Children of Agnes and Richard Gates

On the 20th October, at Knightrider-street, Maidstone, the wife of W.J. Gates, of triplets—two sons and one daughter.

GATES—WAKEFIELD.—On the 17th August, at St. Philip's, Maidstone, by the Rev. Mr. Archer, Curate of the Parish, Walter John Gates, of Maidstone, son of the late Richard Gates, of Horsham, Sussex, to Charlotte, daughter of the late Edward Wakefield, of the Cherry Grounds, Maidstone.

FARM FIRE AT NETTLESTEAD.

By their prompt response to a call at 1.25 p.m. on Tuesday, the Maidstone Fire Brigade saved a valuable stack of hay belonging to Mr. W. Maxted, at Rock Farm,. Nettlestead. Under  the command of Captain W.J. Gates, the Brigade proceeded with the motor pump to the farm. Fortunately a plentiful water supply was at hand in a pond close to the stack-yard, where two corn ricks also 'stood. The stack of hay was burning fiercely, the fire having originated externally. The powerful motor pump, under Engineer Hansen, quickly subdued the flames, and. the firemen cut out the burnt hay and returned to the depot at 7.20 p.m. The total loss of hay was about 20 tons, which is covered by insurance.

FORTY YEARS FIRE CHIEF. — Prior to the commencement of the business at the meeting of the Maidstone Town Council on Wednesday in last week, the Mayor (Councillor W. Day) said he had a very pleasant duty to perform, namely, to make, in the name of the Council, a presentation to Mr. W.J. Gates in commemoration of his services to the borough for the last forty years as Captain of the Fire Brigade. One gentleman, in sending him (the Mayor) a contribution towards the presentation, was pleased to remind him that he was largely instrumental in getting Captain Gates send up for special training under the late Captain Shaw, Chief of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, and no doubt that training had enabled Mr. Gates to carry out his duties in the satisfactory way he had done. His Worship then handed to Mr. Gates a silver salver and a couple of handsome silver candlesticks. Mr. Gates, in acknowledging the gifts, said that even if he were in the habit of making speeches, he could not find adequate words to express his thanks and appreciation. He had had a very enjoyable time with the Fire Brigade as well as at the Metropolitan headquarters with the late Captain Shaw, who he considered was the finest Chief Officer London ever had. In conclusion, Mr. Gates expressed his thanks for the kindly consideration he had always received at the hands of the Council. The silver salver bore the following inscription: "Presented to Mr. Walter John Gates in commemoration of his services at Captain of the Maidstone Volunteer Fire Brigade for 40 years, by the members of the Corporation and others interested in the Brigade, 1st January, 1921."

KENTISH EXPRESSIONS

By "REVILO"

"JOHN"

CAPTAIN W. J. GATES, a retired farmer and a well-known figure at Maidstone Market, where he attends weekly to "give a hand" to help himself keep fit. Remarkably active for his 82 years, he was for 41 years Captain of Maidstone's Fire Brigade, both with Kent Fire Office and later, with the Corporation. Retired owing to age limit.

EX-FIRE CHIEF PASSES. — Mr. Walter John Gates, one of the most familiar figures in the town, died at his home, 18, Plains Avenue, on Monday. Mr. Gates, who was 88, was affectionately known as the "Captain." He was formerly captain of the Kent Fire Office Fire Brigade, and subsequently of the Maidstone Fire Brigade, and in this capacity rendered more than forty years' service before retiring under the age limit.

GATES, PRIOR, & Co., 10 Southampton-street, Holborn, auctioneers. Sept 1, 1886. Debts by Harry J. Gates.

ALLEGED FRAUDS ON EXECUTORS.

