Kentish Gazette 4 January 1772.

Advertisement.

Stolen or Strayed; on Sunday, the 29th of December last, from the high road near Sandgate Castle, between Folkestone and Hythe: A dark iron-grey mare, blind of the off eye, and about ten years old, with four white legs, a light coloured tail, a white face with reddish spots, and about fourteen hands high.

Whoever will convey the above-described mare to Mr. Neat Ladd, at the sign of the George, in Folkestone, shall receive One Guinea reward.

Kentish Gazette 18 August 1773.

Notice.

Whereas on the 29th of July last two men and two women came to the George in Folkestone, and continued there until the 5th of August instant, leaving behind them an ass, two trumpets, and several other things, this notice, therefore, to them is hereby given, that unless they, within ten days of this date, take away the same, and pay all charges and expenses attending thereon, the whole will be sold to satisfy the same.

Folkestone, August 21st, 1773.

This will not be advertised any more.

Kentish Gazette 2 March 1782.

Sunday evening last died Mr. Neat Ladd, who many years kept the sign of the "George," in Folkestone. It is supposed his death was occasioned by the fright he received by the fire at Mr. Pepper's as he has been nearly deprived of his senses ever since that melancholy accident happened.

Kentish Gazette 23 March 1782.

Advertisement: All persons who had any demand on Neat Ladd, of Folkestone, victualler, at the time of his decease, and also those who were then indebted to him, are requested to apply to his Executor, William Marsh, of Folkestone, aforesaid, Brewer, in order that the same may forthwith be discharged and paid.

Folkestone, March 21, 1782.

Note: "George."

Kentish Gazette 15 October 1811.

Advertisement. George Inn, Folkestone.

John Pilcher begs leave to return grateful thanks to his friends and the public for the favours he has received during thirty years past, and informs them that he has relinquished the above inn in favour of William Wellard, late foreman to Mr. Marsh, Brewer, whom he respectfully recommends to their notice and support.

Folkestone, October 11, 1811.

Note: This is at variance with More Bastions.

Kentish Gazette 31 December 1811.

Died: Dec. 26th, at Folkestone, aged 63, Mr. John Pilcher, late landlord of the George Inn at that place, which he kept for upwards of 30 years.

Note: This is at variance with More Bastions.

Kentish Gazette 10 July 1812.

About seven o'clock on Wednesday evening three Frenchmen, who had broken their parole, were apprehended in the stable loft belonging to the George public house, in Folkestone, by the Lieutenant of the impress service, and were soon afterwards conveyed to Dover, guarded by a detachment of the German Legion. Report says that one bore the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and the other two that of Captain. One of them was known by Folkestone man, and on being interrogated confessed himself to be the late Governor of Flushing.

Kentish Gazette 15 September 1812.

Advertisement.

Freehold Brewhouse, to be disposed of by private contract (with immediate possession).

All that very desirable and substantial well built brewhouse and malthouse, with store-houses, drying oast, stable sheds and other outbuildings; large yard, and pump of exceeding good water; also a large modern built messuage or tenement adjoining the same and communicating therewith, situate and being in the most eligible and convenient part of the town of Folkestone. Also four several old established public houses, situate in Folkestone, and two in Romney Marsh, let to respectable tenants from year to year.

The above mentioned brewhouse, malthouse, messuage and one of the public houses, form a complete square, and surround the yard, with a communication to two of the principal streets in the town. The malthouse is capable of making 1,000 quarters of malt in the season. The brewery is also capable of very great improvement, and is altogether well worth the attention of any person who is desirous of entering into a good trade, The coppers, tuns, coolers, vats, casks, utensils, stock, and fixtures, to be taken at a valuation.

Further particulars, and to treat for the same, enquire (if by letter, post paid) of Mr. Robert Marsh, Coolinge, near Folkestone; Mr. Thomas Nichols, Seabrook; or Mess. Tournay and Janeway, Solicitors, Hythe.

Note: This was the Marsh Brewery, Rendezvous Street, and the pub described was The George.

Kentish Gazette 15 October 1839.

Marriage: Last week, in London, Mr. Thomas Foord, to Mary Alice, only daughter of Mr. James Kember, of the George Inn, Folkestone.

Maidstone Gazette 20 May 1845.

There appeared an error in our Folkestone news of last week: the following is correct. The licence granted to Mr. Richard Hart, deceased, to keep open the "South Foreland," was transferred to Mrs. Mary Hart, his widow and executrix, and the licence granted to Thomas Foord Jun., to keep open the George, was transferred to William Pay.

Note: Earlier date for South Foreland. Neither licensee listed in More Bastions. Earlier date for transfer at George.

Maidstone Gazette 11 March 1851.

Advertisement: Folkestone, Kent. To brewers, publicans and others. Mr. J. Messenger has received instructions from the proprietor to sell by auction, at the "King's Arms Inn," Folkestone, on Friday, the 21st inst., at two o'clock,

The freehold and free public house known as the George Inn, situate in the centre of the town of Folkestone, in the immediate neighbourhood of extensive improvements. The premises are in the occupation of Mr. W. Pay, who is under a notice to quit.

