IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (22 - 28 MAY 1923)
This week's many stories include the Silkstone Street lovers' quarrel in which a woman was slashed with a razor, the new houses for Sutton Manor miners, the photographic pedlar without a licence, the caravan dwellers in Thatto Heath and the drunk at the Sefton Arms who was told in court that beer and shell shock did not mix.
We begin on the 23rd when a meeting was held between St Helens Chamber of Trade and St Helens Council's Finance Committee. Its purpose was to request that the 16s 4d rate set for this year be reduced because of the poor level of trade that the town's shopkeepers were experiencing. However, they were told that their intervention was too late. Not only had the full Town Council already approved the new rate – which was lower than last year – but the magistrates had also sanctioned it.
The housing crisis at Sutton Manor looked like being eased soon. In March the Reporter had described how many miners at the colliery (pictured above) were living in temporary accommodation within "row upon row of converted Army huts". Other workers were forced to commute to the mine from St Helens. But on the 23rd at a meeting of the council's Housing Committee, plans to build 180 new houses were approved.
In St Helens Police Court on the 24th James Cunliffe appeared in the dock to face a charge of being drunk and disorderly. The Reporter described him as being in a "pitiable condition" as a result of over indulgence in beer, coupled with the effects of shell shock. PC Parkinson said on the previous afternoon he had been on duty outside the Sefton Arms in St Helens and saw Cunliffe staggering about in a drunken condition.
The constable said the man had been waving his arms about and shouting "Lloyd George and Asquith never were any good. Wait and see." He refused to go to his home in Prescot and so the constable said he'd been forced to lock him up. In court Cunliffe said he had only supped five pints of "Greenall's best" and denied making critical remarks about Asquith, explaining: "I stuck up for him; he's a Yorkshireman".
Cunliffe also described how he had been a soldier for twelve years and was unable to work because of shell shock. Because of his disability he received an army pension of £2 10 shillings a week and had spent time in an asylum. Chief Inspector Roe told the court that if the defendant kept away from beer he would be all right. The Bench fined him 7s 6d and also advised him to stay off Greenall's best.
The death of Alderman Charles Bishop was announced on the 24th. The flint glass maker had first entered the council in 1879 and had twice been mayor. Ald. Bishop was part of the series of inter-marriages between St Helens industrial families that occurred in the 19th century, with his wife being the eldest daughter of Sir David Gamble. His only son, Major Charles Gamble Bishop, had been killed in France in 1917.
On the 25th John Dudley appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with wounding with attempt to murder and injuring himself with intent to commit suicide. The 23-year-old glassmaker from Liverpool Road had been "keeping company" with Mary Pilkington for about four years but had become very possessive and jealous. Two evenings ago Mary went to John's house and told his mother: "I don't want anything more to do with Jack. He has been up to my mother telling her I am making a fool of him."
Shortly afterwards John arrived on the scene and accused Mary of "walking out" with other men and the court was told that they "wrangled" for some time. Around half-an-hour later Dudley went to Mary's home in Silkstone Street, near Boundary Road, and attacked her with a razor. The 21-year-old's face was cut from the temple down to her chin and then another dangerous wound was made on the side of her neck. In total, Mary received 32 stitches at Providence Hospital.
Dudley had also turned the razor on himself, cutting his throat – but not seriously. When questioned by the police the man insisted that he had not attempted to murder Mary, saying: "I did it to mark her for fooling me". In reply to the charge of attempted suicide, he said: "I was fed up, and wanted to pass away out of it." The Chief Constable said it would be a considerable time before the victim was able to attend court and Dudley was remanded until June 2nd.
On the 25th William Harrison from Victoria Street was charged with committing a breach of the peace in College Street. PC Taylor gave evidence of finding Harrison stripped to the waist in front of a crowd of people challenging them to a fight. When he saw the constable making his way through the crowd Harrison ran away. However, PC Taylor tracked him down and told him he would be reported, to which Harrison replied somewhat mysteriously, "It was the woman next door". He was bound over for six months.
The cost of photography had come down considerably over the last few years and Henry Hulme was only charging sixpence per picture. He was one of a number of persons who sold their photographic services on the streets – but just like any other pedlar he needed to have a licence from the police. That Hulme had failed to obtain and he appeared in court on the 25th after being caught taking photos of two men in Mill Lane in Sutton. But after telling the magistrates that he had been taking pictures for 17 years and had never been asked for a licence before, Hulme was let off.
