150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 2 - 8 JUNE 1875
This week's many stories include the angry woman that smashed the windows of her own home, the child knocked down by a horse and cart in Smithy Brow, the middle-aged couple from Earlestown who eloped, the tramps that heartlessly deserted a child in Burtonwood and the Church Street draper who was given permission to work women 14 hours a day.
Last week I wrote how Thomas Gleave had been bound over to keep the peace for a month after assaulting his wife Jane on Whit Monday. Gleave was the well-known Corporation official in charge of St Helens markets who lived in East Street in St Helens town centre by the marketplace. But Jane Gleave sounds like quite a fiery woman and she certainly did not appreciate her husband locking her out of her home as a sequel to last week's hearing.
PC George Gibb told St Helens Petty Sessions this week that when he arrived at her house at 1pm he had found Jane shouting in a yard, with the woman having smashed several of her own windows. And PC Doig added that when he got to the place it was "in a complete state of riot". The police added that Mrs Gleave had told them her husband had beaten her and turned her out and she was simply attempting to get back inside.
The husband gave evidence that he had sent his wife out at 8am to get some milk but when she returned home at 9:30 she had been drunk. He said that after he had accused her of being intoxicated she had become very abusive and claimed that he had to go to a neighbour's house "for protection" – but denied having beaten his wife.
The husband added that his wife had followed him to the neighbour's and, after he had decided to return home, she had thrown stones and a boot at their windows. Mr Gleave even claimed that he had been the one that had sent for the police. His wife's solicitor denied that there had been any breach of the peace, with his client only trying to get into her own house where she had a right to be. And Jane Gleave gave sworn testimony that she had not been drunk and when she returned with the milk her husband had beaten her and turned her out.
Jane also claimed that her husband had frequently threatened that he would hang for her since his court conviction last week. She was eventually bound over to keep the peace for three months, herself in £10 and two sureties of £5 each, or, if in default, serve 14 days imprisonment. That was a lot of money and I think we can safely presume that Jane Gleave went to prison for a fortnight unless her husband coughed up the cash.
In another case it was revealed that Church Street draper Christopher Sharples had been given a special order from the government to work women for 14 hours a day. Sharples had been charged by the Government Inspector of Factories with having seven females employed at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night. Women had some protection from working excessively long hours and one restriction was that they could not be employed on Saturdays after 4pm. That only applied to establishments in which more than five persons worked.
However, the 14 hours a day dispensation did not apply on Saturday and the defendant was fined 5 shillings and costs. Sharples claimed that he had not made any use of the 14 hours a day exemption from the regulations and blamed pressure of orders for the Whit holidays for employing the women for long periods on a Saturday.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 5th reported that the wave of cockfighting cases was continuing. After fights had recently taken place on Aintree racecourse and in Ulverston, one had taken place this week inside a brewery at Nottingham. Twenty men had been involved, mostly publicans, and the Newspaper said the floor was covered in blood.
Hill's Magic Vermin Killer was advertised in the Newspaper in which they claimed: "Mice appear attracted to it as by magic, and readily tumble over, and die on the spot." Packets of the killer powder were available for 3d from "most respectable chemists", suggesting others were a bit dodgy!
The Newspaper also wrote: "Some excitement was caused at the end of last week at Earlestown by the rumoured flight of a woman of 50 summers, the wife of a man who is employed at the Vulcan Foundry, with a neighbouring shoemaker. "A clandestine intercourse is said for some time to have been maintained by the runaways, and recently the husband of the fair one avowed his suspicions, but was quieted with the repeated assurances of constancy on the part of his better half.
"As a further proof of her love and attachment she proposed the withdrawal of a sum of £14, which was deposited in her husband's name in a local building society, with which she said she would buy him a “decent Sunday suit” of clothes. Her proposition was readily acceded to; the money was accordingly withdrawn, and unsuspectingly placed in her hands for safe keeping.