Stuart Arthur Williams (56), 36, Station-road, Hounslow, described as of no occupation, was charged on remand at Brentford on Saturday, with obtaining by means of false pretences the sum of three guineas from Harry G. Gates, Gate House, Blackfriars. Further, with obtaining by fraudulent means the sum of three guineas from Lionel Townrowe, 26, Budge-row, E.C., by sending in a claim on the estate of Mrs. Georgina Childs, of Tottenham.—Det.-Insp. Dew at the last hearing explained that prisoner for some years past had obtained by fraudulent means large sums of money from executors of various estates, sending an account rendered for dentistry performed on and in some cases for wines supplied to deceased persons. From inquiries made afterwards, it had been ascertained that prisoner was not a dentist, nor had he ever supplied deceased with wines. There were large numbers of charges to be preferred against him, including some from the provinces.—Harry G. Gates said he was a chartered accountant, and when his mother died at Peckham Rye he and his brother, Walter John Gates, caused the statutory advertisement to the claims upon the estate of the deceased to be inserted in the "London Gazette," some of the daily papers, and the local journals. He received claim from firm purporting to be Eskell and Goodman, of 121, Finsbury-pavement. Witness went there, and found that all the houses from 117 to 121 were in course of demolition. He made inquiries of the people in the neighbourhood, but could not ascertain anything definite about the firm. He received another communication purporting to come from a branch of the firm at 36, Station-road. Hounslow. The claim was for dentistry performed. Eventually the bill for three guineas was paid.—Lionel Townrowe, 26, Budge-row, E.C., solicitor, deposed that he was acting for the executors of Georgina Elizabeth Childs, Tottenham, and in answer to an advertisement inserted in the papers he received an account for dentistry performed on Mrs. Childs. The account was paid.—A witness testified that Mrs. Childs had no teeth at all.

Evidence in other cases having been given, Detective-sergt. Taylor, in company with Detective-sergt. Hailstone, proved arresting prisoner at 36, Station-road, Hounslow. Taylor, in searching prisoner’s room, found letters and billheads bearing the names Eskell and Goodman, Cameron and Goodman, Cameron and Mason, and James Cameron, Esq., and all referring to claims against various estates. The officer also found cuttings of statutory notices from newspapers.

Prisoners daughter, a girl about 10 years age, who wept bitterly, was called to prove that she cashed several cheques for prisoner.

Prisoner, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial.

The Bench commended Detective-inspector Dew, Detective-sergts. Hailstone and Taylor, on the admirable way the case had been presented before them.

THE LIBEL ON THE LANDLORD OF THE ANCHOR HOTEL.

Alfred Thomas Gates, a young man resident in Horsham, was charged with having written and published a false and defamatory libel concerning Douglas Gifford, landlord, of the Anchor Hotel, Horsham, on January 1st 1878.

Mr Cotching appeared to support the information; and Mr Bedford was for the defence.

On the case being called, Mr Bedford rose, and said he intimated to his friend Mr Catching that it was his intention to offer an apology. On behalf of the defendant he must plead guilty to the charge because from a consultation with his client he found that it would be worse than useless to attempt to make even a shadow of defence. The libel, no doubt, was of a grossly scandalous and obscene nature, and his client desired to make an ample apology, to retract every imputation, and to express his sincere regret that he had ever been induced to write and publish the matter complained of. He threw himself entirely on the mercy of the prosecutor; he hoped that he (Mr Gifford) would not press the proceedings; and that he would never have reason to regret his leniency. In conclusion, Mr Bedford offered to pay all the costs of the prosecution and to publish any apology that Mr Cotching, in his client's interest, might think proper.

Mr Cotching said the Bench would readily understand that in a case of this description, where the libel was of so personal character, that the chief object his client had in view was to vindicate his character and that of his family in the eyes of the public. There could be no doubt stated, as Mr Bedford had stated, that the offence was of about as gross a nature could well be imagined; but the very ample apology made by Mr Bedford on behalf of his client he Mr (Cotching) was pleased that his instructions enabled him to state that as far as the prosecutor himself concerned, he thought he might accept the terms offered by defendant, as the object he had in view having been completely attained, he (Mr Cotching) would ask the Bench to allow the proceedings to be withdrawn. He trusted and believed that his client would never have occasion to regret the course he had pursued towards the defendant.

