IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (3rd - 9th June 1919)
This week's stories include the leading St Helens civilian pilot who pioneered flights to Blackpool, the Silkstone Street gambling school, the "drunk" teetotaller in Cooper Street, street betting for Derby Day in Foundry Street, the Lowe Street squabble, the housing crisis in the town and a young Oxford Street housekeeper's fall from the path of honesty.
We begin at the Prescot Sessions on the 3rd when Charles Beasley – described as a motor driver from Rawson Street, Prescot – was charged with cruelly beating a horse with an iron chain. Captain Cross was the commander of the Royal Engineers at the Knowsley Park military camp and told the court that he had seen the man beating the animal "unmercifully" on its back.
On the next day when an inspector had visited the camp, he found that a saddle had been placed over a wound that was 4 inches long by 1½ inches wide. However Beasley was only fined 20 shillings for the beating, as was William Hancock, who had been charged with causing the horse to be worked while unfit. He was the foreman for a firm of contractors who were demolishing the camp now that the war was over.
The St Helens Education Committee met on the 4th and was told that the number of girls aged between 15 and 18 receiving the "out of work donation" – or dole – had reached 180. So an educational centre had been established for them – and any other girl over 14 – within the Peter Street Girls Institute.
A new school for Derbyshire Hill was also being planned and sites in Newton Road and Derbyshire Hill Road were being considered. The committee also heard that flags and flagpoles were being provided for council schools that did not already possess them, in connection with the forthcoming peace celebrations.
The housing crisis in St Helens was discussed in the St Helens County Court on the 4th. This was when James Bates sought possession of his house in Lingholme Road from his tenant William Slocombe. The latter had been given notice to quit last October but had repeatedly said he was unable to find another suitable house.
Slocombe's counsel told the court that a recent estimate from the Mayor of St Helens had suggested that there was a shortage of 1,000 to 1,100 houses in the town. It was also suggested that the real reason for the eviction was because of a row between landlord and tenant through the latter's demand for a new boiler in the grate. The judge refused to grant the eviction order but told Slocombe he should continue his efforts to find a new home.
The 4th was the 70th anniversary of the consecration of St Nicholas Church in New Street in Sutton (pictured above) and what was described as a dedication festival was held. The Bishop of Warrington preached the sermon and a collection was held towards the installation of extra seating in the church.
Two butchers appeared in court on the 5th charged with "frequenting the streets for the purposes of betting". PC Reynolds gave evidence that he had been in plain clothes in Foundry Street and saw Harry Turner receive bets and money from two different men.
Joseph Hatton from Phythian Street then approached Turner and after a conversation they walked together into Lord Street, where Hatton was seen handing over two 2-shilling pieces. Turner from Salisbury Street was found to have in his possession six slips relating to sixteen bets, all apparently for the Derby. Turner received a fine of £5 and Hatton £1.
On the 6th the St Helens Reporter described a recent court case that featured a "young housekeeper's fall from the path of honesty, due to her love for fine clothing". It concerned Gertrude Eastwood from Oxford Street who was charged with stealing £15 from her employer Daniel Taylor.
The latter had placed a sum of money in a drawer in his bedroom and on May 31st had counted the money and found that half was missing. His housekeeper was suspected of stealing the cash and the 20-year-old admitted the theft saying she had spent the money on clothes and "odds and ends".
Gertrude was a war widow with a young child and the magistrates decided to be lenient with her. The Bench placed the woman on probation for a year on the understanding that she would repay the money.
The Reporter also conducted an interview in Blackpool with George Moxon, who they described as "one of the leading pilots in the first civilian flying in this country". Lieutenant Moxon was the son of a well-known St Helens pawnbroker having, it seems, been born in Prescot Road and had also lived in West Park and Hard Lane.
The former Cowley student was presently a pilot on the newly established Manchester to Blackpool service and Lieutenant Moxon also piloted popular pleasure trips over Blackpool. The inaugural flight from Manchester had been a trial carrying members of Blackpool Town Council and he also often flew a service to Southport.
