150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (15th - 21st JUNE 1870)
This week's stories include the anti-surplice riots in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the St Helens man who refused to pay his son's keep on a reformatory ship, the pigeon shop in Tontine Street, a midnight stabbing on Bold Street and the man who took indecent liberties in Bold Street.
We begin with the anti-surplice riots in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Yes people rioted over the wearing of surplices in church! The Haydock district was particularly resistant to any suggestion of Papist practices in C of E churches. Two years ago there was huge fuss made in the local and national press about the Harvest Festival of St. James's Church in Haydock, leading to Punch magazine printing a mocking verse.
However the Ashton controversy during the summer of 1870 was far more serious and had begun in May when the Rev. Page Oldham decided to preach in a surplice instead of a black gown. A large number of traditionalists did not approve and protests began. The 28-year-old old vicar offered to preach in a surplice on Sunday mornings and revert to wearing a black gown during his afternoon service – but Rev. Oldham's opponents rejected the compromise. Relations worsened during June and the popular London newspaper John Bull wrote this on the 18th about events from the previous week:
"On Sunday the anti-surplice riots at Ashton were renewed, the proceedings commencing with the throwing of an egg at the Vicar of St Thomas's. Then followed the assemblage of a disorderly mob round the house of Mr. Oldham [the vicar], and a careful watch on the part of the police. Presently the mob directed their attention to Holy Trinity Church, North Ashton, and the police followed them, the mob having a long start. Service was proceeding at Holy Trinity, and the roughs commenced their attack, the congregation barricading the door with forms.
"Stones were sent through the Church windows, and a panic took place inside, when the Rector managed to despatch the congregation home by a side door, a few at a time. The mob, having found this out, became furious, and one of the choristers had his surplice torn from his back, no doubt in the interests of some local tailor, who was indignant that his art should be concealed by the vestment. The surplice was torn to rags and the pieces being attached to sticks, served as standards, and were waved aloft in triumph."
The Rector at Holy Trinity was the Rev. William Melville, who was another young cleric aged 33. He summoned six of the protesters to court for riotous behaviour and it was revealed that in reprisal he had received a threatening letter. Rev. Oldham also summoned some individuals – mainly women – for rioting at St Thomas's Church and they were all remanded. However the court action did not improve matters.
On the following Sunday (the 19th), thirty constables were needed to provide protection for Rev. Oldham as he journeyed between the vicarage and his church. These were under the command of Colonel Bruce, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, who along with his senior officers would likely have been mounted. Although high positions were handy for giving orders, they also made them easy targets!
The Liverpool Courier wrote that the mob "cheering and yelling vociferously, tried hard to reach the clergyman, but were prevented by the policemen." As the vicar was hurried into his house, the large crowd broke through the police lines, leading to mayhem: "The officers were then formed four deep, and marched up and down the road. Many stones were thrown, and several of the bystanders were severely hurt. The chief constable also was struck, and several of his men were cut." To be continued….
In April a lad called Thomas Judge had been sent to prison for a month followed by a five-year residency in a reformatory for stealing some blacking worth just one shilling. Blacking ink or paste was used to clean and polish shoes, floors and doorsteps. The 11-year-old had taken the blacking from a grocer in St Helens Market Place and had a previous conviction to his name for which he'd been whipped.
However having their child placed in a reformatory did not mean that parents could wash their hands of them. Fathers were required to contribute to the cost of their keep and on the 20th Thomas Judge Senior was summoned to St Helens Petty Sessions for refusing to support his son.
An order of 1 shilling a week was made against him. If Judge continued to make no payments, he would be brought back to court and probably jailed. Interestingly his boy was confined to the Clarence Reformatory ship, which since 1864 had been run by the Liverpool Catholic Reformatory Association. The converted warship was moored on the Mersey at New Ferry, near Birkenhead, and accommodated around 200 bad lads until 1884. That was when six of the boys set fire to the ship!
