IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 20 - 26 APRIL 1926
This week's many stories include the barefooted Greenbank kids passing on bets, the fifty Irishmen that fought a dozen police in Parr Street, the Sutton Sheeting Sheds strike, the youth killed on a Rainford farm and the two widows of a dead miner that wanted compensation.
We begin on the 20th when the St Helens Union of Girls Clubs (mainly Girl Guides) held their annual rally in the Town Hall. An audience of 1,000 watched the girls perform dances, songs and exercises.
During this week the Edward Dunstan Company returned to the St Helens Theatre Royal to present another series of "romantic and classical plays". The company was performing in St Helens for three weeks, with 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Romeo and Juliet' among the dramas being performed this week.
And George Formby was performing at the Hippodrome Theatre. Because of the success of his father who used the same stage name, George's strapline in the Reporter advert was "Chip off the old block".
It was reported on the 20th that Richard Davies had died at the age of 74. He was the owner of Sutton Heath Pottery, which his father had run before him.
The inquest on John Graham of Viaduct Street in Earlestown was held on the 20th. The 28-year-old had been employed as a drawer at Bold Colliery (pictured above), with his job being to get tubs of newly hewed coal to the cage in the pit shaft. On the previous Friday, John had been moving coal from the work place when a small stone fell out of the pit roof and knocked down an 8-foot long support prop. The latter struck John on his head causing his death four hours later in St Helens Hospital.
The Sutton Sheeting Sheds & General Stores were located in Penlake Lane at St Helens Junction and they made and repaired tarpaulin sheets for railway wagons and street carts. On the 20th it was reported that the workers had gone on strike in protest at being placed on short-time working. They said their average pay was now only 38 shillings a week, which was insufficient for them to live on.
I recently reported how Judge Dowdall had in St Helens County Court denied a grieving widow some of her own compensation cash to take a short break in Blackpool. In another case on the 21st a man was sued for outstanding payments due on a piano that had been purchased in 1922. The unnamed individual told Judge Dowdall: "I only work one half of the week".
To that the judge enquired: "Are you a man who draws the dole one-half the week and works the other?" After the man confirmed that he was, the judge then said: "Well, you had better work all the week to pay for your piano", as he was ordered to make 19 shillings a month payments off his arrears. Of course, due to the economic situation many firms in St Helens – like the Sutton Sheeting Sheds mentioned previously – were on short-time and their employees were not choosing to only work part of the week, as the judge implied.
In another case there was a dramatic interruption after Judge Dowdall had allowed a compensation payment to Margaret May of Union Street of £50 down and 5 shillings a month. The lump sum was being made for the clothing and general outfitting of Margaret and her four siblings out of the compensation money awarded after their father, James Swift, had died in Ashton's Green Colliery in Parr.
As the award was being made, a woman stood up in the courtroom and, pointing to the mother of Margaret, declared: "It is bigamy. She is not his wife. I am his wife." The interrupter was Mary Swift from Lowton who had separated from James Swift twenty-seven years before. Having never divorced, Mary had remained James' legal wife but she had been living with another man who had also been killed in an accident. Although Mary had claimed compensation for the death of that man, she said she still felt entitled to a pension as a result of the death of her legal husband, James Swift.
The judge remarked: "People in St Helens apparently live with other people's wives, and set up as man and wife. It is not for me to say whether that is a good thing or not, but these women are treated as wives for Workmen's Compensation purposes." Judge Dowdall added that Mary Swift had no rights against the man that she had left 27 years before, adding: "From the compensation point of view you are not Swift's widow."
On the 23rd Richard Lord of Lord Street in Earlestown appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with driving a motor vehicle to the danger of the public. Mr Lord had driven his van along Corporation Street towards Higher Parr Street and while attempting to squeeze between a stationary motor car and an oncoming tramcar, he had collided with the tram, smashing up one of his own wheels and bending the axle. He was fined 10 shillings.
