Edward Quested, landlord of the Shorncliffe Arms Inn, Folkestone, said on the 24th October he met prisoner with a horse and cart and a load of apples. He did not speak to him or buy any apples of him, either on that day or on any other day. About the third day after the 24th prisoner came into the bar, and put down 6s. on the counter, saying “I am come for them apples that I brought here in mistake”. Witness replied “Oh, how came you to know you hd made a mistake? You must be punished for these mistakes”. At that time he had taken out a summons against the prisoner. Prisoner then took up the 6s. and went away.

Detective Hogben said he apprehended the prisoner at Dover on Saturday last. In answer to the charge, prisoner said he knew he was wrong, and was sorry for it.

Prisoner, in defence, said he was going down Grace Hill, and saw Mr. Valyer, who said Mr. Dowell wanted to see him, and in consequence of what he said he went over to Mr. Quested's with the 6s.

The prisoner was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

Folkestone Express 2 February 1878.

Quarter Sessions.

Monday, January 28th: Before J.J. Lonsdale Esq.

Thomas Stokes, 15, was indicted for obtaining 6s. by false pretences from Elizabeth Quested, daughter of Edward Quested, landlord of the Shorncliffe Arms, Shorncliffe, on the 24th of October.

Mr. Denman prosecuted and Mr. Croft defended.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty.

Elizabeth Quested, daughter of Edward Quested, of the Shorncliffe Arms, said on the 24th October the prisoner came into the bar. He said “The master told me to bring this bushel of apples here”. She said “Did he?” He said “Yes. I saw him down the road here”. She told him to take them to the back door. He then said “He told me to ask you for 6s. for them”. She said “For these?” He said “Yes. He knows me. He has bought things of me before”. She bought the apples because she thought her father had sent him.

Cross-examined: I thought that he meany bu “the master” my father.

By the Recorder: I did not know the boy before.

Harriett Quested, sister of the last witness, corroborated the foregoing evidence. When prisoner asked for the money she said to her sister “If father knows him it will be all right”.

Edward Quested said he left home just after one o'clock on the 24th October. He remembered meeting the prisoner with a load of apples. He had no conversation with him. Prisoner came over to his house some three or four days afterwards with a basket, and said he had brought six shillings, and had come for the apples he had left in mistake. He had then taken a summons out against him, and told the boy such mistakes must be looked into.

Mr. Croft: I suppose you think the best way to prevent mistakes is to bring those who make them before the Magistrates?

Witness replied that he did not wish to press the charge now. He did not know the prisoner at the time. Had heard since that prisoner was in the employ of Mr. Stapley. The apples might have been worth half a crown or three shillings.

P.C. Hogben proved apprehending the prisoner on the 10th of November. He said he was very sorry; that he had seen Mr. Quested and offered to make it up to him.

Mr. Crofts thanked Mr. Denman for the manner in which he had conducted the prosecution. He could not help saying that the prisoner never ought to have been placed in such a position. There was no intention to defraud, and he should call a witness as to the lad's character.

Mr. Edward Stapley gave the lad a good character. He had at times as much as £20 or £30 belonging to him in the strawberry season, and always brought home every penny. As to the apples, witness said they were quite worth 6s. in October, and 8s. at the present time.

The Recorder in summing up to the jury said they must take the law from him, that if the 6s. was obtained from the young woman, she believing prisoner's story was true, they must find him Guilty. He asked them to consider what would be the consequence if this were not so. Supposing they had anything which they valued beyond it's intrinsic worth, they would have no remedy against a person who took it by force and left the value of it.

The jury, after a short consultation, found the prisoner Guilty, strongly recommending him to mercy.

Mr. Denman and Mr. Deane both supported the recommendation, urging that he had already been in prison three months.

The Recorder said it was a pity the lad had not pleaded Guilty and saved all the trouble. In passing sentence of one day's imprisonment, he hoped he would take warning for the future.

Prisoner was then liberated, and there was again considerable applause in Court.

Folkestone Express 18 June 1881.

Inquest.

