IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (15th - 21st FEBRUARY 1921)
This week's stories include the tram driver blinded by a miner at Haydock, an heroic attempt at rescue during a tragic Bold Colliery accident and the St Helens MP tells the Commons about his youthful days as a tramp.
In January I reported that the St Helens Corporation-owned tram company was having problems recruiting staff to work on their Haydock section because of the number of assaults. That had been said during a court appearance after a man from Clipsley Lane stuck a conductor's head through a plate glass window. On the 16th the Liverpool Echo described another court case in which an attack on a tram driver called Samuel Wallace by John Anderton had resulted in the loss of an eye.
Under the headlines: "Struggle On A Tramcar – Collier Behaves Like A Madman – Passenger's Attack On Driver," the Echo wrote: "Mr. Townson [prosecution solicitor] said that on Wednesday night, January 26, a Corporation tramcar was proceeding to Ashton, and had reached the Waggon and Horses, when it stopped to pick up passengers. After the passengers had boarded the tram it proceeded on its journey, when the driver Wallace noticed the defendant standing in the track, about forty yards in front of the car.
"The tram was again stopped, and prisoner attempted to board at the driver's end. He was prevented from doing so, and became very abusive, and eventually entered the car at the rear. The tram resumed its journey, and had gone a short distance when the driver's attention was drawn by a loud kicking at the door inside the car. Prisoner was seen to be acting like a madman and trying to get out of the car on to the driver's platform. Being unable to do so he aimed a blow at the driver's face, and his fist went through the glass window and caught the driver in the eye.
"Wallace was momentarily blinded, and prisoner then tried to get out of the car at the other end. A struggle followed, and the driver was thrown off the platform on to the ground and sprained his leg. The injuries to him were so severe that he attended the Liverpool Eye Hospital, where he remained for 15 days. Every effort was made at the hospital to save his sight, but eventually it was found necessary, in order to save his other eye, to take the injured eye out.
"The driver, Wallace, had suffered a financial loss, because during the time he was away he was only in receipt of 25s per week as compensation. For the defence Mr. A. Brown admitted the facts as related by Mr. Townson, and said Anderton was under the influence of drink at the time, and in that condition he thought he was striking at the face of the driver, but unfortunately struck at the glass. He expressed his regret for what had occurred, and threw himself on the mercy of the court." Little mercy was rightly shown and John Anderton of Millfield Lane in Haydock was sent to prison for two months.
The Stage wrote on the 17th that at the St Helens Theatre Royal, "the lovers of Shakespearean plays are well catered for this week." There had been full houses on Monday for performances of 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Hamlet'. During the week the 'Taming of the Shrew', 'Julius Caesar', 'Twelfth Night', 'David Garrick' and 'Antony and Cleopatra' were also being staged.
Meanwhile further down Corporation Street at the Hippodrome, there were twice-nightly performances by St. Juste and Higgins ("The King's jesters, performing talking songs, whistling & pianoforte solos"); Lune and Shaw ("Character comedy act"); Gaston Palmer ("The clever juggling comedian"); Constance Izard and Fred Allen ("The brilliant violiniste and fine baritone") and Lily Denville ("Dainty wooden shoe dancer").
It was a bad week for mining accidents. At the start of the week John Cartwright of Waine Street in St Helens had been killed at Ashtons Green Colliery in Parr. That was situated between Fleet Lane and Derbyshire Hill Road and closed in 1931 with 1,100 men on their books. The 21-year-old worked with the rope haulage system that transported full and empty coal tubs underground and a runaway tub had struck him down and killed him on the spot.
On the 18th an inquest into a double tragedy at Bold Colliery (pictured above) was held at the Clock Face Hotel. A number of men had been working at midnight inside a new tunnel when a section of the pit roof collapsed. John Prescott was struck by a large stone and was covered in debris, with only his head visible. At that point the 44-year-old from Westfield Street was still conscious and shouted, "Get me out", to James Barnes, who immediately went to his rescue. However once the underground pit roof had been weakened by a fall of stone and dirt, it was common for further falls to occur.
