IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK THIS WEEK 31 MARCH - 6 APRIL 1925
This week's many stories include the game of rugby played on the streets of Cowley Hill, a couple's indecency in a Rivington Road passage, the attempt to fleece a cabman out of his fare, the St Helens Orchestral Society's charity fundraising, the Easter charabanc trips and the woman covered in blood who had been kicking up a bit of a bother.
Many boys and youths appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with playing football in the street. But the three young men that were in the dock this week had not been kicking a ball about in a back street. They had instead been running around passing a rugby ball, as the Reporter explained:
"It was of a peripatetic character, the players continuing to handle along Cowley Hill-lane, Bishop-road and Gamble-avenue, until the leather found a last resting place in the Cemetery – owing to an error of judgement of one of the players. Rapid ‘following-up’ by a constable resulted in a player being tackled."
The trio were not identified in the Reporter piece but they claimed that the weather had been "nippy" and they had only passed the ball about to keep warm. They were told to pay 4 shillings court costs each and treat the case as a warning.
When a constable found Thomas Furay of Albert Street near North Road in the middle of a crowd in the street, he had offered this explanation: "Oh, the wife has been kicking up a bit of a bother". It sounds like Mrs Furay had every right to be upset as she was covered in blood and had an eye discoloured. When the constable tried to find out if the husband had been responsible for her condition, Furay used bad language towards him.
In court the expletives were written down on a piece of paper and handed to the Bench. During the incident when the police told the husband that he was going to be reported, Furay had replied: "You may as well lock me up and have done with it." He was bound over for six months for disturbing the peace, with no penalty, it seems, for the wife beating.
There were not many places for couples to indulge in extra-marital affairs. Few people had cars and nosy neighbours kept a watch on all the comings and goings within houses. And so secluded spots in fields or other dark places were often chosen, until the beat bobby came along with his torch to spoil their fun!
In court this week were Richard Lester from Park Street and Ellen Wilson from Devon Street. The charge that they both faced was not stated in the newspaper report but it was almost certainly indecency. And, of course, being caught in the act had more than legal consequences, as they had to face the wrath of their spouses and neighbours. This is how the Reporter described the couple's body language in the courtroom:
"[They] heard the evidence given against them with bent heads and covered faces. No wonder, for, as the Chairman said, “it was a disgraceful affair altogether,” and the parties ought to be heartily ashamed of themselves. The couple, who were under the influence of drink, were found in a passage off Rivington-road at a quarter to eleven the previous night."
Of course, the newspaper did not describe exactly what the couple had been caught doing in case it offended their readers' sensibilities, although it would have been obvious to many, as it is to us. They were both fined 60 shillings or, if in default, had to serve 14 days hard labour.
The Reporter concluded their piece by saying: "…the guilty couple left the Court without uncovering their faces." And as the incident had only occurred a matter of hours prior to their court appearances, both had more punishment to expect when they got home.
David Rothwell from Robins Lane and Alfred Downes from Nelson Street appeared in court having – as the Reporter put it – attempted to "fleece a cabman out of his fare". With much smaller communities than today, St Helens folk were far more likely to be known and so pulling a fast one was more difficult.
The pair had got into William Fraser's taxi at the station and asked to be driven to Robins Lane. But near St Helens Hospital the pair "did a bunk" despite the cab man shouting after them "You needn't run away for I know who you are". Both defendants were fined 13s 6d.
An unnamed boy of 11 appeared in court charged with stealing 14 pounds of lead flashings from the Globe Works of the United Alkali Company. Two detectives had seen the boy leaving the works with a sack on his back. When he saw the police he dropped the sack and bolted. But the boy was caught and told the officers: "I got it to sell to the rag man for coppers to go to the pictures." The lad had been before the court on two previous occasions and was remanded to the Whiston Institution for a week.
Since the war a lot of charabanc firms had sprung up in St Helens, with many advertising their services in the town's newspapers. There had probably been too many, as most outings only took place on an occasional basis between Easter and September. And so those firms that had bought too many vehicles and had high overheads, probably weren't able to make their business pay.
Few charas were advertising in this week's Reporter at the start of the new season but James Bridge & Sons of Ashcroft Street in Parr (pictured above) had their usual ad. They had been going for some years but were a family firm that kept themselves small. Their advert was headed "Your Easter Holidays! – Book now for a real comfortable outing." There were often complaints of the open-top motor coaches going too fast and so James in his advert promised "steady driving".
The Reporter also wrote: "The hospitals of St. Helens owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Geo. Groves and the St. Helens Orchestral Society for the wonderful work they have done in raising funds towards the maintenance of these institutions. "Mr. Groves is, of course, well-known locally as the conductor of that gifted body of musicians, and he has performed the remarkable feat of raising over £3,000 by these charity concerts."
