IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (3rd - 9th AUGUST 1920)
This week's stories include the Nelson Hotel glassing case, the ex-bobby and war hero charged with a serious stabbing, Sutton Brook catches fire (again!), the boy burglars of Stanhope Street and road subsidence takes place in Liverpool Road.
We begin on the 3rd with an appearance in St Helens Police Court of Peter Lynch – who the Reporter described as a "tall, powerful-looking man" – and who was facing a charge of feloniously wounding William Taylor. PC Shepherd gave evidence that after a man had walked into the police station to report a stabbing, he had found William Taylor with knife wounds to his leg and thigh. A search began for Peter Lynch and he was eventually apprehended just before 4am on that same morning in Water Street.
In the 47-year-old's possession were a blood-stained shirt and a pocket knife with blood stains on its handle and blade. When questioned Lynch said: "I might have done it, but I cannot remember. I had had some beer and I know there was a bother, but I cannot say what happened." The police said they needed to make more enquiries and so the man was remanded for eight days.
At the adjourned court hearing there was a surprise in store as it was revealed that Lynch was a former police officer having served nine years in the Royal Irish Constabulary. The man had then served for seven years in the British Army and had a distinguished war record, having been wounded on several occasions. After being demobilised from the army he came to St Helens to work at Pilkingtons. The magistrates said after hearing Lynch's war record, they regretted being compelled to commit him for trial at the next Liverpool Quarter Sessions.
Also back in the Police Court was Ellen Ryan, who was charged with unlawfully wounding Patrick Towey by throwing two glasses into his face. The young married woman from Back Bath Street (off Liverpool Road) claimed that the Lea Green Colliery miner had behaved indecently towards her. Ellen Ryan even brought her own summons against Towey, alleging indecent assault in the Nelson Hotel in Bridge Street (shown above in more recent times).
However Towey from Emily Street in Thatto Heath – who'd had nine stitches inserted in his face – insisted that he had not even spoken to the woman and did not know her. He claimed that his brother and a friend were standing between him and Ellen Ryan when she suddenly threw two glasses at him. Addressing the coal miner in court, Ellen Ryan said: "Did you come out with some dirty talk to me?". "No", came the reply.
Three men gave evidence that Patrick Towey had gone nowhere near the woman and one of them – Patrick Grady – claimed he'd heard Ellen Ryan say she had struck the wrong man, which she denied. The defence argued that indecent approaches had been made to Mrs Ryan and she was simply acting in self-defence. The magistrates committed her for trial to the next Quarter Sessions but granted a request for bail.
On November 2nd Ellen Ryan appeared in front of a judge carrying an infant in her arms, although she had now changed her plea to guilty. Chief Inspector Roe said Ellen was addicted to drink and when drunk could be very violent and she had previously served 28 days in prison for assaulting the police. The Bench sentenced her to one month's hard labour to which Ellen said: "What shall I do with my baby who is only nine months old?" That prompted a rethink and the sentence was changed to probation, although she was also told to give up drinking and lead "an industrious life".
Two small boys appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 4th charged with breaking into a dwelling house and stealing 3s 2d and a watch. 10-year-old William Myatt and 9-year-old Albert Jones both lived in Stanhope Street and had burgled the house of a neighbour called Albert Atkins on August Bank Holiday Monday.
He'd taken his family away for the day and upon returning discovered their home had been entered and the money and watch stolen. The boys had departed the house leaving a bedroom door and a back porch window wide open. Not long ago the lads would have been sent to prison or birched. Although birching still happened, the magistrates preferred supervision and so the boys were put on the fairly new probation system for two years.
"An impossible happening, as might have been supposed", was how the St Helens Reporter described Sutton Brook catching fire on the 5th. However they should have read their own newspaper, as they would have known that a very similar blaze had occurred five years earlier. Both fires reached the eaves of the Bowling Green Inn in Watery Lane (pictured above) and each blaze was probably caused by a discarded cigarette or match igniting oily substances in the brook. The 1920 blaze only caused £10 worth of damage, after being quickly subdued by PC Holland and some locals who'd thrown earth onto the oil.
