IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (7th - 13th FEBRUARY 1922)
This week's many stories include a midnight raid in Clock Face, how St Helens planned to mark the wedding of the tomboy princess, the stifling smell of beer in the town's pubs, a brainless break-in at the Parr British Legion and why the new landlord of the Ram's Head Hotel in Haydock would have plenty of tales to tell.
We begin on the 7th when a licensing hearing for pubs, clubs and places of entertainment took place in St Helens Town Hall. Why there needed to be sixteen magistrates on duty for what was only a 30-minute session, I cannot say – but that number was the norm. In presenting his annual report, the St Helens Chief Constable said there were presently 195 premises in the borough that were licensed for the sale of alcohol, as well as 29 clubs.
There had only been 92 arrests for drunken behaviour during 1921, which Arthur Ellerington thought was partly through the economic situation in the country: "The colliers' strike and the general state of unemployment have no doubt contributed largely to the decrease in drunkenness and the comparative temperate habits and good conduct of the people."
Some of the magistrates had recently made a number of out-of-hours spot checks on St Helens pubs. These had revealed a "stifling smell of beer and foul air", indicating the rooms had not been ventilated since the previous evening. The Chairman of the magistrates, Ald. Martin, encouraged the licencees to open their windows, saying: "Fresh air was now considered to be the great remedy for most diseases".
As an added attraction to their music hall turns, the Hippodrome theatre was currently featuring screenings of Brown's Royal Bioscope, which they advertised as "showing news in animation". But the St Helens Branch of the Cinemas Exhibitors Association objected to the competition and had hired a solicitor. He told the licensing hearing that the Hippodrome should be one or the other – a cinema or a music hall. As a theatre they were allowed to have a drinks licence, which the picture houses of the town did not possess.
The solicitor said his clients had apprehensions as to the manner in which the Hippodrome would be conducted in future and "the class of entertainment which would be given to the public". A further licensing hearing was scheduled for March 9th and the cinemas’ lawyer was told to present his specific objections at that time.
The Hippodrome was back in panto mode this week. The Corporation Street theatre had twice in January abandoned its usual music hall entertainment for performances of 'Cinderella' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. And this week it was 'Babes In The Wood'. That was then a popular panto – and during the same week in 1919, both the Hippodrome and Theatre Royal in St Helens had staged different versions.
The authorities main concern in the past over an unlicensed gun had largely been the loss of revenue – rather than it being a security concern. However, the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the civil war in Ireland had made the police in St Helens more nervous about people illegally possessing firearms. On the 7th, David and Thomas Leyland from Clock Face Road appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with being in possession of a revolver and six rounds of ammunition without a firearms certificate.
At the hearing the court was told that the police had made a midnight raid on the brothers' home. When Inspector Bowden and Sergeant Gleave informed David Leyland that they were in possession of a search warrant authorising them to look for a gun, the man replied: "I have never had any firearm and you can search but you will find nothing." The officers then spent three hours taking the house apart without finding any weapon.
The policemen then told the Leylands that they were going to search the premises of their relatives' homes. At that point the brothers gave up their pretences, with David Leyland saying: "Let me change my trousers and we will take you where it is." He took the police to Graces Square, off New Street, where another brother lived – and the revolver was found. The gun had been one of many war souvenirs brought home from Mesopotamia. Earlier that evening David Leyland had taken the revolver out of his house to show someone, which was how the police came to hear of it. The Chairman of the Bench said it was a very serious case – although the two men were only fined £7 between them.
On the 8th a meeting was held to decide how St Helens could mark the forthcoming marriage of Princess Mary – sometimes called the tomboy princess. The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary (and aunt of our Queen Elizabeth) was set to wed in Westminster Abbey on the 28th (wedding photo above). The meeting was presided over by the Mayor of St Helens and it was decided to raise £1,500 to pay for memorial cots in the town's two hospitals.