For plan and particulars apply at the offices of Mr. J. Messenger, Folkestone and Canterbury, or to Mr. W. Sladden, Solicitor, Folkestone.

Kentish Gazette, 18 March 1851.

FOLKESTONE, KENT. To Brewers, Publicans and Others.

MR. J. MESSENGER. Has received instructions from the proprietor to sell by auction at the "King's Arms Inn," Folkestone on Friday the 21st instant, at 2 o'clock.

The freehold and free public house known as the "George Inn," situated in the centre of the town of Folkestone, in the immediate neighbourhood of extensive improvements. The premises are in the occupation of Mr. William Pay, who is under a notice to quit.

For plan and particulars apply to the offices of Mr. J Messenger, Folkestone and Canterbury; or to Mr. W Sladden, solicitor,

Folkestone.

Southeastern Gazette 6 June 1854.

Pavement Commissioners, Thursday: It was decided not to allow Mr. Hoad to have a cellar opening in George Lane to a public house he had built there.

Southeastern Gazette 19 September 1854.

Annual Licensing Day.

Monday: Before the Mayor, S. Mackie, W. Major, T. Golder, G. Kennicott, and T. Kingsriorth, Esqs.

Before renewing the licenses, the Mayor addressed the publicans, informing them that anew law was passed, explaining to them the particular features of the Act, and hoped they would adhere to it. The whole of the licenses were renewed, with the exception of the "Radnor Inn," "Oddfellow's Arms," and the "Engine Inn." Applications for new licenses were made for the "George," "Gun," and "Belle Vue Tavern;" the first only was granted, on the ground that it was a new house in the room of one pulled down.

Southeastern Gazette 1 January 1856.

Petty Sessions, Wednesday.—(Before J. Tolputt, Esq., Mayor, W. Major and J. Kelcey, Esqrs.)

Transfer of Licence.—The George Inn from William Boult to Thomas Wilson.

Note: More Bastions has Boult transferring to William Dullen in 1855, and Dullen to Wilson in 1858.

Southeastern Gazette 1 October 1861.

Local News.

At the Petty Sessions on Tuesday, Thomas Wilson, of the George Inn, George Lane, was summoned for selling a pint of beer on unlicensed premises. Mr. Minter appeared for the defendant.

From the evidence of Stephen Smith, a coachman it appeared that the defendant keeps livery stables and was in the habit of supplying the coachmen with liquor from his house, selling it in the stables. Witness was served with a pint of beer on Sunday morning after eleven o’clock, by the son of the defendant, and paid 2d. for it.

P.C. Jones deposed to seeing the son serve witness Smith, and to other servants being present and drinking.

Mr. Minter said proof was wanting of Mr. Wilson knowing beer was on the premises for sale, or that young Wilson was the son of the defendant.

The magistrates dismissed the case.

Southeastern Gazette 13 October 1877.

Local News.

At the Borough Police Court on Wednesday, before the Mayor, a young man named Stephenson was charged with stabbing Mr. Quint, landlord of the George Inn, who was ejecting him from the house.

The Bench considered the wounding was not intentional, and treated it as a common assault, fining the defendant £3 12s., or two months’ in default.

Southeastern Gazette 26 August 1882.

Annual Licensing Session.

This session was held on Wednesday.

On the tenants of the Skylark, the George Inn, and the Cinque Port Arms applying for a renewal of their licences, Supt. Taylor said he had received information from Inspector Gosby that all three houses were meeting places for women of ill-fame, and the Bench decided to adjourn each case till the 27th Sept.

Southeastern Gazette 30 September 1882.

Licensing Meeting.

An adjourned licensing meeting was held at the Town Hall, Folkestone, on Wednesday morning, the magistrates present being Dr. Bateman, Alderman Caister, Messrs. J. Clark, F. Boykett, and J. Holden.

Mr. Mowll, on behalf of G.L. Quin, of the George Inn, Robert Carter of the Skylark, and William Lywood of the Cinque Ports, explained that the cases had been adjourned from the last court in order that Inspector Gosby, of the Metropolitan Police, might be present. The cases were of a similar nature, and he asked that the evidence in all three should be taken together. The suggestion was that the houses were the resorts of fast women. Evidence was called, and Messrs. Mowll and Ward addressed the Bench on behalf of the tenants.

The magistrates, after a short deliberation, said that in the cases of the George and Skylark they were quite satisfied that it was the intention to discontinue any irregularities. The other case was a very different one, for it appeared if the tenant had been prosecuted for having women of that class in his house he would have been convicted. If the tenant allowed such women to live in his house, he would have his licence taken away, but the Bench would not do so on this occasion. They, however, desired to caution him that if the practice was not discontinued his licence would be taken away.

Southeastern Gazette 7 May 1888.

Local News.

At the police court on Monday Kate Waite, aged 16, a domestic servant, was charged with stealing a silk handkerchief, the property of Mr. Alfred Petts, draper, of 63 High Street.