While Barnes and fireman Henry Worthington were attempting to free John Prescott, a second drop took place and Worthington was badly crushed by falling stones. Barnes was also knocked down but eventually managed to get clear of the debris and went for help. But before assistance could arrive, a third fall took place, which completely buried the two men and it was two hours before they could be extricated and pronounced dead.
Bold Colliery's solicitor said at the inquest that 52-year-old Worthington of Garnet Street in Sutton had been: "…an old fireman and an official of many years' standing, and was highly esteemed; and the colliery officials and the men in the mine were deeply grieved that he should've lost his life when doing such a courageous act. With regard to Prescott it was hard lines that a man who had gone through the dangers and trials of the war should come here and meet such an untimely death. Worthington had, no doubt, given his life for his friends."
Also on the 18th the Runcorn Weekly News described a distressing case of a six-year-old boy from Widnes. At the end of January, Arthur Bratby had been admitted to Prescot Infirmary in what was described as a "very emaciated condition", weighing just 23lbs 11oz. The boy had five siblings, comprising four sisters aged between 15 and 21 who all slept in the same bed.
The lad slept at the foot of their bed and an older brother slept on the sofa and all the children lived on fish paste and chips. Their widowed mother appeared in court charged with neglect and her defence was that her son was very delicate and she'd had a hard life. "I wished you gentleman knew what a struggle I have had", she told the magistrates, who adjourned the case for a month.
The St Helens' MP, James Sexton – who was brought up in the town – had a remarkable youth and had much experience himself of hard times both on land and at sea. Speaking in the House of Commons this week, he described the time he had spent in the workhouse overnight tramp room or "casual ward", as it was known:
"I have been on tramp myself. I have been in a casual ward, and in return for the hospitality of the soft side of a deal plank for a bed and “skilly” [thin broth] in the morning, I had to do a task until such time as it was too late to look for a job elsewhere. If it had not been, speaking figuratively, for the mercy of Providence I might have been a chronic tramp to-day. Every time I see one of these poor chaps who are vigorously denounced as “undesirables,” I think that the present poor-law system is a huge tramp manufacturer, and I say to myself that if it had not been for the grace of God, “there goes James Sexton”."
It was only a fortnight earlier that St Helens Ladies played a charity football match against England's top women's side, Dick Kerr's of Preston. The St Helens women were then thumped 7 - 0 and on the 19th – in front of 10,000 spectators at Wrexham Racecourse – they were out for revenge. Hopes were high of a rare win against the Preston women as St Helens were 1 - 0 up with just seven minutes to go. But then Dick Kerr's Ladies grabbed two quick goals – with the winner ironically scored by Lily Parr from St Helens, who’d joined the Preston team in 1920. The 15-year-old was a goal machine having scored 43 in her first season and a week earlier, Lily had scored five goals for Dick Kerr's in a game at Anfield.
And finally William Naylor of Swain Street appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 21st charged with smashing the window of a boot shop in Bridge Street. He said he had done the act in a drunken fit of temper after a family row. It was an expensive temper tantrum, as Naylor was ordered to pay £25 – including £20 damages for the window – or serve two months in prison. That was a very large sum and so gaol was the most likely result.
Next week's stories will include the prospect of Sunday golf at Grange Park Golf Club, the man who conned a Peter Street landlady into believing he was a policeman, comic Herbert Mundin plays his home town and the IRA target Merseyside.
In January I reported that the St Helens Corporation-owned tram company was having problems recruiting staff to work on their Haydock section because of the number of assaults. That had been said during a court appearance after a man from Clipsley Lane stuck a conductor's head through a plate glass window. On the 16th the Liverpool Echo described another court case in which an attack on a tram driver called Samuel Wallace by John Anderton had resulted in the loss of an eye.
"The tram was again stopped, and prisoner attempted to board at the driver's end. He was prevented from doing so, and became very abusive, and eventually entered the car at the rear. The tram resumed its journey, and had gone a short distance when the driver's attention was drawn by a loud kicking at the door inside the car. Prisoner was seen to be acting like a madman and trying to get out of the car on to the driver's platform. Being unable to do so he aimed a blow at the driver's face, and his fist went through the glass window and caught the driver in the eye.
