150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 3 - 9 FEBRRUARY 1875
This week's many stories include the blackface troupe performing at the Volunteer Hall, two coal mining tragedies take place, there is a harsh penalty for an unsuccessful attempt at stealing from an East Street till, even harsher penalties are imposed for stealing two shawls from the family home and the Grand Gala coming to Prescot that promised a galaxy of talented athletes.
We begin on the 5th when George Webster was killed at Havannah Colliery in Parr and another man called Robert Evans was described as having been very severely injured. The pair had been engaged in getting a huge stone that was estimated at two tons in weight out of the pit roof when it fell down on to them.
Patrick Moran appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 5th charged with stealing 10d from the till of the Coffee House Inn. That was situated in East Street where the court hearings were currently taking place until the new Town Hall building was finished. Barmaid Mary Lyall gave evidence of having served Moran during one afternoon and then she had entered the taproom.
She said she suddenly heard what the Newspaper described as the "gingling" of money in the bar. Upon returning she saw Moran in the act of leaning across the counter and extracting cash from the till. The man had only taken 10d which he immediately gave back to Mary.
Moran pleaded with her to let him go but she refused and sought a policeman to take the man into custody. If Moran had struck Mary he probably would only have been given a small fine or bound over. But, as I so often say, theft, or as in this case attempted theft, was taken very seriously 150 years ago and he was sent to prison for a month.
John Hallighan and Sarah Mather were also in court charged with stealing two shawls. The garments were valued at 2s 6d and they belonged to Ann Mather, the mother of Sarah. Mrs Mather told the court that she had left her home during one afternoon, leaving her daughter in the house along with the two shawls. When she returned Sarah and the garments had disappeared.
John Hallighan was accused of taking one to a house in Garden Street in Greenbank and selling the shawl for a shilling. And when he and Sarah were arrested, she was found to be wearing the other shawl. Both blamed the other for the theft and they were committed to take their trial at the next assizes hearing. They both had previous convictions and 18-year-old Sarah, who had previously served a month in prison for stealing boots, was given a further six months.
And 19-year-old John Hallighan who had seven prior convictions received 18 months in gaol. Court records show the stolen shawls belonged to Thomas Mather. I don't think he would have worn them but the belongings of wives were normally considered in law to be the property of their husbands.
On the 6th this advert was placed in the Prescot Reporter: "COMMERCIAL HOTEL, RAINHILL. J. Hubberstey begs to intimate to his friends and customers that he has taken the above Hotel, and hopes for a continuance of their favour – First-Class Billiard Table. Broughams [4-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] to be let on hire."
The paper – which cost a penny to purchase – also featured on its front page this notice from the Plough Hotel of Warrington Road in Prescot: "Our well-known Townsman and Enterprising Caterer of Public Amusements, wishful at all times to give his friends and the public treats of some description or other, begs to inform them that at the solicitation of several professional men he will hold a Grand Gala of 3 days standing in the above grounds upon WHIT SATURDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY, May 15, 17 and 18, when he will give the SUM of £60 to be CONTESTED for.
"Various feats, such as Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestling, Lancashire Wrestling, High Leap, Pole Jumping, Putting the Stones, Hammer Throwing, Picking up Stones and Eggs, one yard apart, Sack Racing, &c., &c., concluding each evening with a Grand Display of FIREWORKS.
"N.B. – Most of the old and young champions in these various feats have already promised their old friend to contest for the prizes, consisting of Money, Cups, Belts, Medals, &c., and the original champions of England will upon this occasion have the honour of exhibiting their well-earned Trophies of their skill, consisting of all or most of the prizes won for the last 20 years back, frequently exhibited to Royalty, Nobility and Gentry of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, forming a galaxy of talented men never before appearing in this neighbourhood."