Earlier in the month a boating tragedy had occurred on Taylor Park lake in which John Forrester had drowned in spite of William Stamper's brave attempt at rescue. The 15-year-old from Moss Street in Prescot was thought to have died after suffering an epileptic fit and in this week's edition of the Reporter a letter from his uncle was published. John Burns criticised others for simply watching William Stamper rather than assisting him in his rescue attempt. He also wondered why the young man had to walk two miles from Taylor Park to his Edward Street home in wet clothes with his "terrified wife and little child by his side".
The St Helens Reporter also stated that the NSPCC from their office in Croppers Hill had during April investigated 15 cases of child cruelty involving 40 children. It had been Empire Day this week and the Reporter described how the "customary patriotic celebrations" had taken place in the St Helens' schools. The Boy Scouts had marked the event by marching to Victoria Square with their flags flying and bands playing. In the square the scouts paraded and sang the national anthem in front of large numbers of the public, who joined in the singing.
I’m not sure if it was through the housing crisis in St Helens or from personal choice (probably the former) but there were a number of people in Thatto Heath living in caravans. The Reporter described two court cases that had arisen from the caravan dwellers. Frederick Holmes was resident in Elephant Lane and was charged with committing a breach of the peace. PC Ridding gave evidence that he had seen Holmes quarrelling with his wife and daughter and when he asked him to be quiet the man used foul language towards him. Holmes was bound over for six months.
In the other case Andrew Rogers was described as living in a van in the Mushroom fields in Thatto Heath and was charged with allowing his horse to stray on the street. Straying horses could cause serious accidents, particularly with motor vehicles, and a man called Leyland gave evidence of finding the black mare wandering about King Street. Andrew Rogers also did not have a licence for his dog and he was fined 15 shillings in total, as well as 15 shillings costs.
A new slant was placed on the term "bookie's runner" this week when Sidney Taylor appeared in court. He was a well-known professional runner and had been accused of loitering in Langtree Street for the purpose of betting. PC Reynolds described seeing Taylor take bets and had run after him. He didn't do too badly in the chase and at one point had hold of the man's coat tails – but was forced to release him. The Reporter dubbed Taylor a "bookie-sprinter" and he was fined the usual sum for street betting of £10.
And finally, the first meeting of the St Helens Rotary Club took place in the Fleece Hotel (pictured above) on the 28th. This was not the same Fleece that closed in 1986, as the original Church Street hotel was demolished in 1931 and a new Fleece built in the same year.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the missing money at Haydock Labour Club, the attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl by her uncle, a 3-month long Mersey mystery is solved and the 8-foot high bicycle that was ridden in St Helens.
We begin on the 23rd when a meeting was held between St Helens Chamber of Trade and St Helens Council's Finance Committee. Its purpose was to request that the 16s 4d rate set for this year be reduced because of the poor level of trade that the town's shopkeepers were experiencing. However, they were told that their intervention was too late. Not only had the full Town Council already approved the new rate – which was lower than last year – but the magistrates had also sanctioned it.
In St Helens Police Court on the 24th James Cunliffe appeared in the dock to face a charge of being drunk and disorderly. The Reporter described him as being in a "pitiable condition" as a result of over indulgence in beer, coupled with the effects of shell shock. PC Parkinson said on the previous afternoon he had been on duty outside the Sefton Arms in St Helens and saw Cunliffe staggering about in a drunken condition.
The constable said the man had been waving his arms about and shouting "Lloyd George and Asquith never were any good. Wait and see." He refused to go to his home in Prescot and so the constable said he'd been forced to lock him up. In court Cunliffe said he had only supped five pints of "Greenall's best" and denied making critical remarks about Asquith, explaining: "I stuck up for him; he's a Yorkshireman".
Cunliffe also described how he had been a soldier for twelve years and was unable to work because of shell shock. Because of his disability he received an army pension of £2 10 shillings a week and had spent time in an asylum. Chief Inspector Roe told the court that if the defendant kept away from beer he would be all right. The Bench fined him 7s 6d and also advised him to stay off Greenall's best.
The death of Alderman Charles Bishop was announced on the 24th. The flint glass maker had first entered the council in 1879 and had twice been mayor. Ald. Bishop was part of the series of inter-marriages between St Helens industrial families that occurred in the 19th century, with his wife being the eldest daughter of Sir David Gamble. His only son, Major Charles Gamble Bishop, had been killed in France in 1917.
