Folkestone Express 28 August 1875.

Wednesday August 25th: Before The Mayor, J. Tolputt, W.J. Jeffreason and T. Caister Esqs., and Capt. Crowe.

Wednesday being the sessions for the hearing of applications for licenses and transacting licensing business, the Magistrates present sat as a licensing committee, and were occupied for three quarters of an hour in renewing the licenses.

The Warren.

Mr. Minter applied to support an application by Mr. Timothy Harrison for a license to sell beer and other excisable liquors in the Warren. As they knew, the Warren was the scene of various picnics during the summer time, and great inconvenience was often occasioned from the impossibility of getting refreshments within the Warren. To meet this want Mr. Harrison had erected some buildings at it's entrance and now applied that they might be licensed, and the memorial had been very numerously signed. He might add that Mr. Harrison intended building a large hotel at the entrance of the Warren before next summer, for which he would apply for a full license.

Mr. Harrison was then examined in support of his application, and stated that the license was required for three substantial cottages with good conveniences for the supply of refreshments, but that he intended building a larger structure there. Parties sometimes consisting of as many as three hundred persons visited the Warren in fine weather during the summer. These persons were often inconvenienced by the difficulty of obtaining refreshments when picnicking in the Warren, the nearest licensed house being the Swan, Dover Road.

Mr. W.A. Watts, clerk at Mr. Hart's, having proved the service of the notices, the Mayor said the Committee were unanimous in granting the application, subject of course to the ultimate decision of the whole Bench at the annual session to be held a fortnight hence.

Folkestone Express 17 June 1876.

Inquest.

On Monday morning Mr John Bourne Adams was found drowned in East Wear Bay. It appeared that the deceased, who up till lately held the post of steward on board the packet boat Victoria, belonging to the South Eastern Railway Company, had been in the habit of bathing in the locality, but had been compelled to discontinue it for some time, owing to an attack of rheumatic fever.

An inquest was held on Monday evening at the Warren Inn, before Mr. Coroner Minter, when the following evidence was taken:

John Sherren Adams said: I am the son of deceased, and I identify the body just viewed by the jury as that of my father, John Bourne Adams, who was a steward in the employ of the South Eastern Railway Company. He was 53 years of age. He has lately been suffering from rheumatic fever, and has just recovered. About a week back my father asked me to go and bathe with him, but I refused on account of just returning from a hot climate. I last saw him alive yesterday morning at about half past eight, before going on board. I identify the clothes produced as being my father's.

John Griffiths said: I live at Folly Cottage, and am a collector of fossils. I went down to the East Wear Bay, and on arriving there at nine o'clock I saw some man's clothes on the beach. They were all placed together. The clothes now produced are the same I saw. It was low water. I saw no-one, and remained by the clothes for about an hour. I proceeded to search, and traced footsteps to the sea, and I then found deceased lying on the sand face downwards. He was quite dead and cold. There was a little pool of water round his head, with traces of blood which had flowed from his ear. Where the body laid was about half tide. From the place where his footsteps reached I think deceased must have gone into the water at about five o'clock. I obtained assistance and the body was removed. I then went and fetched his clothes, and I took a purse out of his trouser pocket which contained gold and silver.

Mr. Richard Mercer: I am a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons, London. This afternoon at two o'clock I was called by Superintendent Wilshere to look at the body of deceased. I examined the body and found no marks of violence except a slight abrasion on the right ear and also a slight abrasion on the left eye. There was blood proceeding from the left ear. I think from my examination that in the deceased's state of health his going into the water to bathe would most likely have produced a fit, and then falling on his face, even in shallow water, would cause him to drown. I am of opinion that death arose from suffocation from drowning.

Mr. Timothy Harrison said: I occupy the Warren Farm, Folkestone. I have known the deceased from boyhood. Several times last year the deceased came over to East Wear Bay to bathe. He was in the habit of talking to me both before and after bathing.

P.C. Robert Hogben said: I produce the clothes, knife, corkscrew and a two shilling piece belonging to the deceased.

Superintendent Wilshere said: I received from the witness Griffiths the sum of £3 14s. 3d. and two French coins. I met the deceased on Saturday and had a long chat with him. He appeared to be very cheerful.

The Coroner said there was no need for him to sum up the evidence. He saw the deceased a day or two ago relative to the purchase by him of some property. The jury had heard the medical evidence and had heard that the deceased went to bathe against the advice of his medical attendant.

The jury at once returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony.

Folkestone Express 3 February 1877.

Thursday, February 1st: Before The Mayor, General Armstrong, Captain Fletcher, R.W. Boarer and J. Kelcey Esqs.

Mr. Hills applied for the license which was granted to Mr. T. Harrison, for the Warren Inn, to be transferred to him.

The application was granted.

Folkestone Express 17 March 1877.

Local News.

At the Police Court on Wednesday the license of the Warren House, in the Warren was transferred from Mr. Timothy Harrison to Mr. Rowland Hills, the son of the late Bathing Establishment manager.