The prisoner went to the prosecutor’s shop and purchased a hat, and after she had gone the handkerchief was missed. It was afterwards found at the George Inn, where the prisoner was servant.

The prisoner was remanded till Tuesday, when she was discharged, under recognisances to come up for judgment when called upon, a lady attending, and promising to get her into a Home.

Folkestone Gazette 20 August 1952.

Local News.

The secretary of a Folkestone sick and dividend society admitted at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court yesterday that he had appropriated £28 belonging to members of the society.

Ernest Charles Stephen Tanner (39), of 26a, Woodfield Close, Cheriton, pleaded guilty to two charges of making false entries in the society’s records purporting to show that two members had received sick payment, and charges of converting 12/- and 24/- to his own use. He admitted 26 other cases of obtaining money, which he purported had been paid as sick benefit to other members of the society.

Fining Tanner £20, with 8/6 costs, the Chairman (Ald. W. Hollands) said his action of robbing his workmates was despicable. He said it was a society where men came together to make provision for sickness. At the end of the year any balance was shared amongst the members. “They honoured you by giving you the post of secretary and you were paid”, said Ald. Hollands, “but you robbed your fellow men. It really warrants imprisonment but you have had a good character before and the Magistrates hope that you will retain it so they have decided to impose a fine”.

Tanner was given a month in which to pay the fine but was told that the alternative would be two months’ imprisonment.

Mr. Norman Franks, prosecuting, said Tanner was elected Secretary of the George Inn Sick and Dividend Society in December, 1947. His remuneration was 1/6 per member, and the membership was approximately 240. Tanner had several duties to perform. Each week he had to make out a schedule of sick members entitled to benefit.

The schedule contained the names of sick members and there was a space in which members signed upon receipt of the money. Having made out the schedule Tanner made out a cheque drawn on the Society and signed by the Treasurer, a trustee and himself. Having done that it was his duty to draw the money from the bank and put the sick members’ money in separate envelopes with the name of the member upon them.

The envelopes were then handed with the schedule to a committee man, who acted as sick visitor. He took the envelopes round to the sick members and obtained their signatures when the money was paid over. At the beginning of July Mr Luckhurst was sick visitor and on the third day of the month Tanner called upon him and handed him the schedule of sick visits for the week. He also handed Mr. Luckhurst four envelopes, but there were several more names on the schedule, including a Mr. Ernest James Pilcher. When Mr. Luckhurst drew Tanner’s attention to it his answer was that he had already paid the other members. According to the schedule Mr. Pilcher had received his money and had signed for it. Two days later Mr. Luckhurst was in Cheriton Road when he saw Mr. Pilcher, a postman, riding his bicycle and wearing his uniform. He asked Mr. Pilcher why he was working when he was drawing sick benefit. Mr. Pilcher explained that he was perfectly well and was not receiving any benefit and, in fact, had not asked for any. Mr. Franks said Mr. Luckhurst went to see defendant and at first Tanner said there had been a mistake. Further enquiries were made and it was found that the previous week there had been a similar instance concerning a Mr. Wilson, who was not entitled to benefit and, he believed, was not even a member of the Society. Further enquiries were made and it was found that there were 28 instances altogether over a period of 14 months, instances where defendant had made out schedules including persons who were not entitled to benefit, and where he had collected the money and appropriated it for his own use.

D.C. Bibby said when he first saw Tanner on July 2nd he said: “I know what you have come to see me about. It is about Mr. Pilcher’s sick money.” He explained to defendant that there was a signature against Mr. Pilcher’s name and that 24/- sick money had been drawn. Tanner replied that somebody had told him that Mr. Pilcher was sick at the beginning of the previous week. As he did not see him he drew the money and signed for it himself. He was going to give it to his boy but had not seen him. Witness said he pointed out to Tanner that Mr Pilcher’s name appeared on the schedule for the previous week, showing that 24/- benefit had been drawn. Tanner said “Yes, I signed for that but as he was not sick I paid it back in the club, along with the contributions I took at the George on Monday”. The detective informed Tanner that he was not satisfied with his explanation and told him he was taking possession of the Society’s documents for the current year. After examining the documents he saw Tanner at the police station on July 9th and pointed out that he could find no method whereby he could have repaid the money into the Society's funds. Tanner then said “I had the money and signed Pilcher's name”.

After admitting that he had done the same thing in 23 cases, Tanner made a statement in which he said he had been a member of the George Inn Sick and Dividend Society for about 20 years, and was appointed Secretary in 1947. He said he was helped by his wife and the assistant secretary. Some time during the early part of the year, he did not know exactly when, he put a person down on the schedule as being sick when, in fact, he was not ill. He entered 24/- against the person's name and totalled it up with the rest. He signed the person's name and had the money, telling the sick visitor that he had paid the money out himself. “I then found that I could obtain the money and was not being found out”, his alleged statement continued. “I cannot explain why I did it. I was not really in need of any money. I expect it was because of the easy method in which the club is run”.