Although the rising number of deaths from cars was causing great concern, many people still died through the use of horses. On the 26th the inquest on Henry Whalley was held. The 18-year-old worked on Parsons Brow Farm in Rainford and when getting into a cart to go for his dinner, the horse bolted and he was thrown out. The rear wheel of the cart passed over Henry and he died on the following day from internal injuries.
In St Helens Police Court on the 26th, the story was told of a fierce fight that occurred in Parr Street (pictured above) involving 50 Irishmen and 12 police officers. PC Hickson described how on the previous Saturday night, while in his station having supper, he had heard James Cook creating a disturbance outside. The constable said he went out in his shirtsleeves and attempted to get Cook away quietly. But instead the man created a row and became very violent.
Cook also tore the shirt off the officer's back and pulled off his braces. Other men then went to Cook's assistance and PC Bingham and PC Jolly went to help Hickson. In the struggle all the antagonists were forced into a private house and it ended up with 50 hostile young Irish men battling with the police. PC Jolly told the court that in addition to the Irishmen trying to get their prisoners away, there was a crowd of several hundred people who had gathered to watch the fracas.
James Cook was said to have become half-naked in the struggle and behaved like a madman with PC Bingham reporting that Cook had kicked him in the stomach. Cook was fined £3 for assaulting the police, 7s 6d for being drunk and ordered to pay for damage done to a constable's uniform. Three other men were also fined.
John Buckley of Bold Street in St Helens appeared in court on the 26th to answer a charge of loitering for the purpose of betting. PC Spedding told how he had kept Buckley under observation in Greenbank and seen him take bets from a total of 23 children who were poorly dressed and barefooted. The officer described chasing the defendant into a house in Bold Street and whilst trying to get Buckley out, he said he had received a kick in the jaw.
The chairman of the Bench said Buckley would be fined £10 as a warning that any future case of taking bets from children would be severely dealt with, as it was a very serious thing. Of course, the kids would not have been spending their own pocket money on gambling – as they would not have received any. But instead they would have been passing on bets on behalf of their parents or neighbours.
And finally, Michael Regan and his brother Martin also appeared in court on the 26th charged with assaulting a policeman in Broad Oak Road. PC Shepherd described a common story of having taken one of the brothers into custody for being disorderly and his brother had then attempted to rescue him. The officer complained that Michael Regan had bit, kicked and scratched him. In total Michael was fined £3 and Martin £1 10 shillings.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the bigamous marriage at Christ Church in Eccleston, the preparations for a miners' strike, the disabled children that were being supported in St Helens and the scheme of free home nursing for contagious diseases.
We begin on the 20th when the St Helens Union of Girls Clubs (mainly Girl Guides) held their annual rally in the Town Hall. An audience of 1,000 watched the girls perform dances, songs and exercises.
During this week the Edward Dunstan Company returned to the St Helens Theatre Royal to present another series of "romantic and classical plays". The company was performing in St Helens for three weeks, with 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Romeo and Juliet' among the dramas being performed this week.
And George Formby was performing at the Hippodrome Theatre. Because of the success of his father who used the same stage name, George's strapline in the Reporter advert was "Chip off the old block".
It was reported on the 20th that Richard Davies had died at the age of 74. He was the owner of Sutton Heath Pottery, which his father had run before him.
The Sutton Sheeting Sheds & General Stores were located in Penlake Lane at St Helens Junction and they made and repaired tarpaulin sheets for railway wagons and street carts. On the 20th it was reported that the workers had gone on strike in protest at being placed on short-time working. They said their average pay was now only 38 shillings a week, which was insufficient for them to live on.
I recently reported how Judge Dowdall had in St Helens County Court denied a grieving widow some of her own compensation cash to take a short break in Blackpool. In another case on the 21st a man was sued for outstanding payments due on a piano that had been purchased in 1922. The unnamed individual told Judge Dowdall: "I only work one half of the week".
To that the judge enquired: "Are you a man who draws the dole one-half the week and works the other?" After the man confirmed that he was, the judge then said: "Well, you had better work all the week to pay for your piano", as he was ordered to make 19 shillings a month payments off his arrears. Of course, due to the economic situation many firms in St Helens – like the Sutton Sheeting Sheds mentioned previously – were on short-time and their employees were not choosing to only work part of the week, as the judge implied.
