IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (6th - 12th FEBRUARY 1923)
This week's many stories include the pay cuts for Town Hall officials, the St Helens contribution to building the new Liverpool to Manchester main road, the inquiry into Boundary Road Baths, the Sutton flood relief scheme gets the green light and the Hardshaw Street joiner's accident at an alkali works.
Although the Labour Party had yet to take control of St Helens Town Council, its increasing number of councillors was making them a more influential body. In November 1922 the Labour members had got a resolution passed that Town Hall officials earning over a certain salary had to agree to a pay cut – or be fired. Cllr. Thomas Boscow had moved the resolution on the ground that nearly everybody else in St Helens had suffered a reduction in their wages and so should the bosses at the Town Hall.
However, that was not quite true. Although there was a high unemployment rate in St Helens and many workers were on reduced hours, others were earning good money and could afford luxuries like motorcycles and even wireless sets. And those asked to take salary cuts did not see why they should be paid less than equivalent officials in other towns. Any savings to ratepayers would be minimal and so it appeared to be a symbolic political gesture rather than a meaningful action.
The Town Hall staff's union – the National Association of Local Government Officers – had at the start of this week spent several hours in discussions with councillors. But the meeting ended in deadlock and on the following day when the full Town Council met, another resolution was passed that the salary reduction notices that threatened officials with the sack be withdrawn. That was on the understanding that those officials would agree to enter into negotiations with a view to their salaries being revised. Thomas Boscow heartily opposed the resolution claiming that 90% of St Helens people supported the pay cuts – but was forced to accept defeat.
On the 6th Frederick Lloyd appeared in St Helens Police Court after committing another of those brainless lodger crimes. The young labourer had taken lodgings in Marshalls Cross Road and had stolen a silver watch from a drawer in a shared bedroom. It didn't seem to occur to Lloyd that in committing the crime he would be the prime suspect and he was fined 20 shillings.
Also on the 6th an inquiry was held into the proposed construction of a new filtration plant at Boundary Road baths (pictured above). It was usual for government inspectors to hold such inquiries when town councils wished to borrow money in order to ensure they were not being profligate. But St Helens Corporation's desire to borrow £2,300 to build the filtration system would save the ratepayers money in the long term.
The Borough Engineer explained to the inspector that at present the baths used 8½ million gallons of water per year. That would be reduced to a million gallons once the filtration plant had been erected. And as well as being a saving in water, the investment would also save about two tons of coal per week. It was explained that a water shortage had meant that St Helens had been forced to apply to Liverpool Corporation for an additional supply of H20 and every saving that could be made would benefit the town. There was no opposition to the scheme and the inspector said he would report his decision on the loan in due course.
Last August the St Helens Reporter had commented on proposals to build what would become known as the East Lancashire Road. The paper wrote: "The proposed new main road between Liverpool and Manchester is of great interest to St. Helens. If carried out it will very much relieve the heavy motor haulage traffic which now passes through the town. The proposed new road would pass to the north of the borough, for the most part through the rural area and, as mapped out, would only come inside the borough boundary to a very short distance on the Blackbrook side."
On the 7th St Helens Town Council discussed their proposed financial contribution to the building of what was then referred to as the Liverpool to Manchester main road. It was agreed to pay a sum equal to the proceeds of a penny rate over a 30-year period. Ald. Forster told his colleagues that although such a commitment might appear a large financial undertaking, he had been informed that it would be a wise investment for St Helens to make. Not only would the new highway relieve much heavy traffic but it would also generate badly needed employment for at least two years.
The severe housing shortage in St Helens had created a problem for homes that were tied to a certain job. If someone with such a house left their employment, they were expected to give up their home. But often they could not find another property and so would stay put. That was much to the annoyance of their former boss, who would usually have someone else lined up to take their job and who needed the house to live in.
As a result over the last few years there had been many court cases in which the employer had demanded possession of the tied home. Usually the judge at St Helens County Court in East Street would grant possession, but give the former employee extra time to find another place. However, that was not what occurred in the court on the 7th when the wealthy Robert Daglish brought a case against Thomas Price.