Tanner, a married man with two children, told the Magistrates that he was willing to repay all the money.

The Chairman, announcing the Magistrates’ decision, said they had noted that Tanner intended to refund the £28.

Folkestone Gazette 17 April 1963.

Local News.

The following application for transfer of licence was granted by the Folkestone Licensing Magistrates on Wednesday: George Inn, George Lane, Folkestone, from Mrs. K. Hollands to Mr. R.C. Guard.

Folkestone Gazette 18 October 1967.

Local News.

Committal proceedings at Folkestone Town Hall on Friday were interrupted for a time as a Magistrate, a witness, prosecution and defence solicitors, police and the accused visited the scene of an alleged crime. The unusual step was taken to clarify the position of a key witness at the time of an incident in Rendezvous Street, Folkestone.

Brothers Michael Laws, aged 25, of Cliff Villas, Folkestone, and George Laws, aged 26, of Alexandra Gardens, Folkestone, were jointly accused of malicious wounding, attempted grievous bodily harm, malicious damage and actual bodily harm. Michael Laws was also accused of possessing an offensive weapon, while George Laws was further accused of possessing an offensive weapon, malicious damage and driving while disqualified.

Mr. A.C. Stokes, prosecuting, said that incidents happened when Mr. John Wilcox, a fishmonger, of Bolton Road, Folkestone, and Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Bolton Road, Folkestone, were in the George public house at Folkestone on September 8. At closing time, as they helped to clear up, an argument developed between Mr. Wilcox and the Laws brothers, who were in the saloon bar. During a scuffle, he said, George Laws picked up a bar stool and hit Mr. Wilcox with it, causing a wound on his head. Miss Smith became hysterical, started throwing glasses around, and was locked in a lavatory by the licensee, said Mr. Stables. After that incident Mr. Wilcox and Miss Smith went to their van, parked in Rendezvous Street. It was about 1 a.m. But then, alleged Mr. Stables, The Laws brothers arrived in another van. George had in his possession a starting handle, and Michael a knife. Then George hit Mr. Wilcox with the starting handle and Michael punched. There was no suggestion that Michael used the knife, he said. Mr. Wilcox, he added, broke loose and ran down Rendezvous Street to a telephone box. He dialled 999, but got no further as the two men dragged him out of the telephone kiosk on to the pavement. Mr. Wilcox again broke loose and the Laws brothers returned and set about Mr. Wilcox's van, said Mr. Stables, breaking the windscreen. George Laws, who was using the starting handle, threw the handle through Plummer Roddis' window. They then chased Mr. Wilcox around the streets in their van, and were at times “perilously close” to him. One of them jumped out of the van and ran after Mr. Wilcox while the other one drove. Fortunately, said Mr. Stables, a Mr. Robinson got Mr. Wilcox into his van and took him away. In the meantime, Miss Smith, having seen the attack on Mr. Wilcox, had tried unsuccessfully to phone the police from the George public house. She went to a police pillar box in Sandgate Road, but unknown to her it was no longer in use because police are now equipped with personal radio communications. The Laws brothers drove up in their van and asked her what she was doing. Miss Smith told them she was trying to phone for a taxi, said Mr. Stables. They got out of their van, but then George drove the van into Alexandra Gardens, said Mr. Stables, adding that evidence would be given that he had been banned from driving for 10 years. On other occasions the vehicle had been driven by Michael. Mr. Stables alleged that the two brothers then punched and kicked Miss Smith and she received bruises to her body and her hand swelled up. Mr. Stables added that somehow Michael Laws had received a cut or stab, but it was not clear how.

Mr. Michael Davis, of Albert Road, Hythe, said that he was engaged on doing some internal work at Plummer Roddis' store on the first floor when his attention was drawn to a commotion outside. He looked out of a window and saw a blue van. “I then saw another vehicle. I believe it was a Standard, but I am not sure about that. It appeared to be a light grey colour. It stopped right in front of the blue van and two chaps got out. I noticed that one was in shirt sleeves and that one was a little taller than the other. The chap in the shirt sleeves had a starting handle. He came out of the passenger side of the vehicle”. Mr. Davis said that one of the men was left on his own with the two who had got out of the light coloured vehicle. He alleged that the man with the starting handle hit the man who had been left on his own on the bottom of the neck – what he would call a light blow.

At this point the Magistrates' Clerk, Mr. S. Winchester, told the two brothers “Take your hands out of your pockets. You did not come here to lounge about as if you were in a cinema. And stop having long conversations with your brother. If you want to talk to your solicitor tap his shoulder if you want to draw his attention”.

Cross-examining, Mr. W.E. Court, defending the Laws brothers, asked if it was possible for the Court to see exactly from which window Mr. Davis observed these things. They visited the scene and it was established that he had been looking from the third window of the first floor at the lower part of the hill in Rendezvous Street.