On the 25th John Dudley appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with wounding with attempt to murder and injuring himself with intent to commit suicide. The 23-year-old glassmaker from Liverpool Road had been "keeping company" with Mary Pilkington for about four years but had become very possessive and jealous. Two evenings ago Mary went to John's house and told his mother: "I don't want anything more to do with Jack. He has been up to my mother telling her I am making a fool of him."
Shortly afterwards John arrived on the scene and accused Mary of "walking out" with other men and the court was told that they "wrangled" for some time. Around half-an-hour later Dudley went to Mary's home in Silkstone Street, near Boundary Road, and attacked her with a razor. The 21-year-old's face was cut from the temple down to her chin and then another dangerous wound was made on the side of her neck. In total, Mary received 32 stitches at Providence Hospital.
Dudley had also turned the razor on himself, cutting his throat – but not seriously. When questioned by the police the man insisted that he had not attempted to murder Mary, saying: "I did it to mark her for fooling me". In reply to the charge of attempted suicide, he said: "I was fed up, and wanted to pass away out of it." The Chief Constable said it would be a considerable time before the victim was able to attend court and Dudley was remanded until June 2nd.
On the 25th William Harrison from Victoria Street was charged with committing a breach of the peace in College Street. PC Taylor gave evidence of finding Harrison stripped to the waist in front of a crowd of people challenging them to a fight. When he saw the constable making his way through the crowd Harrison ran away. However, PC Taylor tracked him down and told him he would be reported, to which Harrison replied somewhat mysteriously, "It was the woman next door". He was bound over for six months.
The cost of photography had come down considerably over the last few years and Henry Hulme was only charging sixpence per picture. He was one of a number of persons who sold their photographic services on the streets – but just like any other pedlar he needed to have a licence from the police. That Hulme had failed to obtain and he appeared in court on the 25th after being caught taking photos of two men in Mill Lane in Sutton. But after telling the magistrates that he had been taking pictures for 17 years and had never been asked for a licence before, Hulme was let off.
Earlier in the month a boating tragedy had occurred on Taylor Park lake in which John Forrester had drowned in spite of William Stamper's brave attempt at rescue. The 15-year-old from Moss Street in Prescot was thought to have died after suffering an epileptic fit and in this week's edition of the Reporter a letter from his uncle was published. John Burns criticised others for simply watching William Stamper rather than assisting him in his rescue attempt. He also wondered why the young man had to walk two miles from Taylor Park to his Edward Street home in wet clothes with his "terrified wife and little child by his side".
The St Helens Reporter also stated that the NSPCC from their office in Croppers Hill had during April investigated 15 cases of child cruelty involving 40 children. It had been Empire Day this week and the Reporter described how the "customary patriotic celebrations" had taken place in the St Helens' schools. The Boy Scouts had marked the event by marching to Victoria Square with their flags flying and bands playing. In the square the scouts paraded and sang the national anthem in front of large numbers of the public, who joined in the singing.
I’m not sure if it was through the housing crisis in St Helens or from personal choice (probably the former) but there were a number of people in Thatto Heath living in caravans. The Reporter described two court cases that had arisen from the caravan dwellers. Frederick Holmes was resident in Elephant Lane and was charged with committing a breach of the peace. PC Ridding gave evidence that he had seen Holmes quarrelling with his wife and daughter and when he asked him to be quiet the man used foul language towards him. Holmes was bound over for six months.
In the other case Andrew Rogers was described as living in a van in the Mushroom fields in Thatto Heath and was charged with allowing his horse to stray on the street. Straying horses could cause serious accidents, particularly with motor vehicles, and a man called Leyland gave evidence of finding the black mare wandering about King Street. Andrew Rogers also did not have a licence for his dog and he was fined 15 shillings in total, as well as 15 shillings costs.
A new slant was placed on the term "bookie's runner" this week when Sidney Taylor appeared in court. He was a well-known professional runner and had been accused of loitering in Langtree Street for the purpose of betting. PC Reynolds described seeing Taylor take bets and had run after him. He didn't do too badly in the chase and at one point had hold of the man's coat tails – but was forced to release him. The Reporter dubbed Taylor a "bookie-sprinter" and he was fined the usual sum for street betting of £10.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the missing money at Haydock Labour Club, the attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl by her uncle, a 3-month long Mersey mystery is solved and the 8-foot high bicycle that was ridden in St Helens.
This week's many stories include the Silkstone Street lovers' quarrel in which a woman was slashed with a razor, the new houses for Sutton Manor miners, the photographic pedlar without a licence, the caravan dwellers in Thatto Heath and the drunk at the Sefton Arms who was told in court that beer and shell shock did not mix.