"Wallace was momentarily blinded, and prisoner then tried to get out of the car at the other end. A struggle followed, and the driver was thrown off the platform on to the ground and sprained his leg. The injuries to him were so severe that he attended the Liverpool Eye Hospital, where he remained for 15 days. Every effort was made at the hospital to save his sight, but eventually it was found necessary, in order to save his other eye, to take the injured eye out.
"The driver, Wallace, had suffered a financial loss, because during the time he was away he was only in receipt of 25s per week as compensation. For the defence Mr. A. Brown admitted the facts as related by Mr. Townson, and said Anderton was under the influence of drink at the time, and in that condition he thought he was striking at the face of the driver, but unfortunately struck at the glass. He expressed his regret for what had occurred, and threw himself on the mercy of the court." Little mercy was rightly shown and John Anderton of Millfield Lane in Haydock was sent to prison for two months.
The Stage wrote on the 17th that at the St Helens Theatre Royal, "the lovers of Shakespearean plays are well catered for this week." There had been full houses on Monday for performances of 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Hamlet'. During the week the 'Taming of the Shrew', 'Julius Caesar', 'Twelfth Night', 'David Garrick' and 'Antony and Cleopatra' were also being staged.
Meanwhile further down Corporation Street at the Hippodrome, there were twice-nightly performances by St. Juste and Higgins ("The King's jesters, performing talking songs, whistling & pianoforte solos"); Lune and Shaw ("Character comedy act"); Gaston Palmer ("The clever juggling comedian"); Constance Izard and Fred Allen ("The brilliant violiniste and fine baritone") and Lily Denville ("Dainty wooden shoe dancer").
It was a bad week for mining accidents. At the start of the week John Cartwright of Waine Street in St Helens had been killed at Ashtons Green Colliery in Parr. That was situated between Fleet Lane and Derbyshire Hill Road and closed in 1931 with 1,100 men on their books. The 21-year-old worked with the rope haulage system that transported full and empty coal tubs underground and a runaway tub had struck him down and killed him on the spot.
While Barnes and fireman Henry Worthington were attempting to free John Prescott, a second drop took place and Worthington was badly crushed by falling stones. Barnes was also knocked down but eventually managed to get clear of the debris and went for help. But before assistance could arrive, a third fall took place, which completely buried the two men and it was two hours before they could be extricated and pronounced dead.
Bold Colliery's solicitor said at the inquest that 52-year-old Worthington of Garnet Street in Sutton had been: "…an old fireman and an official of many years' standing, and was highly esteemed; and the colliery officials and the men in the mine were deeply grieved that he should've lost his life when doing such a courageous act. With regard to Prescott it was hard lines that a man who had gone through the dangers and trials of the war should come here and meet such an untimely death. Worthington had, no doubt, given his life for his friends."
Also on the 18th the Runcorn Weekly News described a distressing case of a six-year-old boy from Widnes. At the end of January, Arthur Bratby had been admitted to Prescot Infirmary in what was described as a "very emaciated condition", weighing just 23lbs 11oz. The boy had five siblings, comprising four sisters aged between 15 and 21 who all slept in the same bed.
The lad slept at the foot of their bed and an older brother slept on the sofa and all the children lived on fish paste and chips. Their widowed mother appeared in court charged with neglect and her defence was that her son was very delicate and she'd had a hard life. "I wished you gentleman knew what a struggle I have had", she told the magistrates, who adjourned the case for a month.
The St Helens' MP, James Sexton – who was brought up in the town – had a remarkable youth and had much experience himself of hard times both on land and at sea. Speaking in the House of Commons this week, he described the time he had spent in the workhouse overnight tramp room or "casual ward", as it was known:
"I have been on tramp myself. I have been in a casual ward, and in return for the hospitality of the soft side of a deal plank for a bed and “skilly” [thin broth] in the morning, I had to do a task until such time as it was too late to look for a job elsewhere. If it had not been, speaking figuratively, for the mercy of Providence I might have been a chronic tramp to-day. Every time I see one of these poor chaps who are vigorously denounced as “undesirables,” I think that the present poor-law system is a huge tramp manufacturer, and I say to myself that if it had not been for the grace of God, “there goes James Sexton”."