"She, however, betrayed this mark of her husband's confidence, for the following day, in accordance with a previously devised plan she left Earlestown by train accompanied by the shoemaker, her companion-in-flight, taking with her the £14, several bundles of clothing, and a watch belonging to her son."
The shoemaker was also married and as yet the runaway couple had yet to be detained by the police. They had been called in because the woman's clothing (and the £14) belonged in law to her husband and so she and her lover could be facing arrest.
There used to be many accidents involving horse-driven vehicles and this week an inquest was held on Michael Morissey. Unbeknown to the driver, the 9-year-old was thought to have hitched a lift on a large cart known as a lorry that was being driven from the station to Parr. Somehow one of the lorry's wheels had gone over one of the boy's legs, crushing it severely. Michael was taken to the infirmary at Whiston Workhouse but died within 48 hours.
The Newspaper also reported how tramps were believed to have heartlessly deserted a child at Burtonwood. Two men had heard the cries of a 4-month-old baby girl wrapped in an old black shawl lying in John Fairclough's field. The police took charge of the child and she had since been removed to Warrington Workhouse.
At the beginning of 1871 the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck had announced the formation of the German Empire and began a programme of religious discrimination. As a result many German Catholics chose – or felt forced – to leave the country. A number of priests settled in Ditton and on the 6th the German Choir of Ditton Hall (as they were billed) sang at Holy Cross Church in St Helens (pictured above).
And finally, on the 8th a claim for £5 damages was heard in St Helens County Court in East Street after a boy had been struck by a horse and cart and injured. Alfred Fawk had been driving a cart from Peasley Cross down Warrington New Road and was accused of turning the corner into Smithy Brow (Parr Street) very abruptly. It was claimed that Fawk continued to drive fast on the right hand side of the road when James Foy was crossing the road.
The 4-year-old was struck by the horse and knocked down and one of the wheels of the cart subsequently passed over the top of his head. There were the usual conflicting witness accounts, with other claims that the cart was being driven with "every caution". It was also stated that the child was partly responsible for the accident as he had let go of his brother's hand while crossing the road and was returning to the other side when struck. Eventually Judge Collier ruled in favour of the boy and awarded him the full amount sought.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Robins Lane trespassing case, the Westfield Street pub that was illegally serving drinks, the Sutton council by-election and the Baxters Lane sewage that was flowing around people's yards.
Last week I wrote how Thomas Gleave had been bound over to keep the peace for a month after assaulting his wife Jane on Whit Monday. Gleave was the well-known Corporation official in charge of St Helens markets who lived in East Street in St Helens town centre by the marketplace. But Jane Gleave sounds like quite a fiery woman and she certainly did not appreciate her husband locking her out of her home as a sequel to last week's hearing.
PC George Gibb told St Helens Petty Sessions this week that when he arrived at her house at 1pm he had found Jane shouting in a yard, with the woman having smashed several of her own windows. And PC Doig added that when he got to the place it was "in a complete state of riot". The police added that Mrs Gleave had told them her husband had beaten her and turned her out and she was simply attempting to get back inside.
The husband gave evidence that he had sent his wife out at 8am to get some milk but when she returned home at 9:30 she had been drunk. He said that after he had accused her of being intoxicated she had become very abusive and claimed that he had to go to a neighbour's house "for protection" – but denied having beaten his wife.
The husband added that his wife had followed him to the neighbour's and, after he had decided to return home, she had thrown stones and a boot at their windows. Mr Gleave even claimed that he had been the one that had sent for the police. His wife's solicitor denied that there had been any breach of the peace, with his client only trying to get into her own house where she had a right to be. And Jane Gleave gave sworn testimony that she had not been drunk and when she returned with the milk her husband had beaten her and turned her out.
Jane also claimed that her husband had frequently threatened that he would hang for her since his court conviction last week. She was eventually bound over to keep the peace for three months, herself in £10 and two sureties of £5 each, or, if in default, serve 14 days imprisonment. That was a lot of money and I think we can safely presume that Jane Gleave went to prison for a fortnight unless her husband coughed up the cash.