Temperance movements were becoming more widespread and the Prescot Reporter also published this editorial on the subject: "It really does seem as if we are on the eve of a general and vigorous crusade against the curse of intemperance. The country is awakening up not merely to the necessity for more sobriety, but to the consciousness that unless effective action is taken, the state of things will soon become unbearable.
"The conference of [church] ministers last Monday in St. Helens was an encouraging beginning to what looks like an earnest movement, and we the more readily commend it because we have long maintained that until the clergy take up the matter honestly and with a determination to succeed, the effect will only serve to show how vain are the efforts of other reformers.
"At St. Helens there was a large gathering, including representatives from every denomination in the borough. It was well that all met on the common platform, for the evil they seek to remedy is confined to no particular class or creed, and if each will only labour hard amongst his own the result must be satisfactory."
As far as I know St Helens police were still operating out of their station that since 1839 had been attached to the old Town Hall in New Marketplace. That had largely escaped the fires that had badly damaged the Town Hall building. But John Reid seemed to think that the police station should be smashed up too, as he appeared in court this week charged with breaking several of its windows.
Reid had been put in the police cell on the previous Saturday night for being drunk and shortly after he had been locked up, a crash of glass was heard. He was found to be standing on the seat of the toilet smashing the windows with one of his boots. On the 8th Reid was fined 5 shillings and costs for the drunkenness and 2s 6d and costs for the window breaking.
The owners of horse-drawn carriages needed to take out a licence for their vehicle, although traders were exempt. However, they were not allowed to use it for any other purpose other than their own business and if caught doing so the Inland Revenue would prosecute them. This week there were many cases heard in the St Helens Petty Sessions of persons who were accused of keeping vehicles and dogs without a licence.
For example, Henry Radcliffe was a hay and straw dealer in St Helens and he was accused of lending his cart to his father who was a beer retailer. For that he was fined £5 and costs. James Smith received the same penalty for allowing his cart to convey three men and a woman and a boy through Church Street in St Helens towards Sutton. Smith claimed that he had sold the cart but the inspector for the Inland Revenue was a persistent sort who re-visited the man's premises and found the cart in his yard.
On the 9th a miner named John Brophy was fatally injured at Gillars Green Colliery in Eccleston. The young man was being drawn up a shaft with his brother when the engine that was winding them cut out. The failure caused the box that they were travelling in to swerve and for Mr Brophy to fall out.
He fell 45 yards and was taken home and medical aid summoned but he only survived his injuries for about 90 minutes. Ian Winstanley and Geoff Simm's book Mining Memories states that Gillars Green Colliery was situated in Burrows Lane, opposite Gillars Lane, and closed in 1883.
And finally, the Court Minstrels appeared at the Volunteer Hall in St Helens (pictured above) on the 5th and 6th. They were one of many burnt-cork blackface troupes that toured the country singing, telling jokes and dancing. Their advert said: "Comprising the cream of Negro Minstrelsy. The most original company ever organized."
The prices of admission ranged from 6d to 2 shillings and the St Helens Newspaper wrote that their previous appearance in St Helens had gone down well – or, as they put it, they had "won a golden opinion".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Valentine cards available to buy in Hardshaw Street, the congested nature of market days in St Helens, the amazing prison sentence given to a Bridge Street burglar and the epileptic who had a fit in the courtroom.
We begin on the 5th when George Webster was killed at Havannah Colliery in Parr and another man called Robert Evans was described as having been very severely injured. The pair had been engaged in getting a huge stone that was estimated at two tons in weight out of the pit roof when it fell down on to them.
Patrick Moran appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 5th charged with stealing 10d from the till of the Coffee House Inn. That was situated in East Street where the court hearings were currently taking place until the new Town Hall building was finished. Barmaid Mary Lyall gave evidence of having served Moran during one afternoon and then she had entered the taproom.
She said she suddenly heard what the Newspaper described as the "gingling" of money in the bar. Upon returning she saw Moran in the act of leaning across the counter and extracting cash from the till. The man had only taken 10d which he immediately gave back to Mary.