Folkestone Express 17 November 1877.

Inquest.

The heavy gale which prevailed on Sunday afternoon and during the night was felt at Folkestone in all it's fury. As usual on occasions when a storm is raging, large numbers of persons assembled near the pier to witness the arrival of the passenger boat from Boulogne. The scene which presented itself was grand. The waves dashed over the piers, sending up volumes of spray to a great height. The passenger steamer was due shortly before five, and she was preceded by a cargo boat. The latter had so much difficulty in making the harbour that the authorities deemed it prudent to signal the former, the Alexandra, to go on to Dover. The small cannon which stands on the parapet of the pier is used for this purpose, and in firing it an unfortunate accident occurred. The muzzle pointed down the pier, and the head of a lad named Harry Poole, sone of Mr. Poole, ironmonger, was in a direct line with it. The wad from the gun struck him on the forehead over they eye, and it was feared it had caused serious injury. He was carried to the waiting room at the Station, and Dr. Eastes was sent for. Subsequently the lad was removed to his home and he has now nearly recovered. The Alexandra altered her course and made for Dover, and on her arrival there a train had been provided to convey her passengers to London. The effects of the gale in the town were very considerable. We hear that a chimney stack on the Stade was blown down, and the tenant in the house was struck by a falling brick. Chimney pots and roofing tiles were blown down, and the streets in the old parts of the borough were strewn with fragments. The scaffolding around houses in the course of building suffered considerably in many cases. Rain fell in torrents during the night, and it's results were seen in the rush of water which poured from the culvert conveying the rivulet from Foord to the harbour, in place of the meandering stream which it usually is.

Unhappily the storm did not pass away without inflicting loss of life to some unfortunate mariners. Two shipwrecks took place within a short distance of each other. On the breakwater at Hythe a barque called the Lizzie Hobley stranded and became a total wreck. But that we could say with the poet “The splintered bones of a ship are yours, but not one life today” Her crew consisted of the following eight men: Hugh Griffiths, 36, Portmadoc, master; G. Griffiths, 53, Portmadoc, mate; R. Hentley, 26, Plymouth, boatswain; James Lewis, 24, New York, cook; M. Duffy, 23, Kingstown; William Kilby, 21, Belfast; D.N. Kenzie, 22, Ross, O.S.; John Dawson, 24, Aberdeen, seaman. Not one of them was saved. The body of a boy has washed ashore with arm broken and his skull smashed, and a boat and medicine chest have been picked up at Dymchurch. She was laden with log wood and palm oil. She sailed from Cape Haytien, having on board a cargo valued at £3,000, bound to Falmouth for orders, whence she was ordered to Havre. She was built in 1872, of 226 tons register, classed A1 at Lloyd's for 13 years, and was insured. She was owned by Mr. Griffiths, of Carnarvon, and was valued at £2,500. At low water the hull lies bottom upwards high and dry on the breakwater.

Nearer home a similar catastrophe occurred, the French brig Edmund, laden with coal, and bound from Sunderland to Caen, having gone ashore on the Copt Point Rocks, and been literally pounded to atoms. The two men who were saved from a crew of five tell a sad story. They had been for eight days at anchor off Dungeness, and about midnight on Sunday both her cables parted. They tried to make sail to keep off the coast until they could reach the harbour. They were all but successful, when the brig's cargo shifted and she became unmanageable, and soon after she grounded to the west of No. 3 Tower. An attempt was made to lower a boat, but a heavy sea came and smashed it. It was impossible to remain on deck, and the crew betook themselves to the rigging, where they clung for an hour and a half, when another angry wave struck the ill-fated ship and masts, rigging and crew went by the board. It is marvellous to relate that two of the crew succeeded in reaching the shore and scrambled up the rocks at the Warren, where they were discovered shortly before seven by a lad, and taken and well cared for in the Sanotorium. During the day the French Consul from Dover visited them and provided them with clothing. Before they were found, the dead body of the Captain, Lucien Duprey, had been discovered on the rocks below by a mariner named John Bull. It was considerably disfigured through beating against the rocks, and covered with sand, and information having been given to the police it was removed to the Warren Inn to await an inquest.

Meanwhile the storm had lulled and the sun shone, and hundreds of persons visited the scene of the disaster. It is impossible to imagine a more complete destruction. The bow half of the vessel was lying bottom upwards about a hundred yards from where she first struck. Two other portions of the hull were lying a quarter of a mile to the eastward. Her mainmast was broken a few feet from the deck, at a point where there were symptoms of previous unsoundness. Indeed the appearances of the hull indicate that she was a very old craft. Fragments of wreck were scattered along the beach for miles intermingled with battered and broken articles of all kinds, and eager search was made for some souvenir of the occurrence. On Wednesday Mr. John Banks sold such portions as had been rescued from the sea, two gangs of men having been at work at low tide in removing them out of reach of the waves. The gale is said to be the severest which has occurred since the memorable one of the 1st of January. From Dover, Ramsgate, Margate, Whitstable and other towns reports come of various disasters. Many vessels in the Downs broke loose from their moorings and became comparatively helpless.

