150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (15th - 21st AUGUST 1872)
This week's stories include the drunken death of Thomas Beecham's wife, the new assistant nurse at Whiston Workhouse, how the offer of marriage halted a domestic abuse case, the fighting women of Parr and the Crank woman at the centre of a child manslaughter case returns to court.
Just two nurses (a head nurse and an assistant) staffed the hospital at Whiston Workhouse, with a doctor calling in from time to time to check on the pauper patients. Recently the assistant nurse had quit and so an advert for a replacement appeared in the St Helens Newspaper on the 17th. The salary that was offered was £20 a year and included "separate furnished apartments, and officers' rations". I expect that meant a couple of tiny rooms at the workhouse and food a bit better than what the paupers received. The advert also said: "Candidates must be persons without encumbrance, age not to exceed 45 years." So no husband or kids, etc.
I wonder how many schoolteachers there are these days employed within the St Helens district? Could there be as many as a couple of thousand, perhaps?
There were just 48 in 1872 – at least that was the number of members of the St Helens District Teachers Association. Some schools were attached to the large works that employed many boys, in order that the lads could have a few hours of education each week. Pilkington's Crown Glass Works school was one of the largest and it served as the venue for the teachers' meeting.
The president of the association was Newton Lacey who since 1846 had been the headmaster of Cowley British Schools in North Road (Central Modern would be built on the same site). His association with Cowley lasted so long that the school became known as "Lacey's". Although his reign was drawing to a close, as he had to resign in 1875 when it was decided that all teachers must be qualified.
At the beginning of the month, miner James Unsworth of Red Cat Buildings in Crank had been charged with the wilful murder of his 13-month-old child. His mother and father, who he lived with, also faced the same charge. But after it was revealed at the emaciated baby's inquest that the child might have been diseased, the charges were dropped. In court James Unsworth had insisted that his 50-year-old mother Mary – who he called "the old woman" – had done everything she could to care for his baby.
However, the locals at Crank were clearly not so convinced of their innocence and had been giving Mary Unsworth a hard time. In St Helens Petty Sessions on the 19th, Mary was charged with disorderly conduct. A police officer gave evidence of hearing her threatening to "do for her neighbours, in return for what they had done for her." Her solicitor, Thomas Swift, told the Bench that while her son had been in custody on remand, Mary had been taunted and told she would receive six months in prison and her son three. The Bench thought she had been sufficiently punished and discharged the woman.
Isaac Kilshaw was often described in the newspapers as an old offender and a notorious poacher but did appear in court charged with other offences too. Three years ago I described how he had been accused of stealing a billycock from a barber's shop in Bridge Street. I thought that a billycock might be some sort of animal or bird – but it turned out to be a type of bowler hat!
Kilshaw also appeared in the Petty Sessions on the 19th, this time facing a charge of assaulting Margaret Greene. The couple lived together as man and wife and Kilshaw had given her a severe beating. But Margaret told the court that she had changed her mind about prosecuting Isaac because he had since promised to marry her. Women were so dependent upon men that the offer of respectability – as well as some financial advantages of being a wife – were clearly considered by Margaret to be worth the risk of receiving another thumping.
The banging of kettles, pots and tins outside of a house was the traditional means of showing disapproval of a person's behaviour. The making of hooting noises, whistling and, sometimes, the burning of an effigy, would often accompany the racket. Well, there was no television and people had to get their kicks somehow! And a mob picking on some poor soul has always been a popular pastime – although, not, of course, with the victim.
Certainly Elizabeth Platt from Parr did not appreciate being persecuted. She told the court that at about 5 o’clock one afternoon a group of mainly women had approached her house carrying kettles and tins. While she was looking at them through the window of her home, a man called Thomas Jackson dashed his fist through the glass from outside, which badly cut her face.
Jackson claimed that the woman had fallen out with two young girls in the neighbourhood and had behaved in a scandalous manner before hundreds of people. He said he had spoken to her about it and her response so aggravated him that he struck at her through the window. As I've often said, violence was tolerated to a large degree in the 1870s and the glass smasher was only fined 2s. 6d.
However, matters were not done as Elizabeth Platt then moved into the defendant's box and was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Holmes. Calling their battle an assault was a considerable understatement as the ladies' fight went on for quite some time and they were said by a watching doctor to have been in danger of choking each other.