Moran pleaded with her to let him go but she refused and sought a policeman to take the man into custody. If Moran had struck Mary he probably would only have been given a small fine or bound over. But, as I so often say, theft, or as in this case attempted theft, was taken very seriously 150 years ago and he was sent to prison for a month.
John Hallighan and Sarah Mather were also in court charged with stealing two shawls. The garments were valued at 2s 6d and they belonged to Ann Mather, the mother of Sarah. Mrs Mather told the court that she had left her home during one afternoon, leaving her daughter in the house along with the two shawls. When she returned Sarah and the garments had disappeared.
John Hallighan was accused of taking one to a house in Garden Street in Greenbank and selling the shawl for a shilling. And when he and Sarah were arrested, she was found to be wearing the other shawl. Both blamed the other for the theft and they were committed to take their trial at the next assizes hearing. They both had previous convictions and 18-year-old Sarah, who had previously served a month in prison for stealing boots, was given a further six months.
And 19-year-old John Hallighan who had seven prior convictions received 18 months in gaol. Court records show the stolen shawls belonged to Thomas Mather. I don't think he would have worn them but the belongings of wives were normally considered in law to be the property of their husbands.
On the 6th this advert was placed in the Prescot Reporter: "COMMERCIAL HOTEL, RAINHILL. J. Hubberstey begs to intimate to his friends and customers that he has taken the above Hotel, and hopes for a continuance of their favour – First-Class Billiard Table. Broughams [4-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] to be let on hire."
The paper – which cost a penny to purchase – also featured on its front page this notice from the Plough Hotel of Warrington Road in Prescot: "Our well-known Townsman and Enterprising Caterer of Public Amusements, wishful at all times to give his friends and the public treats of some description or other, begs to inform them that at the solicitation of several professional men he will hold a Grand Gala of 3 days standing in the above grounds upon WHIT SATURDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY, May 15, 17 and 18, when he will give the SUM of £60 to be CONTESTED for.
"Various feats, such as Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestling, Lancashire Wrestling, High Leap, Pole Jumping, Putting the Stones, Hammer Throwing, Picking up Stones and Eggs, one yard apart, Sack Racing, &c., &c., concluding each evening with a Grand Display of FIREWORKS.
"N.B. – Most of the old and young champions in these various feats have already promised their old friend to contest for the prizes, consisting of Money, Cups, Belts, Medals, &c., and the original champions of England will upon this occasion have the honour of exhibiting their well-earned Trophies of their skill, consisting of all or most of the prizes won for the last 20 years back, frequently exhibited to Royalty, Nobility and Gentry of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, forming a galaxy of talented men never before appearing in this neighbourhood."
Temperance movements were becoming more widespread and the Prescot Reporter also published this editorial on the subject: "It really does seem as if we are on the eve of a general and vigorous crusade against the curse of intemperance. The country is awakening up not merely to the necessity for more sobriety, but to the consciousness that unless effective action is taken, the state of things will soon become unbearable.
"The conference of [church] ministers last Monday in St. Helens was an encouraging beginning to what looks like an earnest movement, and we the more readily commend it because we have long maintained that until the clergy take up the matter honestly and with a determination to succeed, the effect will only serve to show how vain are the efforts of other reformers.
"At St. Helens there was a large gathering, including representatives from every denomination in the borough. It was well that all met on the common platform, for the evil they seek to remedy is confined to no particular class or creed, and if each will only labour hard amongst his own the result must be satisfactory."
As far as I know St Helens police were still operating out of their station that since 1839 had been attached to the old Town Hall in New Marketplace. That had largely escaped the fires that had badly damaged the Town Hall building. But John Reid seemed to think that the police station should be smashed up too, as he appeared in court this week charged with breaking several of its windows.
Reid had been put in the police cell on the previous Saturday night for being drunk and shortly after he had been locked up, a crash of glass was heard. He was found to be standing on the seat of the toilet smashing the windows with one of his boots. On the 8th Reid was fined 5 shillings and costs for the drunkenness and 2s 6d and costs for the window breaking.
