150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (4th - 10th APRIL 1872)
This week's stories include the lightning strike at St Bartholomew's Church in Rainhill, concern over too much clippety-clop in Cotham Street, St Helens Corporation takes the night soil human waste collection in-house, the married couple's joint attack on a policeman and the miner that was purred to death at Wigan.
We begin on the 6th when the St Helens Spring Fair opened for three days on the fairground off Salisbury Street. These were largely pleasure fairs held every Spring and Autumn and a lot of drinking usually went on. The St Helens Newspaper wrote that the April event had been a "perfect hive of business, and itinerants drove a roaring trade". A number of obese ladies were on public exhibition, which the paper referred to as "mammoth specimens of humanity".
On the 6th, under the headline "A Roman Catholic Chapel Set On Fire", the Wigan Observer wrote of a thunderstorm in the district that affected St Bartholomew's church in Rainhill (pictured above): "The storm passed over Rainhill about half-past four on Saturday afternoon. The lightning struck and set fire to St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Chapel. An alarm was soon spread, and assistance was on the spot immediately. Little damage was done in the chapel, but the vestry and chapel keeper's dwelling were more injured. No one was in the building. The fluid melted the gas pipes, broke windows, &c."
Numerous other newspapers nationwide covered the story with some adding that the "fearful storm" had also struck James Lewis's chemical works in Greenbank in St Helens. One of his sheds was torn down and fell on an adjoining cottage inflicting considerable damage. The St Helens Newspaper added that the storm had caused a great deal of fright in the town and an immense quantity of rain had fallen.
Also in the Newspaper on the 6th, there was a long poem that lamented how the job of designing the new Town Hall had not gone to a local man. It began:
"As I along the street to-day was walking,
I heard two architects together talking;
And from some words I heard them both let fall,
Their conversation was – the new Town Hall.
Said one, “It is a shame that native merit
Should be o’erlooked in such a shabby spirit.
Pray, do they think in town there’s not a man
That’s fully competent to draw a plan?
As well as any other in the nation
To show the groundplan and the elevation?
They set us down, sir, as a pack of noodles,
With no more sense than any ladies' poodles."
The Newspaper also reported that the Corporation was taking night soil collection in-house. Night soil was the euphemism for human faeces and was so-called because a collector removed it at night from the privies, pits and pail closets that people used as toilets. At least they were supposed to remove it. However, at a recent Town Council meeting, its members heard complaints that those contracted to undertake the unpleasant task were not very efficient.
A man called Fletcher was heavily criticised for sending "invalid" horses to perform night soil collections in Parr, while using his best horses for other council jobs where more money could be made. Councillor Joseph Greenough told the meeting: "Why, the man never does his work, and yet the Finance Committee let him come before them with bills for carting."
A petition from residents and property owners in Cotham Street was also read out at the meeting. They were unhappy with plans to pave the street with a noisy type of sett. Although they provided a better grip for horses, these setts were said to amplify their "clippety clop" sound to the point of distraction! However, it was pointed out at the meeting that Rawtenstall setts were going to be used, which were less noisy than granite ones.
The Newspaper also contained a report on a St Helens Petty Sessions hearing in which Patrick and Mary Murray from Upper Parr Street were charged with assaulting and resisting a police officer. Patrick Murray had been arrested for drunkenness but conducted himself so violently that several civilians had to provide assistance to get him into custody. And his wife Mary had tried to liberate her husband by dragging the officer by his collar and whiskers and attempting to bite him. They both probably ended up in prison – as their total fine was £4 10 shillings, which the couple was very unlikely to have been able to find.
In May 1871, 'The Great Vance', along with his "clever company", had presented a grand concert in Newton-le-Willows Town Hall. Alfred Vance was a comic music hall singer who wrote many songs. One of them called "Walking in the Zoo" has been cited as the earliest known use in this country of the term "OK" in its present sense.
And he had a female version of himself knocking about…well sort of! Miss Jenny Stanley styled herself "The female Vance" and this week she was performing at the New Concert Hall – as the Theatre Royal in St Helens was now calling itself. Reviews of Jenny's shows at other places dubbed her a "clever impersonator of character", a "clever delineator of male character", "a male impersonator" and "a careful soubrette and character vocalist".