Several witnesses gave evidence, including a middle-aged woman called Ellen Rigby, which the Newspaper said: "Being a female of course the court was treated to a rehash of the most filthy language." Another witness called Mary O’Neill said that after the first round of fighting, the "brow girls" had tied up the loosened hair of the complainant, Elizabeth Holmes, to make her ready for the second round. The Bench fined Elizabeth Platt 2s 6d.
Littler's Field off Hard Lane (pictured above with the eponymous Mrs Littler) was for around thirty years the venue for many events. For a while it also served as the home of St Helens Rugby Club, with Saints' players changing at the Abbey Hotel. On the 21st the Lowe House schoolchildren held their annual treat in Littler's Field, with 500 of the boys and girls walking to Dentons Green on what was a fine day and participating in the usual sports and games.
Beecham's Pills was still somewhat in its infancy. And so when the inquest on its founder's wife was held at the Royal Hotel in Westfield Street on the 21st, Thomas Beecham was simply described in the St Helens Newspaper as a "patent medicine dealer". Jane Beecham was only 59 and her death – which had taken place in a "very sudden manner" – was blamed on "excessive intemperance". Her addiction to alcohol had let to Thomas and Jane separating and for a considerable time until recently, she had been living with her son, Joseph.
On the day of her death, the future mayor of St Helens considered his mother to have become insane – as the Newspaper put it – and went to the police station to learn how to have her committed to an asylum. Jane's death occurred at her daughter's house in New Cross Street and its rapid manner led to the usual malicious gossip. The Newspaper wrote: "From the period of her death disquieting rumours of a vague character were floating about, which the police endeavoured to have sifted …and the result was that the rumours were shown to have been without foundation."
One of the jurymen at the inquest commented that the certificate of a doctor should be sufficient evidence of death without jurors having to view the body of the deceased. The Newspaper wrote: "The Coroner said there was no help for it. The law on which the viewing of bodies [at inquests] was founded was older than any Act of Parliament, and could not be repealed without a special act." Inquests were always described in the newspapers as being held "on the body of such a person…", due to that law which was designed to prevent misidentification and to give the jurors the opportunity to inspect bodies for signs of injuries. Transparency is very much to be encouraged, of course, but open coffins at inquests was taking it a bit too far, methinks!
Next week's stories will include the Rainford farm fire in Berringtons Lane, the wroth of St Helens tipplers observing the new Licensing Act and the St Helens chemical workers train crash while on a treat to Windermere.
Just two nurses (a head nurse and an assistant) staffed the hospital at Whiston Workhouse, with a doctor calling in from time to time to check on the pauper patients. Recently the assistant nurse had quit and so an advert for a replacement appeared in the St Helens Newspaper on the 17th. The salary that was offered was £20 a year and included "separate furnished apartments, and officers' rations". I expect that meant a couple of tiny rooms at the workhouse and food a bit better than what the paupers received. The advert also said: "Candidates must be persons without encumbrance, age not to exceed 45 years." So no husband or kids, etc.
I wonder how many schoolteachers there are these days employed within the St Helens district? Could there be as many as a couple of thousand, perhaps?
There were just 48 in 1872 – at least that was the number of members of the St Helens District Teachers Association. Some schools were attached to the large works that employed many boys, in order that the lads could have a few hours of education each week. Pilkington's Crown Glass Works school was one of the largest and it served as the venue for the teachers' meeting.
The president of the association was Newton Lacey who since 1846 had been the headmaster of Cowley British Schools in North Road (Central Modern would be built on the same site). His association with Cowley lasted so long that the school became known as "Lacey's". Although his reign was drawing to a close, as he had to resign in 1875 when it was decided that all teachers must be qualified.
At the beginning of the month, miner James Unsworth of Red Cat Buildings in Crank had been charged with the wilful murder of his 13-month-old child. His mother and father, who he lived with, also faced the same charge. But after it was revealed at the emaciated baby's inquest that the child might have been diseased, the charges were dropped. In court James Unsworth had insisted that his 50-year-old mother Mary – who he called "the old woman" – had done everything she could to care for his baby.
However, the locals at Crank were clearly not so convinced of their innocence and had been giving Mary Unsworth a hard time. In St Helens Petty Sessions on the 19th, Mary was charged with disorderly conduct. A police officer gave evidence of hearing her threatening to "do for her neighbours, in return for what they had done for her." Her solicitor, Thomas Swift, told the Bench that while her son had been in custody on remand, Mary had been taunted and told she would receive six months in prison and her son three. The Bench thought she had been sufficiently punished and discharged the woman.