The owners of horse-drawn carriages needed to take out a licence for their vehicle, although traders were exempt. However, they were not allowed to use it for any other purpose other than their own business and if caught doing so the Inland Revenue would prosecute them. This week there were many cases heard in the St Helens Petty Sessions of persons who were accused of keeping vehicles and dogs without a licence.
For example, Henry Radcliffe was a hay and straw dealer in St Helens and he was accused of lending his cart to his father who was a beer retailer. For that he was fined £5 and costs. James Smith received the same penalty for allowing his cart to convey three men and a woman and a boy through Church Street in St Helens towards Sutton. Smith claimed that he had sold the cart but the inspector for the Inland Revenue was a persistent sort who re-visited the man's premises and found the cart in his yard.
On the 9th a miner named John Brophy was fatally injured at Gillars Green Colliery in Eccleston. The young man was being drawn up a shaft with his brother when the engine that was winding them cut out. The failure caused the box that they were travelling in to swerve and for Mr Brophy to fall out.
He fell 45 yards and was taken home and medical aid summoned but he only survived his injuries for about 90 minutes. Ian Winstanley and Geoff Simm's book Mining Memories states that Gillars Green Colliery was situated in Burrows Lane, opposite Gillars Lane, and closed in 1883.
The prices of admission ranged from 6d to 2 shillings and the St Helens Newspaper wrote that their previous appearance in St Helens had gone down well – or, as they put it, they had "won a golden opinion".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Valentine cards available to buy in Hardshaw Street, the congested nature of market days in St Helens, the amazing prison sentence given to a Bridge Street burglar and the epileptic who had a fit in the courtroom.
This week's many stories include the blackface troupe performing at the Volunteer Hall, two coal mining tragedies take place, there is a harsh penalty for an unsuccessful attempt at stealing from an East Street till, even harsher penalties are imposed for stealing two shawls from the family home and the Grand Gala coming to Prescot that promised a galaxy of talented athletes.
We begin on the 5th when George Webster was killed at Havannah Colliery in Parr and another man called Robert Evans was described as having been very severely injured.
The pair had been engaged in getting a huge stone that was estimated at two tons in weight out of the pit roof when it fell down on to them.
Patrick Moran appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 5th charged with stealing 10d from the till of the Coffee House Inn.
That was situated in East Street where the court hearings were currently taking place until the new Town Hall building was finished.
Barmaid Mary Lyall gave evidence of having served Moran during one afternoon and then she had entered the taproom.
She said she suddenly heard what the Newspaper described as the "gingling" of money in the bar.
Upon returning she saw Moran in the act of leaning across the counter and extracting cash from the till. The man had only taken 10d which he immediately gave back to Mary.
Moran pleaded with her to let him go but she refused and sought a policeman to take the man into custody.
If Moran had struck Mary he probably would only have been given a small fine or bound over.
But, as I so often say, theft, or as in this case attempted theft, was taken very seriously 150 years ago and he was sent to prison for a month.
John Hallighan and Sarah Mather were also in court charged with stealing two shawls.
The garments were valued at 2s 6d and they belonged to Ann Mather, the mother of Sarah.
Mrs Mather told the court that she had left her home during one afternoon, leaving her daughter in the house along with the two shawls. When she returned Sarah and the garments had disappeared.
John Hallighan was accused of taking one to a house in Garden Street in Greenbank and selling the shawl for a shilling.
And when he and Sarah were arrested, she was found to be wearing the other shawl.
Both blamed the other for the theft and they were committed to take their trial at the next assizes hearing.
They both had previous convictions and 18-year-old Sarah, who had previously served a month in prison for stealing boots, was given a further six months.
And 19-year-old John Hallighan who had seven prior convictions received 18 months in gaol.