William Owen from Campbell Street was in the Police Court on the 5th charged with stealing a watch and chain valued at £2 from his father. However the man had suffered badly from shell-shock during the war and a pub landlord had given him ten shillings for the watch as he'd felt sorry for him. The magistrates decided to treat Owen leniently and only fined him £1.
With the retirement pension being very low, those few elderly that were fit and well would often continue at their jobs into their seventies. However with medical treatment not as advanced as today, they could go downhill very quickly if they suffered illness or an accident. On the 6th the inquest on Silvester Wiggins of Birchfield Street in Thatto Heath was held.
The 77-year-old had worked as a roadman for St Helens Corporation for over 20 years and until suffering an accident in May, had been in very good health. However Mr Wiggins went quickly from being a healthy, active man to the subject of an inquest after being knocked down by a cyclist while working on the road.
Dr Robinson Officer from Cowley Hill Lane had treated him for injuries to his shoulder and ribs but Mr Wiggins was never able to work again. It is unlikely that he would have died from those injuries today but the body reacted badly to shock a century ago. At the inquest Dr Officer said the accident certainly hastened the old man's death, because up to that time he had been exceptionally strong.
On the morning of the 7th some serious subsidence occurred on a stretch of Liverpool Road, near its junction with Glover Street. A large sinkhole measuring a dozen feet deep and several yards long and wide suddenly appeared. As a result traffic was being diverted down Westfield Street for the next week while repairs were carried out.
The collapse was blamed on the heavy motor traffic that passed over the spot and which had smashed part of a sewer pipe. This would have to be fixed prior to the road being repaired. It was considered good fortune that none of the large eight-wheeled trams had been travelling over the spot when the subsidence occurred. The Reporter wrote: "Had the fall occurred as a tramcar was passing, the vehicle would almost have vanished from sight, as the hole was nearly deep enough to hold it."
This was not the first time subsidence had occurred in busy Liverpool Road, as a year or so earlier, a big drop had occurred lower down near Glover's rope works. The roads had not been built to accommodate heavy motors and subsidence on the highways was becoming increasingly common. Recently emergency work had been carried out at Higher Parr Street after a road collapse.
The father of Sarah Miller of Micklehead Green told the Bench in St Helens Police Court on the 7th that he had no control over his daughter and wanted her to be put into a home. After reading those comments I expected Sarah to be about twelve but she was actually twenty-three with a four-year-old illegitimate child. William Miller gave his daughter £2 per week and he also paid her rent and provided her with coal. Despite this she had stolen £2 6s from her father, telling PC Tinsley: "I took the money and spent it. I bought some boots and things for the little girl." Sarah expressed her readiness to be admitted into a home and was so committed by the Bench.
St Nicholas Church Choir of Sutton went on their annual outing to Southport on the 7th and – according to the St Helens Reporter – spent a "happy day". The All Saints choir outing to Chester would take place next week. It was also announced that the Sutton Parish Fete and Gala would be held in a fortnight. It should have taken place a month ago but had to be postponed because of rain. The usual procession to Sherdley Park would be held, followed by tea, sports and entertainment.
And finally the acts performing at the Hippodrome Theatre from the 9th were the usual cosmopolitan mix of comics, singers, musicians and novelty acts: The Tossing Testros ("Australia's sensational balancers, jugglers and hat throwers"); Tubby Turner & Partner ("In original comic oddities"); Norman Field ("The popular harpist"); Harry Russell and Ethel Durbin ("The undisputed dancing champions of the world! Sensation supreme!"); Les Nosselas ("Latest Parisian novelty"); W. H. Atkinson ("Baritone vocalist") and Bob Robinson and Nan Macken ("In comedy song scene ‘The Old Cobbler’").