Isaac Kilshaw was often described in the newspapers as an old offender and a notorious poacher but did appear in court charged with other offences too. Three years ago I described how he had been accused of stealing a billycock from a barber's shop in Bridge Street. I thought that a billycock might be some sort of animal or bird – but it turned out to be a type of bowler hat!
Kilshaw also appeared in the Petty Sessions on the 19th, this time facing a charge of assaulting Margaret Greene. The couple lived together as man and wife and Kilshaw had given her a severe beating. But Margaret told the court that she had changed her mind about prosecuting Isaac because he had since promised to marry her. Women were so dependent upon men that the offer of respectability – as well as some financial advantages of being a wife – were clearly considered by Margaret to be worth the risk of receiving another thumping.
The banging of kettles, pots and tins outside of a house was the traditional means of showing disapproval of a person's behaviour. The making of hooting noises, whistling and, sometimes, the burning of an effigy, would often accompany the racket. Well, there was no television and people had to get their kicks somehow! And a mob picking on some poor soul has always been a popular pastime – although, not, of course, with the victim.
Certainly Elizabeth Platt from Parr did not appreciate being persecuted. She told the court that at about 5 o’clock one afternoon a group of mainly women had approached her house carrying kettles and tins. While she was looking at them through the window of her home, a man called Thomas Jackson dashed his fist through the glass from outside, which badly cut her face.
Jackson claimed that the woman had fallen out with two young girls in the neighbourhood and had behaved in a scandalous manner before hundreds of people. He said he had spoken to her about it and her response so aggravated him that he struck at her through the window. As I've often said, violence was tolerated to a large degree in the 1870s and the glass smasher was only fined 2s. 6d.
However, matters were not done as Elizabeth Platt then moved into the defendant's box and was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Holmes. Calling their battle an assault was a considerable understatement as the ladies' fight went on for quite some time and they were said by a watching doctor to have been in danger of choking each other.
Several witnesses gave evidence, including a middle-aged woman called Ellen Rigby, which the Newspaper said: "Being a female of course the court was treated to a rehash of the most filthy language." Another witness called Mary O’Neill said that after the first round of fighting, the "brow girls" had tied up the loosened hair of the complainant, Elizabeth Holmes, to make her ready for the second round. The Bench fined Elizabeth Platt 2s 6d.
Beecham's Pills was still somewhat in its infancy. And so when the inquest on its founder's wife was held at the Royal Hotel in Westfield Street on the 21st, Thomas Beecham was simply described in the St Helens Newspaper as a "patent medicine dealer". Jane Beecham was only 59 and her death – which had taken place in a "very sudden manner" – was blamed on "excessive intemperance". Her addiction to alcohol had let to Thomas and Jane separating and for a considerable time until recently, she had been living with her son, Joseph.
On the day of her death, the future mayor of St Helens considered his mother to have become insane – as the Newspaper put it – and went to the police station to learn how to have her committed to an asylum. Jane's death occurred at her daughter's house in New Cross Street and its rapid manner led to the usual malicious gossip. The Newspaper wrote: "From the period of her death disquieting rumours of a vague character were floating about, which the police endeavoured to have sifted …and the result was that the rumours were shown to have been without foundation."
One of the jurymen at the inquest commented that the certificate of a doctor should be sufficient evidence of death without jurors having to view the body of the deceased. The Newspaper wrote: "The Coroner said there was no help for it. The law on which the viewing of bodies [at inquests] was founded was older than any Act of Parliament, and could not be repealed without a special act." Inquests were always described in the newspapers as being held "on the body of such a person…", due to that law which was designed to prevent misidentification and to give the jurors the opportunity to inspect bodies for signs of injuries. Transparency is very much to be encouraged, of course, but open coffins at inquests was taking it a bit too far, methinks!
Next week's stories will include the Rainford farm fire in Berringtons Lane, the wroth of St Helens tipplers observing the new Licensing Act and the St Helens chemical workers train crash while on a treat to Windermere.
This week's stories include the drunken death of Thomas Beecham's wife, the new assistant nurse at Whiston Workhouse, how the offer of marriage halted a domestic abuse case, the fighting women of Parr and the Crank woman at the centre of a child manslaughter case returns to court.
Just two nurses (a head nurse and an assistant) staffed the hospital at Whiston Workhouse, with a doctor calling in from time to time to check on the pauper patients.
Recently the assistant nurse had quit and so an advert for a replacement appeared in the St Helens Newspaper on the 17th.
The salary that was offered was £20 a year and included "separate furnished apartments, and officers' rations".