Another interesting snippet of information revealed in a separate case was that Thomas Anthony kept a pigeon shop in Tontine Street. Pigeon fancying was a popular sport and no doubt there was a demand for a shop that sold the birds and probably supplied their feed etc. Jonathan Tyrer brought a case against John Smith, who was his next-door neighbour at Sutton Moss.
Tyrer's pigeon had gone missing and he discovered it for sale in the pigeon shop in Tontine Street, having been brought in by Smith. The latter told the Bench that his wife had found the bird as a stray and contended that his neighbour had only brought the case against him because of ill-feeling between them. The magistrates appeared to accept this, as they dismissed the case.
John Patten was also in court charged with cutting and wounding Bernard Woods of Sandfield Crescent, off Liverpool Road. Woods told the court that at midnight on the previous Saturday he'd heard a noise coming from the corner of Bold Street, near the canal. Upon going to investigate he found John Patten quarrelling with a young woman and he enquired what the problem was.
"What has it to do with you", was Patten's response and he struck Bernard Woods twice and attempted to hit him again but the man fought back and knocked his attacker down. However Woods found his left eye was covered in blood and realised that he had been stabbed in the face and also on his shoulder. Although not stated in the newspaper reports, it was likely to have been very dark and so the victim might not have been able to see the weapon in Patten's hand.
Later Wood's friend John Penketh discovered a knife covered in blood at the place where the struggle had taken place. A doctor gave evidence of treating wounds caused by a sharp instrument similar to the knife that had been found. John Patten was arrested at his lodgings in Mount Street but claimed not to have had a knife in his possession for two months. The 28-year-old was committed for trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions in Liverpool, which took place on July 14th and he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour.
James Lanham appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with unlawfully wounding Elizabeth Gavin at Eccleston. The assault seems to have taken place at the George and Dragon in Bold Street, which closed in 1911. The prosecutrix – as she was known – told the court that she had been in the beerhouse on the Saturday night and Lanham had "used indecent liberties" with her.
Elizabeth explained that she had asked him why he had done it and then struck out at him. Lanham's response was to go after her and he cut her forearm with a large stone, inflicting a severe wound. A witness saw the indecent assault and the subsequent attack. However Lanham claimed that the woman had hit him over the head with a half-brick but was found guilty and sent to prison for two months with hard labour.
Mary Docherty was described by the St Helens Newspaper as a "wretched-looking woman with a child in her arms". She faced a charge of stealing two half sovereigns and 12s 6d from Catherine Connolly at Pocket Nook. The latter told the court that the money was in her pocket when she went to sleep on Saturday night but it was missing when she woke up. Mary lodged with Catherine and so she was automatically blamed for the theft – especially as she claimed to have no cash on the Saturday night but was buying beer on the Sunday. However the evidence was very flimsy and circumstantial and so the case was dismissed.
In Prescot Petty Sessions on the 21st Mary Perkins was charged with begging at Rainhill. Superintendent Fowler told the Bench that they were "infested" with vagrants at that locality and the woman was sent to prison for 14 days.
Also in court were Thomas Wallace, Edward Ashcroft and Mary Burns – who the St Helens Newspaper described as a "forsaken young woman". A constable described the trio as fighting "in a lump" in Tea Street – which used to be near Church Street – with a great crowd having assembled to watch the "shindy". Miss Burns said the two men were "thumping" her and had knocked her "among the slutch" (mud), although Edward Ashcroft blamed Mary. He told the court that she was of a "loose character" and had been after his stepson (Thomas Wallace) and that had caused the disturbance.
Wallace said Mary Burns had a habit of following him and trying to get him into trouble. Superintendent Fowler informed the Bench that the male defendants were decent men but declined to say anything in favour of Miss Burns. The magistrate blamed the woman and ordered her to find sureties to keep the peace and the charges against the men were dismissed. The Newspaper added that it transpired that the cause of the row was that Wallace had "thrown over" Miss Burns in favour of another woman.
Next week's stories will include a cricket match at Dentons Green in aid of striking glassmakers, the Ashton surplice riots are brought to an end, another accident at Farnworth, the Hardshaw Street doctor that failed to licence his horse and carriage and Rainford Church's spoof steam and lightning machine.