Court records show the stolen shawls belonged to Thomas Mather. I don't think he would have worn them but the belongings of wives were normally considered in law to be the property of their husbands.
On the 6th this advert was placed in the Prescot Reporter:
"COMMERCIAL HOTEL, RAINHILL. J. Hubberstey begs to intimate to his friends and customers that he has taken the above Hotel, and hopes for a continuance of their favour – First-Class Billiard Table. Broughams [4-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] to be let on hire."
The paper – which cost a penny to purchase – also featured on its front page this notice from the Plough Hotel of Warrington Road in Prescot:
"Our well-known Townsman and Enterprising Caterer of Public Amusements, wishful at all times to give his friends and the public treats of some description or other, begs to inform them that at the solicitation of several professional men he will hold a Grand Gala of 3 days standing in the above grounds upon WHIT SATURDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY, May 15, 17 and 18, when he will give the SUM of £60 to be CONTESTED for.
"Various feats, such as Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestling, Lancashire Wrestling, High Leap, Pole Jumping, Putting the Stones, Hammer Throwing, Picking up Stones and Eggs, one yard apart, Sack Racing, &c., &c., concluding each evening with a Grand Display of FIREWORKS.
"N.B. – Most of the old and young champions in these various feats have already promised their old friend to contest for the prizes, consisting of Money, Cups, Belts, Medals, &c., and the original champions of England will upon this occasion have the honour of exhibiting their well-earned Trophies of their skill, consisting of all or most of the prizes won for the last 20 years back, frequently exhibited to Royalty, Nobility and Gentry of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, forming a galaxy of talented men never before appearing in this neighbourhood."
Temperance movements were becoming more widespread and the Prescot Reporter also published this editorial on the subject:
"It really does seem as if we are on the eve of a general and vigorous crusade against the curse of intemperance. The country is awakening up not merely to the necessity for more sobriety, but to the consciousness that unless effective action is taken, the state of things will soon become unbearable.
"The conference of [church] ministers last Monday in St. Helens was an encouraging beginning to what looks like an earnest movement, and we the more readily commend it because we have long maintained that until the clergy take up the matter honestly and with a determination to succeed, the effect will only serve to show how vain are the efforts of other reformers.
"At St. Helens there was a large gathering, including representatives from every denomination in the borough.
"It was well that all met on the common platform, for the evil they seek to remedy is confined to no particular class or creed, and if each will only labour hard amongst his own the result must be satisfactory."
As far as I know St Helens police were still operating out of their station that since 1839 had been attached to the old Town Hall in New Marketplace.
That had largely escaped the fires that had badly damaged the Town Hall building.
But John Reid seemed to think that the police station should be smashed up too, as he appeared in court this week charged with breaking several of its windows.
Reid had been put in the police cell on the previous Saturday night for being drunk and shortly after he had been locked up, a crash of glass was heard.
He was found to be standing on the seat of the toilet smashing the windows with one of his boots.
On the 8th Reid was fined 5 shillings and costs for the drunkenness and 2s 6d and costs for the window breaking.
The owners of horse-drawn carriages needed to take out a licence for their vehicle, although traders were exempt.
However, they were not allowed to use it for any other purpose other than their own business and if caught doing so the Inland Revenue would prosecute them.
This week there were many cases heard in the St Helens Petty Sessions of persons who were accused of keeping vehicles and dogs without a licence.
For example, Henry Radcliffe was a hay and straw dealer in St Helens and he was accused of lending his cart to his father who was a beer retailer. For that he was fined £5 and costs.
James Smith received the same penalty for allowing his cart to convey three men and a woman and a boy through Church Street in St Helens towards Sutton.
Smith claimed that he had sold the cart but the inspector for the Inland Revenue was a persistent sort who re-visited the man's premises and found the cart in his yard.
On the 9th a miner named John Brophy was fatally injured at Gillars Green Colliery in Eccleston.
The young man was being drawn up a shaft with his brother when the engine that was winding them cut out.