The inquest on the body of the unfortunate Captain was held before J. Minter Esq., at the Warren Inn, on Tuesday afternoon, to which place the body was removed after it was discovered.

Mr. S. Earnshaw interpreted the evidence of the two men, who spoke in French.

The mate of the brig, named L'Air, gave the following evidence: I was mate of the brig Edmund, belonging to the port of Lohengrin-on-sea, France. She was bound from Sunderland to Caen with a cargo of coals. I identify the body as that of the captain of the brig. On Monday morning about two o'clock the vessel was washed on to the Copt rocks. We endeavoured to get into the harbour, but were unable to. We had been anchored in Dungeness bay, but about half past eleven on Sunday night she broke away from one anchor, and half an hour after the other went. We then endeavoured to make sail as best we could, but our cargo shifted and the vessel became unmanageable, and she was carried round the point and driven on to the rocks. We tried to get into the boat, but she was crushed. As it was impossible to remain on the deck we all got into the rigging. We were in the rigging about an hour and a half when a wave struck the ship and brought her round broadside, when the masts went by the board and we were cast into the sea. As soon as I was in the water I struggled and got my boots off and managed to get to the rocks. I did not see the Captain after he was in the water.

Louis Basse said: I was a seaman on board the brig Edmund. I was in the rigging of the brig when the masts went by the board. The Captain was in the rigging with the mate. I swam on shore. I saw the Captain in the water. He could not swim. He caught hold of me by the arm and said “We are lost”. I pushed him away, and caught hold of a piece of wood, which I placed between my legs and swam to shore. I saw the Captain once on top of the waves. I saw the other two men as I left the ship, but not afterwards. My supposition is that they were carried down by the rigging.

John Bull, mariner, living in Rendezvous Street, said he was on the rocks a little before six on Monday morning, and found the deceased lying on the weeds on the rocks. He was dead, and lying about five yards from the water. He sent a boy to give information.

Mr. Richard Mercer, surgeon, saw the body about three o'clock on Monday. Death appeared to have been caused by drowning.

P.C. Abraham Keeler said he searched the body while it was lying on the sands, and produced the articles found upon it. They were a knife, a handkerchief, a purse containing eight sovereigns, one half sovereign, three Napoleons, eleven half Napoleons, three quarter Napoleons, two English florins, five shillings,, one franc, and one shilling in coppers. He handed them to the Superintendent.

A verdict of Accidental Drowning through the wreck of the brig Edmund was recorded.

Folkestone Express 26 June 1880.

Saturday, June 19th: Before The Mayor, General Armstrong, R.W. Boarer and M. Bell Esqs. And Aldermen Banks and Hoad.

John Henry Marsh, of the Warren Inn, was summoned for opening his house in prohibited hours on Sunday the 13th inst.

Defendant said he was not at home and that his wife told him she drew some beer for a soldier who was a traveller.

P.C. John Gardener said he was on duty in plain clothes on Sunday afternoon, and visited the Warren Inn at twenty minutes past four. Previous to going in he saw a soldier in the Royal Engineers come out with a quart pot full of beer and stand it on a form. There were ten or a dozen people there, who all went away. He saw Mrs. Marsh and told her she was infringing the law, and she replied that she could not get them away.

Eliza Marsh, wife of the defendant, was called, and said she told the constable she had served three soldiers with a pot of beer, but that they did not enter the house as she handed the beer outside to them. They said they were travellers. She did not ask them where they came from.

The Bench inflicted a fine of 30s. and 10s. costs, and cautioned the defendant not to offend again.

Folkestone Express 30 July 1881.

Notice.

To Mr. James Kennett, one of the Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Folkestone, in the Borough of Folkestone, and to the Superintendent of Police for the said Borough.

I, Thomas Alexander, now residing at Cupola House, Dover Road, in the Borough of Folkestone aforesaid, and at the Warren Inn, in the said Borough, hereby give you notice that it is my intention to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meeting for the Borough aforesaid, to be holden at the Town Hall in the said Borough, on the Twenty fourth day of August next ensuing, for a Certificate of Justices for the grant of a license to sell by retail Beer, Cider and Wine in pursuance of the Wine and Beerhouse Act, 1869, and the Wine and Beerhouse Act Amendment Act, 1870, to be drunk or consumed either on or off the premises, at a house and premises thereunto belonging, situate at the Warren in the Borough aforesaid, and commonly known by the name or sign of the Warren Inn aforesaid in respect of which Inn and premises I now hold a license for the sale of beer either on or off the same.

Given under my hand this Twenty ninth day of July, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty One.

THOMAS ALEXANDER.

Folkestone Chronicle 27 August 1881.

Annual Licensing Day.

The Annual Licensing Day was on Wednesday last, the Magistrates on the Bench being The Mayor, A.M. Watkin, F. Boykett, and J. Clarke Esqs., and Ald. Caister.