Daglish ran the extensive St Helens Foundry and lived at Forrest House in Knowsley. Price had been his gardener and lived in a tied cottage but had left Daglish's employment in 1918. The judge at first said it was reasonable that Daglish be given possession of the house, until it was pointed out to him that the new man due to become his gardener would only work part-time. The judge then ruled that the law required whole time employment in such cases and as Price was paying his rent, he was entitled to remain where he was.
On the 9th Irwins food store in Bridge Street had another large advert in the Reporter. These were some of their prices: Best butter: 1/10 per pound. Blueband margarine: 1 shilling per pound. Brawn: 8d per pound. Baked ham cooked: 2 shillings per pound. Bacon rashers: 1 shilling per pound. "Jams To Suit Every Taste & Every Pocket", was their proud boast and they certainly stocked a lot – I counted eleven flavours.
The Unemployment Grants Committee had been established in 1920 to assist local authorities implement certain public works schemes using men that were out of work. The Reporter was able to announce that the Committee had approved the scheme for the relief of flooding in Sutton and would be making a grant. The 6-month-long scheme would begin on the 15th and involve the diversion of the Sutton Brook and the installation of a cable to supply electric pumps in Watery Lane (pictured above).
The inquest into the death of joiner John Singleton from Hardshaw Street was held at St Helens on the 9th. It was another example of poor safety conditions in works, which had allowed the 62-year old to fall off an insecure ladder at the United Alkali Company's plant in Widnes while not wearing a safety helmet.
As a result, Mr Singleton had fractured his skull in two places. The man had worked for the firm for 30 years – mainly in St Helens – and complacency, as was often the case, had clearly set in. Another joiner called Harry Saxon told the inquest that Singleton had fallen after attempting to move the ladder to one side by jerking it whilst standing on top.
This year's St Helens Licensing Sessions were held on the 12th and the magistrates heard from the Chief Constable that prosecutions for drunkenness in 1921 numbered 81, down from 136 on 1920. That was considered to reflect well on pub landlords in the town and the magistrates congratulated them. Any changes to public houses had to be approved by the licensing justices and they said – without giving any reason – that wireless sets could not be placed in public rooms. But they said they had no objection to licensees having wirelesses within their own private accommodation.
And finally it was panto time at the Hippodrome with 'Dick Turpin's Ride To York' presented in six scenes over six nights. Meanwhile the Theatre Royal had what they called "the greatest success of the age" in a play called 'Romance'. Their phone number then was just 114.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's many stories will include the 5-shilling price of being a boy in St Helens, the wireless set problem at Windlehust, the beggar that called at a policeman's house and the woman who bashed her husband over the head with a mirror.
Although the Labour Party had yet to take control of St Helens Town Council, its increasing number of councillors was making them a more influential body. In November 1922 the Labour members had got a resolution passed that Town Hall officials earning over a certain salary had to agree to a pay cut – or be fired. Cllr. Thomas Boscow had moved the resolution on the ground that nearly everybody else in St Helens had suffered a reduction in their wages and so should the bosses at the Town Hall.
However, that was not quite true. Although there was a high unemployment rate in St Helens and many workers were on reduced hours, others were earning good money and could afford luxuries like motorcycles and even wireless sets. And those asked to take salary cuts did not see why they should be paid less than equivalent officials in other towns. Any savings to ratepayers would be minimal and so it appeared to be a symbolic political gesture rather than a meaningful action.
The Town Hall staff's union – the National Association of Local Government Officers – had at the start of this week spent several hours in discussions with councillors. But the meeting ended in deadlock and on the following day when the full Town Council met, another resolution was passed that the salary reduction notices that threatened officials with the sack be withdrawn. That was on the understanding that those officials would agree to enter into negotiations with a view to their salaries being revised. Thomas Boscow heartily opposed the resolution claiming that 90% of St Helens people supported the pay cuts – but was forced to accept defeat.
On the 6th Frederick Lloyd appeared in St Helens Police Court after committing another of those brainless lodger crimes. The young labourer had taken lodgings in Marshalls Cross Road and had stolen a silver watch from a drawer in a shared bedroom. It didn't seem to occur to Lloyd that in committing the crime he would be the prime suspect and he was fined 20 shillings.