On the previous Sunday evening Mr Groves (pictured above) had conducted a concert in the Theatre Royal in aid of the new maternity ward that was being built at St Helens Hospital. In appreciation of what they called his "untiring efforts", the hospital committee presented to the conductor an inscribed silver rose bowl.
George Groves from King Edward Road was a barber by trade and his son bearing the same name would now be in America. In 1927 George Jnr become the first sound recordist in movie history when he recorded 'The Jazz Singer' and went on to head Warner Bros sound department.
A new roster of acts appeared on stage at the Hippodrome from the 6th with Peel and Curtis topping the bill. They were described as character comedians "wise enough to be fools", with the other artistes being:
Madge Kennedy ("Formerly little Kiddy Kennedy and now a fully-fledged comedienne with vivacious ditties"); The Stavanays ("Herculian equilibrists"); Charlier and Cuyelier ("Wizards of the accordion"); MacDonald & Graham ("Pleasing, singing, and dancing act"); Who Is She? ("A sweet singer of the streets") and Foy and Fey ("Novel comedy speciality"). As usual there were two shows per evening at 6:50pm and 8:50pm but there would be no performances on Good Friday next week, as that day was treated as a Sunday.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Ashton's Green Colliery coal scavengers, the two fighting sisters-in-law from Walkers Lane, there's another accident at St Helens' suicide corner and the one-eyed cow that was maltreated in Greenfield Road.
Many boys and youths appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with playing football in the street. But the three young men that were in the dock this week had not been kicking a ball about in a back street. They had instead been running around passing a rugby ball, as the Reporter explained:
"It was of a peripatetic character, the players continuing to handle along Cowley Hill-lane, Bishop-road and Gamble-avenue, until the leather found a last resting place in the Cemetery – owing to an error of judgement of one of the players. Rapid ‘following-up’ by a constable resulted in a player being tackled."
The trio were not identified in the Reporter piece but they claimed that the weather had been "nippy" and they had only passed the ball about to keep warm. They were told to pay 4 shillings court costs each and treat the case as a warning.
When a constable found Thomas Furay of Albert Street near North Road in the middle of a crowd in the street, he had offered this explanation: "Oh, the wife has been kicking up a bit of a bother". It sounds like Mrs Furay had every right to be upset as she was covered in blood and had an eye discoloured. When the constable tried to find out if the husband had been responsible for her condition, Furay used bad language towards him.
In court the expletives were written down on a piece of paper and handed to the Bench. During the incident when the police told the husband that he was going to be reported, Furay had replied: "You may as well lock me up and have done with it." He was bound over for six months for disturbing the peace, with no penalty, it seems, for the wife beating.
There were not many places for couples to indulge in extra-marital affairs. Few people had cars and nosy neighbours kept a watch on all the comings and goings within houses. And so secluded spots in fields or other dark places were often chosen, until the beat bobby came along with his torch to spoil their fun!
In court this week were Richard Lester from Park Street and Ellen Wilson from Devon Street. The charge that they both faced was not stated in the newspaper report but it was almost certainly indecency. And, of course, being caught in the act had more than legal consequences, as they had to face the wrath of their spouses and neighbours. This is how the Reporter described the couple's body language in the courtroom:
"[They] heard the evidence given against them with bent heads and covered faces. No wonder, for, as the Chairman said, “it was a disgraceful affair altogether,” and the parties ought to be heartily ashamed of themselves. The couple, who were under the influence of drink, were found in a passage off Rivington-road at a quarter to eleven the previous night."
Of course, the newspaper did not describe exactly what the couple had been caught doing in case it offended their readers' sensibilities, although it would have been obvious to many, as it is to us. They were both fined 60 shillings or, if in default, had to serve 14 days hard labour.
The Reporter concluded their piece by saying: "…the guilty couple left the Court without uncovering their faces." And as the incident had only occurred a matter of hours prior to their court appearances, both had more punishment to expect when they got home.
David Rothwell from Robins Lane and Alfred Downes from Nelson Street appeared in court having – as the Reporter put it – attempted to "fleece a cabman out of his fare". With much smaller communities than today, St Helens folk were far more likely to be known and so pulling a fast one was more difficult.
The pair had got into William Fraser's taxi at the station and asked to be driven to Robins Lane. But near St Helens Hospital the pair "did a bunk" despite the cab man shouting after them "You needn't run away for I know who you are". Both defendants were fined 13s 6d.