Others on the bill were Brothers De Veer ("Sensational gymnasts – the best trapeze artistes"); George Harding ("Comedian and characteristic vocalist"); Mons and Madame Ellin ("Negro artists") and William Baker ("Premier nautical vocalist"). Being a nautical vocalist is a curious profession and from what I can tell, such persons simply sang sea shanties and the like. Some added "Sailor" to their stage name, such as Sailor Williams, whose performance in Knightsbridge in 1866 elicited this review:
"Mr. Williams, a real nautical vocalist, is engaged here, and a more thoroughly sailor-like looking person it is scarcely possible to meet with. He seems perfectly conversant with sailor phrases and maritime affairs in general, and sings with a deep, manly voice several songs in the jolly and spirited style which might be expected from a musical British tar."
However, these would be the last shows at the Theatre Royal (aka New Concert Hall) for the time being as The Era newspaper of April 7th published this advert: "ST. HELENS – NEW CONCERT HALL – Owing to unforeseen circumstances the above place will close on April 6th. All Engagements made will be considered cancelled. Wanted, a Situation, either as Agent-in-Advance, Manager or Chairman, for a First-class entertainment only. Address, John, Shakespeare Vaults, St. Helens".
The Shakespeare was in Bridge Street. Now, whether there was any connection with another classified ad placed in the same edition, I don't yet know. It read: "Pavilion Theatre. St. Helens. Wanted, Leader of Band, cornet and flute, Property Man to join at once. Address, C. H. Duvall." Charles Duvall was a 41-year-old theatrical impresario who owned a number of theatres in the North-West. Exactly where the Pavilion Theatre was situated, I am yet to establish. But it appears to have been a short-lived venue.
And finally, I've mentioned on a few occasions how Lancashire miners mainly fought using their feet. They called such fighting "purring" and a good kicking while wearing clogs could clearly do serious damage to a man. This week the Liverpool Weekly Courier published a long article entitled "“Purred” To Death At Wigan" in which Samuel Appleton was sentenced to 18 months hard labour at Liverpool Assizes. The 20-year-old had fought and killed John Finch in a railway goods yard in Highgate in Wigan after leaving a beerhouse. Similar fights occurred in St Helens and the judge at the assizes was horrified by what he heard of purring, as these extracts from the Weekly Courier reveal:
"The police-officer in his evidence produced a pair of clogs, iron-bound at the toes, and having rings of iron round the soles, and to the evident surprise of his lordship, said it was customary in Wigan when two men were fighting for one to knock the other down with his fists and then kick him with his clogs. His Lordship, in summing up the case, said it was shocking, at this period of time, when they were supposed to have made considerable advances, that in any town in England it should be considered to be fair fighting to knock a man down and kick him with clogs when he was down.
"There was something so ruffianly, so brutalising in such a mode of fighting that it required the evidence of a police-constable to satisfy him that that was the customary mode of fighting at Wigan. It was a most remarkable story about a beerhouse being so noted for its fights. People who earned their money hardly seemed to go there on Saturday nights, and immediately commence fighting in the house, arrange for fights outside, and fight in the most brutal manner described all for amusement.
"It seemed to be a very common occurrence at that house. He was astounded to hear of the practices at Wigan that had been spoken of, and the sooner they were put an end to the better. He should advise the gentlemen in authority at that borough if they fined in any cases of kicking, to lay it on pretty thick and severely in order to put an end to such an abominable custom as that of kicking a person when he was down."
Next week's stories will include the epileptic imbecile from Westfield Street who killed a boy with a stone, the electoral disabilities of women, the man who mistakenly drank chloroform at the Raven and there's a dazzling display of the Northern Lights.
We begin on the 6th when the St Helens Spring Fair opened for three days on the fairground off Salisbury Street. These were largely pleasure fairs held every Spring and Autumn and a lot of drinking usually went on. The St Helens Newspaper wrote that the April event had been a "perfect hive of business, and itinerants drove a roaring trade". A number of obese ladies were on public exhibition, which the paper referred to as "mammoth specimens of humanity".
Numerous other newspapers nationwide covered the story with some adding that the "fearful storm" had also struck James Lewis's chemical works in Greenbank in St Helens. One of his sheds was torn down and fell on an adjoining cottage inflicting considerable damage. The St Helens Newspaper added that the storm had caused a great deal of fright in the town and an immense quantity of rain had fallen.