An application for a beer and wine license for the Warren Inn was refused.

Folkestone Express 27 August 1881.

Annual Licensing Day.

Wednesday, August 24th: Before The Mayor, Alderman Caister, W. Bateman, A.m. Watkin, J. Boykett and J. Clark Esqs.

Thomas Alexander applied for a beer and wine license for the Warren Inn, which was granted.

Note: Confusingly, the report in the Chronicle states that the application was refused!

Folkestone Express 23 June 1883.

Wednesday, June 20th: Before R.W. Boarer Esq., Alderman Hoad, and General Armstrong.

The transfer of the license for the Warren was confirmed.

Folkestone Express 2 August 1884.

Notice.

To the Overseers of the Poor of the Township of Folkestone, in the Borough of Folkestone, and to the Superintendent of Police for the same Borough.

I, Benjamin Edward Coleman, Beerhouse Keeper, now residing at the Warren Inn, The Warren, in the Township of Folkestone, in the Borough of Folkestone, do hereby give notice that it is my intention to apply at the General Annual Licensing Meeting, to be holden at the Town Hall, in the said Borough, on the Twenty-seventh day of August next, for a Licence to hold any Excise Licence or Licences to sell by retail under The Intoxicating Liquor Licensing Act, 1828 all intoxicating liquors to be consumed either on or off the House and Premises thereunto belonging, known as the Warren Inn, situate at The Warren, in the Borough aforesaid, of which premises the Right Honourable Jacob Earl Of Radnor is the owner or Lessee, of whom I rent them.

Given under my hand this 26th day of July, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Eighty-Four.

B.E. Coleman.

Folkestone Express 30 August 1884.

The annual licensing meeting was held on Wednesday. The magistrates present were The Mayor, Captain Carter, J. Clark Esq., and Alderman Caister.

The following application for a new licence was heard:

The Warren Inn.

Mr. B. Coleman applied for a full licence to this house. Mr. Minter, who supported the application, said there was formerly a spirit licence to the house, but it had been allowed to lapse. The present tenant, Mr. Coleman, had made many alterations and improvements, and it was a place to which a licence should be granted. Last week, he said, there were two thousand persons visited the Warren.

Mr. Coleman said the rent was £25. He also stated that on several occasions there had been accidents in the Warren, and persons taken ill there, and Dr. Bateman had expressed an opinion that spirits ought to be obtainable there.

Mr. Wightwick opposed the granting of the licence on behalf of the Temperance Society, on the ground that the place was now respectably conducted, and a great accommodation, but that if a licence was granted, it would be an objection. There were already a number of houses within a short distance.

The Bench refused the application.

Folkestone Express 20 June 1885.

Saturday, June 13th: Before General Armstrong C.B., Aldermen Banks and Hoad, and F. Boykett Esq.

William Collins was charged with stealing a silver watch, value £2 10s., and a silver chain, value 10s., the property of Edmund Henry Walter.

Edmund Henry Walter, a farm assistant, living at Coombe Farm, said on Friday morning at ten o'clock he was bathing in East Wear Bay. In his waistcoat pocket he had a silver watch and chain. He left his clothes on the beach. After he had bathed and dressed himself he missed his watch and chain. He saw a man near his clothing, but he could not recognise him. The watch produced he identified by the number, 28,038, and the maker's name, Dent. He also identified the chain by it's general appearance. He only saw one man about while he was bathing. He had had the watch and chain for twenty years.

Thomas Inman, residing at the Warren Inn, said he saw the prisoner near that house about half past ten on Friday morning. He afterwards saw the prosecutor.

Joseph Johnson, a general dealer, said the prisoner went to his shop in High Street about twenty minutes to two on Friday, and asked witness if he bought old silver. He said he did. He produced the chain, and witness told him it was very common and he could only give him 9d. for it. Prisoner went away and said he would ask his mate. The chain was much below the standard value. He returned twenty minutes after and said he would take the 9d. He said he found the chain when scavenging, and had rubbed the dirt off. It was hardly silver. He had no recollection of P.C. Gilham going to his shop. A constable did go to him and say something had been stolen from a bather. If he had given the matter a thought he should not have thought the chain referred to was the one. It was only a piece.

Alderman Hoad: I am afraid your memory is very bad.

P.C. Bean said he apprehended the prisoner in Dover Road that morning. He said to prisoner he should take him in charge on suspicion of stealing a watch and chain. He said he supposed he must go, but he wished he had never seen the watch. He took prisoner to the police station, when he was charged by Sergt. Pay. He said he was Guilty. When asked if he had the watch he produced it from his trousers pocket.

Prisoner was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.

Folkestone Express 13 August 1887.

Local News.