The nicely named Tossing Testros (pictured above) were a husband and wife team, with Ronnie Testro's party trick being to balance a table loaded with glassware on his head using billiard cues. He would also balance a rickshaw on his head – I wonder if he suffered from headaches. Ouch!
Next week's stories will include the crippled children's annual treat in Eccleston Park, the Hammond Street man who refused to make maintenance payments to his separated wife, the "Spanish Prisoner" swindle in St Helens and the young woman from Foundry Street who accused the police of swearing her life away.
We begin on the 3rd with an appearance in St Helens Police Court of Peter Lynch – who the Reporter described as a "tall, powerful-looking man" – and who was facing a charge of feloniously wounding William Taylor. PC Shepherd gave evidence that after a man had walked into the police station to report a stabbing, he had found William Taylor with knife wounds to his leg and thigh. A search began for Peter Lynch and he was eventually apprehended just before 4am on that same morning in Water Street.
In the 47-year-old's possession were a blood-stained shirt and a pocket knife with blood stains on its handle and blade. When questioned Lynch said: "I might have done it, but I cannot remember. I had had some beer and I know there was a bother, but I cannot say what happened." The police said they needed to make more enquiries and so the man was remanded for eight days.
At the adjourned court hearing there was a surprise in store as it was revealed that Lynch was a former police officer having served nine years in the Royal Irish Constabulary. The man had then served for seven years in the British Army and had a distinguished war record, having been wounded on several occasions. After being demobilised from the army he came to St Helens to work at Pilkingtons. The magistrates said after hearing Lynch's war record, they regretted being compelled to commit him for trial at the next Liverpool Quarter Sessions.
However Towey from Emily Street in Thatto Heath – who'd had nine stitches inserted in his face – insisted that he had not even spoken to the woman and did not know her. He claimed that his brother and a friend were standing between him and Ellen Ryan when she suddenly threw two glasses at him. Addressing the coal miner in court, Ellen Ryan said: "Did you come out with some dirty talk to me?". "No", came the reply.
Three men gave evidence that Patrick Towey had gone nowhere near the woman and one of them – Patrick Grady – claimed he'd heard Ellen Ryan say she had struck the wrong man, which she denied. The defence argued that indecent approaches had been made to Mrs Ryan and she was simply acting in self-defence. The magistrates committed her for trial to the next Quarter Sessions but granted a request for bail.
On November 2nd Ellen Ryan appeared in front of a judge carrying an infant in her arms, although she had now changed her plea to guilty. Chief Inspector Roe said Ellen was addicted to drink and when drunk could be very violent and she had previously served 28 days in prison for assaulting the police. The Bench sentenced her to one month's hard labour to which Ellen said: "What shall I do with my baby who is only nine months old?" That prompted a rethink and the sentence was changed to probation, although she was also told to give up drinking and lead "an industrious life".
Two small boys appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 4th charged with breaking into a dwelling house and stealing 3s 2d and a watch. 10-year-old William Myatt and 9-year-old Albert Jones both lived in Stanhope Street and had burgled the house of a neighbour called Albert Atkins on August Bank Holiday Monday.
"An impossible happening, as might have been supposed", was how the St Helens Reporter described Sutton Brook catching fire on the 5th. However they should have read their own newspaper, as they would have known that a very similar blaze had occurred five years earlier. Both fires reached the eaves of the Bowling Green Inn in Watery Lane (pictured above) and each blaze was probably caused by a discarded cigarette or match igniting oily substances in the brook. The 1920 blaze only caused £10 worth of damage, after being quickly subdued by PC Holland and some locals who'd thrown earth onto the oil.
William Owen from Campbell Street was in the Police Court on the 5th charged with stealing a watch and chain valued at £2 from his father. However the man had suffered badly from shell-shock during the war and a pub landlord had given him ten shillings for the watch as he'd felt sorry for him. The magistrates decided to treat Owen leniently and only fined him £1.