It was only a fortnight earlier that St Helens Ladies played a charity football match against England's top women's side, Dick Kerr's of Preston. The St Helens women were then thumped 7 - 0 and on the 19th – in front of 10,000 spectators at Wrexham Racecourse – they were out for revenge. Hopes were high of a rare win against the Preston women as St Helens were 1 - 0 up with just seven minutes to go. But then Dick Kerr's Ladies grabbed two quick goals – with the winner ironically scored by Lily Parr from St Helens, who’d joined the Preston team in 1920. The 15-year-old was a goal machine having scored 43 in her first season and a week earlier, Lily had scored five goals for Dick Kerr's in a game at Anfield.
And finally William Naylor of Swain Street appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 21st charged with smashing the window of a boot shop in Bridge Street. He said he had done the act in a drunken fit of temper after a family row. It was an expensive temper tantrum, as Naylor was ordered to pay £25 – including £20 damages for the window – or serve two months in prison. That was a very large sum and so gaol was the most likely result.
Next week's stories will include the prospect of Sunday golf at Grange Park Golf Club, the man who conned a Peter Street landlady into believing he was a policeman, comic Herbert Mundin plays his home town and the IRA target Merseyside.
This week's stories include the tram driver blinded by a miner at Haydock, an heroic attempt at rescue during a tragic Bold Colliery accident and the St Helens MP tells the Commons about his youthful days as a tramp.
In January I reported that the St Helens Corporation-owned tram company was having problems recruiting staff to work on their Haydock section because of the number of assaults.
That had been said during a court appearance after a man from Clipsley Lane stuck a conductor's head through a plate glass window.
On the 16th the Liverpool Echo described another court case in which an attack on a tram driver called Samuel Wallace by John Anderton had resulted in the loss of an eye.
Under the headlines: "Struggle On A Tramcar – Collier Behaves Like A Madman – Passenger's Attack On Driver," the Echo wrote:
"Mr. Townson [prosecution solicitor] said that on Wednesday night, January 26, a Corporation tramcar was proceeding to Ashton, and had reached the Waggon and Horses, when it stopped to pick up passengers.
"After the passengers had boarded the tram it proceeded on its journey, when the driver Wallace noticed the defendant standing in the track, about forty yards in front of the car.
"The tram was again stopped, and prisoner attempted to board at the driver's end. He was prevented from doing so, and became very abusive, and eventually entered the car at the rear.
"The tram resumed its journey, and had gone a short distance when the driver's attention was drawn by a loud kicking at the door inside the car.
"Prisoner was seen to be acting like a madman and trying to get out of the car on to the driver's platform. Being unable to do so he aimed a blow at the driver's face, and his fist went through the glass window and caught the driver in the eye.
"Wallace was momentarily blinded, and prisoner then tried to get out of the car at the other end. A struggle followed, and the driver was thrown off the platform on to the ground and sprained his leg.
"The injuries to him were so severe that he attended the Liverpool Eye Hospital, where he remained for 15 days.
"Every effort was made at the hospital to save his sight, but eventually it was found necessary, in order to save his other eye, to take the injured eye out.
"The driver, Wallace, had suffered a financial loss, because during the time he was away he was only in receipt of 25s per week as compensation.
"For the defence Mr. A. Brown admitted the facts as related by Mr. Townson, and said Anderton was under the influence of drink at the time, and in that condition he thought he was striking at the face of the driver, but unfortunately struck at the glass.
"He expressed his regret for what had occurred, and threw himself on the mercy of the court."
Little mercy was rightly shown and John Anderton of Millfield Lane in Haydock was sent to prison for two months.
The Stage wrote on the 17th that at the St Helens Theatre Royal, "the lovers of Shakespearean plays are well catered for this week."