We begin with the anti-surplice riots in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Yes people rioted over the wearing of surplices in church! The Haydock district was particularly resistant to any suggestion of Papist practices in C of E churches. Two years ago there was huge fuss made in the local and national press about the Harvest Festival of St. James's Church in Haydock, leading to Punch magazine printing a mocking verse.
However the Ashton controversy during the summer of 1870 was far more serious and had begun in May when the Rev. Page Oldham decided to preach in a surplice instead of a black gown. A large number of traditionalists did not approve and protests began. The 28-year-old old vicar offered to preach in a surplice on Sunday mornings and revert to wearing a black gown during his afternoon service – but Rev. Oldham's opponents rejected the compromise. Relations worsened during June and the popular London newspaper John Bull wrote this on the 18th about events from the previous week:
"On Sunday the anti-surplice riots at Ashton were renewed, the proceedings commencing with the throwing of an egg at the Vicar of St Thomas's. Then followed the assemblage of a disorderly mob round the house of Mr. Oldham [the vicar], and a careful watch on the part of the police. Presently the mob directed their attention to Holy Trinity Church, North Ashton, and the police followed them, the mob having a long start. Service was proceeding at Holy Trinity, and the roughs commenced their attack, the congregation barricading the door with forms.
"Stones were sent through the Church windows, and a panic took place inside, when the Rector managed to despatch the congregation home by a side door, a few at a time. The mob, having found this out, became furious, and one of the choristers had his surplice torn from his back, no doubt in the interests of some local tailor, who was indignant that his art should be concealed by the vestment. The surplice was torn to rags and the pieces being attached to sticks, served as standards, and were waved aloft in triumph."
The Rector at Holy Trinity was the Rev. William Melville, who was another young cleric aged 33. He summoned six of the protesters to court for riotous behaviour and it was revealed that in reprisal he had received a threatening letter. Rev. Oldham also summoned some individuals – mainly women – for rioting at St Thomas's Church and they were all remanded. However the court action did not improve matters.
On the following Sunday (the 19th), thirty constables were needed to provide protection for Rev. Oldham as he journeyed between the vicarage and his church. These were under the command of Colonel Bruce, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, who along with his senior officers would likely have been mounted. Although high positions were handy for giving orders, they also made them easy targets!
The Liverpool Courier wrote that the mob "cheering and yelling vociferously, tried hard to reach the clergyman, but were prevented by the policemen." As the vicar was hurried into his house, the large crowd broke through the police lines, leading to mayhem: "The officers were then formed four deep, and marched up and down the road. Many stones were thrown, and several of the bystanders were severely hurt. The chief constable also was struck, and several of his men were cut." To be continued….
In April a lad called Thomas Judge had been sent to prison for a month followed by a five-year residency in a reformatory for stealing some blacking worth just one shilling. Blacking ink or paste was used to clean and polish shoes, floors and doorsteps. The 11-year-old had taken the blacking from a grocer in St Helens Market Place and had a previous conviction to his name for which he'd been whipped.
However having their child placed in a reformatory did not mean that parents could wash their hands of them. Fathers were required to contribute to the cost of their keep and on the 20th Thomas Judge Senior was summoned to St Helens Petty Sessions for refusing to support his son.
The Graphic newspaper's illustration of the burning of the reformatory ship Clarence on the Mersey
The Graphic's illustration of the burning of the Clarence on the Mersey
The Graphic's illustration of the Clarence on fire
Another interesting snippet of information revealed in a separate case was that Thomas Anthony kept a pigeon shop in Tontine Street. Pigeon fancying was a popular sport and no doubt there was a demand for a shop that sold the birds and probably supplied their feed etc. Jonathan Tyrer brought a case against John Smith, who was his next-door neighbour at Sutton Moss.
Tyrer's pigeon had gone missing and he discovered it for sale in the pigeon shop in Tontine Street, having been brought in by Smith. The latter told the Bench that his wife had found the bird as a stray and contended that his neighbour had only brought the case against him because of ill-feeling between them. The magistrates appeared to accept this, as they dismissed the case.