A correspondent sends us the following: A party of visitors from London who are staying in Folkestone were paying a visit to the Warren, when their attention was attracted by loud calls from the cliff above, which rise here from a height of from three to four hundred feet from the rugged undercliff below. After considerable difficulty, they were enabled to make out at about fifty feet from the top, two young men, who, after a foolhardy attempt to scale the face of one of the most difficult and inaccessible parts of the cliff, had become fixed in such a position that it was evident to those below that, unless speedy help was forthcoming from above, nothing could save them from a terrible death. Large pieces of chalk were already falling from beneath their slender foothold into the underwood below so that their position became more critical at every moment. One of the gentlemen below, Mr. E. Clarke, of London, at once dispatched a younger brother across the hills to a small inn about a mile distant for aid, in the shape of ropes, whilst another gentleman of the party, Mr. S. Marsh, also of London, clambered with much difficulty up the face of the cliff to attract attention from above. In a very short time a party arrived at the top with ropes, and at the imminent risk of his own life a local policeman, named Bailey, clambered down from the top, as near as possible to the two unfortunate lads, who were standing immovable with their faces towards the cliff, and with the aid of his comrades above succeeded in lowering a rope to them, which the elder of the two placed with much difficulty under the arms of his companion, and without further delay he was hauled to the top to safety. A second time the rope was lowered to the second unfortunate, who placed himself within the noose and was drawn to the top in a fainting condition, amid cheers from the onlookers. The young men rescued turned out to be two brothers who are staying in Folkestone, and whose names were not ascertained. They are suffering from severe shock to the system, both of them stating that they never expected to reach the top alive. Great praise is due to the landlord of the Warren Inn for his speedy aid in sending ropes, and to the brave fellows who volunteered to the rescue.

Folkestone Express 7 February 1891.

East Kent Bankruptcy Court.

Friday, January 30th:

Re. Benjamin E. Coleman: The debtor was formerly a publican, and kept the Warren Inn, Folkestone. Mr. Hall appeared for the debtor.

The Registrar: This is a case I see of all debts and no assets.

Mr. Broughton, acting for the Official Receiver, said the debtor was now out of business. His unsecured debts amounted to £284 12s. 9d. The assets were nil. The list of creditors includes Allen and Co., Dover, £54 3s., Geo. Belgrave, Folkestone, £10 10s. 6d., Chapman and Sons, Ashford, £24 4s. 10d., E.G. Glasscock, Folkestone, £10, J.A. Jones, Bromley, £31 10s., Rolls and Co., Dover, £28 10s., J. Tritton, Staple, £17 4s. 4d., Walter and Richardson, Ashford, £30 7s. 6d., John Ward, Folkestone, £29.

The cause of failure was alleged to be slackness of trade. The Warren Inn was entirely a summer house, and the last three seasons had been particularly short.

In answer to Mr. Broughton, the debtor said he first started in business as a grocer in England in 1885, on his arrival from Australia. He had then £500 or £600, which he had amassed out there. He put the money into his father's business, which he carried on, and supported his six sisters. In ten years he got into debt to the extent of £2,000. He then made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors, and paid 8s. in the pound. In 1865 he commenced a grocer's business in Strond Street, Dover, and carried it on until 1869. He did not know what capital he had then – not a great deal – perhaps £100; not more. It was not a paying business. It was not a new business. He had it a portion of the time that he was carrying on the shop in Deal. He made an arrangement with his creditors in 1869. From 1869 to 1883 he was engaged purchasing fodder, horses and cattle for the French Government. In May 1883 he took the Warren Inn.

The Registrar: Had you made any money out of the horse commission business?

Debtor said it was during the French War. He was buying provisions for the horses in the French army. The valuation of the Warren Inn came to about £15. It was all valued in at that. There was a bailiff in the house for about £15, and he paid him out. He had a capital of £65. The other £50 went on furnishing and buying different things - £15 would not buy much for a public house – hardly pay for glass. In March 1886 he made an assignment for the benefit of his creditors, owing about £200. The debts were principally owing to brewers – all except a few pounds. Some of the brewers accepted the composition. Messrs. Mackeson, of Hythe, did not. He owed them £21, and had had to pay. The East Kent Brewery Company had nothing to do with what he did then. Before that time he bought beer of different brewers – it was a free house and he got the beer where he could. The trustee under the assignment disposed of the effects of the Warren Inn to the East Kent Brewery Company for £175.

How did you increase the valuation to £175? - I did not increase it at all. That was what they charged for it.

Was it all at £175? – Yes. There was no valuation.

The Company allowed you to remain in possession, in fact, till the 1st January last? – Quite so.

In what position were you in the house; were you manager? – Well, I suppose so; literally.

The Registrar: You say literally. Let us get to the date. It was after 1886 – the chattels were all there? – Yes.

Did you own anything there? – Not even the furniture. It was all in assignment.

How much, and in what way? – I don't know that I was termed the manager. I simply was there and bought stuff of them, and took the profits.

The Registrar: Then you were not manager. You were an ordinary individual.

Mr. Broughton: What rent did you pay? - £25 a year.

Was it always the same rent? – Always the same.

Have you paid the rent regularly? – Yes.

I suppose your name was over the door? – Yes.

And on the licence? – Yes.

There was nothing at all to show but that the business was entirely yours? – No. I suppose not.