In another case it was revealed that Church Street draper Christopher Sharples had been given a special order from the government to work women for 14 hours a day. Sharples had been charged by the Government Inspector of Factories with having seven females employed at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night. Women had some protection from working excessively long hours and one restriction was that they could not be employed on Saturdays after 4pm. That only applied to establishments in which more than five persons worked.
However, the 14 hours a day dispensation did not apply on Saturday and the defendant was fined 5 shillings and costs. Sharples claimed that he had not made any use of the 14 hours a day exemption from the regulations and blamed pressure of orders for the Whit holidays for employing the women for long periods on a Saturday.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 5th reported that the wave of cockfighting cases was continuing. After fights had recently taken place on Aintree racecourse and in Ulverston, one had taken place this week inside a brewery at Nottingham. Twenty men had been involved, mostly publicans, and the Newspaper said the floor was covered in blood.
Hill's Magic Vermin Killer was advertised in the Newspaper in which they claimed: "Mice appear attracted to it as by magic, and readily tumble over, and die on the spot." Packets of the killer powder were available for 3d from "most respectable chemists", suggesting others were a bit dodgy!
The Newspaper also wrote: "Some excitement was caused at the end of last week at Earlestown by the rumoured flight of a woman of 50 summers, the wife of a man who is employed at the Vulcan Foundry, with a neighbouring shoemaker. "A clandestine intercourse is said for some time to have been maintained by the runaways, and recently the husband of the fair one avowed his suspicions, but was quieted with the repeated assurances of constancy on the part of his better half.
"As a further proof of her love and attachment she proposed the withdrawal of a sum of £14, which was deposited in her husband's name in a local building society, with which she said she would buy him a “decent Sunday suit” of clothes. Her proposition was readily acceded to; the money was accordingly withdrawn, and unsuspectingly placed in her hands for safe keeping.
"She, however, betrayed this mark of her husband's confidence, for the following day, in accordance with a previously devised plan she left Earlestown by train accompanied by the shoemaker, her companion-in-flight, taking with her the £14, several bundles of clothing, and a watch belonging to her son."
The shoemaker was also married and as yet the runaway couple had yet to be detained by the police. They had been called in because the woman's clothing (and the £14) belonged in law to her husband and so she and her lover could be facing arrest.
There used to be many accidents involving horse-driven vehicles and this week an inquest was held on Michael Morissey. Unbeknown to the driver, the 9-year-old was thought to have hitched a lift on a large cart known as a lorry that was being driven from the station to Parr. Somehow one of the lorry's wheels had gone over one of the boy's legs, crushing it severely. Michael was taken to the infirmary at Whiston Workhouse but died within 48 hours.
The Newspaper also reported how tramps were believed to have heartlessly deserted a child at Burtonwood. Two men had heard the cries of a 4-month-old baby girl wrapped in an old black shawl lying in John Fairclough's field. The police took charge of the child and she had since been removed to Warrington Workhouse.
And finally, on the 8th a claim for £5 damages was heard in St Helens County Court in East Street after a boy had been struck by a horse and cart and injured. Alfred Fawk had been driving a cart from Peasley Cross down Warrington New Road and was accused of turning the corner into Smithy Brow (Parr Street) very abruptly. It was claimed that Fawk continued to drive fast on the right hand side of the road when James Foy was crossing the road.
The 4-year-old was struck by the horse and knocked down and one of the wheels of the cart subsequently passed over the top of his head. There were the usual conflicting witness accounts, with other claims that the cart was being driven with "every caution". It was also stated that the child was partly responsible for the accident as he had let go of his brother's hand while crossing the road and was returning to the other side when struck. Eventually Judge Collier ruled in favour of the boy and awarded him the full amount sought.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Robins Lane trespassing case, the Westfield Street pub that was illegally serving drinks, the Sutton council by-election and the Baxters Lane sewage that was flowing around people's yards.
This week's many stories include the angry woman that smashed the windows of her own home, the child knocked down by a horse and cart in Smithy Brow, the middle-aged couple from Earlestown who eloped, the tramps that heartlessly deserted a child in Burtonwood and the Church Street draper who was given permission to work women 14 hours a day.