The Borough Engineer explained to the inspector that at present the baths used 8½ million gallons of water per year. That would be reduced to a million gallons once the filtration plant had been erected. And as well as being a saving in water, the investment would also save about two tons of coal per week. It was explained that a water shortage had meant that St Helens had been forced to apply to Liverpool Corporation for an additional supply of H20 and every saving that could be made would benefit the town. There was no opposition to the scheme and the inspector said he would report his decision on the loan in due course.
Last August the St Helens Reporter had commented on proposals to build what would become known as the East Lancashire Road. The paper wrote: "The proposed new main road between Liverpool and Manchester is of great interest to St. Helens. If carried out it will very much relieve the heavy motor haulage traffic which now passes through the town. The proposed new road would pass to the north of the borough, for the most part through the rural area and, as mapped out, would only come inside the borough boundary to a very short distance on the Blackbrook side."
On the 7th St Helens Town Council discussed their proposed financial contribution to the building of what was then referred to as the Liverpool to Manchester main road. It was agreed to pay a sum equal to the proceeds of a penny rate over a 30-year period. Ald. Forster told his colleagues that although such a commitment might appear a large financial undertaking, he had been informed that it would be a wise investment for St Helens to make. Not only would the new highway relieve much heavy traffic but it would also generate badly needed employment for at least two years.
The severe housing shortage in St Helens had created a problem for homes that were tied to a certain job. If someone with such a house left their employment, they were expected to give up their home. But often they could not find another property and so would stay put. That was much to the annoyance of their former boss, who would usually have someone else lined up to take their job and who needed the house to live in.
As a result over the last few years there had been many court cases in which the employer had demanded possession of the tied home. Usually the judge at St Helens County Court in East Street would grant possession, but give the former employee extra time to find another place. However, that was not what occurred in the court on the 7th when the wealthy Robert Daglish brought a case against Thomas Price.
Daglish ran the extensive St Helens Foundry and lived at Forrest House in Knowsley. Price had been his gardener and lived in a tied cottage but had left Daglish's employment in 1918. The judge at first said it was reasonable that Daglish be given possession of the house, until it was pointed out to him that the new man due to become his gardener would only work part-time. The judge then ruled that the law required whole time employment in such cases and as Price was paying his rent, he was entitled to remain where he was.
On the 9th Irwins food store in Bridge Street had another large advert in the Reporter. These were some of their prices: Best butter: 1/10 per pound. Blueband margarine: 1 shilling per pound. Brawn: 8d per pound. Baked ham cooked: 2 shillings per pound. Bacon rashers: 1 shilling per pound. "Jams To Suit Every Taste & Every Pocket", was their proud boast and they certainly stocked a lot – I counted eleven flavours.
The inquest into the death of joiner John Singleton from Hardshaw Street was held at St Helens on the 9th. It was another example of poor safety conditions in works, which had allowed the 62-year old to fall off an insecure ladder at the United Alkali Company's plant in Widnes while not wearing a safety helmet.
As a result, Mr Singleton had fractured his skull in two places. The man had worked for the firm for 30 years – mainly in St Helens – and complacency, as was often the case, had clearly set in. Another joiner called Harry Saxon told the inquest that Singleton had fallen after attempting to move the ladder to one side by jerking it whilst standing on top.
This year's St Helens Licensing Sessions were held on the 12th and the magistrates heard from the Chief Constable that prosecutions for drunkenness in 1921 numbered 81, down from 136 on 1920. That was considered to reflect well on pub landlords in the town and the magistrates congratulated them. Any changes to public houses had to be approved by the licensing justices and they said – without giving any reason – that wireless sets could not be placed in public rooms. But they said they had no objection to licensees having wirelesses within their own private accommodation.
And finally it was panto time at the Hippodrome with 'Dick Turpin's Ride To York' presented in six scenes over six nights. Meanwhile the Theatre Royal had what they called "the greatest success of the age" in a play called 'Romance'. Their phone number then was just 114.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's many stories will include the 5-shilling price of being a boy in St Helens, the wireless set problem at Windlehust, the beggar that called at a policeman's house and the woman who bashed her husband over the head with a mirror.
This week's many stories include the pay cuts for Town Hall officials, the St Helens contribution to building the new Liverpool to Manchester main road, the inquiry into Boundary Road Baths, the Sutton flood relief scheme gets the green light and the Hardshaw Street joiner's accident at an alkali works.