On their return to the Court, Mr. Wilcox said that after the incident in the public house Miss Smith and another man walked towards their van. Then, he said, another van pulled up in front of his. In it were the Laws brothers. He said there was “a bit of a scuffle”, and he was punched a couple of times. He estimated the damage to his vehicle to be in the region of £60. “I had five stitches in my head”, he said.

Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Bolton Road, Folkestone, said that the first disturbance arose after she had been playing dice with Michael Laws.

In cross-examination by Mr. Court, Miss Smith said that there was no question of her having got hysterical while she was in the George public house.

A brewery labourer, Mr. Damon Robinson, of Stanbury Crescent, Folkestone, said that he and som friends picked up a man who was being chased. The man was bleeding from a cut on the head, and his suit had been cut. He seemed to be exhausted.

D.C. George Hough said that he and another detective were called to the junction of Grace Hill and Foord Road and examined Laws' vehicle. Under the dashboard, he said, a wooden-handled knife was found. Later, said D.C. Hough, Michael Laws made a statement in which he admitted having been at the George public house and being involved in a scuffle.

The hearing was adjourned until next Tuesday.

Folkestone Gazette 1 November 1967.

Local News.

Because of lack of evidence two charges against a 25-year-old fisherman were withdrawn by the prosecution at the continuation of committal proceedings at Folkestone Town Hall last Tuesday. A further charge against Michael Laws, of Cliff Villas, Folkestone, jointly with his brother George, of Alexandra Gardens, Folkestone, of attempted grievous bodily harm, was changed to one of using threatening behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. The brothers were jointly accused of using threatening behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace; of unlawful and malicious damage and causing actual bodily harm. George Laws was further accused of unlawful malicious wounding, carrying an offensive weapon, unlawful damage to a plate glass window, and driving while disqualified.

The charges resulted from a series of alleged incidents in September, starting with a scuffle in the George public house and later in Rendezvous Street and the vicinity of Tontine Street. It had been alleged that Mr. John Wilcox and Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Bolton Road, Folkestone, had been assaulted by the two brothers, and that Wilcox's car had been damaged by them.

Mr. A.C. Staples, prosecuting, admitted that there was insufficient evidence against Michael Laws of malicious wounding and possessing an offensive weapon, namely, a knife, and he would not press those charges. Regarding the charge the two brothers faced of attempted grievous bodily harm, Mr. Staples said that there was insufficient evidence of Mr. Wilcox having been hit with a car starting handle, and he suggested to the Magistrates that an alternative charge, of using threatening behaviour in a public place, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, should be considered instead.

Detective Constable Brian Darnell said in evidence that he was called to Rendezvous Street on September 9, where he saw Wilcox and Miss Smith. Mr. Wilcox, he said, had an injury to his head, and Miss Smith was in a hysterical condition, was without shoes and was holding her arm. Later, when he searched the Laws brothers' car, he found a steel knife, but Michael Laws explained that it was used in his job. At the police station, D.C. Darnell said, Michael Laws was questioned, and a statement was made by him. D.C. Darnell said that he then saw George Laws, who told him that Wilcox had started the fight. In reply to the allegations, George Laws told him “I don't know who said all this, but they are lying”. D.C. Darnell continued, “I said to him that it would also appear he and his brother smashed up Wilcox's van, and that one of them had driven their van into Wilcox's van. He replied “No””. D.C. Darnell read a statement in which George Laws was alleged to have said that his brother's head was injured in the scuffle in the public house and that after leaving the George they went to their vehicle and noticed that it was damaged, and that the van near to theirs had the windscreen smashed in.

In cross-examination by Mr. W.C. Court, defending the brothers, D.C. Darnell said that Michael Laws had received a puncture wound on the left side of his body and had to have a stitch inserted at the Royal Victoria Hospital. He also had a superficial injury to his head, which was bleeding. Asked if there were any other disturbances in Folkestone around the time of the alleged incidents, D.C. Darnell replied that he had been assaulted prior to this happening. “This was when I chased a man from the Odeon Bar and ran down Rendezvous Street into the Dover Road area”, he said.

Mr. Court: Had there been any disturbance in Tontine Street?

D.C. Darnell: I was not present, but I think there was.

Mr. Court: This was going on at the same time?

D.C. Darnell: I don't honestly know.

The brothers were remanded on bail to await trial at Folkestone Quarter Sessions, which commence on November 9.

Folkestone Gazette 15 November 1967.

Quarter Sessions.

Further jurors had to be called when several were challenged at the start of a case involving two Folkestone brothers charged with a total of seven offences, including malicious wounding, at Folkestone Quarter Sessions. The defence questioned the eligibility of seven jurors and the prosecution one.

At the end of a two-day hearing on Thursday and Friday, George Arthur Laws, a self-employed painter, of Alexandra Gardens, who was said to have served two terms of imprisonment, was fined £50 for maliciously damaging a car owned by Mr. John Wilcox, of Bolton Road, Folkestone.