Also in the Newspaper on the 6th, there was a long poem that lamented how the job of designing the new Town Hall had not gone to a local man. It began:
"As I along the street to-day was walking,
I heard two architects together talking;
And from some words I heard them both let fall,
Their conversation was – the new Town Hall.
Said one, “It is a shame that native merit
Should be o’erlooked in such a shabby spirit.
Pray, do they think in town there’s not a man
That’s fully competent to draw a plan?
As well as any other in the nation
To show the groundplan and the elevation?
They set us down, sir, as a pack of noodles,
With no more sense than any ladies' poodles."
The Newspaper also reported that the Corporation was taking night soil collection in-house. Night soil was the euphemism for human faeces and was so-called because a collector removed it at night from the privies, pits and pail closets that people used as toilets. At least they were supposed to remove it. However, at a recent Town Council meeting, its members heard complaints that those contracted to undertake the unpleasant task were not very efficient.
A man called Fletcher was heavily criticised for sending "invalid" horses to perform night soil collections in Parr, while using his best horses for other council jobs where more money could be made. Councillor Joseph Greenough told the meeting: "Why, the man never does his work, and yet the Finance Committee let him come before them with bills for carting."
A petition from residents and property owners in Cotham Street was also read out at the meeting. They were unhappy with plans to pave the street with a noisy type of sett. Although they provided a better grip for horses, these setts were said to amplify their "clippety clop" sound to the point of distraction! However, it was pointed out at the meeting that Rawtenstall setts were going to be used, which were less noisy than granite ones.
The Newspaper also contained a report on a St Helens Petty Sessions hearing in which Patrick and Mary Murray from Upper Parr Street were charged with assaulting and resisting a police officer. Patrick Murray had been arrested for drunkenness but conducted himself so violently that several civilians had to provide assistance to get him into custody. And his wife Mary had tried to liberate her husband by dragging the officer by his collar and whiskers and attempting to bite him. They both probably ended up in prison – as their total fine was £4 10 shillings, which the couple was very unlikely to have been able to find.
In May 1871, 'The Great Vance', along with his "clever company", had presented a grand concert in Newton-le-Willows Town Hall. Alfred Vance was a comic music hall singer who wrote many songs. One of them called "Walking in the Zoo" has been cited as the earliest known use in this country of the term "OK" in its present sense.
And he had a female version of himself knocking about…well sort of! Miss Jenny Stanley styled herself "The female Vance" and this week she was performing at the New Concert Hall – as the Theatre Royal in St Helens was now calling itself. Reviews of Jenny's shows at other places dubbed her a "clever impersonator of character", a "clever delineator of male character", "a male impersonator" and "a careful soubrette and character vocalist".
Others on the bill were Brothers De Veer ("Sensational gymnasts – the best trapeze artistes"); George Harding ("Comedian and characteristic vocalist"); Mons and Madame Ellin ("Negro artists") and William Baker ("Premier nautical vocalist"). Being a nautical vocalist is a curious profession and from what I can tell, such persons simply sang sea shanties and the like. Some added "Sailor" to their stage name, such as Sailor Williams, whose performance in Knightsbridge in 1866 elicited this review:
"Mr. Williams, a real nautical vocalist, is engaged here, and a more thoroughly sailor-like looking person it is scarcely possible to meet with. He seems perfectly conversant with sailor phrases and maritime affairs in general, and sings with a deep, manly voice several songs in the jolly and spirited style which might be expected from a musical British tar."
However, these would be the last shows at the Theatre Royal (aka New Concert Hall) for the time being as The Era newspaper of April 7th published this advert: "ST. HELENS – NEW CONCERT HALL – Owing to unforeseen circumstances the above place will close on April 6th. All Engagements made will be considered cancelled. Wanted, a Situation, either as Agent-in-Advance, Manager or Chairman, for a First-class entertainment only. Address, John, Shakespeare Vaults, St. Helens".
The Shakespeare was in Bridge Street. Now, whether there was any connection with another classified ad placed in the same edition, I don't yet know. It read: "Pavilion Theatre. St. Helens. Wanted, Leader of Band, cornet and flute, Property Man to join at once. Address, C. H. Duvall." Charles Duvall was a 41-year-old theatrical impresario who owned a number of theatres in the North-West. Exactly where the Pavilion Theatre was situated, I am yet to establish. But it appears to have been a short-lived venue.