John Patten was also in court charged with cutting and wounding Bernard Woods of Sandfield Crescent, off Liverpool Road. Woods told the court that at midnight on the previous Saturday he'd heard a noise coming from the corner of Bold Street, near the canal. Upon going to investigate he found John Patten quarrelling with a young woman and he enquired what the problem was.
"What has it to do with you", was Patten's response and he struck Bernard Woods twice and attempted to hit him again but the man fought back and knocked his attacker down. However Woods found his left eye was covered in blood and realised that he had been stabbed in the face and also on his shoulder. Although not stated in the newspaper reports, it was likely to have been very dark and so the victim might not have been able to see the weapon in Patten's hand.
Later Wood's friend John Penketh discovered a knife covered in blood at the place where the struggle had taken place. A doctor gave evidence of treating wounds caused by a sharp instrument similar to the knife that had been found. John Patten was arrested at his lodgings in Mount Street but claimed not to have had a knife in his possession for two months. The 28-year-old was committed for trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions in Liverpool, which took place on July 14th and he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour.
James Lanham appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with unlawfully wounding Elizabeth Gavin at Eccleston. The assault seems to have taken place at the George and Dragon in Bold Street, which closed in 1911. The prosecutrix – as she was known – told the court that she had been in the beerhouse on the Saturday night and Lanham had "used indecent liberties" with her.
Elizabeth explained that she had asked him why he had done it and then struck out at him. Lanham's response was to go after her and he cut her forearm with a large stone, inflicting a severe wound. A witness saw the indecent assault and the subsequent attack. However Lanham claimed that the woman had hit him over the head with a half-brick but was found guilty and sent to prison for two months with hard labour.
Mary Docherty was described by the St Helens Newspaper as a "wretched-looking woman with a child in her arms". She faced a charge of stealing two half sovereigns and 12s 6d from Catherine Connolly at Pocket Nook. The latter told the court that the money was in her pocket when she went to sleep on Saturday night but it was missing when she woke up. Mary lodged with Catherine and so she was automatically blamed for the theft – especially as she claimed to have no cash on the Saturday night but was buying beer on the Sunday. However the evidence was very flimsy and circumstantial and so the case was dismissed.
In Prescot Petty Sessions on the 21st Mary Perkins was charged with begging at Rainhill. Superintendent Fowler told the Bench that they were "infested" with vagrants at that locality and the woman was sent to prison for 14 days.
Also in court were Thomas Wallace, Edward Ashcroft and Mary Burns – who the St Helens Newspaper described as a "forsaken young woman". A constable described the trio as fighting "in a lump" in Tea Street – which used to be near Church Street – with a great crowd having assembled to watch the "shindy". Miss Burns said the two men were "thumping" her and had knocked her "among the slutch" (mud), although Edward Ashcroft blamed Mary. He told the court that she was of a "loose character" and had been after his stepson (Thomas Wallace) and that had caused the disturbance.
Wallace said Mary Burns had a habit of following him and trying to get him into trouble. Superintendent Fowler informed the Bench that the male defendants were decent men but declined to say anything in favour of Miss Burns. The magistrate blamed the woman and ordered her to find sureties to keep the peace and the charges against the men were dismissed. The Newspaper added that it transpired that the cause of the row was that Wallace had "thrown over" Miss Burns in favour of another woman.
Next week's stories will include a cricket match at Dentons Green in aid of striking glassmakers, the Ashton surplice riots are brought to an end, another accident at Farnworth, the Hardshaw Street doctor that failed to licence his horse and carriage and Rainford Church's spoof steam and lightning machine.
This week's stories include the anti-surplice riots in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the St Helens man who refused to pay his son's keep on a reformatory ship, the pigeon shop in Tontine Street, a midnight stabbing on Bold Street and the man who took indecent liberties in Bold Street.
We begin with the anti-surplice riots in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Yes people rioted over the wearing of surplices in church!