In another case there was a dramatic interruption after Judge Dowdall had allowed a compensation payment to Margaret May of Union Street of £50 down and 5 shillings a month. The lump sum was being made for the clothing and general outfitting of Margaret and her four siblings out of the compensation money awarded after their father, James Swift, had died in Ashton's Green Colliery in Parr.
As the award was being made, a woman stood up in the courtroom and, pointing to the mother of Margaret, declared: "It is bigamy. She is not his wife. I am his wife." The interrupter was Mary Swift from Lowton who had separated from James Swift twenty-seven years before. Having never divorced, Mary had remained James' legal wife but she had been living with another man who had also been killed in an accident. Although Mary had claimed compensation for the death of that man, she said she still felt entitled to a pension as a result of the death of her legal husband, James Swift.
The judge remarked: "People in St Helens apparently live with other people's wives, and set up as man and wife. It is not for me to say whether that is a good thing or not, but these women are treated as wives for Workmen's Compensation purposes." Judge Dowdall added that Mary Swift had no rights against the man that she had left 27 years before, adding: "From the compensation point of view you are not Swift's widow."
On the 23rd Richard Lord of Lord Street in Earlestown appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with driving a motor vehicle to the danger of the public. Mr Lord had driven his van along Corporation Street towards Higher Parr Street and while attempting to squeeze between a stationary motor car and an oncoming tramcar, he had collided with the tram, smashing up one of his own wheels and bending the axle. He was fined 10 shillings.
Although the rising number of deaths from cars was causing great concern, many people still died through the use of horses. On the 26th the inquest on Henry Whalley was held. The 18-year-old worked on Parsons Brow Farm in Rainford and when getting into a cart to go for his dinner, the horse bolted and he was thrown out. The rear wheel of the cart passed over Henry and he died on the following day from internal injuries.
Cook also tore the shirt off the officer's back and pulled off his braces. Other men then went to Cook's assistance and PC Bingham and PC Jolly went to help Hickson. In the struggle all the antagonists were forced into a private house and it ended up with 50 hostile young Irish men battling with the police. PC Jolly told the court that in addition to the Irishmen trying to get their prisoners away, there was a crowd of several hundred people who had gathered to watch the fracas.
James Cook was said to have become half-naked in the struggle and behaved like a madman with PC Bingham reporting that Cook had kicked him in the stomach. Cook was fined £3 for assaulting the police, 7s 6d for being drunk and ordered to pay for damage done to a constable's uniform. Three other men were also fined.
John Buckley of Bold Street in St Helens appeared in court on the 26th to answer a charge of loitering for the purpose of betting. PC Spedding told how he had kept Buckley under observation in Greenbank and seen him take bets from a total of 23 children who were poorly dressed and barefooted. The officer described chasing the defendant into a house in Bold Street and whilst trying to get Buckley out, he said he had received a kick in the jaw.
The chairman of the Bench said Buckley would be fined £10 as a warning that any future case of taking bets from children would be severely dealt with, as it was a very serious thing. Of course, the kids would not have been spending their own pocket money on gambling – as they would not have received any. But instead they would have been passing on bets on behalf of their parents or neighbours.
And finally, Michael Regan and his brother Martin also appeared in court on the 26th charged with assaulting a policeman in Broad Oak Road. PC Shepherd described a common story of having taken one of the brothers into custody for being disorderly and his brother had then attempted to rescue him. The officer complained that Michael Regan had bit, kicked and scratched him. In total Michael was fined £3 and Martin £1 10 shillings.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the bigamous marriage at Christ Church in Eccleston, the preparations for a miners' strike, the disabled children that were being supported in St Helens and the scheme of free home nursing for contagious diseases.
This week's many stories include the barefooted Greenbank kids passing on bets, the fifty Irishmen that fought a dozen police in Parr Street, the Sutton Sheeting Sheds strike, the youth killed on a Rainford farm and the two widows of a dead miner that wanted compensation.
