IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (26 JUNE - 2 JULY 1923)
This week's many stories include a professional boxer's serious assault on a 12-year-old boy at Parr Fair, the dispute over the Town Clerk's salary is finally resolved, the ice-cream man's lame horse that struggled up Cowley Hill, the ban on car parking on St Helens streets and the Parr mother's knock-out punch as she intervened in a street fight.
The present wave of colliery deaths was continuing and on the 27th the inquest on Robert Heyes was held. The 61-year-old from Park Road had worked for many years at Havannah Colliery in Parr (pictured above) and had met his death after being struck down by a coal tub. His wife Catherine told the hearing that her husband had been a little deaf, which probably accounted for the accident. The management of the colliery made a statement to the inquiry that Mr Heyes had been a very good workman, "one of the best we had".
It was common for court cases to be adjourned until the victim of a serious assault was fit to attend. And so why young Ralph Fairclough of Ashcroft Street needed to appear in St Helens Police Court on the 28th was a mystery. The 12-year-old was described by the Echo as "evidently in great pain and hardly able to speak" and needed to be carried into the courtroom. With difficulty Ralph explained how his mother had sent him to Parr Fair to tell Thomas Maloney – who was employed at the fair and lodged at their house – to come home. While waiting for Maloney he said Frank Phillips had come running round the show tent and had kicked him unconscious.
Phillips was described as a showman and professional boxer from Graham Street in Fingerpost. He had told police that the boy had been looking into the tent but he hadn't meant to hurt him – "my foot just happened to catch him", he'd said. The magistrates described the case as a very serious one but they felt unable to come to any decision owing to the state of the lad who during the hearing collapsed and had to be carried out of the courtroom. The case was adjourned for a fortnight, with Phillips told he would have to find £10 bail to be freed from custody.
Also on the 28th it was announced that the eight-month-long dispute over the St Helens Town Clerk's salary had finally been resolved. As a result of a campaign by Labour councillors, William Andrew had been told his £1,500 pay was being reduced to £1,368. Because of his refusal to accept any reduction, Andrew was given three months' notice, which was due to expire at the end of June. But a compromise proposal had now been accepted in which the clerk's pension provision would be boosted to compensate for his reduced salary.
St Helens Police Court heard on the 29th how Mary Hardman had attempted to stop a late-night fight that had been taking place in Waine Street in Parr between two men – one of whom was her son. But Robert Arkwright did not appreciate the woman's interference and had punched the 52-year-old in the face knocking out three of her teeth. The blow also knocked the mother of seven out for ten minutes and she told the Bench that she had lost much blood and her speech had been affected by the assault.
Witness Alexander Hackett of Recreation Street said a simple argument between the two men had led to "bad words" and then blows being exchanged. The street had been filled with spectators "in no time" as neighbours left their homes to enjoy the fight. He also claimed Mrs Hardman had been accidentally struck as she went between the two fighters to try and separate them and had received a punch intended for her son. Robert Arkwright was fined 10 shillings and costs.
The Reporter on the 29th described another court case involving cruelty to horses through being worked in an unfit condition. Inspector Edmund Hallam of the RSPCA lived in Cowley Hill Lane. He told the magistrates that when he'd looked out of a window of his house he had seen a bay gelding horse crawling up Cowley Hill. He said the animal was walking so lame that its nose almost touched the ground.
Later he went to stables in Ward Street where the horse was kept and found it in great pain and totally unfit to work. Its owner was ice-cream seller John Manfreds from Duke Street and he told Inspector Anders of the police that he didn't think his horse was as bad as it had been of late. But the inspector said he found it very lame and a vet gave evidence that he thought the animal must have been in that state for around three weeks.
Inspector Anders added that Manfreds had told him that he had paid £10 for the horse at a sale only a few months before. That was not a lot and, of course, like most things you get what you pay for and Manfreds got an old horse. The ice-cream man was fined £2 and told to also pay the vet's fee of a guinea.
The Reporter carried an advert for "Taylor & Jones, Chimney Sweepers – Orders promptly attended to. Distance no object. Addresses: 15, Cyprus St., and 31 Kemble St., Prescot." The ad of Forsters of Westfield Street in St Helens was promoting their holiday wear with "dainty blouses" and "smart summer frocks" on sale.