Mr Hurst asked if Mr Cotching was aware of a recent case in the Queen’s Bench Division, in which the Lord Chief Justice objected to the withdrawal of a charge of this character when the proceedings had arrived at a certain stage.

Mr Cotching said that that was a case in which a criminal information had been laid and a rule granted.

Mr Hurst said it was true there were no proceedings before the Bench at present.

Mr Cotching said the defendant was simply before the Bench on a summons, and he understood that the reason Mr Bedford rose thus early in the case was to prevent the necessity of reading the libel in public.

The Bench, under the circumstances, allowed the information to be withdrawn, and the case terminated.

The libel was contained in some doggrel [sic] verses, which are unfit for publication. The parties then left the Court.

Mr. Gates's doggerel rhymes were so uncleanly that even printers' ink must have been befouled in touching them. Under all the circumstances, Mr. Gates may thank his star that the injured man was a gentleman, else it is not impossible that the "poet" might have been left to rhyme and reason in the solitude of a prison for some time to come.

GATES—BROWN—June 16, at St. Stephen's Church, Hull, by the Rev. T. Heaney, M.A., Alfred Thomas Gates, of Beverley, to Susan Mary, only daughter of James J. Brown, of Hull.

Mr. Alfred Thomas Gates, Beverley, deposed to seeing the deceased floating on his back in the water, with his head resting on the sand. He thought something was the matter, and stepping into the water, saw that the deceased was ill. He pulled him out, and tried artificial respiration for about an hour, but without result. In witness's opinion, the deceased was practically dead when they got him out of the water. The deceased was really bathing in a pool left by the receding tide. He appeared to be a good swimmer.

Alfred Thomas Gates, cashier to Messrs Hodgson and Sons, Limited, tanners, Beverley (and residing in Railway-street), said that on 27th November, 1906, he called at the North-Eastern goods office and left a cheque for £287 9s. 2d. in payment of the account of Messrs Hodgson for the month of October. Thirsk was not there, and he left the cheque in charge of a clerk. On the following day a receipt was brought to him at his own office, signed by the prisoner. He produced that receipt, as also the receipt for September and other months. The firm usually paid the accounts as soon as they were checked, and they were never allowed to be outstanding after the following month.

BEVERLEY.

The resolution that Alderman Alfred Thomas Gates be elected Mayor of Beverley was moved by Alderman Harry Wray, who said Alderman Gates had taken an active part in the public life of the town for 30 years, and in the municipal life for 13 years. Two years ago he was elevated to the Aldermanic Bench. The retiring Mayor (Alderman J. Fox) seconded the resolution, and expressed appreciation of the fact that the choice of the Council was unanimous. Nine councillors supported, and Alderman Gates acknowledged the honour.

BEVERLEY.

ALDERMAN GATES THIRD YEAR.

Alderman Alfred Thomas Gates was elected Mayor of Beverley for the third year in succession. His proposer, Councillor C.H. Burden, referred to the Mayor's ability in finance and his zeal for economy, and said it was important they should have the right man in the chair during the coming year, when the housing question would have to be tackled, and probably also road schemes to provide work for the unemployed. Councillor H.G. Schofield seconded, and the resolution was unanimously carried.

Alderman Fox, who presided, invested Alderman Gates with the gold chain of office, and placed on the shoulders of the Mayoress, Miss Gates, the silver chain of office. The Mayor, in returning thanks, reviewed the work of the Council during the past year, particularly mentioning several street improvements, and a reduction in the price of gas, which, he said, it was hoped to reduce still further next March.

51 YEARS CHURCHWARDEN

Mr. Alfred T. Gates on Easter Day completed 51 years as churchwarden of the Lairgate Chapel of Ease to Beverley Minster. Mr Gates has been a member of the Beverley Council since 1909 and has been chairman of the Finance Committee for several years. He was Mayor of the Borough for three years, 1922-1925.