With the retirement pension being very low, those few elderly that were fit and well would often continue at their jobs into their seventies. However with medical treatment not as advanced as today, they could go downhill very quickly if they suffered illness or an accident. On the 6th the inquest on Silvester Wiggins of Birchfield Street in Thatto Heath was held.
The 77-year-old had worked as a roadman for St Helens Corporation for over 20 years and until suffering an accident in May, had been in very good health. However Mr Wiggins went quickly from being a healthy, active man to the subject of an inquest after being knocked down by a cyclist while working on the road.
Dr Robinson Officer from Cowley Hill Lane had treated him for injuries to his shoulder and ribs but Mr Wiggins was never able to work again. It is unlikely that he would have died from those injuries today but the body reacted badly to shock a century ago. At the inquest Dr Officer said the accident certainly hastened the old man's death, because up to that time he had been exceptionally strong.
On the morning of the 7th some serious subsidence occurred on a stretch of Liverpool Road, near its junction with Glover Street. A large sinkhole measuring a dozen feet deep and several yards long and wide suddenly appeared. As a result traffic was being diverted down Westfield Street for the next week while repairs were carried out.
The collapse was blamed on the heavy motor traffic that passed over the spot and which had smashed part of a sewer pipe. This would have to be fixed prior to the road being repaired. It was considered good fortune that none of the large eight-wheeled trams had been travelling over the spot when the subsidence occurred. The Reporter wrote: "Had the fall occurred as a tramcar was passing, the vehicle would almost have vanished from sight, as the hole was nearly deep enough to hold it."
This was not the first time subsidence had occurred in busy Liverpool Road, as a year or so earlier, a big drop had occurred lower down near Glover's rope works. The roads had not been built to accommodate heavy motors and subsidence on the highways was becoming increasingly common. Recently emergency work had been carried out at Higher Parr Street after a road collapse.
The father of Sarah Miller of Micklehead Green told the Bench in St Helens Police Court on the 7th that he had no control over his daughter and wanted her to be put into a home. After reading those comments I expected Sarah to be about twelve but she was actually twenty-three with a four-year-old illegitimate child. William Miller gave his daughter £2 per week and he also paid her rent and provided her with coal. Despite this she had stolen £2 6s from her father, telling PC Tinsley: "I took the money and spent it. I bought some boots and things for the little girl." Sarah expressed her readiness to be admitted into a home and was so committed by the Bench.
St Nicholas Church Choir of Sutton went on their annual outing to Southport on the 7th and – according to the St Helens Reporter – spent a "happy day". The All Saints choir outing to Chester would take place next week. It was also announced that the Sutton Parish Fete and Gala would be held in a fortnight. It should have taken place a month ago but had to be postponed because of rain. The usual procession to Sherdley Park would be held, followed by tea, sports and entertainment.
And finally the acts performing at the Hippodrome Theatre from the 9th were the usual cosmopolitan mix of comics, singers, musicians and novelty acts: The Tossing Testros ("Australia's sensational balancers, jugglers and hat throwers"); Tubby Turner & Partner ("In original comic oddities"); Norman Field ("The popular harpist"); Harry Russell and Ethel Durbin ("The undisputed dancing champions of the world! Sensation supreme!"); Les Nosselas ("Latest Parisian novelty"); W. H. Atkinson ("Baritone vocalist") and Bob Robinson and Nan Macken ("In comedy song scene ‘The Old Cobbler’").
Next week's stories will include the crippled children's annual treat in Eccleston Park, the Hammond Street man who refused to make maintenance payments to his separated wife, the "Spanish Prisoner" swindle in St Helens and the young woman from Foundry Street who accused the police of swearing her life away.
This week's stories include the Nelson Hotel glassing case, the ex-bobby and war hero charged with a serious stabbing, Sutton Brook catches fire (again!), the boy burglars of Stanhope Street and road subsidence takes place in Liverpool Road.
We begin on the 3rd with an appearance in St Helens Police Court of Peter Lynch – who the Reporter described as a "tall, powerful-looking man" – and who was facing a charge of feloniously wounding William Taylor.