The increasing membership of the Labour Party was leading to an increase in the number of Labour clubs that were being opened in St Helens. On the 30th a new club was opened in Knowsley Road in a converted building opposite Knowsley Road School that had previously been known as Half-Penny Hall. Billiards rather than snooker was a staple of such clubs and the new Labour Club had two tables for its members to enjoy. The Reporter in its write-up felt the need to mention how electric light had been fitted in the club, something that few of its members would yet have in their homes.
The increasing numbers of motorists in St Helens were not allowed to park their cars on any road in the town for any length of time – due to the possibility of obstruction. There was no need for yellow lines to be laid down. It was illegal to park your car on any street for longer than it took to load or unload goods. Those driving into St Helens town centre to do some shopping would likely have taken their chances by parking on the street or on some wasteland out of the way.
In September 1922 St Helens Corporation had chosen a site on the corner of Hardshaw Street and Bickerstaffe Street (where Century House is now) for their first "parking ground", as it was called. And it was free to use. In fact it was not until 1969 that the council introduced a charge of one shilling for a 2-hour stay in its public car parks. But those who parked their vehicles on the street in the 1920s risked receiving a summons.
In St Helens Police Court on July 2nd three Liverpool men called Alfred Robinson, Frederick Wilson and Henry Boulter were charged with obstructing the highway with their motor cars. Sgt. Lomas gave evidence of finding the three vehicles parked in a line in St Thomas Street in St Helens and he said they had remained there for a long time without anyone being in charge. When the sergeant later interviewed the drivers Robinson had admitted that they had often left their cars in that street at dinnertime.
In court the three defendants insisted they did not know they were doing wrong and said no one had warned them not to leave their vehicles. To that Superintendent Dunn said he could not bring himself to believe the defendants were unaware they were doing wrong, adding: "They must have known perfectly well they could not leave their motors on the highway at any time without having someone in charge of them. It was not necessary to warn them."
Each of the three was fined 10 shillings. Another man was fined the same amount after parking his vehicle opposite the Co-op Stores in Baldwin Street. He was from Stockport, with the two sets of prosecutions suggesting that those from outside the town did not know where they were allowed to park when visiting St Helens.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Thatto Heath family row that ended in death, the reckless newsboys riding their bikes, the scheme to boost employment of ex-servicemen and the Knowsley Road man that drowned in the bath with his socks on.
It was common for court cases to be adjourned until the victim of a serious assault was fit to attend. And so why young Ralph Fairclough of Ashcroft Street needed to appear in St Helens Police Court on the 28th was a mystery. The 12-year-old was described by the Echo as "evidently in great pain and hardly able to speak" and needed to be carried into the courtroom. With difficulty Ralph explained how his mother had sent him to Parr Fair to tell Thomas Maloney – who was employed at the fair and lodged at their house – to come home. While waiting for Maloney he said Frank Phillips had come running round the show tent and had kicked him unconscious.
Phillips was described as a showman and professional boxer from Graham Street in Fingerpost. He had told police that the boy had been looking into the tent but he hadn't meant to hurt him – "my foot just happened to catch him", he'd said. The magistrates described the case as a very serious one but they felt unable to come to any decision owing to the state of the lad who during the hearing collapsed and had to be carried out of the courtroom. The case was adjourned for a fortnight, with Phillips told he would have to find £10 bail to be freed from custody.
Also on the 28th it was announced that the eight-month-long dispute over the St Helens Town Clerk's salary had finally been resolved. As a result of a campaign by Labour councillors, William Andrew had been told his £1,500 pay was being reduced to £1,368. Because of his refusal to accept any reduction, Andrew was given three months' notice, which was due to expire at the end of June. But a compromise proposal had now been accepted in which the clerk's pension provision would be boosted to compensate for his reduced salary.
St Helens Police Court heard on the 29th how Mary Hardman had attempted to stop a late-night fight that had been taking place in Waine Street in Parr between two men – one of whom was her son. But Robert Arkwright did not appreciate the woman's interference and had punched the 52-year-old in the face knocking out three of her teeth. The blow also knocked the mother of seven out for ten minutes and she told the Bench that she had lost much blood and her speech had been affected by the assault.
