In April 1896 both Hugh Clark of the Railway Inn and John Forrester of the Crusoe Hotel were due to attend the County Licensing Court to renew their licenses. However, both were to pass away shortly before they were due to appear in St Andrews. The sitting was adjourned for three weeks until 12 May, when the following was reported (in the next day's Courier)...
"The first application was by Mrs Betsy Clark, Lower Largo, for a renewal of a transferred certificate for a public-house, Mr J. L. MacPherson appeared on her behalf, and explained that Mr Clark had died immediately before the Court and this necessitated adjournment. This house was the only licensed public-house in Lower Largo, and during the past forty years had borne good character.....The other application was by Mrs Jane Forrester, Lower Largo, for renewal of transferred certificate for an inn and hotel known as "The Crusoe". The same agent appeared on her behalf and stated that the circumstances were precisely the same as in the first case, Mr Forrester having died before the Court. The Crusoe Hotel had been licensed since time immemorial, and the house had always been well conducted."
Both licenses were granted and business continued, although both premises were in different hands within a couple of years. Mr Forrester had run the Crusoe for fifteen years prior to his death (at the age of 75) with great success. He died on 20 April and left behind five daughters and four sons. Mr Clark had died exactly one week before on 13 April at the age of 53.