The Haydock district was particularly resistant to any suggestion of Papist practices in C of E churches.
Two years ago there was huge fuss made in the local and national press about the Harvest Festival of St. James's Church in Haydock, leading to Punch magazine printing a mocking verse.
However the Ashton controversy during the summer of 1870 was far more serious and had begun in May when the Rev. Page Oldham decided to preach in a surplice instead of a black gown.
A large number of traditionalists did not approve and protests began.
The 28-year-old old vicar offered to preach in a surplice on Sunday mornings and revert to wearing a black gown during his afternoon service – but Rev. Oldham's opponents rejected the compromise.
Relations worsened during June and the popular London newspaper John Bull wrote this on the 18th about events from the previous week:
"On Sunday the anti-surplice riots at Ashton were renewed, the proceedings commencing with the throwing of an egg at the Vicar of St Thomas's. Then followed the assemblage of a disorderly mob round the house of Mr. Oldham [the vicar], and a careful watch on the part of the police.
"Presently the mob directed their attention to Holy Trinity Church, North Ashton, and the police followed them, the mob having a long start. Service was proceeding at Holy Trinity, and the roughs commenced their attack, the congregation barricading the door with forms.
"Stones were sent through the Church windows, and a panic took place inside, when the Rector managed to despatch the congregation home by a side door, a few at a time.
"The mob, having found this out, became furious, and one of the choristers had his surplice torn from his back, no doubt in the interests of some local tailor, who was indignant that his art should be concealed by the vestment. The surplice was torn to rags and the pieces being attached to sticks, served as standards, and were waved aloft in triumph."
The Rector at Holy Trinity was the Rev. William Melville, who was another young cleric aged 33.
He summoned six of the protesters to court for riotous behaviour and it was revealed that in reprisal he had received a threatening letter.
Rev. Oldham also summoned some individuals – mainly women – for rioting at St Thomas's Church and they were all remanded. However the court action did not improve matters.
On the following Sunday (the 19th), thirty constables were needed to provide protection for Rev. Oldham as he journeyed between the vicarage and his church.
These were under the command of Colonel Bruce, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, who along with his senior officers would likely have been mounted.
Although high positions were handy for giving orders, they also made them easy targets!
The Liverpool Courier wrote that the mob "cheering and yelling vociferously, tried hard to reach the clergyman, but were prevented by the policemen."
As the vicar was hurried into his house, the large crowd broke through the police lines, leading to mayhem:
"The officers were then formed four deep, and marched up and down the road. Many stones were thrown, and several of the bystanders were severely hurt. The chief constable also was struck, and several of his men were cut." To be continued….
In April a lad called Thomas Judge had been sent to prison for a month followed by a five-year residency in a reformatory for stealing some blacking worth just one shilling.
Blacking ink or paste was used to clean and polish shoes, floors and doorsteps.
The 11-year-old had taken the blacking from a grocer in St Helens Market Place and had a previous conviction to his name for which he'd been whipped.
However having their child placed in a reformatory did not mean that parents could wash their hands of them.
Fathers were required to contribute to the cost of their keep and on the 20th Thomas Judge Senior was summoned to St Helens Petty Sessions for refusing to support his son.
An order of 1 shilling a week was made against him. If Judge continued to make no payments, he would be brought back to court and probably jailed.
Interestingly his boy was confined to the Clarence Reformatory ship, which since 1864 had been run by the Liverpool Catholic Reformatory Association.
The converted warship was moored on the Mersey at New Ferry, near Birkenhead, and accommodated around 200 bad lads until 1884. That was when six of the boys set fire to the ship!
Another interesting snippet of information revealed in a separate case was that Thomas Anthony kept a pigeon shop in Tontine Street.
Pigeon fancying was a popular sport and no doubt there was a demand for a shop that sold the birds and probably supplied their feed etc.
Jonathan Tyrer brought a case against John Smith, who was his next-door neighbour at Sutton Moss.