The Registrar: How was the furniture dealt with then? – Merely by valuation. The assignment was made to Oscar Berry, and he sold the effects.

You say “assignment”. Did you sign anything?

Mr. Broughton: Oh, yes, he made an assignment.

Debtor: Then some of the creditors accepted the composition and some did not. I had to pay them after. The assignment was made to the firm of Stapleton, of the East Kent Brewery Company.

How did you come out again? – Simply because I had not done business for them, and they came and took possession.

Did they know you were about to file a petition? – No.

Had they given you notice to quit? – Yes. Some time before.

The Registrar: They were not the landlords of the house. Who was? – Lord Radnor.

Did you get notice from Lord Radnor? – No.

Mr. Broughton: To whom did you pay your rent? – Lord Radnor.

Why did you give up possession? – The property belonged to them.

The Registrar: The house did not belong to them – they had no more right there than I had. When did you turn out? – On the 1st January.

Mr. Broughton: They had no right there?

The Registrar: None whatever.

Mr. Broughton: They were simply trespassers. When did you file your petition? – On the 9th.

What is the name of the new tenant? – Mutton.

What did he give you to go out before your time? – He gave me nothing.

Do you know what he paid for valuation? – No.

It is untrue if it is alleged that Mutton gave you £50? – Mutton has not paid me £50.

Has he paid anybody £50 for your benefit? – I don't believe he has paid anything.

The Registrar: Has he agreed to pay anyone? – Not me.

Has he agreed to pay anybody? – I can't say.

Do you expect to get any money? – No. I walked out and left it as it was.

The Registrar: Do you say Mutton is in now? Is he a relation of yours? – No.

Mr. Broughton: Do you know what Mutton was before he took the house? – He has lived with me for some time.

The Registrar: Oh!

Mr. Broughton: As what? – For four or five years, employed in the garden, assisting in the bar, and cleaning up.

A sort of general assistant to you? – Yes.

When did you go, the day you gave up possession? – You must understand, I did not live there. I lived with my wife.

Mr. Broughton: You used to go and live with your wife and your wife's father? – Yes. I used to walk to and fro.

The Registrar: Do you go on the premises now? – Yes. I was there yesterday.

What did you do there yesterday? – I don't know that I did anything.

Mr. Brouhgton: You partially live at the Warren Inn, don't you? – No.

The Registrar: Have you made arrangements for the buying of stuff? – No. Nothing to do with it.

Mr. Broughton: How came Mutton to be the tenant? – I don't know. I told him I was going to give it up, and if he could make arrangements with the brewers he could.

When was this? – At Christmas.

Did Mutton know your financial position? – I believe he did. I should say he ought to. He has seen summonses enough brought there.

The examination was adjourned.

Folkestone Express 18 April 1891.

Canterbury Bankruptcy Court.

A sitting of this Court was held on Friday, before the Registrar, Walter Furley Esq.

Re. B.E. Coleman, Warren Inn, Folkestone.

The Official Receiver said this case had been adjourned two or three times in order that some transactions between the debtor and the East Kent Brewery Company might be investigated by private examination, and he was satisfied about those transactions.

The debtor stated that his wife claimed all the furniture, which was left her by her father. The value of the furniture was about £43. The only books he had kept were day books. He first knew that he was insolvent last Michaelmas. His debts were contracted in the ordinary course of business. He had defended three or four actions against him to gain time. He had previously made a composition with his creditors.

Debtor was allowed to pass.

Folkestone Express 26 March 1892.

Local News.

The police visited the Warren Inn on Sunday, and found there about a score of mechanics, who were drinking during prohibited hours.

Folkestone Express 2 April 1892.

Saturday, March 26th: Before J. Holden, J. Pledge, J. Fitness, and E.T. Ward Esqs.

Henry George Mutton was summoned for having his house, the Warren Inn, open for the sale of liquor during prohibited hours on the 20th inst.

Sergeant Harman said on Sunday the 20th, about ten minutes past eight, he, with Sergeant Lilley and P.C. Lawrence, placed himself in a field near the Martello Tower. The kept watch on the Warren Inn till about eleven o'clock. About five minutes past ten he saw one man go into the house, and at seven minutes past ten, another. Between five minutes past ten and five minutes to eleven sixteen men entered the house by the front door, and four left. The men who entered came from the direction of the town. About eleven o'clock he went to the house, having previously stationed Lilley and Lawrence at points outside. He entered the front taproom, where there was a bar, and defendant was behind it serving beer. He counted 19 men in the bar, and most of them had liquor in front of them. There were two pots containing beer, and ten glasses, and on the side there were 17 glasses. As soon as the men saw him they were going to clear out of the room and make their escape, but he said “It is no use running away; I have got the house surrounded, and you had better come back”. He took their names and addresses. To his knowledge 17 of the men were living in Folkestone. He told the landlord he should report him, and he replied “I can't help it. I am very sorry”.