Witness Alexander Hackett of Recreation Street said a simple argument between the two men had led to "bad words" and then blows being exchanged. The street had been filled with spectators "in no time" as neighbours left their homes to enjoy the fight. He also claimed Mrs Hardman had been accidentally struck as she went between the two fighters to try and separate them and had received a punch intended for her son. Robert Arkwright was fined 10 shillings and costs.
The Reporter on the 29th described another court case involving cruelty to horses through being worked in an unfit condition. Inspector Edmund Hallam of the RSPCA lived in Cowley Hill Lane. He told the magistrates that when he'd looked out of a window of his house he had seen a bay gelding horse crawling up Cowley Hill. He said the animal was walking so lame that its nose almost touched the ground.
Later he went to stables in Ward Street where the horse was kept and found it in great pain and totally unfit to work. Its owner was ice-cream seller John Manfreds from Duke Street and he told Inspector Anders of the police that he didn't think his horse was as bad as it had been of late. But the inspector said he found it very lame and a vet gave evidence that he thought the animal must have been in that state for around three weeks.
Inspector Anders added that Manfreds had told him that he had paid £10 for the horse at a sale only a few months before. That was not a lot and, of course, like most things you get what you pay for and Manfreds got an old horse. The ice-cream man was fined £2 and told to also pay the vet's fee of a guinea.
The Reporter carried an advert for "Taylor & Jones, Chimney Sweepers – Orders promptly attended to. Distance no object. Addresses: 15, Cyprus St., and 31 Kemble St., Prescot." The ad of Forsters of Westfield Street in St Helens was promoting their holiday wear with "dainty blouses" and "smart summer frocks" on sale.
The increasing membership of the Labour Party was leading to an increase in the number of Labour clubs that were being opened in St Helens. On the 30th a new club was opened in Knowsley Road in a converted building opposite Knowsley Road School that had previously been known as Half-Penny Hall. Billiards rather than snooker was a staple of such clubs and the new Labour Club had two tables for its members to enjoy. The Reporter in its write-up felt the need to mention how electric light had been fitted in the club, something that few of its members would yet have in their homes.
The increasing numbers of motorists in St Helens were not allowed to park their cars on any road in the town for any length of time – due to the possibility of obstruction. There was no need for yellow lines to be laid down. It was illegal to park your car on any street for longer than it took to load or unload goods. Those driving into St Helens town centre to do some shopping would likely have taken their chances by parking on the street or on some wasteland out of the way.
In September 1922 St Helens Corporation had chosen a site on the corner of Hardshaw Street and Bickerstaffe Street (where Century House is now) for their first "parking ground", as it was called. And it was free to use. In fact it was not until 1969 that the council introduced a charge of one shilling for a 2-hour stay in its public car parks. But those who parked their vehicles on the street in the 1920s risked receiving a summons.
In St Helens Police Court on July 2nd three Liverpool men called Alfred Robinson, Frederick Wilson and Henry Boulter were charged with obstructing the highway with their motor cars. Sgt. Lomas gave evidence of finding the three vehicles parked in a line in St Thomas Street in St Helens and he said they had remained there for a long time without anyone being in charge. When the sergeant later interviewed the drivers Robinson had admitted that they had often left their cars in that street at dinnertime.
In court the three defendants insisted they did not know they were doing wrong and said no one had warned them not to leave their vehicles. To that Superintendent Dunn said he could not bring himself to believe the defendants were unaware they were doing wrong, adding: "They must have known perfectly well they could not leave their motors on the highway at any time without having someone in charge of them. It was not necessary to warn them."
Each of the three was fined 10 shillings. Another man was fined the same amount after parking his vehicle opposite the Co-op Stores in Baldwin Street. He was from Stockport, with the two sets of prosecutions suggesting that those from outside the town did not know where they were allowed to park when visiting St Helens.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Thatto Heath family row that ended in death, the reckless newsboys riding their bikes, the scheme to boost employment of ex-servicemen and the Knowsley Road man that drowned in the bath with his socks on.
This week's many stories include a professional boxer's serious assault on a 12-year-old boy at Parr Fair, the dispute over the Town Clerk's salary is finally resolved, the ice-cream man's lame horse that struggled up Cowley Hill, the ban on car parking on St Helens streets and the Parr mother's knock-out punch as she intervened in a street fight.