Last week I wrote how Thomas Gleave had been bound over to keep the peace for a month after assaulting his wife Jane on Whit Monday.
Gleave was the well-known Corporation official in charge of St Helens markets who lived in East Street in St Helens town centre by the marketplace.
But Jane Gleave sounds like quite a fiery woman and she certainly did not appreciate her husband locking her out of her home as a sequel to last week's hearing.
PC George Gibb told St Helens Petty Sessions this week that when he arrived at her house at 1pm he had found Jane shouting in a yard, with the woman having smashed several of her own windows.
And PC Doig added that when he got to the place it was "in a complete state of riot".
The police added that Mrs Gleave had told them her husband had beaten her and turned her out and she was simply attempting to get back inside.
The husband gave evidence that he had sent his wife out at 8am to get some milk but when she returned home at 9:30 she had been drunk.
He said that after he had accused her of being intoxicated she had become very abusive and claimed that he had to go to a neighbour's house "for protection" – but denied having beaten his wife.
The husband added that his wife had followed him to the neighbour's and, after he had decided to return home, she had thrown stones and a boot at their windows.
Mr Gleave even claimed that he had been the one that had sent for the police.
His wife's solicitor denied that there had been any breach of the peace, with his client only trying to get into her own house where she had a right to be.
And Jane Gleave gave sworn testimony that she had not been drunk and when she returned with the milk her husband had beaten her and turned her out.
Jane also claimed that her husband had frequently threatened that he would hang for her since his court conviction last week.
She was eventually bound over to keep the peace for three months, herself in £10 and two sureties of £5 each, or, if in default, serve 14 days imprisonment.
That was a lot of money and I think we can safely presume that Jane Gleave went to prison for a fortnight unless her husband coughed up the cash.
In another case it was revealed that Church Street draper Christopher Sharples had been given a special order from the government to work women for 14 hours a day.
Sharples had been charged by the Government Inspector of Factories with having seven females employed at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night.
Women had some protection from working excessively long hours and one restriction was that they could not be employed on Saturdays after 4pm.
That only applied to establishments in which more than five persons worked.
However, the 14 hours a day dispensation did not apply on Saturday and the defendant was fined 5 shillings and costs.
Sharples claimed that he had not made any use of the 14 hours a day exemption from the regulations and blamed pressure of orders for the Whit holidays for employing the women for long periods on a Saturday.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 5th reported that the wave of cockfighting cases was continuing.
After fights had recently taken place on Aintree racecourse and in Ulverston, one had taken place this week inside a brewery at Nottingham.
Twenty men had been involved, mostly publicans, and the Newspaper said the floor was covered in blood.
Hill's Magic Vermin Killer was advertised in the Newspaper in which they claimed: "Mice appear attracted to it as by magic, and readily tumble over, and die on the spot."
Packets of the killer powder were available for 3d from "most respectable chemists", suggesting others were a bit dodgy!
The Newspaper also wrote: "Some excitement was caused at the end of last week at Earlestown by the rumoured flight of a woman of 50 summers, the wife of a man who is employed at the Vulcan Foundry, with a neighbouring shoemaker.
"A clandestine intercourse is said for some time to have been maintained by the runaways, and recently the husband of the fair one avowed his suspicions, but was quieted with the repeated assurances of constancy on the part of his better half.
"As a further proof of her love and attachment she proposed the withdrawal of a sum of £14, which was deposited in her husband's name in a local building society, with which she said she would buy him a “decent Sunday suit” of clothes.
"Her proposition was readily acceded to; the money was accordingly withdrawn, and unsuspectingly placed in her hands for safe keeping.
"She, however, betrayed this mark of her husband's confidence, for the following day, in accordance with a previously devised plan she left Earlestown by train accompanied by the shoemaker, her companion-in-flight, taking with her the £14, several bundles of clothing, and a watch belonging to her son."