In his interview Lieut. Moxon stated that while taking passengers from Manchester to Blackpool, he would regularly fly over his mother's house in Prescot and she would come out and wave to him.
The Reporter added that the: "number of women passengers on the “joy rides” is astonishing." They wrote that while their reporter was talking to Mr Moxon, a "smartly-attired young lady" booked a flight. She asked the pilot if he would "loop the loop", to which, the Reporter wrote: "Ordinary, straightforward, safe flying does not appear to be exciting enough for the ladies."
In the St Helens Police Court on the 6th a man described as "almost a teetotaller" was accused of being drunk and disorderly. The prosecution case was that at 10:30pm on Saturday evening PC Tinsley had seen Charles Anders being very drunk and had struck down another man. However the 24-year-old from College Street claimed to have spent the evening at a dance in the Conservative Rooms in Hall Street and consumed no alcohol.
Upon walking home with a friend he passed a man called Southward in Cooper Street and had called out "Goodnight Pigeon" to him. That was the man's nickname but not one that he appeared to like as Southward challenged Anders to a fight and a brief scrap took place. Anders claimed that he was simply in a very excited state and not drunk and the policeman that arrested him had seized him by the throat. His friend supported his account and the case was dismissed.
There was another of those silly squabbles between neighbours described in the courtroom. This time it occurred in Lowe Street and involved lots of hair pulling and pot smashing. Peter Hunter summoned Susan Wilson from Clyde Street for wilful damage to vases to the value of 15 shillings 6d and she summoned Jane Hunter alleging assault.
Susan Wilson's counsel told the court that the trouble had begun through their children playing together. Some incident occurred that led to Mrs Wilson asking Mrs Hunter to "correct her daughter". I suspect the request was not a polite one as the woman threw a pint cup of water at Mrs Wilson, cutting her on the forehead and thumb, for which she required medical assistance.
The St Helens Reporter's account said: "Mrs. Hunter also took up a bit of iron, and Mrs. Wilson got hold of it and clung to it, being afraid Mrs. Hunter would hit her with it. Mrs. Wilson clung hold until she swooned away." Typically Jane Hunter had a totally different tale to tell with her counsel telling the magistrates:
"Mrs. Wilson rushed into the house, seized Mrs. Hunter by the hair, dragged her about and struck her in the face. Mrs. Wilson picked up the iron clog at the door [that was being used as a door stop], threw it into the house and smashed five vases". Both had witnesses to support their own versions of reality. However the magistrates decided that Susan Wilson's tale was more credible and bound Jane Hunter over to keep the peace for six months.
Another case of street betting was heard in the Police Court on the 7th when Edward Smith was charged with "loitering in the street for the purpose of bookmaking and receiving bets". PC Reynolds had seen the shop assistant from Morley Street standing on the footpath at the corner of Church Street and Bridge Street receiving money and slips of paper from three men.
Upon being taken to the police station he was found to have eight betting slips in his possession containing forty bets on the day's horse racing and over £10 in cash. In court Smith claimed it had only been his second day "at the game" and he was given a heavy fine of £10 or if in default, 28 days in prison.
It was Whit Monday on the 9th and most of the town's shops decided to close, not only on that day, but also on what was described as Whit Tuesday. However the St Helens Police Court was open for business on the 9th and James and William Grimes, F. White and a man called Chapman were charging with gambling near Silkstone Street.
Sgt. Latham told the Bench that forty men had been involved in a gambling school that took place every Sunday at this location but the police had only been able to capture four of them. The Chief Constable said he had received complaints about gambling from all over the town, particularly from women whose husbands had lost all their money at the weekend.
He produced a letter from one woman who claimed her husband had lost £25 10s in one week and whenever he lost he took it out on her and their children by beating them. The magistrates said they wanted to try and stop the practice and fined the four defendants 40 shillings each. £25 10s – by the way – is approximately £1,500 in today's money.