Although the Labour Party had yet to take control of St Helens Town Council, its increasing number of councillors was making them a more influential body.
In November 1922 the Labour members had got a resolution passed that Town Hall officials earning over a certain salary had to agree to a pay cut – or be fired.
Cllr. Thomas Boscow had moved the resolution on the ground that nearly everybody else in St Helens had suffered a reduction in their wages and so should the bosses at the Town Hall.
However, that was not quite true. Although there was a high unemployment rate in St Helens and many workers were on reduced hours, others were earning good money and could afford luxuries like motorcycles and even wireless sets.
And those asked to take salary cuts did not see why they should be paid less than equivalent officials in other towns.
Any savings to ratepayers would be minimal and so it appeared to be a symbolic political gesture rather than a meaningful action.
The Town Hall staff's union – the National Association of Local Government Officers – had at the start of this week spent several hours in discussions with councillors.
But the meeting ended in deadlock and on the following day when the full Town Council met, another resolution was passed that the salary reduction notices that threatened officials with the sack be withdrawn.
That was on the understanding that those officials would agree to enter into negotiations with a view to their salaries being revised.
Thomas Boscow heartily opposed the resolution claiming that 90% of St Helens people supported the pay cuts – but was forced to accept defeat.
On the 6th Frederick Lloyd appeared in St Helens Police Court after committing another of those brainless lodger crimes.
The young labourer had taken lodgings in Marshalls Cross Road and had stolen a silver watch from a drawer in a shared bedroom.
It didn't seem to occur to Lloyd that in committing the crime he would be the prime suspect and he was fined 20 shillings.
Also on the 6th an inquiry was held into the proposed construction of a new filtration plant at Boundary Road baths.
It was usual for government inspectors to hold such inquiries when town councils wished to borrow money in order to ensure they were not being profligate.
But St Helens Corporation's desire to borrow £2,300 to build the filtration system would save the ratepayers money in the long term.
The Borough Engineer explained to the inspector that at present the baths used 8½ million gallons of water per year. That would be reduced to a million gallons once the filtration plant had been erected.
And as well as being a saving in water, the investment would also save about two tons of coal per week.
It was explained that a water shortage had meant that St Helens had been forced to apply to Liverpool Corporation for an additional supply of H20 and every saving that could be made would benefit the town.
There was no opposition to the scheme and the inspector said he would report his decision on the loan in due course.
Last August the St Helens Reporter had commented on proposals to build what would become known as the East Lancashire Road. The paper wrote:
"The proposed new main road between Liverpool and Manchester is of great interest to St. Helens. If carried out it will very much relieve the heavy motor haulage traffic which now passes through the town.
"The proposed new road would pass to the north of the borough, for the most part through the rural area and, as mapped out, would only come inside the borough boundary to a very short distance on the Blackbrook side."
On the 7th St Helens Town Council discussed their proposed financial contribution to the building of what was then referred to as the Liverpool to Manchester main road.
It was agreed to pay a sum equal to the proceeds of a penny rate over a 30-year period.
Ald. Forster told his colleagues that although such a commitment might appear a large financial undertaking, he had been informed that it would be a wise investment for St Helens to make.
Not only would the new highway relieve much heavy traffic but it would also generate badly needed employment for at least two years.
The severe housing shortage in St Helens had created a problem for homes that were tied to a certain job.
If someone with such a house left their employment, they were expected to give up their home. But often they could not find another property and so would stay put.
That was much to the annoyance of their former boss, who would usually have someone else lined up to take their job and who needed the house to live in.
As a result over the last few years there had been many court cases in which the employer had demanded possession of the tied home.
Usually the judge at St Helens County Court in East Street would grant possession, but give the former employee extra time to find another place.
However, that was not what occurred in the court on the 7th when the wealthy Robert Daglish brought a case against Thomas Price.
Daglish ran the extensive St Helens Foundry and lived at Forrest House in Knowsley. Price had been his gardener and lived in a tied cottage but had left Daglish's employment in 1918.
The judge at first said it was reasonable that Daglish be given possession of the house, until it was pointed out to him that the new man due to become his gardener would only work part-time.
The judge then ruled that the law required whole time employment in such cases and as Price was paying his rent, he was entitled to remain where he was.