And finally, I've mentioned on a few occasions how Lancashire miners mainly fought using their feet. They called such fighting "purring" and a good kicking while wearing clogs could clearly do serious damage to a man. This week the Liverpool Weekly Courier published a long article entitled "“Purred” To Death At Wigan" in which Samuel Appleton was sentenced to 18 months hard labour at Liverpool Assizes. The 20-year-old had fought and killed John Finch in a railway goods yard in Highgate in Wigan after leaving a beerhouse. Similar fights occurred in St Helens and the judge at the assizes was horrified by what he heard of purring, as these extracts from the Weekly Courier reveal:
"The police-officer in his evidence produced a pair of clogs, iron-bound at the toes, and having rings of iron round the soles, and to the evident surprise of his lordship, said it was customary in Wigan when two men were fighting for one to knock the other down with his fists and then kick him with his clogs. His Lordship, in summing up the case, said it was shocking, at this period of time, when they were supposed to have made considerable advances, that in any town in England it should be considered to be fair fighting to knock a man down and kick him with clogs when he was down.
"There was something so ruffianly, so brutalising in such a mode of fighting that it required the evidence of a police-constable to satisfy him that that was the customary mode of fighting at Wigan. It was a most remarkable story about a beerhouse being so noted for its fights. People who earned their money hardly seemed to go there on Saturday nights, and immediately commence fighting in the house, arrange for fights outside, and fight in the most brutal manner described all for amusement.
"It seemed to be a very common occurrence at that house. He was astounded to hear of the practices at Wigan that had been spoken of, and the sooner they were put an end to the better. He should advise the gentlemen in authority at that borough if they fined in any cases of kicking, to lay it on pretty thick and severely in order to put an end to such an abominable custom as that of kicking a person when he was down."
Next week's stories will include the epileptic imbecile from Westfield Street who killed a boy with a stone, the electoral disabilities of women, the man who mistakenly drank chloroform at the Raven and there's a dazzling display of the Northern Lights.
This week's stories include the lightning strike at St Bartholomew's Church in Rainhill, concern over too much clippety-clop in Cotham Street, St Helens Corporation takes the night soil human waste collection in-house, the married couple's joint attack on a policeman and the miner that was purred to death at Wigan.
We begin on the 6th when the St Helens Spring Fair opened for three days on the fairground off Salisbury Street.
These were largely pleasure fairs held every Spring and Autumn and a lot of drinking usually went on.
The St Helens Newspaper wrote that the April event had been a "perfect hive of business, and itinerants drove a roaring trade".
A number of obese ladies were on public exhibition, which the paper referred to as "mammoth specimens of humanity".
On the 6th, under the headline "A Roman Catholic Chapel Set On Fire", the Wigan Observer wrote of a thunderstorm in the district that affected St Bartholomew's church in Rainhill (pictured above):
"The storm passed over Rainhill about half-past four on Saturday afternoon. The lightning struck and set fire to St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Chapel.
"An alarm was soon spread, and assistance was on the spot immediately. Little damage was done in the chapel, but the vestry and chapel keeper's dwelling were more injured.
"No one was in the building. The fluid melted the gas pipes, broke windows, &c."
Numerous other newspapers nationwide covered the story with some adding that the "fearful storm" had also struck James Lewis's chemical works in Greenbank in St Helens.
One of his sheds was torn down and fell on an adjoining cottage inflicting considerable damage.
The St Helens Newspaper added that the storm had caused a great deal of fright in the town and an immense quantity of rain had fallen.
Also in the Newspaper on the 6th, there was a long poem that lamented how the job of designing the new Town Hall had not gone to a local man. It began:
As I along the street to-day was walking,
I heard two architects together talking;
And from some words I heard them both let fall,
Their conversation was – the new Town Hall.
Said one, “It is a shame that native merit
Should be o’erlooked in such a shabby spirit.
Pray, do they think in town there’s not a man
That’s fully competent to draw a plan?
As well as any other in the nation
To show the groundplan and the elevation?
They set us down, sir, as a pack of noodles,
With no more sense than any ladies' poodles.
The Newspaper also reported that the Corporation was taking night soil collection in-house.
Night soil was the euphemism for human faeces and was so-called because a collector removed it at night from the privies, pits and pail closets that people used as toilets.
At least they were supposed to remove it. However, at a recent Town Council meeting, its members heard complaints that those contracted to undertake the unpleasant task were not very efficient.