He was told that he would be sent to prison for two months if he did not pay the fine. Laws was also found guilty of possessing an offensive weapon, a car starting handle, and given a conditional discharge. The jury found Laws, aged 26, Not Guilty on five other counts. They were: Maliciously wounding Mr. Wilcox; using threatening behaviour; assaulting Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Bolton Road, Folkestone; maliciously damaging a plate glass window at Plummer Roddis Ltd.; and driving while disqualified. Laws' brother, Michael, aged 25, a fisherman, of Cliff Villas, was fined £50 for damaging the car. He was found Not Guilty on the charges of assaulting Miss Smith and using threatening behaviour. Both brothers were ordered to pay £25 compensation to Mr. Wilcox, a fishmonger, for the damage to his car.

All the charges arose from a fight in the George Inn on September 8 and incidents that followed in the streets of Folkestone in the early hours of the next day, when Mr. Wilcox and Miss Smith alleged they were chased by the two brothers.

In Court, George Laws agreed that following an argument he called Miss Smith a slag. It was his intention to insult her. Wicox came running through from the public bar. As he did so, George Laws said he got off a stool on which he had been sitting and Wilcox picked it up. They struggled with it in between them. He denied that he hit Wilcox over the head with the stool. He saw his brother hit on the head with a bottle by Miss Smith. He also saw Wilcox with a knife in his hand in the public house and he saw Wilcox stick it into his brother's left side. After leaving the public house, he and his brother drove off in their van. He spent some time trying to persuade his brother to go either to hospital or the police because of the knife wound. As far as he was concerned he knew nothing more of the incidents which were alleged to have taken place.

In cross-examination he said he did not mention the stabbing when he was questioned by the police because he did not think he and his brother would have any charges brought against him.

Michael Laws said in Court that he did not have anything to do with any chase of Mr. Wilcox. He also had nothing to do with any damage caused to the car or the window. He noticed that Mr. Wilcox's car had been smashed, but did not know who had done it. Laws claimed that he knew nothing about the damage to the plate glass window. He and his brother were on their way to the hospital when arrested by the police.

Mrs. Pamela Chapman, wife of the licensee of the George Inn, Mr. Denis Chapman, said in Court that she had been playing dice with Miss Smith and the two Laws brothers. Michael Laws mentioned to Miss Smith that she owed him £4. Miss Smith started to use bad language. Miss Smith must have thrown at least two dozen glasses and some bottles. Mrs. Chapman said she had not seen a stool raised. Michael Laws tried to stop Miss Smith throwing glasses. Miss Smith was locked in the ladies' lavatory. The Laws brothers both left the pub when she asked them, said Mrs. Chapman. Mr. Wilcox stayed in the pub for about 15 minutes after the Laws brothers had left. He had a knife about a foot long, and said to Mrs. Chapman “The next time you see those two boys you won't recognise either of them”. Mrs. Chapman told the Court that some time after the incidents she received an anonymous phone call threatening her to keep quiet about the knife. “I was very frightened by it”, she added. In October she saw Miss Smith sitting on the doorstep of the pub. In a conversation that followed Miss Smith said she had got George Laws into plenty of trouble by telling the police that she had seen him driving his brother's van on the night of the fighting although she had not seen this. On hearing this Mrs. Chapman contacted the Laws brothers' solicitors.

Asked by the prosecution if she was a close friend of George Laws, Mrs. Chapman replied: “I don't know him any better than most of my customers”.

The Court was told that George Laws had seven previous convictions. He had been banned from driving for 10 years and sent to prison for 18 months in 1963 for causing death by dangerous driving. He had also served another prison term.

Folkestone Gazette 28 February 1973.

Local News.

Licensee of the George Inn, George Lane, Folkestone, Mr. Dennis Herbert Chapman, on Monday lost his High Court appeal against his conviction for selling intoxicating drink to a youth under the age of 18. Mr. Chapman had been fined £10 when he appeared before magistrates at Folkestone.

Mr. Justice Ashworth, sitting with the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Widgery, and Mr. Justice Bridge, said the offence arose out of the sale of a light ale and lime to a 14-year-old youth. When the case was heard, objection was taken on behalf of Mr. Chapman to the fact that a declaration preceding a statement made by a forensic analyst had not been signed.

But there was no requirement that the declaration must be signed, said the judge. It was the statement, incorporating the declaration, which had to be signed by the witness. The justices were right to reject this objection to the admissibility of the statement. It had also been said there was insufficient evidence to show that Mr. Chapman had personally sold the drink to the youth, but that had not been pressed, said Mr. Justice Ashworth.

The appeal was dismissed with costs.

Folkestone Gazette 20 February 1974.

Local News.

A Folkestone police inspector, fined £5 on Monday for being drunk in Sandgate Road, told Magistrates that he had been warned that he would be “stitched” – police jargon for a frame-up or concocted evidence against him. Brian Francis McConnell, 29, of 21, Earls Avenue, pleaded Not Guilty before three Cranbrook Magistrates at a special Folkestone Court. The magistrates were brought in as McConnell was, until December, court inspector at Folkestone.