Tyrer's pigeon had gone missing and he discovered it for sale in the pigeon shop in Tontine Street, having been brought in by Smith.
The latter told the Bench that his wife had found the bird as a stray and contended that his neighbour had only brought the case against him because of ill-feeling between them.
The magistrates appeared to accept this, as they dismissed the case.
John Patten was also in court charged with cutting and wounding Bernard Woods of Sandfield Crescent, off Liverpool Road.
Woods told the court that at midnight on the previous Saturday he'd heard a noise coming from the corner of Bold Street, near the canal.
Upon going to investigate he found John Patten quarrelling with a young woman and he enquired what the problem was.
"What has it to do with you", was Patten's response and he struck Bernard Woods twice and attempted to hit him again but the man fought back and knocked his attacker down.
However Woods found his left eye was covered in blood and realised that he had been stabbed in the face and also on his shoulder.
Although not stated in the newspaper reports, it was likely to have been very dark and so the victim might not have been able to see the weapon in Patten's hand.
Later Wood's friend John Penketh discovered a knife covered in blood at the place where the struggle had taken place.
A doctor gave evidence of treating wounds caused by a sharp instrument similar to the knife that had been found.
John Patten was arrested at his lodgings in Mount Street but claimed not to have had a knife in his possession for two months.
The 28-year-old was committed for trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions in Liverpool, which took place on July 14th and he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour.
James Lanham appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with unlawfully wounding Elizabeth Gavin at Eccleston.
The assault seems to have taken place at the George and Dragon in Bold Street, which closed in 1911.
The prosecutrix – as she was known – told the court that she had been in the beerhouse on the Saturday night and Lanham had "used indecent liberties" with her.
Elizabeth explained that she had asked him why he had done it and then struck out at him.
Lanham's response was to go after her and he cut her forearm with a large stone, inflicting a severe wound. A witness saw the indecent assault and the subsequent attack.
However Lanham claimed that the woman had hit him over the head with a half-brick but was found guilty and sent to prison for two months with hard labour.
Mary Docherty was described by the St Helens Newspaper as a "wretched-looking woman with a child in her arms".
She faced a charge of stealing two half sovereigns and 12s 6d from Catherine Connolly at Pocket Nook.
The latter told the court that the money was in her pocket when she went to sleep on Saturday night but it was missing when she woke up.
Mary lodged with Catherine and so she was automatically blamed for the theft – especially as she claimed to have no cash on the Saturday night but was buying beer on the Sunday.
However the evidence was very flimsy and circumstantial and so the case was dismissed.
In Prescot Petty Sessions on the 21st Mary Perkins was charged with begging at Rainhill.
Superintendent Fowler told the Bench that they were "infested" with vagrants at that locality and the woman was sent to prison for 14 days.
Also in court were Thomas Wallace, Edward Ashcroft and Mary Burns – who the St Helens Newspaper described as a "forsaken young woman".
A constable described the trio as fighting "in a lump" in Tea Street – which used to be near Church Street – with a great crowd having assembled to watch the "shindy".
Miss Burns said the two men were "thumping" her and had knocked her "among the slutch" (mud), although Edward Ashcroft blamed Mary.
He told the court that she was of a "loose character" and had been after his stepson (Thomas Wallace) and that had caused the disturbance.
Wallace said Mary Burns had a habit of following him and trying to get him into trouble.
Superintendent Fowler informed the Bench that the male defendants were decent men but declined to say anything in favour of Miss Burns.
The magistrate blamed the woman and ordered her to find sureties to keep the peace and the charges against the men were dismissed.
The Newspaper added that it transpired that the cause of the row was that Wallace had "thrown over" Miss Burns in favour of another woman.
Next week's stories will include a cricket match at Dentons Green in aid of striking glassmakers, the Ashton surplice riots are brought to an end, another accident at Farnworth, the Hardshaw Street doctor that failed to licence his horse and carriage and Rainford Church's spoof steam and lightning machine.
We begin with the anti-surplice riots in Ashton-in-Makerfield. Yes people rioted over the wearing of surplices in church!