It is quite extraordinary how workers or widows entitled to compensation for industrial accidents were treated in the 1920s. Most received a small weekly allowance from their employer until deemed fit to return to work. For more serious injuries, or after a death, the employer would often offer a set amount. If the employee or widow accepted this offer, the county court was asked to ratify it. That's where the trouble began, as compensation was not given as a lump sum – but usually doled out bit by bit upon application to the court or made in the form of small weekly payments.
Those awarded cash in St Helens had to go cap in hand to the county court in East Street for the right to spend it – and refusal was commonplace. In April 1926 a miner's widow requested £8 of her own compensation money for a break at the seaside. Judge Challenor Dowdall rejected her request, declaring: "The idea of workmen’s compensation is not to provide a holiday at Blackpool".
This week on the 8th at the St Helens court, Judge Dowdall refused a man's request to invest his compensation award in War Savings Certificates. In an accident at the Prescot Wireworks, John McClure from Ward Street in Prescot had his left leg cut off above the knee and had also lost his right foot. British Insulated and Heslby Cables Co. had agreed to pay him £667 in damages but Judge Dowdall in ratifying the award ruled that the man could only have £10 down and £4 a month.
If Mr McClure wanted any more money for a specific purpose, he would have to return to court to apply for it – but be prepared for a rejection. This somewhat callous attitude by the judges was based around instilling financial prudence in working class folk concerned they would otherwise blow their awards. But it was also an incredibly patronising assumption.
It was revealed at the council's Health Committee meeting on the 8th, that fourteen applications had been received for the newly created position of "lady assistant" medical officer of health. These had been whittled down to three and a sub-committee was selected to interview the shortlisted women and make the appointment.
On the 9th the Newton magistrates granted the transfer of the licence of the Ram's Head Hotel in Haydock to the recently retired police Inspector George Shaw (pictured above on horseback). I expect the 52-year-old had some good tales to tell his customers! Shaw had served in a cavalry regiment in the Boer War and had been in charge of St Helens Police's mounted section since its formation. In 1918 he was promoted to Inspector after 23 years in the force, including a period in charge of the fire brigade, which was then run by the police.
Uncle Ben in this week's Children's Reporter on the 10th was still moaning about the weather, writing: "My Dear Nephews and Nieces, What changes in the weather we have had this year, so far! Whilst I am writing, the rain is coming down in torrents, and the air is warm; a very great change from what we had a few days ago, when there was a biting north-east wind, and we were walking on ice. I think sharp weather is quite the best at this time of the year, as we can often keep ourselves warm by exercise."
However, a group of young men had too much exercise during the evening of the 11th when they raided the British Legion Club in Parr Street. They got away with what the Reporter called "beer, rum and “fags”" and as a result Thomas Coffey from Parr Street appeared in court on the 13th charged with the break-in. Coffey denied any involvement but his cap had been left inside the club. He was also found to be in possession of packets of Woodbines, although he'd told Ch. Insp. Roe that he didn't smoke.
Coffey does not sound very bright and certainly breaking into premises on your own doorstep was unwise but often happened. Thomas Durkin from South Johnson Street was also charged on the following day and both were remanded in custody as their cases were adjourned for further inquiries.
Next week's stories will include the Sutton child killed after falling into a pan of boiling water, the St Helens shopkeepers who placed temptation in the way of the poor and the Haresfinch Road and Prescot Road house names that were driving postmen mad!
We begin on the 7th when a licensing hearing for pubs, clubs and places of entertainment took place in St Helens Town Hall. Why there needed to be sixteen magistrates on duty for what was only a 30-minute session, I cannot say – but that number was the norm. In presenting his annual report, the St Helens Chief Constable said there were presently 195 premises in the borough that were licensed for the sale of alcohol, as well as 29 clubs.
There had only been 92 arrests for drunken behaviour during 1921, which Arthur Ellerington thought was partly through the economic situation in the country: "The colliers' strike and the general state of unemployment have no doubt contributed largely to the decrease in drunkenness and the comparative temperate habits and good conduct of the people."