Next week's stories will include the Rainhill bigamist who wrongly predicted his prison sentence, the Parr bowling green wastrel, the homecoming of the St Helens Pals, the Whit Parish Church Festival, the reformed St Helens Glee Club, the Punch and Judy professors and the Queen's Park Carnival in aid of the Heroes Fund.
We begin at the Prescot Sessions on the 3rd when Charles Beasley – described as a motor driver from Rawson Street, Prescot – was charged with cruelly beating a horse with an iron chain. Captain Cross was the commander of the Royal Engineers at the Knowsley Park military camp and told the court that he had seen the man beating the animal "unmercifully" on its back.
On the next day when an inspector had visited the camp, he found that a saddle had been placed over a wound that was 4 inches long by 1½ inches wide. However Beasley was only fined 20 shillings for the beating, as was William Hancock, who had been charged with causing the horse to be worked while unfit. He was the foreman for a firm of contractors who were demolishing the camp now that the war was over.
The St Helens Education Committee met on the 4th and was told that the number of girls aged between 15 and 18 receiving the "out of work donation" – or dole – had reached 180. So an educational centre had been established for them – and any other girl over 14 – within the Peter Street Girls Institute.
A new school for Derbyshire Hill was also being planned and sites in Newton Road and Derbyshire Hill Road were being considered. The committee also heard that flags and flagpoles were being provided for council schools that did not already possess them, in connection with the forthcoming peace celebrations.
The housing crisis in St Helens was discussed in the St Helens County Court on the 4th. This was when James Bates sought possession of his house in Lingholme Road from his tenant William Slocombe. The latter had been given notice to quit last October but had repeatedly said he was unable to find another suitable house.
Slocombe's counsel told the court that a recent estimate from the Mayor of St Helens had suggested that there was a shortage of 1,000 to 1,100 houses in the town. It was also suggested that the real reason for the eviction was because of a row between landlord and tenant through the latter's demand for a new boiler in the grate. The judge refused to grant the eviction order but told Slocombe he should continue his efforts to find a new home.
Two butchers appeared in court on the 5th charged with "frequenting the streets for the purposes of betting". PC Reynolds gave evidence that he had been in plain clothes in Foundry Street and saw Harry Turner receive bets and money from two different men.
Joseph Hatton from Phythian Street then approached Turner and after a conversation they walked together into Lord Street, where Hatton was seen handing over two 2-shilling pieces. Turner from Salisbury Street was found to have in his possession six slips relating to sixteen bets, all apparently for the Derby. Turner received a fine of £5 and Hatton £1.
On the 6th the St Helens Reporter described a recent court case that featured a "young housekeeper's fall from the path of honesty, due to her love for fine clothing". It concerned Gertrude Eastwood from Oxford Street who was charged with stealing £15 from her employer Daniel Taylor.
The latter had placed a sum of money in a drawer in his bedroom and on May 31st had counted the money and found that half was missing. His housekeeper was suspected of stealing the cash and the 20-year-old admitted the theft saying she had spent the money on clothes and "odds and ends".
Gertrude was a war widow with a young child and the magistrates decided to be lenient with her. The Bench placed the woman on probation for a year on the understanding that she would repay the money.
The Reporter also conducted an interview in Blackpool with George Moxon, who they described as "one of the leading pilots in the first civilian flying in this country". Lieutenant Moxon was the son of a well-known St Helens pawnbroker having, it seems, been born in Prescot Road and had also lived in West Park and Hard Lane.
The former Cowley student was presently a pilot on the newly established Manchester to Blackpool service and Lieutenant Moxon also piloted popular pleasure trips over Blackpool. The inaugural flight from Manchester had been a trial carrying members of Blackpool Town Council and he also often flew a service to Southport.
In his interview Lieut. Moxon stated that while taking passengers from Manchester to Blackpool, he would regularly fly over his mother's house in Prescot and she would come out and wave to him.