The Haydock district was particularly resistant to any suggestion of Papist practices in C of E churches.
Two years ago there was huge fuss made in the local and national press about the Harvest Festival of St. James's Church in Haydock, leading to Punch magazine printing a mocking verse.
However the Ashton controversy during the summer of 1870 was far more serious and had begun in May when the Rev. Page Oldham decided to preach in a surplice instead of a black gown.
A large number of traditionalists did not approve and protests began.
The 28-year-old old vicar offered to preach in a surplice on Sunday mornings and revert to wearing a black gown during his afternoon service – but Rev. Oldham's opponents rejected the compromise.
Relations worsened during June and the popular London newspaper John Bull wrote this on the 18th about events from the previous week:
"On Sunday the anti-surplice riots at Ashton were renewed, the proceedings commencing with the throwing of an egg at the Vicar of St Thomas's. Then followed the assemblage of a disorderly mob round the house of Mr. Oldham [the vicar], and a careful watch on the part of the police.
"Presently the mob directed their attention to Holy Trinity Church, North Ashton, and the police followed them, the mob having a long start. Service was proceeding at Holy Trinity, and the roughs commenced their attack, the congregation barricading the door with forms.
"Stones were sent through the Church windows, and a panic took place inside, when the Rector managed to despatch the congregation home by a side door, a few at a time.
"The mob, having found this out, became furious, and one of the choristers had his surplice torn from his back, no doubt in the interests of some local tailor, who was indignant that his art should be concealed by the vestment. The surplice was torn to rags and the pieces being attached to sticks, served as standards, and were waved aloft in triumph."
The Rector at Holy Trinity was the Rev. William Melville, who was another young cleric aged 33.
He summoned six of the protesters to court for riotous behaviour and it was revealed that in reprisal he had received a threatening letter.
Rev. Oldham also summoned some individuals – mainly women – for rioting at St Thomas's Church and they were all remanded. However the court action did not improve matters.
On the following Sunday (the 19th), thirty constables were needed to provide protection for Rev. Oldham as he journeyed between the vicarage and his church.
These were under the command of Colonel Bruce, the Chief Constable of Lancashire, who along with his senior officers would likely have been mounted.
Although high positions were handy for giving orders, they also made them easy targets!
The Liverpool Courier wrote that the mob "cheering and yelling vociferously, tried hard to reach the clergyman, but were prevented by the policemen."
As the vicar was hurried into his house, the large crowd broke through the police lines, leading to mayhem:
"The officers were then formed four deep, and marched up and down the road. Many stones were thrown, and several of the bystanders were severely hurt. The chief constable also was struck, and several of his men were cut." To be continued….
In April a lad called Thomas Judge had been sent to prison for a month followed by a five-year residency in a reformatory for stealing some blacking worth just one shilling.
Blacking ink or paste was used to clean and polish shoes, floors and doorsteps.
The 11-year-old had taken the blacking from a grocer in St Helens Market Place and had a previous conviction to his name for which he'd been whipped.
However having their child placed in a reformatory did not mean that parents could wash their hands of them.
Fathers were required to contribute to the cost of their keep and on the 20th Thomas Judge Senior was summoned to St Helens Petty Sessions for refusing to support his son.
The Graphic newspaper's illustration of the burning of the reformatory ship Clarence on the Mersey
The Graphic's illustration of the burning of the Clarence on the Mersey
The Graphic's illustration of the Clarence on fire
Interestingly his boy was confined to the Clarence Reformatory ship, which since 1864 had been run by the Liverpool Catholic Reformatory Association.
The converted warship was moored on the Mersey at New Ferry, near Birkenhead, and accommodated around 200 bad lads until 1884. That was when six of the boys set fire to the ship!
Another interesting snippet of information revealed in a separate case was that Thomas Anthony kept a pigeon shop in Tontine Street.
Pigeon fancying was a popular sport and no doubt there was a demand for a shop that sold the birds and probably supplied their feed etc.
Jonathan Tyrer brought a case against John Smith, who was his next-door neighbour at Sutton Moss.