On the 9th Irwins food store in Bridge Street had another large advert in the Reporter. These were some of their prices:
Best butter: 1/10 per pound.
Blueband margarine: 1 shilling per pound.
Brawn: 8d per pound.
Baked ham cooked: 2 shillings per pound.
Bacon rashers: 1 shilling per pound.
"Jams To Suit Every Taste & Every Pocket", was their proud boast and they certainly stocked a lot – I counted eleven flavours.
The Unemployment Grants Committee had been established in 1920 to assist local authorities implement certain public works schemes using men that were out of work.
The Reporter was able to announce that the Committee had approved the scheme for the relief of flooding in Sutton and would be making a grant.
The 6-month-long scheme would begin on the 15th and involve the diversion of the Sutton Brook and the installation of a cable to supply electric pumps in Watery Lane (pictured above).
The inquest into the death of joiner John Singleton from Hardshaw Street was held at St Helens on the 9th.
It was another example of poor safety conditions in works, which had allowed the 62-year old to fall off an insecure ladder at the United Alkali Company's plant in Widnes while not wearing a safety helmet.
As a result, Mr Singleton had fractured his skull in two places. The man had worked for the firm for 30 years – mainly in St Helens – and complacency, as was often the case, had clearly set in.
Another joiner called Harry Saxon told the inquest that Singleton had fallen after attempting to move the ladder to one side by jerking it whilst standing on top.
This year's St Helens Licensing Sessions were held on the 12th and the magistrates heard from the Chief Constable that prosecutions for drunkenness in 1921 numbered 81, down from 136 on 1920.
That was considered to reflect well on pub landlords in the town and the magistrates congratulated them.
Any changes to public houses had to be approved by the licensing justices and they said – without giving any reason – that wireless sets could not be placed in public rooms.
But they said they had no objection to licensees having wirelesses within their own private accommodation.
And finally it was panto time at the Hippodrome with 'Dick Turpin's Ride To York' presented in six scenes over six nights.
Meanwhile the Theatre Royal had what they called "the greatest success of the age" in a play called 'Romance'. Their phone number then was just 114.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's many stories will include the 5-shilling price of being a boy in St Helens, the wireless set problem at Windlehust, the beggar that called at a policeman's house and the woman who bashed her husband over the head with a mirror.
Although the Labour Party had yet to take control of St Helens Town Council, its increasing number of councillors was making them a more influential body.
In November 1922 the Labour members had got a resolution passed that Town Hall officials earning over a certain salary had to agree to a pay cut – or be fired.
Cllr. Thomas Boscow had moved the resolution on the ground that nearly everybody else in St Helens had suffered a reduction in their wages and so should the bosses at the Town Hall.
However, that was not quite true. Although there was a high unemployment rate in St Helens and many workers were on reduced hours, others were earning good money and could afford luxuries like motorcycles and even wireless sets.
And those asked to take salary cuts did not see why they should be paid less than equivalent officials in other towns.
Any savings to ratepayers would be minimal and so it appeared to be a symbolic political gesture rather than a meaningful action.
The Town Hall staff's union – the National Association of Local Government Officers – had at the start of this week spent several hours in discussions with councillors.
But the meeting ended in deadlock and on the following day when the full Town Council met, another resolution was passed that the salary reduction notices that threatened officials with the sack be withdrawn.
That was on the understanding that those officials would agree to enter into negotiations with a view to their salaries being revised.
Thomas Boscow heartily opposed the resolution claiming that 90% of St Helens people supported the pay cuts – but was forced to accept defeat.
On the 6th Frederick Lloyd appeared in St Helens Police Court after committing another of those brainless lodger crimes.
The young labourer had taken lodgings in Marshalls Cross Road and had stolen a silver watch from a drawer in a shared bedroom.
It didn't seem to occur to Lloyd that in committing the crime he would be the prime suspect and he was fined 20 shillings.
It was usual for government inspectors to hold such inquiries when town councils wished to borrow money in order to ensure they were not being profligate.
But St Helens Corporation's desire to borrow £2,300 to build the filtration system would save the ratepayers money in the long term.
The Borough Engineer explained to the inspector that at present the baths used 8½ million gallons of water per year. That would be reduced to a million gallons once the filtration plant had been erected.
And as well as being a saving in water, the investment would also save about two tons of coal per week.