PC Shepherd gave evidence that after a man had walked into the police station to report a stabbing, he had found William Taylor with knife wounds to his leg and thigh.
A search began for Peter Lynch and he was eventually apprehended just before 4am on that same morning in Water Street.
In the 47-year-old's possession were a blood-stained shirt and a pocket knife with blood stains on its handle and blade.
When questioned Lynch said: "I might have done it, but I cannot remember. I had had some beer and I know there was a bother, but I cannot say what happened."
The police said they needed to make more enquiries and so the man was remanded for eight days.
At the adjourned court hearing there was a surprise in store as it was revealed that Lynch was a former police officer having served nine years in the Royal Irish Constabulary.
The man had then served for seven years in the British Army and had a distinguished war record, having been wounded on several occasions.
After being demobilised from the army he came to St Helens to work at Pilkingtons.
The magistrates said after hearing Lynch's war record, they regretted being compelled to commit him for trial at the next Liverpool Quarter Sessions.
Also back in the Police Court was Ellen Ryan, who was charged with unlawfully wounding Patrick Towey by throwing two glasses into his face.
The young married woman from Back Bath Street (off Liverpool Road) claimed that the Lea Green Colliery miner had behaved indecently towards her.
Ellen Ryan even brought her own summons against Towey, alleging indecent assault in the Nelson Hotel in Bridge Street (shown above in more recent times).
However Towey from Emily Street in Thatto Heath – who'd had nine stitches inserted in his face – insisted that he had not even spoken to the woman and did not know her.
He claimed that his brother and a friend were standing between him and Ellen Ryan when she suddenly threw two glasses at him.
Addressing the coal miner in court, Ellen Ryan said: "Did you come out with some dirty talk to me?". "No", came the reply.
Three men gave evidence that Patrick Towey had gone nowhere near the woman and one of them – Patrick Grady – claimed he'd heard Ellen Ryan say she had struck the wrong man, which she denied.
The defence argued that indecent approaches had been made to Mrs Ryan and she was simply acting in self-defence.
The magistrates committed her for trial to the next Quarter Sessions but granted a request for bail.
On November 2nd Ellen Ryan appeared in front of a judge carrying an infant in her arms, although she had now changed her plea to guilty.
Chief Inspector Roe said Ellen was addicted to drink and when drunk could be very violent and she had previously served 28 days in prison for assaulting the police.
The Bench sentenced her to one month's hard labour to which Ellen said: "What shall I do with my baby who is only nine months old?"
That prompted a rethink and the sentence was changed to probation, although she was also told to give up drinking and lead "an industrious life".
Two small boys appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 4th charged with breaking into a dwelling house and stealing 3s 2d and a watch.
10-year-old William Myatt and 9-year-old Albert Jones both lived in Stanhope Street and had burgled the house of a neighbour called Albert Atkins on August Bank Holiday Monday.
He'd taken his family away for the day and upon returning discovered their home had been entered and the money and watch stolen.
The boys had departed the house leaving a bedroom door and a back porch window wide open.
Not long ago the lads would have been sent to prison or birched.
Although birching still happened, the magistrates preferred supervision and so the boys were put on the fairly new probation system for two years.
"An impossible happening, as might have been supposed", was how the St Helens Reporter described Sutton Brook catching fire on the 5th.
However they should have read their own newspaper, as they would have known that a very similar blaze had occurred five years earlier.
Both fires reached the eaves of the Bowling Green Inn in Watery Lane (pictured above) and each blaze was probably caused by a discarded cigarette or match igniting oily substances in the brook.
The 1920 blaze only caused £10 worth of damage, after being quickly subdued by PC Holland and some locals who'd thrown earth onto the oil.
William Owen from Campbell Street was in the Police Court on the 5th charged with stealing a watch and chain valued at £2 from his father.