Some of the magistrates had recently made a number of out-of-hours spot checks on St Helens pubs. These had revealed a "stifling smell of beer and foul air", indicating the rooms had not been ventilated since the previous evening. The Chairman of the magistrates, Ald. Martin, encouraged the licencees to open their windows, saying: "Fresh air was now considered to be the great remedy for most diseases".
As an added attraction to their music hall turns, the Hippodrome theatre was currently featuring screenings of Brown's Royal Bioscope, which they advertised as "showing news in animation". But the St Helens Branch of the Cinemas Exhibitors Association objected to the competition and had hired a solicitor. He told the licensing hearing that the Hippodrome should be one or the other – a cinema or a music hall. As a theatre they were allowed to have a drinks licence, which the picture houses of the town did not possess.
The solicitor said his clients had apprehensions as to the manner in which the Hippodrome would be conducted in future and "the class of entertainment which would be given to the public". A further licensing hearing was scheduled for March 9th and the cinemas’ lawyer was told to present his specific objections at that time.
The Hippodrome was back in panto mode this week. The Corporation Street theatre had twice in January abandoned its usual music hall entertainment for performances of 'Cinderella' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. And this week it was 'Babes In The Wood'. That was then a popular panto – and during the same week in 1919, both the Hippodrome and Theatre Royal in St Helens had staged different versions.
The authorities main concern in the past over an unlicensed gun had largely been the loss of revenue – rather than it being a security concern. However, the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the civil war in Ireland had made the police in St Helens more nervous about people illegally possessing firearms. On the 7th, David and Thomas Leyland from Clock Face Road appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with being in possession of a revolver and six rounds of ammunition without a firearms certificate.
At the hearing the court was told that the police had made a midnight raid on the brothers' home. When Inspector Bowden and Sergeant Gleave informed David Leyland that they were in possession of a search warrant authorising them to look for a gun, the man replied: "I have never had any firearm and you can search but you will find nothing." The officers then spent three hours taking the house apart without finding any weapon.
The policemen then told the Leylands that they were going to search the premises of their relatives' homes. At that point the brothers gave up their pretences, with David Leyland saying: "Let me change my trousers and we will take you where it is." He took the police to Graces Square, off New Street, where another brother lived – and the revolver was found. The gun had been one of many war souvenirs brought home from Mesopotamia. Earlier that evening David Leyland had taken the revolver out of his house to show someone, which was how the police came to hear of it. The Chairman of the Bench said it was a very serious case – although the two men were only fined £7 between them.
It is quite extraordinary how workers or widows entitled to compensation for industrial accidents were treated in the 1920s. Most received a small weekly allowance from their employer until deemed fit to return to work. For more serious injuries, or after a death, the employer would often offer a set amount. If the employee or widow accepted this offer, the county court was asked to ratify it. That's where the trouble began, as compensation was not given as a lump sum – but usually doled out bit by bit upon application to the court or made in the form of small weekly payments.
Those awarded cash in St Helens had to go cap in hand to the county court in East Street for the right to spend it – and refusal was commonplace. In April 1926 a miner's widow requested £8 of her own compensation money for a break at the seaside. Judge Challenor Dowdall rejected her request, declaring: "The idea of workmen’s compensation is not to provide a holiday at Blackpool".
This week on the 8th at the St Helens court, Judge Dowdall refused a man's request to invest his compensation award in War Savings Certificates. In an accident at the Prescot Wireworks, John McClure from Ward Street in Prescot had his left leg cut off above the knee and had also lost his right foot. British Insulated and Heslby Cables Co. had agreed to pay him £667 in damages but Judge Dowdall in ratifying the award ruled that the man could only have £10 down and £4 a month.
If Mr McClure wanted any more money for a specific purpose, he would have to return to court to apply for it – but be prepared for a rejection. This somewhat callous attitude by the judges was based around instilling financial prudence in working class folk concerned they would otherwise blow their awards. But it was also an incredibly patronising assumption.