The present wave of colliery deaths was continuing and on the 27th the inquest on Robert Heyes was held.
The 61-year-old from Park Road had worked for many years at Havannah Colliery in Parr (pictured above) and had met his death after being struck down by a coal tub.
His wife Catherine told the hearing that her husband had been a little deaf, which probably accounted for the accident.
The management of the colliery made a statement to the inquiry that Mr Heyes had been a very good workman, "one of the best we had".
It was common for court cases to be adjourned until the victim of a serious assault was fit to attend.
And so why young Ralph Fairclough of Ashcroft Street needed to appear in St Helens Police Court on the 28th was a mystery.
The 12-year-old was described by the Echo as "evidently in great pain and hardly able to speak" and needed to be carried into the courtroom.
With difficulty Ralph explained how his mother had sent him to Parr Fair to tell Thomas Maloney – who was employed at the fair and lodged at their house – to come home.
While waiting for Maloney he said Frank Phillips had come running round the show tent and had kicked him unconscious.
Phillips was described as a showman and professional boxer from Graham Street in Fingerpost.
He had told police that the boy had been looking into the tent but he hadn't meant to hurt him – "my foot just happened to catch him", he'd said.
The magistrates described the case as a very serious one but they felt unable to come to any decision owing to the state of the lad who during the hearing collapsed and had to be carried out of the courtroom.
The case was adjourned for a fortnight, with Phillips told he would have to find £10 bail to be freed from custody.
Also on the 28th it was announced that the eight-month-long dispute over the St Helens Town Clerk's salary had finally been resolved.
As a result of a campaign by Labour councillors, William Andrew had been told his £1,500 pay was being reduced to £1,368.
Because of his refusal to accept any reduction, Andrew was given three months' notice, which was due to expire at the end of June.
But a compromise proposal had now been accepted in which the clerk's pension provision would be boosted to compensate for his reduced salary.
St Helens Police Court heard on the 29th how Mary Hardman had attempted to stop a late-night fight that had been taking place in Waine Street in Parr between two men – one of whom was her son.
But Robert Arkwright did not appreciate the woman's interference and had punched the 52-year-old in the face knocking out three of her teeth.
The blow also knocked the mother of seven out for ten minutes and she told the Bench that she had lost much blood and her speech had been affected by the assault.
Witness Alexander Hackett of Recreation Street said a simple argument between the two men had led to "bad words" and then blows being exchanged.
The street had been filled with spectators "in no time" as neighbours left their homes to enjoy the fight.
He also claimed Mrs Hardman had been accidentally struck as she went between the two fighters to try and separate them and had received a punch intended for her son. Robert Arkwright was fined 10 shillings and costs.
The Reporter on the 29th described another court case involving cruelty to horses through being worked in an unfit condition.
Inspector Edmund Hallam of the RSPCA lived in Cowley Hill Lane. He told the magistrates that when he'd looked out of a window of his house he had seen a bay gelding horse crawling up Cowley Hill.
He said the animal was walking so lame that its nose almost touched the ground.
Later he went to stables in Ward Street where the horse was kept and found it in great pain and totally unfit to work.
Its owner was ice-cream seller John Manfreds from Duke Street and he told Inspector Anders of the police that he didn't think his horse was as bad as it had been of late.
But the inspector said he found it very lame and a vet gave evidence that he thought the animal must have been in that state for around three weeks.
Inspector Anders added that Manfreds had told him that he had paid £10 for the horse at a sale only a few months before.
That was not a lot and, of course, like most things you get what you pay for and Manfreds got an old horse. The ice-cream man was fined £2 and told to also pay the vet's fee of a guinea.
The Reporter carried an advert for "Taylor & Jones, Chimney Sweepers – Orders promptly attended to. Distance no object. Addresses: 15, Cyprus St., and 31 Kemble St., Prescot."
The ad of Forsters of Westfield Street in St Helens was promoting their holiday wear with "dainty blouses" and "smart summer frocks" on sale.
The increasing membership of the Labour Party was leading to an increase in the number of Labour clubs that were being opened in St Helens.