However the man had suffered badly from shell-shock during the war and a pub landlord had given him ten shillings for the watch as he'd felt sorry for him.
The magistrates decided to treat Owen leniently and only fined him £1.
With the retirement pension being very low, those few elderly that were fit and well would often continue at their jobs into their seventies.
However with medical treatment not as advanced as today, they could go downhill very quickly if they suffered illness or an accident.
On the 6th the inquest on Silvester Wiggins of Birchfield Street in Thatto Heath was held.
The 77-year-old had worked as a roadman for St Helens Corporation for over 20 years and until suffering an accident in May, had been in very good health.
However Mr Wiggins went quickly from being a healthy, active man to the subject of an inquest after being knocked down by a cyclist while working on the road.
Dr Robinson Officer from Cowley Hill Lane had treated him for injuries to his shoulder and ribs but Mr Wiggins was never able to work again.
It is unlikely that he would have died from those injuries today but the body reacted badly to shock a century ago.
At the inquest Dr Officer said the accident certainly hastened the old man's death, because up to that time he had been exceptionally strong.
On the morning of the 7th some serious subsidence occurred on a stretch of Liverpool Road, near its junction with Glover Street.
A large sinkhole measuring a dozen feet deep and several yards long and wide suddenly appeared.
As a result traffic was being diverted down Westfield Street for the next week while repairs were carried out.
The collapse was blamed on the heavy motor traffic that passed over the spot and which had smashed part of a sewer pipe.
This would have to be fixed prior to the road being repaired.
It was considered good fortune that none of the large eight-wheeled trams had been travelling over the spot when the subsidence occurred. The Reporter wrote:
"Had the fall occurred as a tramcar was passing, the vehicle would almost have vanished from sight, as the hole was nearly deep enough to hold it."
This was not the first time subsidence had occurred in busy Liverpool Road, as a year or so earlier, a big drop had occurred lower down near Glover's rope works.
The roads had not been built to accommodate heavy motors and subsidence on the highways was becoming increasingly common.
Recently emergency work had been carried out at Higher Parr Street after a road collapse.
The father of Sarah Miller of Micklehead Green told the Bench in St Helens Police Court on the 7th that he had no control over his daughter and wanted her to be put into a home.
After reading those comments I expected Sarah to be about twelve but she was actually twenty-three with a four-year-old illegitimate child.
William Miller gave his daughter £2 per week and he also paid her rent and provided her with coal.
Despite this she had stolen £2 6s from her father, telling PC Tinsley: "I took the money and spent it. I bought some boots and things for the little girl."
Sarah expressed her readiness to be admitted into a home and was so committed by the Bench.
St Nicholas Church Choir of Sutton went on their annual outing to Southport on the 7th and – according to the St Helens Reporter – spent a "happy day".
The All Saints choir outing to Chester would take place next week.
It was also announced that the Sutton Parish Fete and Gala would be held in a fortnight.
It should have taken place a month ago but had to be postponed because of rain.
The usual procession to Sherdley Park would be held, followed by tea, sports and entertainment.
And finally the acts performing at the Hippodrome Theatre from the 9th were the usual cosmopolitan mix of comics, singers, musicians and novelty acts:
The Tossing Testros ("Australia's sensational balancers, jugglers and hat throwers"); Tubby Turner & Partner ("In original comic oddities"); Norman Field ("The popular harpist"); Harry Russell and Ethel Durbin ("The undisputed dancing champions of the world! Sensation supreme!"); Les Nosselas ("Latest Parisian novelty"); W. H. Atkinson ("Baritone vocalist") and Bob Robinson and Nan Macken ("In comedy song scene ‘The Old Cobbler’").
The nicely named Tossing Testros (pictured above) were a husband and wife team, with Ronnie Testro's party trick being to balance a table loaded with glassware on his head using billiard cues.
He would also balance a rickshaw on his head – I wonder if he suffered from headaches. Ouch!