It was revealed at the council's Health Committee meeting on the 8th, that fourteen applications had been received for the newly created position of "lady assistant" medical officer of health. These had been whittled down to three and a sub-committee was selected to interview the shortlisted women and make the appointment.
Uncle Ben in this week's Children's Reporter on the 10th was still moaning about the weather, writing: "My Dear Nephews and Nieces, What changes in the weather we have had this year, so far! Whilst I am writing, the rain is coming down in torrents, and the air is warm; a very great change from what we had a few days ago, when there was a biting north-east wind, and we were walking on ice. I think sharp weather is quite the best at this time of the year, as we can often keep ourselves warm by exercise."
However, a group of young men had too much exercise during the evening of the 11th when they raided the British Legion Club in Parr Street. They got away with what the Reporter called "beer, rum and “fags”" and as a result Thomas Coffey from Parr Street appeared in court on the 13th charged with the break-in. Coffey denied any involvement but his cap had been left inside the club. He was also found to be in possession of packets of Woodbines, although he'd told Ch. Insp. Roe that he didn't smoke.
Coffey does not sound very bright and certainly breaking into premises on your own doorstep was unwise but often happened. Thomas Durkin from South Johnson Street was also charged on the following day and both were remanded in custody as their cases were adjourned for further inquiries.
Next week's stories will include the Sutton child killed after falling into a pan of boiling water, the St Helens shopkeepers who placed temptation in the way of the poor and the Haresfinch Road and Prescot Road house names that were driving postmen mad!
This week's many stories include a midnight raid in Clock Face, how St Helens planned to mark the wedding of the tomboy princess, the stifling smell of beer in the town's pubs, a brainless break-in at the Parr British Legion and why the new landlord of the Ram's Head Hotel in Haydock would have plenty of tales to tell.
We begin on the 7th when a licensing hearing for pubs, clubs and places of entertainment took place in St Helens Town Hall.
Why there needed to be sixteen magistrates on duty for what was only a 30-minute session, I cannot say – but that number was the norm.
In presenting his annual report, the St Helens Chief Constable said there were presently 195 premises in the borough that were licensed for the sale of alcohol, as well as 29 clubs.
There had only been 92 arrests for drunken behaviour during 1921, which Arthur Ellerington thought was partly through the economic situation in the country:
"The colliers' strike and the general state of unemployment have no doubt contributed largely to the decrease in drunkenness and the comparative temperate habits and good conduct of the people."
Some of the magistrates had recently made a number of out-of-hours spot checks on St Helens pubs. These had revealed a "stifling smell of beer and foul air", indicating the rooms had not been ventilated since the previous evening.
The Chairman of the magistrates, Ald. Martin, encouraged the licencees to open their windows, saying: "Fresh air was now considered to be the great remedy for most diseases".
As an added attraction to their music hall turns, the Hippodrome theatre was currently featuring screenings of Brown's Royal Bioscope, which they advertised as "showing news in animation".
But the St Helens Branch of the Cinemas Exhibitors Association objected to the competition and had hired a solicitor.
He told the licensing hearing that the Hippodrome should be one or the other – a cinema or a music hall. As a theatre they were allowed to have a drinks licence, which the picture houses of the town did not possess.
The solicitor said his clients had apprehensions as to the manner in which the Hippodrome would be conducted in future and "the class of entertainment which would be given to the public".
A further licensing hearing was scheduled for March 9th and the cinemas’ lawyer was told to present his specific objections at that time.
The Hippodrome was back in panto mode this week. The Corporation Street theatre had twice in January abandoned its usual music hall entertainment for performances of 'Cinderella' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.
And this week it was 'Babes In The Wood'. That was then a popular panto – and during the same week in 1919, both the Hippodrome and Theatre Royal in St Helens had staged different versions.
The authorities main concern in the past over an unlicensed gun had largely been the loss of revenue – rather than it being a security concern.