We begin on the 23rd when a meeting was held between St Helens Chamber of Trade and St Helens Council's Finance Committee.
Its purpose was to request that the 16s 4d rate set for this year be reduced because of the poor level of trade that the town's shopkeepers were experiencing.
However, they were told that their intervention was too late. Not only had the full Town Council already approved the new rate – which was lower than last year – but the magistrates had also sanctioned it.
The housing crisis at Sutton Manor looked like being eased soon. In March the Reporter had described how many miners at the colliery (pictured above) were living in temporary accommodation within "row upon row of converted Army huts". Other workers were forced to commute to the mine from St Helens.
But on the 23rd at a meeting of the council's Housing Committee, plans to build 180 new houses were approved.
In St Helens Police Court on the 24th James Cunliffe appeared in the dock to face a charge of being drunk and disorderly.
The Reporter described him as being in a "pitiable condition" as a result of over indulgence in beer, coupled with the effects of shell shock.
PC Parkinson said on the previous afternoon he had been on duty outside the Sefton Arms in St Helens and saw Cunliffe staggering about in a drunken condition.
The constable said the man had been waving his arms about and shouting "Lloyd George and Asquith never were any good. Wait and see."
He refused to go to his home in Prescot and so the constable said he'd been forced to lock him up.
In court Cunliffe said he had only supped five pints of "Greenall's best" and denied making critical remarks about Asquith, explaining: "I stuck up for him; he's a Yorkshireman".
Cunliffe also described how he had been a soldier for twelve years and was unable to work because of shell shock.
Because of his disability he received an army pension of £2 10 shillings a week and had spent time in an asylum.
Chief Inspector Roe told the court that if the defendant kept away from beer he would be all right. The Bench fined him 7s 6d and also advised him to stay off Greenall's best.
The death of Alderman Charles Bishop was announced on the 24th. The flint glass maker had first entered the council in 1879 and had twice been mayor.
Ald. Bishop was part of the series of inter-marriages between St Helens industrial families that occurred in the 19th century, with his wife being the eldest daughter of Sir David Gamble.
His only son, Major Charles Gamble Bishop, had been killed in France in 1917.
On the 25th John Dudley appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with wounding with attempt to murder and injuring himself with intent to commit suicide.
The 23-year-old glassmaker from Liverpool Road had been "keeping company" with Mary Pilkington for about four years but had become very possessive and jealous.
Two evenings ago Mary went to John's house and told his mother: "I don't want anything more to do with Jack. He has been up to my mother telling her I am making a fool of him."
Shortly afterwards John arrived on the scene and accused Mary of "walking out" with other men and the court was told that they "wrangled" for some time.
Around half-an-hour later Dudley went to Mary's home in Silkstone Street, near Boundary Road, and attacked her with a razor.
The 21-year-old's face was cut from the temple down to her chin and then another dangerous wound was made on the side of her neck. In total, Mary received 32 stitches at Providence Hospital.
Dudley had also turned the razor on himself, cutting his throat – but not seriously.
When questioned by the police the man insisted that he had not attempted to murder Mary, saying: "I did it to mark her for fooling me".
In reply to the charge of attempted suicide, he said: "I was fed up, and wanted to pass away out of it."
The Chief Constable said it would be a considerable time before the victim was able to attend court and Dudley was remanded until June 2nd.
On the 25th William Harrison from Victoria Street was charged with committing a breach of the peace in College Street.
PC Taylor gave evidence of finding Harrison stripped to the waist in front of a crowd of people challenging them to a fight. When he saw the constable making his way through the crowd Harrison ran away.
However, PC Taylor tracked him down and told him he would be reported, to which Harrison replied somewhat mysteriously, "It was the woman next door". He was bound over for six months.
The cost of photography had come down considerably over the last few years and Henry Hulme was only charging sixpence per picture.
He was one of a number of persons who sold their photographic services on the streets – but just like any other pedlar he needed to have a licence from the police.
That Hulme had failed to obtain and he appeared in court on the 25th after being caught taking photos of two men in Mill Lane in Sutton.
But after telling the magistrates that he had been taking pictures for 17 years and had never been asked for a licence before, Hulme was let off.
Earlier in the month a boating tragedy had occurred on Taylor Park lake in which John Forrester had drowned in spite of William Stamper's brave attempt at rescue.
The 15-year-old from Moss Street in Prescot was thought to have died after suffering an epileptic fit and in this week's edition of the Reporter a letter from his uncle was published.