We begin on the 20th when the St Helens Union of Girls Clubs (mainly Girl Guides) held their annual rally in the Town Hall.
An audience of 1,000 watched the girls perform dances, songs and exercises.
During this week the Edward Dunstan Company returned to the St Helens Theatre Royal to present another series of "romantic and classical plays".
The company was performing in St Helens for three weeks, with 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Romeo and Juliet' among the dramas being performed this week.
And George Formby was performing at the Hippodrome Theatre. Because of the success of his father who used the same stage name, George's strapline in the Reporter advert was "Chip off the old block".
It was reported on the 20th that Richard Davies had died at the age of 74. He was the owner of Sutton Heath Pottery, which his father had run before him.
The inquest on John Graham of Viaduct Street in Earlestown was held on the 20th.
The 28-year-old had been employed as a drawer at Bold Colliery (pictured above), with his job being to get tubs of newly hewed coal to the cage in the pit shaft.
On the previous Friday, John had been moving coal from the work place when a small stone fell out of the pit roof and knocked down an 8-foot long support prop.
The latter struck John on his head causing his death four hours later in St Helens Hospital.
The Sutton Sheeting Sheds & General Stores were located in Penlake Lane at St Helens Junction and they made and repaired tarpaulin sheets for railway wagons and street carts.
On the 20th it was reported that the workers had gone on strike in protest at being placed on short-time working.
They said their average pay was now only 38 shillings a week, which was insufficient for them to live on.
I recently reported how Judge Dowdall had in St Helens County Court denied a grieving widow some of her own compensation cash to take a short break in Blackpool.
In another case on the 21st a man was sued for outstanding payments due on a piano that had been purchased in 1922.
The unnamed individual told Judge Dowdall: "I only work one half of the week".
To that the judge enquired: "Are you a man who draws the dole one-half the week and works the other?"
After the man confirmed that he was, the judge then said:
"Well, you had better work all the week to pay for your piano", as he was ordered to make 19 shillings a month payments off his arrears.
Of course, due to the economic situation many firms in St Helens – like the Sutton Sheeting Sheds mentioned previously – were on short-time and their employees were not choosing to only work part of the week, as the judge implied.
In another case there was a dramatic interruption after Judge Dowdall had allowed a compensation payment to Margaret May of Union Street of £50 down and 5 shillings a month.
The lump sum was being made for the clothing and general outfitting of Margaret and her four siblings out of the compensation money awarded after their father, James Swift, had died in Ashton's Green Colliery in Parr.
As the award was being made, a woman stood up in the courtroom and, pointing to the mother of Margaret, declared: "It is bigamy. She is not his wife. I am his wife."
The interrupter was Mary Swift from Lowton who had separated from James Swift twenty-seven years before.
Having never divorced, Mary had remained James' legal wife but she had been living with another man who had also been killed in an accident.
Although Mary had claimed compensation for the death of that man, she said she still felt entitled to a pension as a result of the death of her legal husband, James Swift.
The judge remarked: "People in St Helens apparently live with other people's wives, and set up as man and wife. It is not for me to say whether that is a good thing or not, but these women are treated as wives for Workmen's Compensation purposes."
Judge Dowdall added that Mary Swift had no rights against the man that she had left 27 years before, adding:
"From the compensation point of view you are not Swift's widow."
On the 23rd Richard Lord of Lord Street in Earlestown appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with driving a motor vehicle to the danger of the public.
Mr Lord had driven his van along Corporation Street towards Higher Parr Street and while attempting to squeeze between a stationary motor car and an oncoming tramcar, he had collided with the tram, smashing up one of his own wheels and bending the axle. He was fined 10 shillings.
Although the rising number of deaths from cars was causing great concern, many people still died through the use of horses.
On the 26th the inquest on Henry Whalley was held. The 18-year-old worked on Parsons Brow Farm in Rainford and when getting into a cart to go for his dinner, the horse bolted and he was thrown out.
The rear wheel of the cart passed over Henry and he died on the following day from internal injuries.