A man called Fletcher was heavily criticised for sending "invalid" horses to perform night soil collections in Parr, while using his best horses for other council jobs where more money could be made.
Councillor Joseph Greenough told the meeting: "Why, the man never does his work, and yet the Finance Committee let him come before them with bills for carting."
A petition from residents and property owners in Cotham Street was also read out at the meeting.
They were unhappy with plans to pave the street with a noisy type of sett.
Although they provided a better grip for horses, these setts were said to amplify their "clippety clop" sound to the point of distraction!
However, it was pointed out at the meeting that Rawtenstall setts were going to be used, which were less noisy than granite ones.
The Newspaper also contained a report on a St Helens Petty Sessions hearing in which Patrick and Mary Murray from Upper Parr Street were charged with assaulting and resisting a police officer.
Patrick Murray had been arrested for drunkenness but conducted himself so violently that several civilians had to provide assistance to get him into custody.
And his wife Mary had tried to liberate her husband by dragging the officer by his collar and whiskers and attempting to bite him.
They both probably ended up in prison – as their total fine was £4 10 shillings, which the couple was very unlikely to have been able to find.
In May 1871, 'The Great Vance', along with his "clever company", had presented a grand concert in Newton-le-Willows Town Hall.
Alfred Vance was a comic music hall singer who wrote many songs. One of them called "Walking in the Zoo" has been cited as the earliest known use in this country of the term "OK" in its present sense.
And he had a female version of himself knocking about…well sort of! Miss Jenny Stanley styled herself "The female Vance" and this week she was performing at the New Concert Hall – as the Theatre Royal in St Helens was now calling itself.
Reviews of Jenny's shows at other places dubbed her a "clever impersonator of character", a "clever delineator of male character", "a male impersonator" and "a careful soubrette and character vocalist".
Others on the bill were Brothers De Veer ("Sensational gymnasts – the best trapeze artistes"); George Harding ("Comedian and characteristic vocalist"); Mons and Madame Ellin ("Negro artists") and William Baker ("Premier nautical vocalist").
Being a nautical vocalist is a curious profession and from what I can tell, such persons simply sang sea shanties and the like.
Some added "Sailor" to their stage name, such as Sailor Williams, whose performance in Knightsbridge in 1866 elicited this review:
"Mr. Williams, a real nautical vocalist, is engaged here, and a more thoroughly sailor-like looking person it is scarcely possible to meet with.
"He seems perfectly conversant with sailor phrases and maritime affairs in general, and sings with a deep, manly voice several songs in the jolly and spirited style which might be expected from a musical British tar."
However, these would be the last shows at the Theatre Royal (aka New Concert Hall) for the time being as The Era newspaper of April 7th published this advert:
"ST. HELENS – NEW CONCERT HALL – Owing to unforeseen circumstances the above place will close on April 6th. All Engagements made will be considered cancelled. Wanted, a Situation, either as Agent-in-Advance, Manager or Chairman, for a First-class entertainment only. Address, John, Shakespeare Vaults, St. Helens".
The Shakespeare was in Bridge Street. Now, whether there was any connection with another classified ad placed in the same edition, I don't yet know. It read:
"Pavilion Theatre. St. Helens. Wanted, Leader of Band, cornet and flute, Property Man to join at once. Address, C. H. Duvall."
Charles Duvall was a 41-year-old theatrical impresario who owned a number of theatres in the North-West.
Exactly where the Pavilion Theatre was situated, I am yet to establish. But it appears to have been a short-lived venue.
And finally, I've mentioned on a few occasions how Lancashire miners mainly fought using their feet.
They called such fighting "purring" and a good kicking while wearing clogs could clearly do serious damage to a man.
This week the Liverpool Weekly Courier published a long article entitled "“Purred” To Death At Wigan" in which Samuel Appleton was sentenced to 18 months hard labour at Liverpool Assizes.
The 20-year-old had fought and killed John Finch in a railway goods yard in Highgate in Wigan after leaving a beerhouse.
Similar fights occurred in St Helens and the judge at the assizes was horrified by what he heard of purring, as these extracts from the Weekly Courier reveal:
"The police-officer in his evidence produced a pair of clogs, iron-bound at the toes, and having rings of iron round the soles, and to the evident surprise of his lordship, said it was customary in Wigan when two men were fighting for one to knock the other down with his fists and then kick him with his clogs.