John Burns criticised others for simply watching William Stamper rather than assisting him in his rescue attempt.
He also wondered why the young man had to walk two miles from Taylor Park to his Edward Street home in wet clothes with his "terrified wife and little child by his side".
The St Helens Reporter also stated that the NSPCC from their office in Croppers Hill had during April investigated 15 cases of child cruelty involving 40 children.
It had been Empire Day this week and the Reporter described how the "customary patriotic celebrations" had taken place in the St Helens' schools.
The Boy Scouts had marked the event by marching to Victoria Square with their flags flying and bands playing.
In the square the scouts paraded and sang the national anthem in front of large numbers of the public, who joined in the singing.
I’m not sure if it was through the housing crisis in St Helens or from personal choice (probably the former) but there were a number of people in Thatto Heath living in caravans.
The Reporter described two court cases that had arisen from the caravan dwellers.
Frederick Holmes was resident in Elephant Lane and was charged with committing a breach of the peace.
PC Ridding gave evidence that he had seen Holmes quarrelling with his wife and daughter and when he asked him to be quiet the man used foul language towards him. Holmes was bound over for six months.
In the other case Andrew Rogers was described as living in a van in the Mushroom fields in Thatto Heath and was charged with allowing his horse to stray on the street.
Straying horses could cause serious accidents, particularly with motor vehicles, and a man called Leyland gave evidence of finding the black mare wandering about King Street.
Andrew Rogers also did not have a licence for his dog and he was fined 15 shillings in total, as well as 15 shillings costs.
A new slant was placed on the term "bookie's runner" this week when Sidney Taylor appeared in court.
He was a well-known professional runner and had been accused of loitering in Langtree Street for the purpose of betting.
PC Reynolds described seeing Taylor take bets and had run after him. He didn't do too badly in the chase and at one point had hold of the man's coat tails – but was forced to release him.
The Reporter dubbed Taylor a "bookie-sprinter" and he was fined the usual sum for street betting of £10.
And finally, the first meeting of the St Helens Rotary Club took place in the Fleece Hotel (pictured above) on the 28th.
This was not the same Fleece that closed in 1986, as the original Church Street hotel was demolished in 1931 and a new Fleece built in the same year.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the missing money at Haydock Labour Club, the attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl by her uncle, a 3-month long Mersey mystery is solved and the 8-foot high bicycle that was ridden in St Helens.
We begin on the 23rd when a meeting was held between St Helens Chamber of Trade and St Helens Council's Finance Committee.
Its purpose was to request that the 16s 4d rate set for this year be reduced because of the poor level of trade that the town's shopkeepers were experiencing.
However, they were told that their intervention was too late. Not only had the full Town Council already approved the new rate – which was lower than last year – but the magistrates had also sanctioned it.
But on the 23rd at a meeting of the council's Housing Committee, plans to build 180 new houses were approved.
In St Helens Police Court on the 24th James Cunliffe appeared in the dock to face a charge of being drunk and disorderly.
The Reporter described him as being in a "pitiable condition" as a result of over indulgence in beer, coupled with the effects of shell shock.
PC Parkinson said on the previous afternoon he had been on duty outside the Sefton Arms in St Helens and saw Cunliffe staggering about in a drunken condition.
The constable said the man had been waving his arms about and shouting "Lloyd George and Asquith never were any good. Wait and see."
He refused to go to his home in Prescot and so the constable said he'd been forced to lock him up.
In court Cunliffe said he had only supped five pints of "Greenall's best" and denied making critical remarks about Asquith, explaining: "I stuck up for him; he's a Yorkshireman".
Cunliffe also described how he had been a soldier for twelve years and was unable to work because of shell shock.
Because of his disability he received an army pension of £2 10 shillings a week and had spent time in an asylum.
Chief Inspector Roe told the court that if the defendant kept away from beer he would be all right. The Bench fined him 7s 6d and also advised him to stay off Greenall's best.
The death of Alderman Charles Bishop was announced on the 24th. The flint glass maker had first entered the council in 1879 and had twice been mayor.
Ald. Bishop was part of the series of inter-marriages between St Helens industrial families that occurred in the 19th century, with his wife being the eldest daughter of Sir David Gamble.
His only son, Major Charles Gamble Bishop, had been killed in France in 1917.
On the 25th John Dudley appeared in St Helens Police Court charged with wounding with attempt to murder and injuring himself with intent to commit suicide.