The shoemaker was also married and as yet the runaway couple had yet to be detained by the police.
They had been called in because the woman's clothing (and the £14) belonged in law to her husband and so she and her lover could be facing arrest.
There used to be many accidents involving horse-driven vehicles and this week an inquest was held on Michael Morissey.
Unbeknown to the driver, the 9-year-old was thought to have hitched a lift on a large cart known as a lorry that was being driven from the station to Parr.
Somehow one of the lorry's wheels had gone over one of the boy's legs, crushing it severely.
Michael was taken to the infirmary at Whiston Workhouse but died within 48 hours.
The Newspaper also reported how tramps were believed to have heartlessly deserted a child at Burtonwood.
Two men had heard the cries of a 4-month-old baby girl wrapped in an old black shawl lying in John Fairclough's field.
The police took charge of the child and she had since been removed to Warrington Workhouse.
At the beginning of 1871 the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck had announced the formation of the German Empire and began a programme of religious discrimination.
As a result many German Catholics chose – or felt forced – to leave the country. A number of priests settled in Ditton and on the 6th the German Choir of Ditton Hall (as they were billed) sang at Holy Cross Church in St Helens (pictured above).
And finally, on the 8th a claim for £5 damages was heard in St Helens County Court in East Street after a boy had been struck by a horse and cart and injured.
Alfred Fawk had been driving a cart from Peasley Cross down Warrington New Road and was accused of turning the corner into Smithy Brow (Parr Street) very abruptly.
It was claimed that Fawk continued to drive fast on the right hand side of the road when James Foy was crossing the road.
The 4-year-old was struck by the horse and knocked down and one of the wheels of the cart subsequently passed over the top of his head.
There were the usual conflicting witness accounts, with other claims that the cart was being driven with "every caution".
It was also stated that the child was partly responsible for the accident as he had let go of his brother's hand while crossing the road and was returning to the other side when struck.
Eventually Judge Collier ruled in favour of the boy and awarded him the full amount sought.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Robins Lane trespassing case, the Westfield Street pub that was illegally serving drinks, the Sutton council by-election and the Baxters Lane sewage that was flowing around people's yards.
Last week I wrote how Thomas Gleave had been bound over to keep the peace for a month after assaulting his wife Jane on Whit Monday.
Gleave was the well-known Corporation official in charge of St Helens markets who lived in East Street in St Helens town centre by the marketplace.
But Jane Gleave sounds like quite a fiery woman and she certainly did not appreciate her husband locking her out of her home as a sequel to last week's hearing.
PC George Gibb told St Helens Petty Sessions this week that when he arrived at her house at 1pm he had found Jane shouting in a yard, with the woman having smashed several of her own windows.
And PC Doig added that when he got to the place it was "in a complete state of riot".
The police added that Mrs Gleave had told them her husband had beaten her and turned her out and she was simply attempting to get back inside.
The husband gave evidence that he had sent his wife out at 8am to get some milk but when she returned home at 9:30 she had been drunk.
He said that after he had accused her of being intoxicated she had become very abusive and claimed that he had to go to a neighbour's house "for protection" – but denied having beaten his wife.
The husband added that his wife had followed him to the neighbour's and, after he had decided to return home, she had thrown stones and a boot at their windows.
Mr Gleave even claimed that he had been the one that had sent for the police.
His wife's solicitor denied that there had been any breach of the peace, with his client only trying to get into her own house where she had a right to be.
And Jane Gleave gave sworn testimony that she had not been drunk and when she returned with the milk her husband had beaten her and turned her out.
Jane also claimed that her husband had frequently threatened that he would hang for her since his court conviction last week.
She was eventually bound over to keep the peace for three months, herself in £10 and two sureties of £5 each, or, if in default, serve 14 days imprisonment.
That was a lot of money and I think we can safely presume that Jane Gleave went to prison for a fortnight unless her husband coughed up the cash.
In another case it was revealed that Church Street draper Christopher Sharples had been given a special order from the government to work women for 14 hours a day.