There had been full houses on Monday for performances of 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Hamlet'.
During the week the 'Taming of the Shrew', 'Julius Caesar', 'Twelfth Night', 'David Garrick' and 'Antony and Cleopatra' were also being staged.
Meanwhile further down Corporation Street at the Hippodrome, there were twice-nightly performances by St. Juste and Higgins ("The King's jesters, performing talking songs, whistling & pianoforte solos"); Lune and Shaw ("Character comedy act"); Gaston Palmer ("The clever juggling comedian"); Constance Izard and Fred Allen ("The brilliant violiniste and fine baritone") and Lily Denville ("Dainty wooden shoe dancer").
It was a bad week for mining accidents. At the start of the week John Cartwright of Waine Street in St Helens had been killed at Ashtons Green Colliery in Parr.
That was situated between Fleet Lane and Derbyshire Hill Road and closed in 1931 with 1,100 men on their books.
The 21-year-old worked with the rope haulage system that transported full and empty coal tubs underground and a runaway tub had struck him down and killed him on the spot.
On the 18th an inquest into a double tragedy at Bold Colliery (pictured above) was held at the Clock Face Hotel.
A number of men had been working at midnight inside a new tunnel when a section of the pit roof collapsed.
John Prescott was struck by a large stone and was covered in debris, with only his head visible.
At that point the 44-year-old from Westfield Street was still conscious and shouted, "Get me out", to James Barnes, who immediately went to his rescue.
However once the underground pit roof had been weakened by a fall of stone and dirt, it was common for further falls to occur.
While Barnes and fireman Henry Worthington were attempting to free John Prescott, a second drop took place and Worthington was badly crushed by falling stones.
Barnes was also knocked down but eventually managed to get clear of the debris and went for help.
But before assistance could arrive, a third fall took place, which completely buried the two men and it was two hours before they could be extricated and pronounced dead.
Bold Colliery's solicitor said at the inquest that 52-year-old Worthington of Garnet Street in Sutton had been:
"…an old fireman and an official of many years' standing, and was highly esteemed; and the colliery officials and the men in the mine were deeply grieved that he should've lost his life when doing such a courageous act.
"With regard to Prescott it was hard lines that a man who had gone through the dangers and trials of the war should come here and meet such an untimely death. Worthington had, no doubt, given his life for his friends."
Also on the 18th the Runcorn Weekly News described a distressing case of a six-year-old boy from Widnes.
At the end of January, Arthur Bratby had been admitted to Prescot Infirmary in what was described as a "very emaciated condition", weighing just 23lbs 11oz.
The boy had five siblings, comprising four sisters aged between 15 and 21 who all slept in the same bed.
The lad slept at the foot of their bed and an older brother slept on the sofa and all the children lived on fish paste and chips.
Their widowed mother appeared in court charged with neglect and her defence was that her son was very delicate and she'd had a hard life.
"I wished you gentleman knew what a struggle I have had", she told the magistrates, who adjourned the case for a month.
The St Helens' MP, James Sexton – who was brought up in the town – had a remarkable youth and had much experience himself of hard times both on land and at sea.
Speaking in the House of Commons this week, he described the time he had spent in the workhouse overnight tramp room or "casual ward", as it was known:
"I have been on tramp myself. I have been in a casual ward, and in return for the hospitality of the soft side of a deal plank for a bed and “skilly” [thin broth] in the morning, I had to do a task until such time as it was too late to look for a job elsewhere.
"If it had not been, speaking figuratively, for the mercy of Providence I might have been a chronic tramp to-day.
"Every time I see one of these poor chaps who are vigorously denounced as “undesirables,” I think that the present poor-law system is a huge tramp manufacturer, and I say to myself that if it had not been for the grace of God, “there goes James Sexton”."
It was only a fortnight earlier that St Helens Ladies played a charity football match against England's top women's side, Dick Kerr's of Preston.
The St Helens women were then thumped 7 - 0 and on the 19th – in front of 10,000 spectators at Wrexham Racecourse – they were out for revenge.