In St Helens Police Court on the 26th, the story was told of a fierce fight that occurred in Parr Street (pictured above) involving 50 Irishmen and 12 police officers.
PC Hickson described how on the previous Saturday night, while in his station having supper, he had heard James Cook creating a disturbance outside.
The constable said he went out in his shirtsleeves and attempted to get Cook away quietly. But instead the man created a row and became very violent.
Cook also tore the shirt off the officer's back and pulled off his braces.
Other men then went to Cook's assistance and PC Bingham and PC Jolly went to help Hickson.
In the struggle all the antagonists were forced into a private house and it ended up with 50 hostile young Irish men battling with the police.
PC Jolly told the court that in addition to the Irishmen trying to get their prisoners away, there was a crowd of several hundred people who had gathered to watch the fracas.
James Cook was said to have become half-naked in the struggle and behaved like a madman with PC Bingham reporting that Cook had kicked him in the stomach.
Cook was fined £3 for assaulting the police, 7s 6d for being drunk and ordered to pay for damage done to a constable's uniform. Three other men were also fined.
John Buckley of Bold Street in St Helens appeared in court on the 26th to answer a charge of loitering for the purpose of betting.
PC Spedding told how he had kept Buckley under observation in Greenbank and seen him take bets from a total of 23 children who were poorly dressed and barefooted.
The officer described chasing the defendant into a house in Bold Street and whilst trying to get Buckley out, he said he had received a kick in the jaw.
The chairman of the Bench said Buckley would be fined £10 as a warning that any future case of taking bets from children would be severely dealt with, as it was a very serious thing.
Of course, the kids would not have been spending their own pocket money on gambling – as they would not have received any. But instead they would have been passing on bets on behalf of their parents or neighbours.
And finally, Michael Regan and his brother Martin also appeared in court on the 26th charged with assaulting a policeman in Broad Oak Road.
PC Shepherd described a common story of having taken one of the brothers into custody for being disorderly and his brother had then attempted to rescue him.
The officer complained that Michael Regan had bit, kicked and scratched him. In total Michael was fined £3 and Martin £1 10 shillings.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the bigamous marriage at Christ Church in Eccleston, the preparations for a miners' strike, the disabled children that were being supported in St Helens and the scheme of free home nursing for contagious diseases.
We begin on the 20th when the St Helens Union of Girls Clubs (mainly Girl Guides) held their annual rally in the Town Hall.
An audience of 1,000 watched the girls perform dances, songs and exercises.
During this week the Edward Dunstan Company returned to the St Helens Theatre Royal to present another series of "romantic and classical plays".
The company was performing in St Helens for three weeks, with 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'Romeo and Juliet' among the dramas being performed this week.
It was reported on the 20th that Richard Davies had died at the age of 74. He was the owner of Sutton Heath Pottery, which his father had run before him.
The inquest on John Graham of Viaduct Street in Earlestown was held on the 20th.
On the previous Friday, John had been moving coal from the work place when a small stone fell out of the pit roof and knocked down an 8-foot long support prop.
The latter struck John on his head causing his death four hours later in St Helens Hospital.
The Sutton Sheeting Sheds & General Stores were located in Penlake Lane at St Helens Junction and they made and repaired tarpaulin sheets for railway wagons and street carts.
On the 20th it was reported that the workers had gone on strike in protest at being placed on short-time working.
They said their average pay was now only 38 shillings a week, which was insufficient for them to live on.
I recently reported how Judge Dowdall had in St Helens County Court denied a grieving widow some of her own compensation cash to take a short break in Blackpool.
In another case on the 21st a man was sued for outstanding payments due on a piano that had been purchased in 1922.
The unnamed individual told Judge Dowdall: "I only work one half of the week".
To that the judge enquired: "Are you a man who draws the dole one-half the week and works the other?"
After the man confirmed that he was, the judge then said:
"Well, you had better work all the week to pay for your piano", as he was ordered to make 19 shillings a month payments off his arrears.
Of course, due to the economic situation many firms in St Helens – like the Sutton Sheeting Sheds mentioned previously – were on short-time and their employees were not choosing to only work part of the week, as the judge implied.