An unnamed boy of 11 appeared in court charged with stealing 14 pounds of lead flashings from the Globe Works of the United Alkali Company. Two detectives had seen the boy leaving the works with a sack on his back. When he saw the police he dropped the sack and bolted. But the boy was caught and told the officers: "I got it to sell to the rag man for coppers to go to the pictures." The lad had been before the court on two previous occasions and was remanded to the Whiston Institution for a week.
Few charas were advertising in this week's Reporter at the start of the new season but James Bridge & Sons of Ashcroft Street in Parr (pictured above) had their usual ad. They had been going for some years but were a family firm that kept themselves small. Their advert was headed "Your Easter Holidays! – Book now for a real comfortable outing." There were often complaints of the open-top motor coaches going too fast and so James in his advert promised "steady driving".
On the previous Sunday evening Mr Groves (pictured above) had conducted a concert in the Theatre Royal in aid of the new maternity ward that was being built at St Helens Hospital. In appreciation of what they called his "untiring efforts", the hospital committee presented to the conductor an inscribed silver rose bowl.
George Groves from King Edward Road was a barber by trade and his son bearing the same name would now be in America. In 1927 George Jnr become the first sound recordist in movie history when he recorded 'The Jazz Singer' and went on to head Warner Bros sound department.
A new roster of acts appeared on stage at the Hippodrome from the 6th with Peel and Curtis topping the bill. They were described as character comedians "wise enough to be fools", with the other artistes being:
Madge Kennedy ("Formerly little Kiddy Kennedy and now a fully-fledged comedienne with vivacious ditties"); The Stavanays ("Herculian equilibrists"); Charlier and Cuyelier ("Wizards of the accordion"); MacDonald & Graham ("Pleasing, singing, and dancing act"); Who Is She? ("A sweet singer of the streets") and Foy and Fey ("Novel comedy speciality"). As usual there were two shows per evening at 6:50pm and 8:50pm but there would be no performances on Good Friday next week, as that day was treated as a Sunday.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Ashton's Green Colliery coal scavengers, the two fighting sisters-in-law from Walkers Lane, there's another accident at St Helens' suicide corner and the one-eyed cow that was maltreated in Greenfield Road.
This week's many stories include the game of rugby played on the streets of Cowley Hill, a couple's indecency in a Rivington Road passage, the attempt to fleece a cabman out of his fare, the St Helens Orchestral Society's charity fundraising, the Easter charabanc trips and the woman covered in blood who had been kicking up a bit of a bother.
Many boys and youths appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with playing football in the street.
But the three young men that were in the dock this week had not been kicking a ball about in a back street.
They had instead been running around passing a rugby ball, as the Reporter explained:
"It was of a peripatetic character, the players continuing to handle along Cowley Hill-lane, Bishop-road and Gamble-avenue, until the leather found a last resting place in the Cemetery – owing to an error of judgement of one of the players. Rapid ‘following-up’ by a constable resulted in a player being tackled."
The trio were not identified in the Reporter piece but they claimed that the weather had been "nippy" and they had only passed the ball about to keep warm.
They were told to pay 4 shillings court costs each and treat the case as a warning.
When a constable found Thomas Furay of Albert Street near North Road in the middle of a crowd in the street, he had offered this explanation:
"Oh, the wife has been kicking up a bit of a bother". It sounds like Mrs Furay had every right to be upset as she was covered in blood and had an eye discoloured.
When the constable tried to find out if the husband had been responsible for her condition, Furay used bad language towards him.
In court the expletives were written down on a piece of paper and handed to the Bench.
During the incident when the police told the husband that he was going to be reported, Furay had replied: "You may as well lock me up and have done with it."
He was bound over for six months for disturbing the peace, with no penalty, it seems, for the wife beating.
There were not many places for couples to indulge in extra-marital affairs. Few people had cars and nosy neighbours kept a watch on all the comings and goings within houses.
And so secluded spots in fields or other dark places were often chosen, until the beat bobby came along with his torch to spoil their fun!
In court this week were Richard Lester from Park Street and Ellen Wilson from Devon Street.
The charge that they both faced was not stated in the newspaper report but it was almost certainly indecency.
And, of course, being caught in the act had more than legal consequences, as they had to face the wrath of their spouses and neighbours. This is how the Reporter described the couple's body language in the courtroom:
"[They] heard the evidence given against them with bent heads and covered faces. No wonder, for, as the Chairman said, “it was a disgraceful affair altogether,” and the parties ought to be heartily ashamed of themselves.
"The couple, who were under the influence of drink, were found in a passage off Rivington-road at a quarter to eleven the previous night."