P.C. Donald Weeks said that he was on motor patrol duty with Sergeant Ian Worledge at 1.10 a.m. on December 20. They were parked in the police bay outside Debenham's store when McConnell staggered towards the car. He tapped on the window and asked about two people to whom P.C. Weeks had spoken on the previous night. McConnell's voice was slurred, and he staggered backwards, collapsing on his back in Debenham's doorway. P.C. Weeks said “Mr. McConnell got to his feet, came back and said he was drunk, or words to that effect. He asked for a lift home and got into the rear of the vehicle”. They drove off, but had travelled only a little way when McConnell told the sergeant to get out of the car. They continued to Earl's Avenue and stopped outside McConnell's home, but he refused to leave the car. A call was made to Inspector Philip Roberts, who arrived at Earl's Avenue and ordered McConnell to be taken to Folkestone police station.

Cross-examined by Mr. Michael Lewer, Q.C., defending, P.C. Weeks agreed that it was an unusual matter for him to be dealing with an inspector in a case like that. Mr. Lewer asked “You made no record in your note book?”

P.C. Weeks: I didn't put in any speech.

Is the reason that you didn't think you would have to recount the speech? – Yes, sir. I thought it would be dealt with in a different way – if at all.

Asked whether McConnell had a reputation of being something of a joker, P.C. Weeks said “It may be the case, but I don't know of it”.

P.C. Weeks said that on the previous night he had been called to the George Inn, George Lane, at the request of McConnell, who complained that there were two uninvited people at a private party.

Sergeant Worledge agreed he helped Inspector Roberts to put McConnell in a cell. He described McConnell as normally a light-hearted pleasant man, but said that when he was in the police car he seemed distraught – “very upset indeed”. “I had formed the opinion that he was drunk”, he said. Sergeant Worledge agreed with Mr. Lewer that a drunk was usually searched and his tie and bootlaces taken away from him. This did not happen in McConnell's case.

Inspector Roberts said that when he saw McConnell in Earls Avenue, he said to him “Come on Brian, it’s time to go to bed”. McConnell fell sideways on the back seat of the police car. At the police station, McConnell stood against a wall and collapsed before being assisted into a cell. At 5.30 a.m., McConnell was awake. Inspector Roberts said “I asked him if he was feeling better and he said “That’s the safest sleep I have had for a long time. They are trying to get me””. Told he was being taken home, McConnell asked why. “I told him “I don't want every copper in this station to see you in this condition””, said Inspector Roberts.

Referred by Mr. Lewer to the police occurrence book for the date in question, Inspector Roberts agreed that no entry was made about McConnell being placed in a cell.

Asked if he knew McConnell well, he replied “Inspectors are people who pass in the night”. He was aware that McConnell had been given notice of his transfer to County Headquarters at Maidstone and was not happy about the move.

P.C. Harry Salisbury, station officer at the time McConnell was taken to the police station, told the Court that he saw him leave in the morning. He did not see McConnell wink at him. Asked whether he knew McConnell as a practical joker, P.C. Salisbury agreed that he was once told to ring a telephone number which turned out to be that of Recipe of the Day.

On oath, McConnell said that he had been in the police force for seven and a half years and an inspector for 18 months. He heard in December that he was being transferred to the operations room at County Headquarters. “I regarded it as a retrograde step. I thought it was a bad administrative move”, he said. McConnell said that on the morning of December 18 he slipped at the police station and hurt his knee. Throughout the afternoon he was at Hythe, on duty as escort to Miss World, who was paying a visit to the town. McConnell said that after Miss World had finished her official duties, he asked her and her manager to have a drink with him. “They wanted to find their way through Folkestone to the A20 and I invited them to have a drink at the George. They accepted, and were there for about 20 minutes after which I accompanied them to the A20”. Afterwards he stayed behind as a guest of the landlord at a private party. McConnell said that on the following day his leg was hurting so he rang the police station to say that he would not be in. Later that day he decided to keep a lunchtime appointment. On the way there he saw P.C. Robin Venner, with whom he had been working for 2½ years. “He said I should be careful because there was a rumour going around the police station that someone was going to stitch me”.

Asked what “stitched” meant, McConnell said “To a police officer it means a frame-up or a concocted evidence job”.

McConnell went on: “I was frightened and apprehensive so I went to the offices of the Folkestone Herald and Gazette, where I made a telephone call. There were several reporters there and I asked them to listen to the call to Superintendent Snelling. I asked him to make a note in his pocket book of the time and date, so that if anything happened it would be recorded as evidence on my behalf. Superintendent Snelling said that he would write it down and asked me to be in his office at 2.30 p.m. to see Chief Superintendent Pullinger from Dover. I had a lengthy interview about Miss World, the George, my objection to transfer and my criticism of the administration of the force. I was then asked to make a written statement. Superintendent Snelling then asked Mr. Eric Haslam, the deputy chief constable, to come to Folkestone from Maidstone as soon as possible”. McConnell said Mr. Haslam arrived and there was another long interview. He eventually left the police station at 7.15 p.m. He went for a meal and then met his girlfriend, Mrs. Sandra Leach, at 8.30 p.m. They had two halves of lager at the George, two or three at the Harbour Inn and two at the Princess Royal before returning to the George. Later they stayed behind with the landlord and his wife, when, said McConnell, he drank four or five Southern Comfort bourbon liqueurs – the drink taken by Miss World the previous evening.