Hopes were high of a rare win against the Preston women as St Helens were 1 - 0 up with just seven minutes to go.
But then Dick Kerr's Ladies grabbed two quick goals – with the winner ironically scored by Lily Parr from St Helens, who’d joined the Preston team in 1920.
The 15-year-old was a goal machine having scored 43 in her first season and a week earlier, Lily had scored five goals for Dick Kerr's in a game at Anfield.
And finally William Naylor of Swain Street appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 21st charged with smashing the window of a boot shop in Bridge Street.
He said he had done the act in a drunken fit of temper after a family row.
It was an expensive temper tantrum, as Naylor was ordered to pay £25 – including £20 damages for the window – or serve two months in prison.
That was a very large sum and so gaol was the most likely result.
Next week's stories will include the prospect of Sunday golf at Grange Park Golf Club, the man who conned a Peter Street landlady into believing he was a policeman, comic Herbert Mundin plays his home town and the IRA target Merseyside.
In January I reported that the St Helens Corporation-owned tram company was having problems recruiting staff to work on their Haydock section because of the number of assaults.
That had been said during a court appearance after a man from Clipsley Lane stuck a conductor's head through a plate glass window.
On the 16th the Liverpool Echo described another court case in which an attack on a tram driver called Samuel Wallace by John Anderton had resulted in the loss of an eye.
"Mr. Townson [prosecution solicitor] said that on Wednesday night, January 26, a Corporation tramcar was proceeding to Ashton, and had reached the Waggon and Horses, when it stopped to pick up passengers.
"After the passengers had boarded the tram it proceeded on its journey, when the driver Wallace noticed the defendant standing in the track, about forty yards in front of the car.
"The tram was again stopped, and prisoner attempted to board at the driver's end. He was prevented from doing so, and became very abusive, and eventually entered the car at the rear.
"The tram resumed its journey, and had gone a short distance when the driver's attention was drawn by a loud kicking at the door inside the car.
"Prisoner was seen to be acting like a madman and trying to get out of the car on to the driver's platform. Being unable to do so he aimed a blow at the driver's face, and his fist went through the glass window and caught the driver in the eye.
"Wallace was momentarily blinded, and prisoner then tried to get out of the car at the other end. A struggle followed, and the driver was thrown off the platform on to the ground and sprained his leg.
"The injuries to him were so severe that he attended the Liverpool Eye Hospital, where he remained for 15 days.
"Every effort was made at the hospital to save his sight, but eventually it was found necessary, in order to save his other eye, to take the injured eye out.
"The driver, Wallace, had suffered a financial loss, because during the time he was away he was only in receipt of 25s per week as compensation.
"For the defence Mr. A. Brown admitted the facts as related by Mr. Townson, and said Anderton was under the influence of drink at the time, and in that condition he thought he was striking at the face of the driver, but unfortunately struck at the glass.
"He expressed his regret for what had occurred, and threw himself on the mercy of the court."
Little mercy was rightly shown and John Anderton of Millfield Lane in Haydock was sent to prison for two months.
The Stage wrote on the 17th that at the St Helens Theatre Royal, "the lovers of Shakespearean plays are well catered for this week."
There had been full houses on Monday for performances of 'The Merchant of Venice' and 'Hamlet'.
During the week the 'Taming of the Shrew', 'Julius Caesar', 'Twelfth Night', 'David Garrick' and 'Antony and Cleopatra' were also being staged.
Meanwhile further down Corporation Street at the Hippodrome, there were twice-nightly performances by St. Juste and Higgins ("The King's jesters, performing talking songs, whistling & pianoforte solos"); Lune and Shaw ("Character comedy act"); Gaston Palmer ("The clever juggling comedian"); Constance Izard and Fred Allen ("The brilliant violiniste and fine baritone") and Lily Denville ("Dainty wooden shoe dancer").
It was a bad week for mining accidents. At the start of the week John Cartwright of Waine Street in St Helens had been killed at Ashtons Green Colliery in Parr.