"His Lordship, in summing up the case, said it was shocking, at this period of time, when they were supposed to have made considerable advances, that in any town in England it should be considered to be fair fighting to knock a man down and kick him with clogs when he was down.
"There was something so ruffianly, so brutalising in such a mode of fighting that it required the evidence of a police-constable to satisfy him that that was the customary mode of fighting at Wigan.
"It was a most remarkable story about a beerhouse being so noted for its fights. People who earned their money hardly seemed to go there on Saturday nights, and immediately commence fighting in the house, arrange for fights outside, and fight in the most brutal manner described all for amusement.
"It seemed to be a very common occurrence at that house. He was astounded to hear of the practices at Wigan that had been spoken of, and the sooner they were put an end to the better.
"He should advise the gentlemen in authority at that borough if they fined in any cases of kicking, to lay it on pretty thick and severely in order to put an end to such an abominable custom as that of kicking a person when he was down."
Next week's stories will include the epileptic imbecile from Westfield Street who killed a boy with a stone, the electoral disabilities of women, the man who mistakenly drank chloroform at the Raven and there's a dazzling display of the Northern Lights.
We begin on the 6th when the St Helens Spring Fair opened for three days on the fairground off Salisbury Street.
These were largely pleasure fairs held every Spring and Autumn and a lot of drinking usually went on.
The St Helens Newspaper wrote that the April event had been a "perfect hive of business, and itinerants drove a roaring trade".
A number of obese ladies were on public exhibition, which the paper referred to as "mammoth specimens of humanity".
"The storm passed over Rainhill about half-past four on Saturday afternoon. The lightning struck and set fire to St. Bartholomew's Roman Catholic Chapel.
"An alarm was soon spread, and assistance was on the spot immediately. Little damage was done in the chapel, but the vestry and chapel keeper's dwelling were more injured.
"No one was in the building. The fluid melted the gas pipes, broke windows, &c."
Numerous other newspapers nationwide covered the story with some adding that the "fearful storm" had also struck James Lewis's chemical works in Greenbank in St Helens.
One of his sheds was torn down and fell on an adjoining cottage inflicting considerable damage.
The St Helens Newspaper added that the storm had caused a great deal of fright in the town and an immense quantity of rain had fallen.
Also in the Newspaper on the 6th, there was a long poem that lamented how the job of designing the new Town Hall had not gone to a local man. It began:
As I along the street to-day was walking,
I heard two architects together talking;
And from some words I heard them both let fall,
Their conversation was – the new Town Hall.
Said one, “It is a shame that native merit
Should be o’erlooked in such a shabby spirit.
Pray, do they think in town there’s not a man
That’s fully competent to draw a plan?
As well as any other in the nation
To show the groundplan and the elevation?
They set us down, sir, as a pack of noodles,
With no more sense than any ladies' poodles.
The Newspaper also reported that the Corporation was taking night soil collection in-house.
Night soil was the euphemism for human faeces and was so-called because a collector removed it at night from the privies, pits and pail closets that people used as toilets.
At least they were supposed to remove it. However, at a recent Town Council meeting, its members heard complaints that those contracted to undertake the unpleasant task were not very efficient.
A man called Fletcher was heavily criticised for sending "invalid" horses to perform night soil collections in Parr, while using his best horses for other council jobs where more money could be made.
Councillor Joseph Greenough told the meeting: "Why, the man never does his work, and yet the Finance Committee let him come before them with bills for carting."
A petition from residents and property owners in Cotham Street was also read out at the meeting.
They were unhappy with plans to pave the street with a noisy type of sett.
Although they provided a better grip for horses, these setts were said to amplify their "clippety clop" sound to the point of distraction!
However, it was pointed out at the meeting that Rawtenstall setts were going to be used, which were less noisy than granite ones.
The Newspaper also contained a report on a St Helens Petty Sessions hearing in which Patrick and Mary Murray from Upper Parr Street were charged with assaulting and resisting a police officer.
Patrick Murray had been arrested for drunkenness but conducted himself so violently that several civilians had to provide assistance to get him into custody.
And his wife Mary had tried to liberate her husband by dragging the officer by his collar and whiskers and attempting to bite him.
They both probably ended up in prison – as their total fine was £4 10 shillings, which the couple was very unlikely to have been able to find.