The failure caused the box that they were travelling in to swerve and for Mr Brophy to fall out.
He fell 45 yards and was taken home and medical aid summoned but he only survived his injuries for about 90 minutes.
Ian Winstanley and Geoff Simm's book Mining Memories states that Gillars Green Colliery was situated in Burrows Lane, opposite Gillars Lane, and closed in 1883.
And finally, the Court Minstrels appeared at the Volunteer Hall in St Helens (pictured above) on the 5th and 6th.
They were one of many burnt-cork blackface troupes that toured the country singing, telling jokes and dancing.
Their advert said: "Comprising the cream of Negro Minstrelsy. The most original company ever organized."
The prices of admission ranged from 6d to 2 shillings and the St Helens Newspaper wrote that their previous appearance in St Helens had gone down well – or, as they put it, they had "won a golden opinion".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Valentine cards available to buy in Hardshaw Street, the congested nature of market days in St Helens, the amazing prison sentence given to a Bridge Street burglar and the epileptic who had a fit in the courtroom.
We begin on the 5th when George Webster was killed at Havannah Colliery in Parr and another man called Robert Evans was described as having been very severely injured.
The pair had been engaged in getting a huge stone that was estimated at two tons in weight out of the pit roof when it fell down on to them.
Patrick Moran appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 5th charged with stealing 10d from the till of the Coffee House Inn.
That was situated in East Street where the court hearings were currently taking place until the new Town Hall building was finished.
Barmaid Mary Lyall gave evidence of having served Moran during one afternoon and then she had entered the taproom.
She said she suddenly heard what the Newspaper described as the "gingling" of money in the bar.
Upon returning she saw Moran in the act of leaning across the counter and extracting cash from the till. The man had only taken 10d which he immediately gave back to Mary.
Moran pleaded with her to let him go but she refused and sought a policeman to take the man into custody.
If Moran had struck Mary he probably would only have been given a small fine or bound over.
But, as I so often say, theft, or as in this case attempted theft, was taken very seriously 150 years ago and he was sent to prison for a month.
John Hallighan and Sarah Mather were also in court charged with stealing two shawls.
The garments were valued at 2s 6d and they belonged to Ann Mather, the mother of Sarah.
Mrs Mather told the court that she had left her home during one afternoon, leaving her daughter in the house along with the two shawls. When she returned Sarah and the garments had disappeared.
John Hallighan was accused of taking one to a house in Garden Street in Greenbank and selling the shawl for a shilling.
And when he and Sarah were arrested, she was found to be wearing the other shawl.
Both blamed the other for the theft and they were committed to take their trial at the next assizes hearing.
They both had previous convictions and 18-year-old Sarah, who had previously served a month in prison for stealing boots, was given a further six months.
And 19-year-old John Hallighan who had seven prior convictions received 18 months in gaol.
Court records show the stolen shawls belonged to Thomas Mather. I don't think he would have worn them but the belongings of wives were normally considered in law to be the property of their husbands.
On the 6th this advert was placed in the Prescot Reporter:
"COMMERCIAL HOTEL, RAINHILL. J. Hubberstey begs to intimate to his friends and customers that he has taken the above Hotel, and hopes for a continuance of their favour – First-Class Billiard Table. Broughams [4-wheeled horse-drawn carriage] to be let on hire."
The paper – which cost a penny to purchase – also featured on its front page this notice from the Plough Hotel of Warrington Road in Prescot:
"Our well-known Townsman and Enterprising Caterer of Public Amusements, wishful at all times to give his friends and the public treats of some description or other, begs to inform them that at the solicitation of several professional men he will hold a Grand Gala of 3 days standing in the above grounds upon WHIT SATURDAY, MONDAY AND TUESDAY, May 15, 17 and 18, when he will give the SUM of £60 to be CONTESTED for.