However, the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the civil war in Ireland had made the police in St Helens more nervous about people illegally possessing firearms.
On the 7th, David and Thomas Leyland from Clock Face Road appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with being in possession of a revolver and six rounds of ammunition without a firearms certificate.
At the hearing the court was told that the police had made a midnight raid on the brothers' home.
When Inspector Bowden and Sergeant Gleave informed David Leyland that they were in possession of a search warrant authorising them to look for a gun, the man replied:
"I have never had any firearm and you can search but you will find nothing." The officers then spent three hours taking the house apart without finding any weapon.
The policemen then told the Leylands that they were going to search the premises of their relatives' homes.
At that point the brothers gave up their pretences, with David Leyland saying: "Let me change my trousers and we will take you where it is."
He took the police to Graces Square, off New Street, where another brother lived – and the revolver was found.
The gun had been one of many war souvenirs brought home from Mesopotamia.
Earlier that evening David Leyland had taken the revolver out of his house to show someone, which was how the police came to hear of it.
The Chairman of the Bench said it was a very serious case – although the two men were only fined £7 between them.
On the 8th a meeting was held to decide how St Helens could mark the forthcoming marriage of Princess Mary – sometimes called the tomboy princess.
The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary (and aunt of our Queen Elizabeth) was set to wed in Westminster Abbey on the 28th (wedding photo above).
The meeting was presided over by the Mayor of St Helens and it was decided to raise £1,500 to pay for memorial cots in the town's two hospitals.
It is quite extraordinary how workers or widows entitled to compensation for industrial accidents were treated in the 1920s.
Most received a small weekly allowance from their employer until deemed fit to return to work. For more serious injuries, or after a death, the employer would often offer a set amount.
If the employee or widow accepted this offer, the county court was asked to ratify it.
That's where the trouble began, as compensation was not given as a lump sum – but usually doled out bit by bit upon application to the court or made in the form of small weekly payments.
Those awarded cash in St Helens had to go cap in hand to the county court in East Street for the right to spend it – and refusal was commonplace.
In April 1926 a miner's widow requested £8 of her own compensation money for a break at the seaside. Judge Challenor Dowdall rejected her request, declaring:
"The idea of workmen’s compensation is not to provide a holiday at Blackpool".
This week on the 8th at the St Helens court, Judge Dowdall refused a man's request to invest his compensation award in War Savings Certificates.
In an accident at the Prescot Wireworks, John McClure from Ward Street in Prescot had his left leg cut off above the knee and had also lost his right foot.
British Insulated and Heslby Cables Co. had agreed to pay him £667 in damages but Judge Dowdall in ratifying the award ruled that the man could only have £10 down and £4 a month.
If Mr McClure wanted any more money for a specific purpose, he would have to return to court to apply for it – but be prepared for a rejection.
This somewhat callous attitude by the judges was based around instilling financial prudence in working class folk concerned they would otherwise blow their awards. But it was also an incredibly patronising assumption.
It was revealed at the council's Health Committee meeting on the 8th, that fourteen applications had been received for the newly created position of "lady assistant" medical officer of health.
These had been whittled down to three and a sub-committee was selected to interview the shortlisted women and make the appointment.
On the 9th the Newton magistrates granted the transfer of the licence of the Ram's Head Hotel in Haydock to the recently retired police Inspector George Shaw (pictured above on horseback).
I expect the 52-year-old had some good tales to tell his customers!
Shaw had served in a cavalry regiment in the Boer War and had been in charge of St Helens Police's mounted section since its formation.
In 1918 he was promoted to Inspector after 23 years in the force, including a period in charge of the fire brigade, which was then run by the police.
Uncle Ben in this week's Children's Reporter on the 10th was still moaning about the weather, writing:
"My Dear Nephews and Nieces, What changes in the weather we have had this year, so far!