It was explained that a water shortage had meant that St Helens had been forced to apply to Liverpool Corporation for an additional supply of H20 and every saving that could be made would benefit the town.
There was no opposition to the scheme and the inspector said he would report his decision on the loan in due course.
Last August the St Helens Reporter had commented on proposals to build what would become known as the East Lancashire Road. The paper wrote:
"The proposed new main road between Liverpool and Manchester is of great interest to St. Helens. If carried out it will very much relieve the heavy motor haulage traffic which now passes through the town.
"The proposed new road would pass to the north of the borough, for the most part through the rural area and, as mapped out, would only come inside the borough boundary to a very short distance on the Blackbrook side."
On the 7th St Helens Town Council discussed their proposed financial contribution to the building of what was then referred to as the Liverpool to Manchester main road.
It was agreed to pay a sum equal to the proceeds of a penny rate over a 30-year period.
Ald. Forster told his colleagues that although such a commitment might appear a large financial undertaking, he had been informed that it would be a wise investment for St Helens to make.
Not only would the new highway relieve much heavy traffic but it would also generate badly needed employment for at least two years.
The severe housing shortage in St Helens had created a problem for homes that were tied to a certain job.
If someone with such a house left their employment, they were expected to give up their home. But often they could not find another property and so would stay put.
That was much to the annoyance of their former boss, who would usually have someone else lined up to take their job and who needed the house to live in.
As a result over the last few years there had been many court cases in which the employer had demanded possession of the tied home.
Usually the judge at St Helens County Court in East Street would grant possession, but give the former employee extra time to find another place.
However, that was not what occurred in the court on the 7th when the wealthy Robert Daglish brought a case against Thomas Price.
Daglish ran the extensive St Helens Foundry and lived at Forrest House in Knowsley. Price had been his gardener and lived in a tied cottage but had left Daglish's employment in 1918.
The judge at first said it was reasonable that Daglish be given possession of the house, until it was pointed out to him that the new man due to become his gardener would only work part-time.
The judge then ruled that the law required whole time employment in such cases and as Price was paying his rent, he was entitled to remain where he was.
On the 9th Irwins food store in Bridge Street had another large advert in the Reporter. These were some of their prices:
Best butter: 1/10 per pound.
Blueband margarine: 1 shilling per pound.
Brawn: 8d per pound.
Baked ham cooked: 2 shillings per pound.
Bacon rashers: 1 shilling per pound.
"Jams To Suit Every Taste & Every Pocket", was their proud boast and they certainly stocked a lot – I counted eleven flavours.
The Reporter was able to announce that the Committee had approved the scheme for the relief of flooding in Sutton and would be making a grant.
The 6-month-long scheme would begin on the 15th and involve the diversion of the Sutton Brook and the installation of a cable to supply electric pumps in Watery Lane (pictured above).
The inquest into the death of joiner John Singleton from Hardshaw Street was held at St Helens on the 9th.
It was another example of poor safety conditions in works, which had allowed the 62-year old to fall off an insecure ladder at the United Alkali Company's plant in Widnes while not wearing a safety helmet.
As a result, Mr Singleton had fractured his skull in two places. The man had worked for the firm for 30 years – mainly in St Helens – and complacency, as was often the case, had clearly set in.
Another joiner called Harry Saxon told the inquest that Singleton had fallen after attempting to move the ladder to one side by jerking it whilst standing on top.
This year's St Helens Licensing Sessions were held on the 12th and the magistrates heard from the Chief Constable that prosecutions for drunkenness in 1921 numbered 81, down from 136 on 1920.
That was considered to reflect well on pub landlords in the town and the magistrates congratulated them.
Any changes to public houses had to be approved by the licensing justices and they said – without giving any reason – that wireless sets could not be placed in public rooms.
But they said they had no objection to licensees having wirelesses within their own private accommodation.
And finally it was panto time at the Hippodrome with 'Dick Turpin's Ride To York' presented in six scenes over six nights.
Meanwhile the Theatre Royal had what they called "the greatest success of the age" in a play called 'Romance'. Their phone number then was just 114.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's many stories will include the 5-shilling price of being a boy in St Helens, the wireless set problem at Windlehust, the beggar that called at a policeman's house and the woman who bashed her husband over the head with a mirror.