The defendant said in answer to the charge that he was extremely sorry. It was a fine day and there were several walking out there. He had studied to keep the house respectable and in a proper manner. He had really kept it more as a refreshment house than as a public house, but it happened to be a fine day, and they often had bona fide travellers from Dover, the Camp, and Sandgate, who he was allowed to serve, he believed, under the existing licensing laws.

Mr. Bradley asked if it was the first offence.

The Superintendent: It is the first time defendant has been charged.

Mr. Radford asked to be permitted to say a few words. The house belonged to Lord Radnor, and he of course desired that it should be conducted in a proper and orderly manner, and that nothing should interfere in any way with the property or be a source of trouble or annoyance to the inhabitants in any way whatever. They had good references with the defendant at the time he took the house, but of course he had notice to quit immediately that took place. They had taken the greatest care that the house should be conducted in a proper way. In course of time a better house would be erected to take the place of the present one. He was sure his Lordship would be very sorry that the thing should have happened.

Mr. Bradley: There is no doubt about that.

Alderman Pledge asked if the Bench understood that the defendant had notice to quit.

Mr. Radford said “Yes”. He was a yearly tenant, so that his notice would not expire till September.

In answer to a question, Supt. Taylor said the house had been a continual trouble. Owing to it's remoteness it could not be kept under proper police surveillance. They had the very greatest difficulty in getting that case.

Mr. Radford said, had he known it, they would have taken care that it did not occur.

Mr. Holden said it had been so for years. They had had no end of complaints about it.

Mr. Ward: How long has the defendant been there?

Mr. Radford: A little over 12 months.

Supt. Taylor said in cases like that they could not bring any allegations against the defendant unless they were prepared to prove it in Court.

The Magistrates retired, and on their return Mr. Holden said: This case, in the opinion of the Bench, is a very bad one. It is bad in itself, and it is bad in as far as you (defendant) are concerned, because you know that when you were allowed to take up the licence you were cautioned as to the character of the house, and told plainly and distinctly that the licence would not be continued if the house held the character that it had during the time of your predecessor. It was known to the Bench and known to the police, but being situated in the middle of a field, they could never reach it. There was telegraphing going on as soon as a policeman put in an appearance, and the house was closed at once. It is very well for you to say you are sorry. The penalty for the act itself – so flagrant is it that the Bench felt that they ought to inflict the full penalty of £10. But they will not do that – they will inflict a penalty of £5 and 9s. costs, leviable by distress, and, in default one month's imprisonment. Now, we retired, not for the sake of ascertaining the amount of the fine, but to ascertain whether we ought not to endorse the licence. We have come to the conclusion that, under all the circumstances, it having been so notorious a house – there is nothing like it in all Folkestone –that the licence shall be endorsed.

Defendant: I hope you don't do that, for the sake of Lord Radnor.

Mr. Holden said the Bench had given it every consideration, and in the interest of the morality of the town they could do no other. It was not a pleasant thing for them to do, but they had to do it.

Folkestone Express 9 April 1892.

Saturday, April 2nd: Before H.W. Poole, W. Wightwick, J. Brooke and W.G. Herbert Esqs. Surgeon General Gilbourne, and Alderman Banks.

Nineteen men were summoned for being on licensed premises, the Warren Inn, on the previous Sunday week during prohibited hours. Their names were Thomas Ashby, James Boxer, George Beadle, Wm. Emery, Robert Flowers, Albert Friend, Thomas Hawkins, George W. Hogben, George Jell, James Nickolls, Thomas Spickett, Henry Vye, John Wills, Richard Wills, William Whitwell, John Williams, Robert White, William Lacey and Arthur Rutley. All the defendants appeared except Spickett, who Superintendent Taylor said was away from the borough. They all pleaded Guilty.

Sergeant Harman gave evidence as to his visit to the inn, and finding the defendants there, smoking and drinking. They all gave their names and addresses.

The last two named defendants - Lacey and Rutley – were privates in the Royal Artillery, stationed at the Camp, and they said they were given to understand that the Warren was beyond three miles from the Artillery Barracks, and therefore they, as bona fide travellers, were entitled to have refreshment. The distance had been measured by Lieut. Geary.

Lieut. Geary attended the Court and expressed an opinion that the military defendants should be treated as travellers. He had measured the distance himself.

The Magistrates' Clerk told Lieut. Geary that he was not entitled to address the Court, but he could give evidence. He was therefore sworn, and said he had measured the distance from the Artillery Barracks to the Warren Inn that morning by the nearest road, down the Military Road, through the town. The distance was three and a third or three and a half miles. He could not say whether the men were in Camp or on pass on Saturday and Sunday.

Mr. Bradley said the distance was proved. The question was whether they were bona fide travellers. He asked where they slept on Saturday night.

The two men said they slept in barracks on Saturday night, and left about nine o'clock on Sunday morning. They went through Sandgate and were on their way to Dover.

Major Poole said the defendants had all pleaded Guilty, and they were all liable to a penalty of 40s. They would, however, not be fined the full penalty. All the civilians would be fined 2s. and 8s. costs, and the soldiers 1s. and 9s. costs.