I expect that meant a couple of tiny rooms at the workhouse and food a bit better than what the paupers received.
The advert also said: "Candidates must be persons without encumbrance, age not to exceed 45 years." So no husband or kids, etc.
I wonder how many schoolteachers there are these days employed within the St Helens district? Could there be as many as a couple of thousand, perhaps?
There were just 48 in 1872 – at least that was the number of members of the St Helens District Teachers Association.
Some schools were attached to the large works that employed many boys, in order that the lads could have a few hours of education each week.
Pilkington's Crown Glass Works school was one of the largest and it served as the venue for the teachers' meeting.
The president of the association was Newton Lacey who since 1846 had been the headmaster of Cowley British Schools in North Road (Central Modern would be built on the same site).
His association with Cowley lasted so long that the school became known as "Lacey's". Although his reign was drawing to a close, as he had to resign in 1875 when it was decided that all teachers must be qualified.
At the beginning of the month, miner James Unsworth of Red Cat Buildings in Crank had been charged with the wilful murder of his 13-month-old child. His mother and father, who he lived with, also faced the same charge.
But after it was revealed at the emaciated baby's inquest that the child might have been diseased, the charges were dropped.
In court James Unsworth had insisted that his 50-year-old mother Mary – who he called "the old woman" – had done everything she could to care for his baby.
However, the locals at Crank were clearly not so convinced of their innocence and had been giving Mary Unsworth a hard time.
In St Helens Petty Sessions on the 19th, Mary was charged with disorderly conduct. A police officer gave evidence of hearing her threatening to "do for her neighbours, in return for what they had done for her."
Her solicitor, Thomas Swift, told the Bench that while her son had been in custody on remand, Mary had been taunted and told she would receive six months in prison and her son three.
The Bench thought she had been sufficiently punished and discharged the woman.
Isaac Kilshaw was often described in the newspapers as an old offender and a notorious poacher but did appear in court charged with other offences too.
Three years ago I described how he had been accused of stealing a billycock from a barber's shop in Bridge Street.
I thought that a billycock might be some sort of animal or bird – but it turned out to be a type of bowler hat!
Kilshaw also appeared in the Petty Sessions on the 19th, this time facing a charge of assaulting Margaret Greene.
The couple lived together as man and wife and Kilshaw had given her a severe beating. But Margaret told the court that she had changed her mind about prosecuting Isaac because he had since promised to marry her.
Women were so dependent upon men that the offer of respectability – as well as some financial advantages of being a wife – were clearly considered by Margaret to be worth the risk of receiving another thumping.
The banging of kettles, pots and tins outside of a house was the traditional means of showing disapproval of a person's behaviour.
The making of hooting noises, whistling and, sometimes, the burning of an effigy, would often accompany the racket.
Well, there was no television and people had to get their kicks somehow! And a mob picking on some poor soul has always been a popular pastime – although, not, of course, with the victim.
Certainly Elizabeth Platt from Parr did not appreciate being persecuted.
She told the court that at about 5 o’clock one afternoon a group of mainly women had approached her house carrying kettles and tins.
While she was looking at them through the window of her home, a man called Thomas Jackson dashed his fist through the glass from outside, which badly cut her face.
Jackson claimed that the woman had fallen out with two young girls in the neighbourhood and had behaved in a scandalous manner before hundreds of people.
He said he had spoken to her about it and her response so aggravated him that he struck at her through the window.
As I've often said, violence was tolerated to a large degree in the 1870s and the glass smasher was only fined 2s. 6d.
However, matters were not done as Elizabeth Platt then moved into the defendant's box and was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Holmes.
Calling their battle an assault was a considerable understatement as the ladies' fight went on for quite some time and they were said by a watching doctor to have been in danger of choking each other.
Several witnesses gave evidence, including a middle-aged woman called Ellen Rigby, which the Newspaper said: "Being a female of course the court was treated to a rehash of the most filthy language."
Another witness called Mary O’Neill said that after the first round of fighting, the "brow girls" had tied up the loosened hair of the complainant, Elizabeth Holmes, to make her ready for the second round. The Bench fined Elizabeth Platt 2s 6d.
Littler's Field off Hard Lane (pictured above with the eponymous Mrs Littler) was for around thirty years the venue for many events. For a while it also served as the home of St Helens Rugby Club, with Saints' players changing at the Abbey Hotel.
On the 21st the Lowe House schoolchildren held their annual treat in Littler's Field, with 500 of the boys and girls walking to Dentons Green on what was a fine day and participating in the usual sports and games.