Mr. Lewer: You were following in the footsteps of Miss World?

“I was indeed, sir”, replied McConnell, who said the drink affected his mood but not his speech or faculties. As he walked home with Mrs. Leach a police car passed them on at least one occasion. “I was annoyed”, said McConnell. “For 2½ years I had felt that I was being followed by night duty policemen. Perhaps it relieved the boredom of night duty. I believed that, because of my girlfriend, I was an item of curiosity at the police station. As I walked by the police car I said “this is getting too much”, bearing in mind the events of the day. I asked my girl friend to walk on ahead and a police car drew alongside. I tapped on the window and spoke for some time about the events of the previous night and of Miss World’s visit”.

Mr. Lewer: The police say that you stepped back into the entrance to Debenhams and collapsed in the doorway.

McConnell: I told them I had been drinking and challenged them to arrest me. I didn't know if they were the ones trying to stitch me. They said “There is nothing wrong with you – go home”. I said that if I were to sit in the doorway then they could arrest me. There was no-one at the scene and I was not making a spectacle of myself. I was calling their hand. I know that I was foolish, but I'm not accused of being foolish. I was accused of being drunk, which I was not.

McConnell said he asked the sergeant to get out of the car because he was talking about getting an inspector there. “His manner made me apprehensive”. By the time he reached his home there were three police officers involved and he was sure he would be reported to the superintendent. “I had reached the point of no return”, he said. “My state of mind was not what it should have been. I was playing it along and acting out of character. When I decided to push it to the limit, I decided to fool around, slurring my speech and acting drunk. I was partly apprehensive because of my fear of being stitched, and then because I thought I was carrying a joke too far”. Asked about his reputation as a joker, McConnell said that in a mundane job he played jokes over his personal radio. “I did not hurt the public, and I feel that my section has the highest morale in Folkestone”, he said. McConnell said that he was collected from his home at 10.20 a.m. the same morning and taken to Superintendent Terry Snelling who gave him the choice of resigning on the spot or being suspended and subjected to a police inquiry. He did not resign and was suspended.

Cross-examined by Mr. Colin Staples, McConnell denied that he was not on official duty when he acted as escort to Miss World. He said “Inspector John Ansell was on night duty and passed it on to me”. Of the episode in Sandgate Road, McConnell said “If it was a joke, I accept that I went too far”.

Mrs. Sandra Leach, of 67a, Wear Bay Crescent, Folkestone, said that she was a former barmaid and was well able to judge whether or not a man was drunk. On the night in question McConnell was limping badly, but was definitely not drunk.

Asked if she was his girlfriend, Mrs. Leach said “I was at the time, but we are not seeing each other at present”.

Mrs. June Chapman, wife of the licensee of the George, said that when McConnell left the public house he was “merry but capable”. She said he did not slur his speech.

Summing up, Mr. Lewer said of McConnell: Maybe he had too much time – and who can blame him – with Miss World and had got into hot water. Being accused of being drunk is a minor matter to most people. This man's career in the police force is in shreds and tatters anyway. He is a man who has now got to pick up what he can. How he can justify himself at a disciplinary hearing I don't know, but in my submission his behaviour cannot be put down to being drunk. It was just one incident in a difficult day.

After a short retirement, the Magistrates found the case proved, and fined McConnell £5. He was given 21 days to pay after indicating that he would be lodging an appeal.

South Kent Gazette 23 April 1980.

Local News.

A Former Scout leader propositioned two young girls outside a pub, it was alleged in Court last Tuesday.

Folkestone Magistrates heard from a 17-year-old girl that she was walking past the George pub, in George Lane, Folkestone, when Frank Michael White, of Salisbury Road, Cheriton, came out. “He came put and said “What are you two young ladies doing out at this time of night?””, said the girl. She told the Court that White then pulled a wallet out of his pocket, showed her a badge and a card, and said “C.I.D.”. “He started talking to us and propositioning. He offered us money to go to the Motel Burstin with him”.

After the trial White was convicted of falsely suggesting he was a police officer by showing a badge and a card and claiming to be a C.I.D. member. He was fined £25 with £30 costs.

When asked by P.C. Clive Ellesmore, white admitted that the badge and card were his, but denied propositioning the girls or offering them money.

According to White the incident happened about 10.40 p.m. when he was drinking with two friends at the George. One of his friends, Mr. Ian Duff, went outside and was followed by Mr. Steven Russell, of Downs Road, Folkestone. A short while later White went after them and said “I think you are being a bit silly getting involved with young girls. They look too young”. And he claimed that Mr. Duff took his wallet and started to wave it around. Although White tried to get it back, his friend kept the wallet out of reach.