The Reporter added that the: "number of women passengers on the “joy rides” is astonishing." They wrote that while their reporter was talking to Mr Moxon, a "smartly-attired young lady" booked a flight. She asked the pilot if he would "loop the loop", to which, the Reporter wrote: "Ordinary, straightforward, safe flying does not appear to be exciting enough for the ladies."
In the St Helens Police Court on the 6th a man described as "almost a teetotaller" was accused of being drunk and disorderly. The prosecution case was that at 10:30pm on Saturday evening PC Tinsley had seen Charles Anders being very drunk and had struck down another man. However the 24-year-old from College Street claimed to have spent the evening at a dance in the Conservative Rooms in Hall Street and consumed no alcohol.
Upon walking home with a friend he passed a man called Southward in Cooper Street and had called out "Goodnight Pigeon" to him. That was the man's nickname but not one that he appeared to like as Southward challenged Anders to a fight and a brief scrap took place. Anders claimed that he was simply in a very excited state and not drunk and the policeman that arrested him had seized him by the throat. His friend supported his account and the case was dismissed.
There was another of those silly squabbles between neighbours described in the courtroom. This time it occurred in Lowe Street and involved lots of hair pulling and pot smashing. Peter Hunter summoned Susan Wilson from Clyde Street for wilful damage to vases to the value of 15 shillings 6d and she summoned Jane Hunter alleging assault.
Susan Wilson's counsel told the court that the trouble had begun through their children playing together. Some incident occurred that led to Mrs Wilson asking Mrs Hunter to "correct her daughter". I suspect the request was not a polite one as the woman threw a pint cup of water at Mrs Wilson, cutting her on the forehead and thumb, for which she required medical assistance.
The St Helens Reporter's account said: "Mrs. Hunter also took up a bit of iron, and Mrs. Wilson got hold of it and clung to it, being afraid Mrs. Hunter would hit her with it. Mrs. Wilson clung hold until she swooned away." Typically Jane Hunter had a totally different tale to tell with her counsel telling the magistrates:
"Mrs. Wilson rushed into the house, seized Mrs. Hunter by the hair, dragged her about and struck her in the face. Mrs. Wilson picked up the iron clog at the door [that was being used as a door stop], threw it into the house and smashed five vases". Both had witnesses to support their own versions of reality. However the magistrates decided that Susan Wilson's tale was more credible and bound Jane Hunter over to keep the peace for six months.
Another case of street betting was heard in the Police Court on the 7th when Edward Smith was charged with "loitering in the street for the purpose of bookmaking and receiving bets". PC Reynolds had seen the shop assistant from Morley Street standing on the footpath at the corner of Church Street and Bridge Street receiving money and slips of paper from three men.
Upon being taken to the police station he was found to have eight betting slips in his possession containing forty bets on the day's horse racing and over £10 in cash. In court Smith claimed it had only been his second day "at the game" and he was given a heavy fine of £10 or if in default, 28 days in prison.
It was Whit Monday on the 9th and most of the town's shops decided to close, not only on that day, but also on what was described as Whit Tuesday. However the St Helens Police Court was open for business on the 9th and James and William Grimes, F. White and a man called Chapman were charging with gambling near Silkstone Street.
Sgt. Latham told the Bench that forty men had been involved in a gambling school that took place every Sunday at this location but the police had only been able to capture four of them. The Chief Constable said he had received complaints about gambling from all over the town, particularly from women whose husbands had lost all their money at the weekend.
He produced a letter from one woman who claimed her husband had lost £25 10s in one week and whenever he lost he took it out on her and their children by beating them. The magistrates said they wanted to try and stop the practice and fined the four defendants 40 shillings each. £25 10s – by the way – is approximately £1,500 in today's money.
Next week's stories will include the Rainhill bigamist who wrongly predicted his prison sentence, the Parr bowling green wastrel, the homecoming of the St Helens Pals, the Whit Parish Church Festival, the reformed St Helens Glee Club, the Punch and Judy professors and the Queen's Park Carnival in aid of the Heroes Fund.