In May 1871, 'The Great Vance', along with his "clever company", had presented a grand concert in Newton-le-Willows Town Hall.
Alfred Vance was a comic music hall singer who wrote many songs. One of them called "Walking in the Zoo" has been cited as the earliest known use in this country of the term "OK" in its present sense.
And he had a female version of himself knocking about…well sort of! Miss Jenny Stanley styled herself "The female Vance" and this week she was performing at the New Concert Hall – as the Theatre Royal in St Helens was now calling itself.
Reviews of Jenny's shows at other places dubbed her a "clever impersonator of character", a "clever delineator of male character", "a male impersonator" and "a careful soubrette and character vocalist".
Others on the bill were Brothers De Veer ("Sensational gymnasts – the best trapeze artistes"); George Harding ("Comedian and characteristic vocalist"); Mons and Madame Ellin ("Negro artists") and William Baker ("Premier nautical vocalist").
Being a nautical vocalist is a curious profession and from what I can tell, such persons simply sang sea shanties and the like.
Some added "Sailor" to their stage name, such as Sailor Williams, whose performance in Knightsbridge in 1866 elicited this review:
"Mr. Williams, a real nautical vocalist, is engaged here, and a more thoroughly sailor-like looking person it is scarcely possible to meet with.
"He seems perfectly conversant with sailor phrases and maritime affairs in general, and sings with a deep, manly voice several songs in the jolly and spirited style which might be expected from a musical British tar."
However, these would be the last shows at the Theatre Royal (aka New Concert Hall) for the time being as The Era newspaper of April 7th published this advert:
"ST. HELENS – NEW CONCERT HALL – Owing to unforeseen circumstances the above place will close on April 6th. All Engagements made will be considered cancelled. Wanted, a Situation, either as Agent-in-Advance, Manager or Chairman, for a First-class entertainment only. Address, John, Shakespeare Vaults, St. Helens".
The Shakespeare was in Bridge Street. Now, whether there was any connection with another classified ad placed in the same edition, I don't yet know. It read:
"Pavilion Theatre. St. Helens. Wanted, Leader of Band, cornet and flute, Property Man to join at once. Address, C. H. Duvall."
Charles Duvall was a 41-year-old theatrical impresario who owned a number of theatres in the North-West.
Exactly where the Pavilion Theatre was situated, I am yet to establish. But it appears to have been a short-lived venue.
And finally, I've mentioned on a few occasions how Lancashire miners mainly fought using their feet.
They called such fighting "purring" and a good kicking while wearing clogs could clearly do serious damage to a man.
This week the Liverpool Weekly Courier published a long article entitled "“Purred” To Death At Wigan" in which Samuel Appleton was sentenced to 18 months hard labour at Liverpool Assizes.
The 20-year-old had fought and killed John Finch in a railway goods yard in Highgate in Wigan after leaving a beerhouse.
Similar fights occurred in St Helens and the judge at the assizes was horrified by what he heard of purring, as these extracts from the Weekly Courier reveal:
"The police-officer in his evidence produced a pair of clogs, iron-bound at the toes, and having rings of iron round the soles, and to the evident surprise of his lordship, said it was customary in Wigan when two men were fighting for one to knock the other down with his fists and then kick him with his clogs.
"His Lordship, in summing up the case, said it was shocking, at this period of time, when they were supposed to have made considerable advances, that in any town in England it should be considered to be fair fighting to knock a man down and kick him with clogs when he was down.
"There was something so ruffianly, so brutalising in such a mode of fighting that it required the evidence of a police-constable to satisfy him that that was the customary mode of fighting at Wigan.
"It was a most remarkable story about a beerhouse being so noted for its fights. People who earned their money hardly seemed to go there on Saturday nights, and immediately commence fighting in the house, arrange for fights outside, and fight in the most brutal manner described all for amusement.
"It seemed to be a very common occurrence at that house. He was astounded to hear of the practices at Wigan that had been spoken of, and the sooner they were put an end to the better.
"He should advise the gentlemen in authority at that borough if they fined in any cases of kicking, to lay it on pretty thick and severely in order to put an end to such an abominable custom as that of kicking a person when he was down."
Next week's stories will include the epileptic imbecile from Westfield Street who killed a boy with a stone, the electoral disabilities of women, the man who mistakenly drank chloroform at the Raven and there's a dazzling display of the Northern Lights.