Sharples had been charged by the Government Inspector of Factories with having seven females employed at 8 o’clock on a Saturday night.
Women had some protection from working excessively long hours and one restriction was that they could not be employed on Saturdays after 4pm.
That only applied to establishments in which more than five persons worked.
However, the 14 hours a day dispensation did not apply on Saturday and the defendant was fined 5 shillings and costs.
Sharples claimed that he had not made any use of the 14 hours a day exemption from the regulations and blamed pressure of orders for the Whit holidays for employing the women for long periods on a Saturday.
The St Helens Newspaper on the 5th reported that the wave of cockfighting cases was continuing.
After fights had recently taken place on Aintree racecourse and in Ulverston, one had taken place this week inside a brewery at Nottingham.
Twenty men had been involved, mostly publicans, and the Newspaper said the floor was covered in blood.
Hill's Magic Vermin Killer was advertised in the Newspaper in which they claimed: "Mice appear attracted to it as by magic, and readily tumble over, and die on the spot."
Packets of the killer powder were available for 3d from "most respectable chemists", suggesting others were a bit dodgy!
The Newspaper also wrote: "Some excitement was caused at the end of last week at Earlestown by the rumoured flight of a woman of 50 summers, the wife of a man who is employed at the Vulcan Foundry, with a neighbouring shoemaker.
"A clandestine intercourse is said for some time to have been maintained by the runaways, and recently the husband of the fair one avowed his suspicions, but was quieted with the repeated assurances of constancy on the part of his better half.
"As a further proof of her love and attachment she proposed the withdrawal of a sum of £14, which was deposited in her husband's name in a local building society, with which she said she would buy him a “decent Sunday suit” of clothes.
"Her proposition was readily acceded to; the money was accordingly withdrawn, and unsuspectingly placed in her hands for safe keeping.
"She, however, betrayed this mark of her husband's confidence, for the following day, in accordance with a previously devised plan she left Earlestown by train accompanied by the shoemaker, her companion-in-flight, taking with her the £14, several bundles of clothing, and a watch belonging to her son."
The shoemaker was also married and as yet the runaway couple had yet to be detained by the police.
They had been called in because the woman's clothing (and the £14) belonged in law to her husband and so she and her lover could be facing arrest.
There used to be many accidents involving horse-driven vehicles and this week an inquest was held on Michael Morissey.
Unbeknown to the driver, the 9-year-old was thought to have hitched a lift on a large cart known as a lorry that was being driven from the station to Parr.
Somehow one of the lorry's wheels had gone over one of the boy's legs, crushing it severely.
Michael was taken to the infirmary at Whiston Workhouse but died within 48 hours.
The Newspaper also reported how tramps were believed to have heartlessly deserted a child at Burtonwood.
Two men had heard the cries of a 4-month-old baby girl wrapped in an old black shawl lying in John Fairclough's field.
The police took charge of the child and she had since been removed to Warrington Workhouse.
At the beginning of 1871 the Prussian Chancellor Otto von Bismarck had announced the formation of the German Empire and began a programme of religious discrimination.
And finally, on the 8th a claim for £5 damages was heard in St Helens County Court in East Street after a boy had been struck by a horse and cart and injured.
Alfred Fawk had been driving a cart from Peasley Cross down Warrington New Road and was accused of turning the corner into Smithy Brow (Parr Street) very abruptly.
It was claimed that Fawk continued to drive fast on the right hand side of the road when James Foy was crossing the road.
The 4-year-old was struck by the horse and knocked down and one of the wheels of the cart subsequently passed over the top of his head.
There were the usual conflicting witness accounts, with other claims that the cart was being driven with "every caution".
It was also stated that the child was partly responsible for the accident as he had let go of his brother's hand while crossing the road and was returning to the other side when struck.
Eventually Judge Collier ruled in favour of the boy and awarded him the full amount sought.
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Robins Lane trespassing case, the Westfield Street pub that was illegally serving drinks, the Sutton council by-election and the Baxters Lane sewage that was flowing around people's yards.