On the 30th a new club was opened in Knowsley Road in a converted building opposite Knowsley Road School that had previously been known as Half-Penny Hall.
Billiards rather than snooker was a staple of such clubs and the new Labour Club had two tables for its members to enjoy.
The Reporter in its write-up felt the need to mention how electric light had been fitted in the club, something that few of its members would yet have in their homes.
The increasing numbers of motorists in St Helens were not allowed to park their cars on any road in the town for any length of time – due to the possibility of obstruction.
There was no need for yellow lines to be laid down. It was illegal to park your car on any street for longer than it took to load or unload goods.
Those driving into St Helens town centre to do some shopping would likely have taken their chances by parking on the street or on some wasteland out of the way.
In September 1922 St Helens Corporation had chosen a site on the corner of Hardshaw Street and Bickerstaffe Street (where Century House is now) for their first "parking ground", as it was called.
And it was free to use. In fact it was not until 1969 that the council introduced a charge of one shilling for a 2-hour stay in its public car parks.
But those who parked their vehicles on the street in the 1920s risked receiving a summons.
In St Helens Police Court on July 2nd three Liverpool men called Alfred Robinson, Frederick Wilson and Henry Boulter were charged with obstructing the highway with their motor cars.
Sgt. Lomas gave evidence of finding the three vehicles parked in a line in St Thomas Street in St Helens and he said they had remained there for a long time without anyone being in charge.
When the sergeant later interviewed the drivers Robinson had admitted that they had often left their cars in that street at dinnertime.
In court the three defendants insisted they did not know they were doing wrong and said no one had warned them not to leave their vehicles.
To that Superintendent Dunn said he could not bring himself to believe the defendants were unaware they were doing wrong, adding:
"They must have known perfectly well they could not leave their motors on the highway at any time without having someone in charge of them. It was not necessary to warn them."
Each of the three was fined 10 shillings. Another man was fined the same amount after parking his vehicle opposite the Co-op Stores in Baldwin Street.
He was from Stockport, with the two sets of prosecutions suggesting that those from outside the town did not know where they were allowed to park when visiting St Helens.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Thatto Heath family row that ended in death, the reckless newsboys riding their bikes, the scheme to boost employment of ex-servicemen and the Knowsley Road man that drowned in the bath with his socks on.
The present wave of colliery deaths was continuing and on the 27th the inquest on Robert Heyes was held.
His wife Catherine told the hearing that her husband had been a little deaf, which probably accounted for the accident.
The management of the colliery made a statement to the inquiry that Mr Heyes had been a very good workman, "one of the best we had".
It was common for court cases to be adjourned until the victim of a serious assault was fit to attend.
And so why young Ralph Fairclough of Ashcroft Street needed to appear in St Helens Police Court on the 28th was a mystery.
The 12-year-old was described by the Echo as "evidently in great pain and hardly able to speak" and needed to be carried into the courtroom.
With difficulty Ralph explained how his mother had sent him to Parr Fair to tell Thomas Maloney – who was employed at the fair and lodged at their house – to come home.
While waiting for Maloney he said Frank Phillips had come running round the show tent and had kicked him unconscious.
Phillips was described as a showman and professional boxer from Graham Street in Fingerpost.
He had told police that the boy had been looking into the tent but he hadn't meant to hurt him – "my foot just happened to catch him", he'd said.
The magistrates described the case as a very serious one but they felt unable to come to any decision owing to the state of the lad who during the hearing collapsed and had to be carried out of the courtroom.
The case was adjourned for a fortnight, with Phillips told he would have to find £10 bail to be freed from custody.
Also on the 28th it was announced that the eight-month-long dispute over the St Helens Town Clerk's salary had finally been resolved.
As a result of a campaign by Labour councillors, William Andrew had been told his £1,500 pay was being reduced to £1,368.
Because of his refusal to accept any reduction, Andrew was given three months' notice, which was due to expire at the end of June.
But a compromise proposal had now been accepted in which the clerk's pension provision would be boosted to compensate for his reduced salary.
St Helens Police Court heard on the 29th how Mary Hardman had attempted to stop a late-night fight that had been taking place in Waine Street in Parr between two men – one of whom was her son.
But Robert Arkwright did not appreciate the woman's interference and had punched the 52-year-old in the face knocking out three of her teeth.