Of course, the newspaper did not describe exactly what the couple had been caught doing in case it offended their readers' sensibilities, although it would have been obvious to many, as it is to us.
They were both fined 60 shillings or, if in default, had to serve 14 days hard labour.
The Reporter concluded their piece by saying: "…the guilty couple left the Court without uncovering their faces."
And as the incident had only occurred a matter of hours prior to their court appearances, both had more punishment to expect when they got home.
David Rothwell from Robins Lane and Alfred Downes from Nelson Street appeared in court having – as the Reporter put it – attempted to "fleece a cabman out of his fare".
With much smaller communities than today, St Helens folk were far more likely to be known and so pulling a fast one was more difficult.
The pair had got into William Fraser's taxi at the station and asked to be driven to Robins Lane.
But near St Helens Hospital the pair "did a bunk" despite the cab man shouting after them "You needn't run away for I know who you are". Both defendants were fined 13s 6d.
An unnamed boy of 11 appeared in court charged with stealing 14 pounds of lead flashings from the Globe Works of the United Alkali Company.
Two detectives had seen the boy leaving the works with a sack on his back.
When he saw the police he dropped the sack and bolted. But the boy was caught and told the officers: "I got it to sell to the rag man for coppers to go to the pictures."
The lad had been before the court on two previous occasions and was remanded to the Whiston Institution for a week.
Since the war a lot of charabanc firms had sprung up in St Helens, with many advertising their services in the town's newspapers.
There had probably been too many, as most outings only took place on an occasional basis between Easter and September.
And so those firms that had bought too many vehicles and had high overheads, probably weren't able to make their business pay.
Few charas were advertising in this week's Reporter at the start of the new season but James Bridge & Sons of Ashcroft Street in Parr (pictured above) had their usual ad.
They had been going for some years but were a family firm that kept themselves small. Their advert was headed "Your Easter Holidays! – Book now for a real comfortable outing."
There were often complaints of the open-top motor coaches going too fast and so James in his advert promised "steady driving".
The Reporter also wrote: "The hospitals of St. Helens owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Geo. Groves and the St. Helens Orchestral Society for the wonderful work they have done in raising funds towards the maintenance of these institutions.
"Mr. Groves is, of course, well-known locally as the conductor of that gifted body of musicians, and he has performed the remarkable feat of raising over £3,000 by these charity concerts."
On the previous Sunday evening Mr Groves (pictured above) had conducted a concert in the Theatre Royal in aid of the new maternity ward that was being built at St Helens Hospital.
In appreciation of what they called his "untiring efforts", the hospital committee presented to the conductor an inscribed silver rose bowl.
George Groves from King Edward Road was a barber by trade and his son bearing the same name would now be in America.
In 1927 George Jnr become the first sound recordist in movie history when he recorded 'The Jazz Singer' and went on to head Warner Bros sound department.
A new roster of acts appeared on stage at the Hippodrome from the 6th with Peel and Curtis topping the bill. They were described as character comedians "wise enough to be fools", with the other artistes being:
Madge Kennedy ("Formerly little Kiddy Kennedy and now a fully-fledged comedienne with vivacious ditties"); The Stavanays ("Herculian equilibrists"); Charlier and Cuyelier ("Wizards of the accordion"); MacDonald & Graham ("Pleasing, singing, and dancing act"); Who Is She? ("A sweet singer of the streets") and Foy and Fey ("Novel comedy speciality").
As usual there were two shows per evening at 6:50pm and 8:50pm but there would be no performances on Good Friday next week, as that day was treated as a Sunday.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Ashton's Green Colliery coal scavengers, the two fighting sisters-in-law from Walkers Lane, there's another accident at St Helens' suicide corner and the one-eyed cow that was maltreated in Greenfield Road.
Many boys and youths appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with playing football in the street.
But the three young men that were in the dock this week had not been kicking a ball about in a back street.
They had instead been running around passing a rugby ball, as the Reporter explained:
"It was of a peripatetic character, the players continuing to handle along Cowley Hill-lane, Bishop-road and Gamble-avenue, until the leather found a last resting place in the Cemetery – owing to an error of judgement of one of the players. Rapid ‘following-up’ by a constable resulted in a player being tackled."
The trio were not identified in the Reporter piece but they claimed that the weather had been "nippy" and they had only passed the ball about to keep warm.
They were told to pay 4 shillings court costs each and treat the case as a warning.
When a constable found Thomas Furay of Albert Street near North Road in the middle of a crowd in the street, he had offered this explanation:
"Oh, the wife has been kicking up a bit of a bother". It sounds like Mrs Furay had every right to be upset as she was covered in blood and had an eye discoloured.