Next week's stories will include the crippled children's annual treat in Eccleston Park, the Hammond Street man who refused to make maintenance payments to his separated wife, the "Spanish Prisoner" swindle in St Helens and the young woman from Foundry Street who accused the police of swearing her life away.
We begin on the 3rd with an appearance in St Helens Police Court of Peter Lynch – who the Reporter described as a "tall, powerful-looking man" – and who was facing a charge of feloniously wounding William Taylor.
PC Shepherd gave evidence that after a man had walked into the police station to report a stabbing, he had found William Taylor with knife wounds to his leg and thigh.
A search began for Peter Lynch and he was eventually apprehended just before 4am on that same morning in Water Street.
In the 47-year-old's possession were a blood-stained shirt and a pocket knife with blood stains on its handle and blade.
When questioned Lynch said: "I might have done it, but I cannot remember. I had had some beer and I know there was a bother, but I cannot say what happened."
The police said they needed to make more enquiries and so the man was remanded for eight days.
At the adjourned court hearing there was a surprise in store as it was revealed that Lynch was a former police officer having served nine years in the Royal Irish Constabulary.
The man had then served for seven years in the British Army and had a distinguished war record, having been wounded on several occasions.
After being demobilised from the army he came to St Helens to work at Pilkingtons.
The magistrates said after hearing Lynch's war record, they regretted being compelled to commit him for trial at the next Liverpool Quarter Sessions.
Also back in the Police Court was Ellen Ryan, who was charged with unlawfully wounding Patrick Towey by throwing two glasses into his face.
The young married woman from Back Bath Street (off Liverpool Road) claimed that the Lea Green Colliery miner had behaved indecently towards her.
However Towey from Emily Street in Thatto Heath – who'd had nine stitches inserted in his face – insisted that he had not even spoken to the woman and did not know her.
He claimed that his brother and a friend were standing between him and Ellen Ryan when she suddenly threw two glasses at him.
Addressing the coal miner in court, Ellen Ryan said: "Did you come out with some dirty talk to me?". "No", came the reply.
Three men gave evidence that Patrick Towey had gone nowhere near the woman and one of them – Patrick Grady – claimed he'd heard Ellen Ryan say she had struck the wrong man, which she denied.
The defence argued that indecent approaches had been made to Mrs Ryan and she was simply acting in self-defence.
The magistrates committed her for trial to the next Quarter Sessions but granted a request for bail.
On November 2nd Ellen Ryan appeared in front of a judge carrying an infant in her arms, although she had now changed her plea to guilty.
Chief Inspector Roe said Ellen was addicted to drink and when drunk could be very violent and she had previously served 28 days in prison for assaulting the police.
The Bench sentenced her to one month's hard labour to which Ellen said: "What shall I do with my baby who is only nine months old?"
That prompted a rethink and the sentence was changed to probation, although she was also told to give up drinking and lead "an industrious life".
Two small boys appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 4th charged with breaking into a dwelling house and stealing 3s 2d and a watch.
10-year-old William Myatt and 9-year-old Albert Jones both lived in Stanhope Street and had burgled the house of a neighbour called Albert Atkins on August Bank Holiday Monday.
He'd taken his family away for the day and upon returning discovered their home had been entered and the money and watch stolen.
The boys had departed the house leaving a bedroom door and a back porch window wide open.
Not long ago the lads would have been sent to prison or birched.
Although birching still happened, the magistrates preferred supervision and so the boys were put on the fairly new probation system for two years.
"An impossible happening, as might have been supposed", was how the St Helens Reporter described Sutton Brook catching fire on the 5th.
However they should have read their own newspaper, as they would have known that a very similar blaze had occurred five years earlier.
The 1920 blaze only caused £10 worth of damage, after being quickly subdued by PC Holland and some locals who'd thrown earth onto the oil.
William Owen from Campbell Street was in the Police Court on the 5th charged with stealing a watch and chain valued at £2 from his father.
However the man had suffered badly from shell-shock during the war and a pub landlord had given him ten shillings for the watch as he'd felt sorry for him.