That was situated between Fleet Lane and Derbyshire Hill Road and closed in 1931 with 1,100 men on their books.
The 21-year-old worked with the rope haulage system that transported full and empty coal tubs underground and a runaway tub had struck him down and killed him on the spot.
A number of men had been working at midnight inside a new tunnel when a section of the pit roof collapsed.
John Prescott was struck by a large stone and was covered in debris, with only his head visible.
At that point the 44-year-old from Westfield Street was still conscious and shouted, "Get me out", to James Barnes, who immediately went to his rescue.
However once the underground pit roof had been weakened by a fall of stone and dirt, it was common for further falls to occur.
While Barnes and fireman Henry Worthington were attempting to free John Prescott, a second drop took place and Worthington was badly crushed by falling stones.
Barnes was also knocked down but eventually managed to get clear of the debris and went for help.
But before assistance could arrive, a third fall took place, which completely buried the two men and it was two hours before they could be extricated and pronounced dead.
Bold Colliery's solicitor said at the inquest that 52-year-old Worthington of Garnet Street in Sutton had been:
"…an old fireman and an official of many years' standing, and was highly esteemed; and the colliery officials and the men in the mine were deeply grieved that he should've lost his life when doing such a courageous act.
"With regard to Prescott it was hard lines that a man who had gone through the dangers and trials of the war should come here and meet such an untimely death. Worthington had, no doubt, given his life for his friends."
Also on the 18th the Runcorn Weekly News described a distressing case of a six-year-old boy from Widnes.
At the end of January, Arthur Bratby had been admitted to Prescot Infirmary in what was described as a "very emaciated condition", weighing just 23lbs 11oz.
The boy had five siblings, comprising four sisters aged between 15 and 21 who all slept in the same bed.
The lad slept at the foot of their bed and an older brother slept on the sofa and all the children lived on fish paste and chips.
Their widowed mother appeared in court charged with neglect and her defence was that her son was very delicate and she'd had a hard life.
"I wished you gentleman knew what a struggle I have had", she told the magistrates, who adjourned the case for a month.
The St Helens' MP, James Sexton – who was brought up in the town – had a remarkable youth and had much experience himself of hard times both on land and at sea.
Speaking in the House of Commons this week, he described the time he had spent in the workhouse overnight tramp room or "casual ward", as it was known:
"I have been on tramp myself. I have been in a casual ward, and in return for the hospitality of the soft side of a deal plank for a bed and “skilly” [thin broth] in the morning, I had to do a task until such time as it was too late to look for a job elsewhere.
"If it had not been, speaking figuratively, for the mercy of Providence I might have been a chronic tramp to-day.
"Every time I see one of these poor chaps who are vigorously denounced as “undesirables,” I think that the present poor-law system is a huge tramp manufacturer, and I say to myself that if it had not been for the grace of God, “there goes James Sexton”."
It was only a fortnight earlier that St Helens Ladies played a charity football match against England's top women's side, Dick Kerr's of Preston.
The St Helens women were then thumped 7 - 0 and on the 19th – in front of 10,000 spectators at Wrexham Racecourse – they were out for revenge.
Hopes were high of a rare win against the Preston women as St Helens were 1 - 0 up with just seven minutes to go.
But then Dick Kerr's Ladies grabbed two quick goals – with the winner ironically scored by Lily Parr from St Helens, who’d joined the Preston team in 1920.
The 15-year-old was a goal machine having scored 43 in her first season and a week earlier, Lily had scored five goals for Dick Kerr's in a game at Anfield.
And finally William Naylor of Swain Street appeared in St Helens Police Court on the 21st charged with smashing the window of a boot shop in Bridge Street.
He said he had done the act in a drunken fit of temper after a family row.
It was an expensive temper tantrum, as Naylor was ordered to pay £25 – including £20 damages for the window – or serve two months in prison.
That was a very large sum and so gaol was the most likely result.
Next week's stories will include the prospect of Sunday golf at Grange Park Golf Club, the man who conned a Peter Street landlady into believing he was a policeman, comic Herbert Mundin plays his home town and the IRA target Merseyside.