When the constable tried to find out if the husband had been responsible for her condition, Furay used bad language towards him.
In court the expletives were written down on a piece of paper and handed to the Bench.
During the incident when the police told the husband that he was going to be reported, Furay had replied: "You may as well lock me up and have done with it."
He was bound over for six months for disturbing the peace, with no penalty, it seems, for the wife beating.
There were not many places for couples to indulge in extra-marital affairs. Few people had cars and nosy neighbours kept a watch on all the comings and goings within houses.
And so secluded spots in fields or other dark places were often chosen, until the beat bobby came along with his torch to spoil their fun!
In court this week were Richard Lester from Park Street and Ellen Wilson from Devon Street.
The charge that they both faced was not stated in the newspaper report but it was almost certainly indecency.
And, of course, being caught in the act had more than legal consequences, as they had to face the wrath of their spouses and neighbours. This is how the Reporter described the couple's body language in the courtroom:
"[They] heard the evidence given against them with bent heads and covered faces. No wonder, for, as the Chairman said, “it was a disgraceful affair altogether,” and the parties ought to be heartily ashamed of themselves.
"The couple, who were under the influence of drink, were found in a passage off Rivington-road at a quarter to eleven the previous night."
Of course, the newspaper did not describe exactly what the couple had been caught doing in case it offended their readers' sensibilities, although it would have been obvious to many, as it is to us.
They were both fined 60 shillings or, if in default, had to serve 14 days hard labour.
The Reporter concluded their piece by saying: "…the guilty couple left the Court without uncovering their faces."
And as the incident had only occurred a matter of hours prior to their court appearances, both had more punishment to expect when they got home.
David Rothwell from Robins Lane and Alfred Downes from Nelson Street appeared in court having – as the Reporter put it – attempted to "fleece a cabman out of his fare".
With much smaller communities than today, St Helens folk were far more likely to be known and so pulling a fast one was more difficult.
The pair had got into William Fraser's taxi at the station and asked to be driven to Robins Lane.
But near St Helens Hospital the pair "did a bunk" despite the cab man shouting after them "You needn't run away for I know who you are". Both defendants were fined 13s 6d.
An unnamed boy of 11 appeared in court charged with stealing 14 pounds of lead flashings from the Globe Works of the United Alkali Company.
Two detectives had seen the boy leaving the works with a sack on his back.
When he saw the police he dropped the sack and bolted. But the boy was caught and told the officers: "I got it to sell to the rag man for coppers to go to the pictures."
The lad had been before the court on two previous occasions and was remanded to the Whiston Institution for a week.
Since the war a lot of charabanc firms had sprung up in St Helens, with many advertising their services in the town's newspapers.
There had probably been too many, as most outings only took place on an occasional basis between Easter and September.
And so those firms that had bought too many vehicles and had high overheads, probably weren't able to make their business pay.
They had been going for some years but were a family firm that kept themselves small. Their advert was headed "Your Easter Holidays! – Book now for a real comfortable outing."
There were often complaints of the open-top motor coaches going too fast and so James in his advert promised "steady driving".
The Reporter also wrote: "The hospitals of St. Helens owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Geo. Groves and the St. Helens Orchestral Society for the wonderful work they have done in raising funds towards the maintenance of these institutions.
"Mr. Groves is, of course, well-known locally as the conductor of that gifted body of musicians, and he has performed the remarkable feat of raising over £3,000 by these charity concerts."
In appreciation of what they called his "untiring efforts", the hospital committee presented to the conductor an inscribed silver rose bowl.
George Groves from King Edward Road was a barber by trade and his son bearing the same name would now be in America.
In 1927 George Jnr become the first sound recordist in movie history when he recorded 'The Jazz Singer' and went on to head Warner Bros sound department.
A new roster of acts appeared on stage at the Hippodrome from the 6th with Peel and Curtis topping the bill. They were described as character comedians "wise enough to be fools", with the other artistes being:
Madge Kennedy ("Formerly little Kiddy Kennedy and now a fully-fledged comedienne with vivacious ditties"); The Stavanays ("Herculian equilibrists"); Charlier and Cuyelier ("Wizards of the accordion"); MacDonald & Graham ("Pleasing, singing, and dancing act"); Who Is She? ("A sweet singer of the streets") and Foy and Fey ("Novel comedy speciality").
As usual there were two shows per evening at 6:50pm and 8:50pm but there would be no performances on Good Friday next week, as that day was treated as a Sunday.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Ashton's Green Colliery coal scavengers, the two fighting sisters-in-law from Walkers Lane, there's another accident at St Helens' suicide corner and the one-eyed cow that was maltreated in Greenfield Road.