"Various feats, such as Cumberland and Westmoreland Wrestling, Lancashire Wrestling, High Leap, Pole Jumping, Putting the Stones, Hammer Throwing, Picking up Stones and Eggs, one yard apart, Sack Racing, &c., &c., concluding each evening with a Grand Display of FIREWORKS.
"N.B. – Most of the old and young champions in these various feats have already promised their old friend to contest for the prizes, consisting of Money, Cups, Belts, Medals, &c., and the original champions of England will upon this occasion have the honour of exhibiting their well-earned Trophies of their skill, consisting of all or most of the prizes won for the last 20 years back, frequently exhibited to Royalty, Nobility and Gentry of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, forming a galaxy of talented men never before appearing in this neighbourhood."
Temperance movements were becoming more widespread and the Prescot Reporter also published this editorial on the subject:
"It really does seem as if we are on the eve of a general and vigorous crusade against the curse of intemperance. The country is awakening up not merely to the necessity for more sobriety, but to the consciousness that unless effective action is taken, the state of things will soon become unbearable.
"The conference of [church] ministers last Monday in St. Helens was an encouraging beginning to what looks like an earnest movement, and we the more readily commend it because we have long maintained that until the clergy take up the matter honestly and with a determination to succeed, the effect will only serve to show how vain are the efforts of other reformers.
"At St. Helens there was a large gathering, including representatives from every denomination in the borough.
"It was well that all met on the common platform, for the evil they seek to remedy is confined to no particular class or creed, and if each will only labour hard amongst his own the result must be satisfactory."
As far as I know St Helens police were still operating out of their station that since 1839 had been attached to the old Town Hall in New Marketplace.
That had largely escaped the fires that had badly damaged the Town Hall building.
But John Reid seemed to think that the police station should be smashed up too, as he appeared in court this week charged with breaking several of its windows.
Reid had been put in the police cell on the previous Saturday night for being drunk and shortly after he had been locked up, a crash of glass was heard.
He was found to be standing on the seat of the toilet smashing the windows with one of his boots.
On the 8th Reid was fined 5 shillings and costs for the drunkenness and 2s 6d and costs for the window breaking.
The owners of horse-drawn carriages needed to take out a licence for their vehicle, although traders were exempt.
However, they were not allowed to use it for any other purpose other than their own business and if caught doing so the Inland Revenue would prosecute them.
This week there were many cases heard in the St Helens Petty Sessions of persons who were accused of keeping vehicles and dogs without a licence.
For example, Henry Radcliffe was a hay and straw dealer in St Helens and he was accused of lending his cart to his father who was a beer retailer. For that he was fined £5 and costs.
James Smith received the same penalty for allowing his cart to convey three men and a woman and a boy through Church Street in St Helens towards Sutton.
Smith claimed that he had sold the cart but the inspector for the Inland Revenue was a persistent sort who re-visited the man's premises and found the cart in his yard.
On the 9th a miner named John Brophy was fatally injured at Gillars Green Colliery in Eccleston.
The young man was being drawn up a shaft with his brother when the engine that was winding them cut out.
The failure caused the box that they were travelling in to swerve and for Mr Brophy to fall out.
He fell 45 yards and was taken home and medical aid summoned but he only survived his injuries for about 90 minutes.
Ian Winstanley and Geoff Simm's book Mining Memories states that Gillars Green Colliery was situated in Burrows Lane, opposite Gillars Lane, and closed in 1883.
They were one of many burnt-cork blackface troupes that toured the country singing, telling jokes and dancing.
Their advert said: "Comprising the cream of Negro Minstrelsy. The most original company ever organized."
The prices of admission ranged from 6d to 2 shillings and the St Helens Newspaper wrote that their previous appearance in St Helens had gone down well – or, as they put it, they had "won a golden opinion".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the Valentine cards available to buy in Hardshaw Street, the congested nature of market days in St Helens, the amazing prison sentence given to a Bridge Street burglar and the epileptic who had a fit in the courtroom.