Some of the defendants asked for time, but they were told that they must get the money in the course of the day or distress warrants would be issued.

Folkestone Express 27 August 1892.

Wednesday, August 24th: Before J. Clark, Alderman Pledge, W. Wightwick, J. Fitness, J. Holden, H.W. Poole, and F. Boykett Esqs.

Annual Licensing Day.

Mr. A.H. Gardner said he had been instructed by the Church of England Temperance Society, presided over by the Vicar of Folkestone, to appear before the justices. He did not do so in any spirit of dictation to the Bench, but that they might see the views of the Society upon the subject, and he would put in a resolution passed the other day at a meeting held in the vestry, asking the justices not to grant any new licenses, except to private hotels or restaurants. It also particularly urged that grocer's licenses were peculiarly fraught with mischief as giving great facilities to women. They also thought that the number of licenses, of which there were 82, should be reduced, especially where there had been convictions for violation of the law. They did not specially single out any particular houses, but they thought when there had been recent convictions, they might refuse the renewal of licenses to such houses. Further they especially called attention to the preponderance in the number of houses at the lower end of the town – there were 79 east of Alexandra Gardens, while there were only three on the west. Mr. Gardner also referred to the fact that the magistrates last year refused to renew in English counties 117 licenses, and in boroughs as many as 101.

Adjourned Applications.

The applications in respect of the Folkestone Cutter, the Alexandra, the Wheatsheaf, the Warren, the Wonder, and the Cinque Ports Arms, where there had been convictions for breaches of the law, were ordered to stand over until the adjourned licensing day, Wednesday the 28th of September.

Folkestone Express 1 October 1892.

Local News.

Many people will hear with surprise and regret of the withdrawal of the licence to the Warren Inn. It is perfectly well known that it has not been well conducted, but that a house in that locality is wanted in the summer is clear. There is reason to suppose that there was an informality which will perhaps lead to a reconsideration, but as it was put before the Bench, the justices could hardly do otherwise. A good deal of comment has been caused by the employment of a Dover solicitor. It is not easy to see why a legal gentleman was necessary, but any one of the practicing solicitors in Folkestone could well have done what was essential. A question is to be asked in the Council on the subject.

Wednesday, September 28th: Before J. Clark, J. Holden, W. Wightwick, H.W. Poole, and J. Pledge Esqs.

This was the adjourned licensing day, and Mr. J. Clark said: Before the business commences I want to make an announcement. It has been done in other places, and we consider the same should be done here. It is the unanimous opinion of the licensing committee that there are far too many licensed houses in Folkestone, and they would suggest to the owners of houses that they should talk it over amongst themselves and agree as to which houses it would be best to drop. If nothing is done between now and next licensing day, the magistrates will be obliged to suppress some of the houses in the town. So if the owners would talk it over among themselves which houses it would be best to drop, it would save us great difficulty.

The Warren Inn.

The holder of the licence of this house, Henry Mutton, applied for it's renewal. Mr. Mowll opposed and Mr. F. Hall supported the applicant. Mr. Minter was instructed on behalf of the Licensed Victuallers' Association to support the application.

Mr. Mowll contended that the Licensed Victuallers' Association had no right to be represented. The landlord of course had a right to be represented, but he did not see what right Mr. Minter had to appear for a body of men who had nothing to do with it.

Mr. Minter: They only desire to support a respectable man.

Mr. Bradley said anybody could oppose, but only the owner or occupier had a locus standi to appear in support.

Mr. Minter: Very well. Then I'll leave it to my friend Mr. Hall.

Mr. Mowll said that was a very different case indeed from those which had gone before. It was a case in which he should have to ask their worships to seriously consider whether it would not be their duty under all the circumstances to take away the licence. The defendant had been convicted for Sunday trading, and 19 men were found in the house. He was fined £5 and costs, and the licence was endorsed. Notwithstanding the endorsement the tenant still remained in the house, whereas it was usual when a licence was endorsed or the tenant to be got out. There were other grounds of opposition, one of which he desired to bring to their serious attention, and that was that the house was situated beyond the usual ordinary jurisdiction of the police, and there was great difficulty in catching the men, although the Superintendent felt convinced the tenant was carrying on Sunday trading. He complained that a watch was kept, so that a warning of the approach of the police was given. The house belonged to Lord Radnor, and no doubt his lordship would take a broad view of the matter and agree that a licence to that small cottage was not required. It was not the style of place to have a licence.

Evidence was given as to all the matters Mr. Mowll referred to, and Superintendent Taylor said he had given notice to Mr. Radford that the licence would be opposed.

Mr. Hall submitted to the Bench that it was a place of resort for pleasure parties, and for their convenience it ought to be licensed. The Bench ought not to study the convenience of the police in the matter, as against that of the public. It was very hard that they should not be able to get reasonable refreshment, simply because the place was too remote for the police supervision.

The Chairman announced that it was the unanimous opinion of the Bench that the licence should not be renewed.