In another case there was a dramatic interruption after Judge Dowdall had allowed a compensation payment to Margaret May of Union Street of £50 down and 5 shillings a month.
The lump sum was being made for the clothing and general outfitting of Margaret and her four siblings out of the compensation money awarded after their father, James Swift, had died in Ashton's Green Colliery in Parr.
As the award was being made, a woman stood up in the courtroom and, pointing to the mother of Margaret, declared: "It is bigamy. She is not his wife. I am his wife."
The interrupter was Mary Swift from Lowton who had separated from James Swift twenty-seven years before.
Having never divorced, Mary had remained James' legal wife but she had been living with another man who had also been killed in an accident.
Although Mary had claimed compensation for the death of that man, she said she still felt entitled to a pension as a result of the death of her legal husband, James Swift.
The judge remarked: "People in St Helens apparently live with other people's wives, and set up as man and wife. It is not for me to say whether that is a good thing or not, but these women are treated as wives for Workmen's Compensation purposes."
Judge Dowdall added that Mary Swift had no rights against the man that she had left 27 years before, adding:
"From the compensation point of view you are not Swift's widow."
On the 23rd Richard Lord of Lord Street in Earlestown appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with driving a motor vehicle to the danger of the public.
Mr Lord had driven his van along Corporation Street towards Higher Parr Street and while attempting to squeeze between a stationary motor car and an oncoming tramcar, he had collided with the tram, smashing up one of his own wheels and bending the axle. He was fined 10 shillings.
Although the rising number of deaths from cars was causing great concern, many people still died through the use of horses.
On the 26th the inquest on Henry Whalley was held. The 18-year-old worked on Parsons Brow Farm in Rainford and when getting into a cart to go for his dinner, the horse bolted and he was thrown out.
The rear wheel of the cart passed over Henry and he died on the following day from internal injuries.
PC Hickson described how on the previous Saturday night, while in his station having supper, he had heard James Cook creating a disturbance outside.
The constable said he went out in his shirtsleeves and attempted to get Cook away quietly. But instead the man created a row and became very violent.
Cook also tore the shirt off the officer's back and pulled off his braces.
Other men then went to Cook's assistance and PC Bingham and PC Jolly went to help Hickson.
In the struggle all the antagonists were forced into a private house and it ended up with 50 hostile young Irish men battling with the police.
PC Jolly told the court that in addition to the Irishmen trying to get their prisoners away, there was a crowd of several hundred people who had gathered to watch the fracas.
James Cook was said to have become half-naked in the struggle and behaved like a madman with PC Bingham reporting that Cook had kicked him in the stomach.
Cook was fined £3 for assaulting the police, 7s 6d for being drunk and ordered to pay for damage done to a constable's uniform. Three other men were also fined.
John Buckley of Bold Street in St Helens appeared in court on the 26th to answer a charge of loitering for the purpose of betting.
PC Spedding told how he had kept Buckley under observation in Greenbank and seen him take bets from a total of 23 children who were poorly dressed and barefooted.
The officer described chasing the defendant into a house in Bold Street and whilst trying to get Buckley out, he said he had received a kick in the jaw.
The chairman of the Bench said Buckley would be fined £10 as a warning that any future case of taking bets from children would be severely dealt with, as it was a very serious thing.
Of course, the kids would not have been spending their own pocket money on gambling – as they would not have received any. But instead they would have been passing on bets on behalf of their parents or neighbours.
And finally, Michael Regan and his brother Martin also appeared in court on the 26th charged with assaulting a policeman in Broad Oak Road.
PC Shepherd described a common story of having taken one of the brothers into custody for being disorderly and his brother had then attempted to rescue him.
The officer complained that Michael Regan had bit, kicked and scratched him. In total Michael was fined £3 and Martin £1 10 shillings.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the bigamous marriage at Christ Church in Eccleston, the preparations for a miners' strike, the disabled children that were being supported in St Helens and the scheme of free home nursing for contagious diseases.