The 23-year-old glassmaker from Liverpool Road had been "keeping company" with Mary Pilkington for about four years but had become very possessive and jealous.
Two evenings ago Mary went to John's house and told his mother: "I don't want anything more to do with Jack. He has been up to my mother telling her I am making a fool of him."
Shortly afterwards John arrived on the scene and accused Mary of "walking out" with other men and the court was told that they "wrangled" for some time.
Around half-an-hour later Dudley went to Mary's home in Silkstone Street, near Boundary Road, and attacked her with a razor.
The 21-year-old's face was cut from the temple down to her chin and then another dangerous wound was made on the side of her neck. In total, Mary received 32 stitches at Providence Hospital.
Dudley had also turned the razor on himself, cutting his throat – but not seriously.
When questioned by the police the man insisted that he had not attempted to murder Mary, saying: "I did it to mark her for fooling me".
In reply to the charge of attempted suicide, he said: "I was fed up, and wanted to pass away out of it."
The Chief Constable said it would be a considerable time before the victim was able to attend court and Dudley was remanded until June 2nd.
On the 25th William Harrison from Victoria Street was charged with committing a breach of the peace in College Street.
PC Taylor gave evidence of finding Harrison stripped to the waist in front of a crowd of people challenging them to a fight. When he saw the constable making his way through the crowd Harrison ran away.
However, PC Taylor tracked him down and told him he would be reported, to which Harrison replied somewhat mysteriously, "It was the woman next door". He was bound over for six months.
The cost of photography had come down considerably over the last few years and Henry Hulme was only charging sixpence per picture.
He was one of a number of persons who sold their photographic services on the streets – but just like any other pedlar he needed to have a licence from the police.
That Hulme had failed to obtain and he appeared in court on the 25th after being caught taking photos of two men in Mill Lane in Sutton.
But after telling the magistrates that he had been taking pictures for 17 years and had never been asked for a licence before, Hulme was let off.
Earlier in the month a boating tragedy had occurred on Taylor Park lake in which John Forrester had drowned in spite of William Stamper's brave attempt at rescue.
The 15-year-old from Moss Street in Prescot was thought to have died after suffering an epileptic fit and in this week's edition of the Reporter a letter from his uncle was published.
John Burns criticised others for simply watching William Stamper rather than assisting him in his rescue attempt.
He also wondered why the young man had to walk two miles from Taylor Park to his Edward Street home in wet clothes with his "terrified wife and little child by his side".
The St Helens Reporter also stated that the NSPCC from their office in Croppers Hill had during April investigated 15 cases of child cruelty involving 40 children.
It had been Empire Day this week and the Reporter described how the "customary patriotic celebrations" had taken place in the St Helens' schools.
The Boy Scouts had marked the event by marching to Victoria Square with their flags flying and bands playing.
In the square the scouts paraded and sang the national anthem in front of large numbers of the public, who joined in the singing.
I’m not sure if it was through the housing crisis in St Helens or from personal choice (probably the former) but there were a number of people in Thatto Heath living in caravans.
The Reporter described two court cases that had arisen from the caravan dwellers.
Frederick Holmes was resident in Elephant Lane and was charged with committing a breach of the peace.
PC Ridding gave evidence that he had seen Holmes quarrelling with his wife and daughter and when he asked him to be quiet the man used foul language towards him. Holmes was bound over for six months.
In the other case Andrew Rogers was described as living in a van in the Mushroom fields in Thatto Heath and was charged with allowing his horse to stray on the street.
Straying horses could cause serious accidents, particularly with motor vehicles, and a man called Leyland gave evidence of finding the black mare wandering about King Street.
Andrew Rogers also did not have a licence for his dog and he was fined 15 shillings in total, as well as 15 shillings costs.
A new slant was placed on the term "bookie's runner" this week when Sidney Taylor appeared in court.
He was a well-known professional runner and had been accused of loitering in Langtree Street for the purpose of betting.
PC Reynolds described seeing Taylor take bets and had run after him. He didn't do too badly in the chase and at one point had hold of the man's coat tails – but was forced to release him.
The Reporter dubbed Taylor a "bookie-sprinter" and he was fined the usual sum for street betting of £10.
This was not the same Fleece that closed in 1986, as the original Church Street hotel was demolished in 1931 and a new Fleece built in the same year.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the missing money at Haydock Labour Club, the attempted murder of a 5-year-old girl by her uncle, a 3-month long Mersey mystery is solved and the 8-foot high bicycle that was ridden in St Helens.