Tyrer's pigeon had gone missing and he discovered it for sale in the pigeon shop in Tontine Street, having been brought in by Smith.
The latter told the Bench that his wife had found the bird as a stray and contended that his neighbour had only brought the case against him because of ill-feeling between them.
The magistrates appeared to accept this, as they dismissed the case.
John Patten was also in court charged with cutting and wounding Bernard Woods of Sandfield Crescent, off Liverpool Road.
Woods told the court that at midnight on the previous Saturday he'd heard a noise coming from the corner of Bold Street, near the canal.
Upon going to investigate he found John Patten quarrelling with a young woman and he enquired what the problem was.
"What has it to do with you", was Patten's response and he struck Bernard Woods twice and attempted to hit him again but the man fought back and knocked his attacker down.
However Woods found his left eye was covered in blood and realised that he had been stabbed in the face and also on his shoulder.
Although not stated in the newspaper reports, it was likely to have been very dark and so the victim might not have been able to see the weapon in Patten's hand.
Later Wood's friend John Penketh discovered a knife covered in blood at the place where the struggle had taken place.
A doctor gave evidence of treating wounds caused by a sharp instrument similar to the knife that had been found.
John Patten was arrested at his lodgings in Mount Street but claimed not to have had a knife in his possession for two months.
The 28-year-old was committed for trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions in Liverpool, which took place on July 14th and he was sentenced to 6 months hard labour.
James Lanham appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with unlawfully wounding Elizabeth Gavin at Eccleston.
The assault seems to have taken place at the George and Dragon in Bold Street, which closed in 1911.
The prosecutrix – as she was known – told the court that she had been in the beerhouse on the Saturday night and Lanham had "used indecent liberties" with her.
Elizabeth explained that she had asked him why he had done it and then struck out at him.
Lanham's response was to go after her and he cut her forearm with a large stone, inflicting a severe wound. A witness saw the indecent assault and the subsequent attack.
However Lanham claimed that the woman had hit him over the head with a half-brick but was found guilty and sent to prison for two months with hard labour.
Mary Docherty was described by the St Helens Newspaper as a "wretched-looking woman with a child in her arms".
She faced a charge of stealing two half sovereigns and 12s 6d from Catherine Connolly at Pocket Nook.
The latter told the court that the money was in her pocket when she went to sleep on Saturday night but it was missing when she woke up.
Mary lodged with Catherine and so she was automatically blamed for the theft – especially as she claimed to have no cash on the Saturday night but was buying beer on the Sunday.
However the evidence was very flimsy and circumstantial and so the case was dismissed.
In Prescot Petty Sessions on the 21st Mary Perkins was charged with begging at Rainhill.
Superintendent Fowler told the Bench that they were "infested" with vagrants at that locality and the woman was sent to prison for 14 days.
Also in court were Thomas Wallace, Edward Ashcroft and Mary Burns – who the St Helens Newspaper described as a "forsaken young woman".
A constable described the trio as fighting "in a lump" in Tea Street – which used to be near Church Street – with a great crowd having assembled to watch the "shindy".
Miss Burns said the two men were "thumping" her and had knocked her "among the slutch" (mud), although Edward Ashcroft blamed Mary.
He told the court that she was of a "loose character" and had been after his stepson (Thomas Wallace) and that had caused the disturbance.
Wallace said Mary Burns had a habit of following him and trying to get him into trouble.
Superintendent Fowler informed the Bench that the male defendants were decent men but declined to say anything in favour of Miss Burns.
The magistrate blamed the woman and ordered her to find sureties to keep the peace and the charges against the men were dismissed.
The Newspaper added that it transpired that the cause of the row was that Wallace had "thrown over" Miss Burns in favour of another woman.
Next week's stories will include a cricket match at Dentons Green in aid of striking glassmakers, the Ashton surplice riots are brought to an end, another accident at Farnworth, the Hardshaw Street doctor that failed to licence his horse and carriage and Rainford Church's spoof steam and lightning machine.