The blow also knocked the mother of seven out for ten minutes and she told the Bench that she had lost much blood and her speech had been affected by the assault.
Witness Alexander Hackett of Recreation Street said a simple argument between the two men had led to "bad words" and then blows being exchanged.
The street had been filled with spectators "in no time" as neighbours left their homes to enjoy the fight.
He also claimed Mrs Hardman had been accidentally struck as she went between the two fighters to try and separate them and had received a punch intended for her son. Robert Arkwright was fined 10 shillings and costs.
The Reporter on the 29th described another court case involving cruelty to horses through being worked in an unfit condition.
Inspector Edmund Hallam of the RSPCA lived in Cowley Hill Lane. He told the magistrates that when he'd looked out of a window of his house he had seen a bay gelding horse crawling up Cowley Hill.
He said the animal was walking so lame that its nose almost touched the ground.
Later he went to stables in Ward Street where the horse was kept and found it in great pain and totally unfit to work.
Its owner was ice-cream seller John Manfreds from Duke Street and he told Inspector Anders of the police that he didn't think his horse was as bad as it had been of late.
But the inspector said he found it very lame and a vet gave evidence that he thought the animal must have been in that state for around three weeks.
Inspector Anders added that Manfreds had told him that he had paid £10 for the horse at a sale only a few months before.
That was not a lot and, of course, like most things you get what you pay for and Manfreds got an old horse. The ice-cream man was fined £2 and told to also pay the vet's fee of a guinea.
The Reporter carried an advert for "Taylor & Jones, Chimney Sweepers – Orders promptly attended to. Distance no object. Addresses: 15, Cyprus St., and 31 Kemble St., Prescot."
The ad of Forsters of Westfield Street in St Helens was promoting their holiday wear with "dainty blouses" and "smart summer frocks" on sale.
The increasing membership of the Labour Party was leading to an increase in the number of Labour clubs that were being opened in St Helens.
On the 30th a new club was opened in Knowsley Road in a converted building opposite Knowsley Road School that had previously been known as Half-Penny Hall.
Billiards rather than snooker was a staple of such clubs and the new Labour Club had two tables for its members to enjoy.
The Reporter in its write-up felt the need to mention how electric light had been fitted in the club, something that few of its members would yet have in their homes.
The increasing numbers of motorists in St Helens were not allowed to park their cars on any road in the town for any length of time – due to the possibility of obstruction.
There was no need for yellow lines to be laid down. It was illegal to park your car on any street for longer than it took to load or unload goods.
Those driving into St Helens town centre to do some shopping would likely have taken their chances by parking on the street or on some wasteland out of the way.
In September 1922 St Helens Corporation had chosen a site on the corner of Hardshaw Street and Bickerstaffe Street (where Century House is now) for their first "parking ground", as it was called.
And it was free to use. In fact it was not until 1969 that the council introduced a charge of one shilling for a 2-hour stay in its public car parks.
But those who parked their vehicles on the street in the 1920s risked receiving a summons.
In St Helens Police Court on July 2nd three Liverpool men called Alfred Robinson, Frederick Wilson and Henry Boulter were charged with obstructing the highway with their motor cars.
Sgt. Lomas gave evidence of finding the three vehicles parked in a line in St Thomas Street in St Helens and he said they had remained there for a long time without anyone being in charge.
When the sergeant later interviewed the drivers Robinson had admitted that they had often left their cars in that street at dinnertime.
In court the three defendants insisted they did not know they were doing wrong and said no one had warned them not to leave their vehicles.
To that Superintendent Dunn said he could not bring himself to believe the defendants were unaware they were doing wrong, adding:
"They must have known perfectly well they could not leave their motors on the highway at any time without having someone in charge of them. It was not necessary to warn them."
Each of the three was fined 10 shillings. Another man was fined the same amount after parking his vehicle opposite the Co-op Stores in Baldwin Street.
He was from Stockport, with the two sets of prosecutions suggesting that those from outside the town did not know where they were allowed to park when visiting St Helens.
St Helens Reporter courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Thatto Heath family row that ended in death, the reckless newsboys riding their bikes, the scheme to boost employment of ex-servicemen and the Knowsley Road man that drowned in the bath with his socks on.