On Monday evening J. Minter Esq., the borough coroner, held an inquest at the Shorncliffe Arms, on the body of Mrs. Susan Waters, who died under the following circumstances:

George Nutley, engine driver in the service of the Water Works Company, said: This morning at a quarter to six I was passing the small reservoir and saw something floating in the water. I got over the fence and found it was the body of Mrs. Waters floating face downwards. She was dressed, but a hat, umbrella, and jacket were lying on the grass fourteen yards from the edge of the reservoir. I went into the water and drew the body out. The water deepens gradually from the side of the reservoir, from six inches at the edge to four feet nine feet from the edge, where the deceased was floating. The reservoir is ten feet in the deepest part. Deceased was dead and cold, and I knew her to be Mrs. Waters, wife of David Waters, farm bailiff at Broadmead. Deceased's clothes were not disarranged, and there were no signs of a struggle, but I could trace her footmarks on the bank. There is an iron fence 3ft. 9in. in height round the reservoir, ten yards from the edge, except at the spot where deceased's clothes were lying, where it is fourteen yards. The gates are all locked, and deceased must have got over to get into the water. I had not seen deceased that morning.

The jury then went to view the body, which was lying at Broadmead, and which the witness identified.

Mr. William Bateman said: I was called this morning by Mr. Turner to Broadmead. I there saw the body of Mrs. Waters. I examined it and found no marks of violence, nor any appearance of disorder in her clothes. In my opinion she died from drowning, and I think she had not been dead many hours. I know she had been confined in Chartham Lunatic Asylum. Before she went there I believe she attempted to drown herself in the horse pond. The small reservoir where the body was found was a “settling pond”, and can be disconnected from the reservoir which supplies the town, and at the time the body was found it was so disconnected. All the water will be run off, and no portion of it will come into the town.

David Waters said: I am farm bailiff at Manor Farm. Deceased was my wife and was 58 years of age. She was taken to Chartham Asylum on the 15th of June last year, and discharged on the 26th February. I found her in the horse pond previous to her being taken to the Asylum. Deceased left home on Sunday morning with my grandson between ten and eleven for the purpose of going to church. My grandson came back between twelve and one and said his grandmother had sent him back when they reached the top of the hill, and told him to say she was going in to Folkestone to spend the afternoon, and probably she might take the train to New Brompton, where she had business. She did not return last night, and I thought she had gone to New Brompton. This morning, just after eight, I heard there was a woman found in the reservoir, and I then thought it was my wife. Since she came from the Asylum she had been very quiet, except now and then, when she became excited. The articles found beside the reservoir belonged to deceased.

The jury returned a verdict that deceased committed suicide while in an unsound state of mind.

Folkestone Express 1 August 1885.

Wednesday, July 29th: Before W.J. Jeffreason, J. Holden and J. Fitness Esqs.

Mr. Bannon applied on behalf of Mr. Hoad, of the Guildhall Tavern for a licence to sell refreshments at the Conservative Fete at Morehall on Bank Holiday. Granted.

Mr. Quested also applied for a licence to sell outside the grounds, in a field adjoining, but the Bench refused permission.

Folkestone Express 9 June 1894.

Monday, June 4th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Pledge, and J. Fitness Esq.

John Rackley was charged with stealing a rabbit and two fowls, the property of Mr. Quested, of Coolinge.

P.C. Gardner said on Saturday last, from information received, he went to the Wellington beershop, at the bottom of Dover Street, at ten minutes past one. He saw prisoner there with a basket containing a live rabbit and a dead fowl, the latter plucked. He asked prisoner where he got them from. He replied “Where do you think? I bought them”. He charged prisoner with stealing them, and prisoner replied “All right”.

Edward Quested, landlord of the Shorncliffe Inn, said he kept fowls and rabbits at the back of his premises. He locked the yard up as usual about nine o'clock on Friday night, and on Saturday morning he missed a rabbit and two pullets. He gave information to the police. The fowl produced was the same breed as those he lost. The rabbit was a remarkable one – it had a “butterfly nose”, and he had no doubt whatever that it was his property. He valued it at 5s., and the chickens at 2s. 6d.

Prisoner pleaded Guilty to being in possession of the goods, bus said he received them from another man, but did not know his name. He gave 3s. for the chicken and rabbit.

P.C. Gardner said 2s. were found on prisoner and his discharge papers.

Prisoner was sentenced to one month's hard labour.