"Whilst I am writing, the rain is coming down in torrents, and the air is warm; a very great change from what we had a few days ago, when there was a biting north-east wind, and we were walking on ice.
"I think sharp weather is quite the best at this time of the year, as we can often keep ourselves warm by exercise."
However, a group of young men had too much exercise during the evening of the 11th when they raided the British Legion Club in Parr Street.
They got away with what the Reporter called "beer, rum and “fags”" and as a result Thomas Coffey from Parr Street appeared in court on the 13th charged with the break-in.
Coffey denied any involvement but his cap had been left inside the club. He was also found to be in possession of packets of Woodbines, although he'd told Ch. Insp. Roe that he didn't smoke.
Coffey does not sound very bright and certainly breaking into premises on your own doorstep was unwise but often happened.
Thomas Durkin from South Johnson Street was also charged on the following day and both were remanded in custody as their cases were adjourned for further inquiries.
Next week's stories will include the Sutton child killed after falling into a pan of boiling water, the St Helens shopkeepers who placed temptation in the way of the poor and the Haresfinch Road and Prescot Road house names that were driving postmen mad!
We begin on the 7th when a licensing hearing for pubs, clubs and places of entertainment took place in St Helens Town Hall.
Why there needed to be sixteen magistrates on duty for what was only a 30-minute session, I cannot say – but that number was the norm.
In presenting his annual report, the St Helens Chief Constable said there were presently 195 premises in the borough that were licensed for the sale of alcohol, as well as 29 clubs.
There had only been 92 arrests for drunken behaviour during 1921, which Arthur Ellerington thought was partly through the economic situation in the country:
"The colliers' strike and the general state of unemployment have no doubt contributed largely to the decrease in drunkenness and the comparative temperate habits and good conduct of the people."
Some of the magistrates had recently made a number of out-of-hours spot checks on St Helens pubs. These had revealed a "stifling smell of beer and foul air", indicating the rooms had not been ventilated since the previous evening.
The Chairman of the magistrates, Ald. Martin, encouraged the licencees to open their windows, saying: "Fresh air was now considered to be the great remedy for most diseases".
As an added attraction to their music hall turns, the Hippodrome theatre was currently featuring screenings of Brown's Royal Bioscope, which they advertised as "showing news in animation".
But the St Helens Branch of the Cinemas Exhibitors Association objected to the competition and had hired a solicitor.
He told the licensing hearing that the Hippodrome should be one or the other – a cinema or a music hall. As a theatre they were allowed to have a drinks licence, which the picture houses of the town did not possess.
The solicitor said his clients had apprehensions as to the manner in which the Hippodrome would be conducted in future and "the class of entertainment which would be given to the public".
A further licensing hearing was scheduled for March 9th and the cinemas’ lawyer was told to present his specific objections at that time.
The Hippodrome was back in panto mode this week. The Corporation Street theatre had twice in January abandoned its usual music hall entertainment for performances of 'Cinderella' and 'Jack and the Beanstalk'.
And this week it was 'Babes In The Wood'. That was then a popular panto – and during the same week in 1919, both the Hippodrome and Theatre Royal in St Helens had staged different versions.
The authorities main concern in the past over an unlicensed gun had largely been the loss of revenue – rather than it being a security concern.
However, the Bolshevik revolution in Russia and the civil war in Ireland had made the police in St Helens more nervous about people illegally possessing firearms.
On the 7th, David and Thomas Leyland from Clock Face Road appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with being in possession of a revolver and six rounds of ammunition without a firearms certificate.
At the hearing the court was told that the police had made a midnight raid on the brothers' home.
When Inspector Bowden and Sergeant Gleave informed David Leyland that they were in possession of a search warrant authorising them to look for a gun, the man replied:
"I have never had any firearm and you can search but you will find nothing." The officers then spent three hours taking the house apart without finding any weapon.
The policemen then told the Leylands that they were going to search the premises of their relatives' homes.
At that point the brothers gave up their pretences, with David Leyland saying: "Let me change my trousers and we will take you where it is."