The magistrates decided to treat Owen leniently and only fined him £1.
With the retirement pension being very low, those few elderly that were fit and well would often continue at their jobs into their seventies.
However with medical treatment not as advanced as today, they could go downhill very quickly if they suffered illness or an accident.
On the 6th the inquest on Silvester Wiggins of Birchfield Street in Thatto Heath was held.
The 77-year-old had worked as a roadman for St Helens Corporation for over 20 years and until suffering an accident in May, had been in very good health.
However Mr Wiggins went quickly from being a healthy, active man to the subject of an inquest after being knocked down by a cyclist while working on the road.
Dr Robinson Officer from Cowley Hill Lane had treated him for injuries to his shoulder and ribs but Mr Wiggins was never able to work again.
It is unlikely that he would have died from those injuries today but the body reacted badly to shock a century ago.
At the inquest Dr Officer said the accident certainly hastened the old man's death, because up to that time he had been exceptionally strong.
On the morning of the 7th some serious subsidence occurred on a stretch of Liverpool Road, near its junction with Glover Street.
A large sinkhole measuring a dozen feet deep and several yards long and wide suddenly appeared.
As a result traffic was being diverted down Westfield Street for the next week while repairs were carried out.
The collapse was blamed on the heavy motor traffic that passed over the spot and which had smashed part of a sewer pipe.
This would have to be fixed prior to the road being repaired.
It was considered good fortune that none of the large eight-wheeled trams had been travelling over the spot when the subsidence occurred. The Reporter wrote:
"Had the fall occurred as a tramcar was passing, the vehicle would almost have vanished from sight, as the hole was nearly deep enough to hold it."
This was not the first time subsidence had occurred in busy Liverpool Road, as a year or so earlier, a big drop had occurred lower down near Glover's rope works.
The roads had not been built to accommodate heavy motors and subsidence on the highways was becoming increasingly common.
Recently emergency work had been carried out at Higher Parr Street after a road collapse.
The father of Sarah Miller of Micklehead Green told the Bench in St Helens Police Court on the 7th that he had no control over his daughter and wanted her to be put into a home.
After reading those comments I expected Sarah to be about twelve but she was actually twenty-three with a four-year-old illegitimate child.
William Miller gave his daughter £2 per week and he also paid her rent and provided her with coal.
Despite this she had stolen £2 6s from her father, telling PC Tinsley: "I took the money and spent it. I bought some boots and things for the little girl."
Sarah expressed her readiness to be admitted into a home and was so committed by the Bench.
St Nicholas Church Choir of Sutton went on their annual outing to Southport on the 7th and – according to the St Helens Reporter – spent a "happy day".
The All Saints choir outing to Chester would take place next week.
It was also announced that the Sutton Parish Fete and Gala would be held in a fortnight.
It should have taken place a month ago but had to be postponed because of rain.
The usual procession to Sherdley Park would be held, followed by tea, sports and entertainment.
And finally the acts performing at the Hippodrome Theatre from the 9th were the usual cosmopolitan mix of comics, singers, musicians and novelty acts:
The Tossing Testros ("Australia's sensational balancers, jugglers and hat throwers"); Tubby Turner & Partner ("In original comic oddities"); Norman Field ("The popular harpist"); Harry Russell and Ethel Durbin ("The undisputed dancing champions of the world! Sensation supreme!"); Les Nosselas ("Latest Parisian novelty"); W. H. Atkinson ("Baritone vocalist") and Bob Robinson and Nan Macken ("In comedy song scene ‘The Old Cobbler’").
He would also balance a rickshaw on his head – I wonder if he suffered from headaches. Ouch!
Next week's stories will include the crippled children's annual treat in Eccleston Park, the Hammond Street man who refused to make maintenance payments to his separated wife, the "Spanish Prisoner" swindle in St Helens and the young woman from Foundry Street who accused the police of swearing her life away.