He took the police to Graces Square, off New Street, where another brother lived – and the revolver was found.
The gun had been one of many war souvenirs brought home from Mesopotamia.
Earlier that evening David Leyland had taken the revolver out of his house to show someone, which was how the police came to hear of it.
The Chairman of the Bench said it was a very serious case – although the two men were only fined £7 between them.
The only daughter of King George V and Queen Mary (and aunt of our Queen Elizabeth) was set to wed in Westminster Abbey on the 28th (wedding photo above).
The meeting was presided over by the Mayor of St Helens and it was decided to raise £1,500 to pay for memorial cots in the town's two hospitals.
It is quite extraordinary how workers or widows entitled to compensation for industrial accidents were treated in the 1920s.
Most received a small weekly allowance from their employer until deemed fit to return to work. For more serious injuries, or after a death, the employer would often offer a set amount.
If the employee or widow accepted this offer, the county court was asked to ratify it.
That's where the trouble began, as compensation was not given as a lump sum – but usually doled out bit by bit upon application to the court or made in the form of small weekly payments.
Those awarded cash in St Helens had to go cap in hand to the county court in East Street for the right to spend it – and refusal was commonplace.
In April 1926 a miner's widow requested £8 of her own compensation money for a break at the seaside. Judge Challenor Dowdall rejected her request, declaring:
"The idea of workmen’s compensation is not to provide a holiday at Blackpool".
This week on the 8th at the St Helens court, Judge Dowdall refused a man's request to invest his compensation award in War Savings Certificates.
In an accident at the Prescot Wireworks, John McClure from Ward Street in Prescot had his left leg cut off above the knee and had also lost his right foot.
British Insulated and Heslby Cables Co. had agreed to pay him £667 in damages but Judge Dowdall in ratifying the award ruled that the man could only have £10 down and £4 a month.
If Mr McClure wanted any more money for a specific purpose, he would have to return to court to apply for it – but be prepared for a rejection.
This somewhat callous attitude by the judges was based around instilling financial prudence in working class folk concerned they would otherwise blow their awards. But it was also an incredibly patronising assumption.
It was revealed at the council's Health Committee meeting on the 8th, that fourteen applications had been received for the newly created position of "lady assistant" medical officer of health.
These had been whittled down to three and a sub-committee was selected to interview the shortlisted women and make the appointment.
I expect the 52-year-old had some good tales to tell his customers!
Shaw had served in a cavalry regiment in the Boer War and had been in charge of St Helens Police's mounted section since its formation.
In 1918 he was promoted to Inspector after 23 years in the force, including a period in charge of the fire brigade, which was then run by the police.
Uncle Ben in this week's Children's Reporter on the 10th was still moaning about the weather, writing:
"My Dear Nephews and Nieces, What changes in the weather we have had this year, so far!
"Whilst I am writing, the rain is coming down in torrents, and the air is warm; a very great change from what we had a few days ago, when there was a biting north-east wind, and we were walking on ice.
"I think sharp weather is quite the best at this time of the year, as we can often keep ourselves warm by exercise."
However, a group of young men had too much exercise during the evening of the 11th when they raided the British Legion Club in Parr Street.
They got away with what the Reporter called "beer, rum and “fags”" and as a result Thomas Coffey from Parr Street appeared in court on the 13th charged with the break-in.
Coffey denied any involvement but his cap had been left inside the club. He was also found to be in possession of packets of Woodbines, although he'd told Ch. Insp. Roe that he didn't smoke.
Coffey does not sound very bright and certainly breaking into premises on your own doorstep was unwise but often happened.
Thomas Durkin from South Johnson Street was also charged on the following day and both were remanded in custody as their cases were adjourned for further inquiries.
Next week's stories will include the Sutton child killed after falling into a pan of boiling water, the St Helens shopkeepers who placed temptation in the way of the poor and the Haresfinch Road and Prescot Road house names that were driving postmen mad!