Beecham's Pills was still somewhat in its infancy. And so when the inquest on its founder's wife was held at the Royal Hotel in Westfield Street on the 21st, Thomas Beecham was simply described in the St Helens Newspaper as a "patent medicine dealer".
Jane Beecham was only 59 and her death – which had taken place in a "very sudden manner" – was blamed on "excessive intemperance".
Her addiction to alcohol had let to Thomas and Jane separating and for a considerable time until recently, she had been living with her son, Joseph.
On the day of her death, the future mayor of St Helens considered his mother to have become insane – as the Newspaper put it – and went to the police station to learn how to have her committed to an asylum.
Jane's death occurred at her daughter's house in New Cross Street and its rapid manner led to the usual malicious gossip.
The Newspaper wrote: "From the period of her death disquieting rumours of a vague character were floating about, which the police endeavoured to have sifted …and the result was that the rumours were shown to have been without foundation."
One of the jurymen at the inquest commented that the certificate of a doctor should be sufficient evidence of death without jurors having to view the body of the deceased.
The Newspaper wrote: "The Coroner said there was no help for it. The law on which the viewing of bodies [at inquests] was founded was older than any Act of Parliament, and could not be repealed without a special act."
Inquests were always described in the newspapers as being held "on the body of such a person…", due to that law which was designed to prevent misidentification and to give the jurors the opportunity to inspect bodies for signs of injuries.
Transparency is very much to be encouraged, of course, but open coffins at inquests was taking it a bit too far, methinks!
Next week's stories will include the Rainford farm fire in Berringtons Lane, the wroth of St Helens tipplers observing the new Licensing Act and the St Helens chemical workers train crash while on a treat to Windermere.
Just two nurses (a head nurse and an assistant) staffed the hospital at Whiston Workhouse, with a doctor calling in from time to time to check on the pauper patients.
Recently the assistant nurse had quit and so an advert for a replacement appeared in the St Helens Newspaper on the 17th.
The salary that was offered was £20 a year and included "separate furnished apartments, and officers' rations".
I expect that meant a couple of tiny rooms at the workhouse and food a bit better than what the paupers received.
The advert also said: "Candidates must be persons without encumbrance, age not to exceed 45 years." So no husband or kids, etc.
I wonder how many schoolteachers there are these days employed within the St Helens district? Could there be as many as a couple of thousand, perhaps?
There were just 48 in 1872 – at least that was the number of members of the St Helens District Teachers Association.
Some schools were attached to the large works that employed many boys, in order that the lads could have a few hours of education each week.
Pilkington's Crown Glass Works school was one of the largest and it served as the venue for the teachers' meeting.
The president of the association was Newton Lacey who since 1846 had been the headmaster of Cowley British Schools in North Road (Central Modern would be built on the same site).
His association with Cowley lasted so long that the school became known as "Lacey's". Although his reign was drawing to a close, as he had to resign in 1875 when it was decided that all teachers must be qualified.
At the beginning of the month, miner James Unsworth of Red Cat Buildings in Crank had been charged with the wilful murder of his 13-month-old child. His mother and father, who he lived with, also faced the same charge.
But after it was revealed at the emaciated baby's inquest that the child might have been diseased, the charges were dropped.
In court James Unsworth had insisted that his 50-year-old mother Mary – who he called "the old woman" – had done everything she could to care for his baby.
However, the locals at Crank were clearly not so convinced of their innocence and had been giving Mary Unsworth a hard time.
In St Helens Petty Sessions on the 19th, Mary was charged with disorderly conduct. A police officer gave evidence of hearing her threatening to "do for her neighbours, in return for what they had done for her."
Her solicitor, Thomas Swift, told the Bench that while her son had been in custody on remand, Mary had been taunted and told she would receive six months in prison and her son three.
The Bench thought she had been sufficiently punished and discharged the woman.
Isaac Kilshaw was often described in the newspapers as an old offender and a notorious poacher but did appear in court charged with other offences too.
Three years ago I described how he had been accused of stealing a billycock from a barber's shop in Bridge Street.
I thought that a billycock might be some sort of animal or bird – but it turned out to be a type of bowler hat!
Kilshaw also appeared in the Petty Sessions on the 19th, this time facing a charge of assaulting Margaret Greene.
The couple lived together as man and wife and Kilshaw had given her a severe beating. But Margaret told the court that she had changed her mind about prosecuting Isaac because he had since promised to marry her.
Women were so dependent upon men that the offer of respectability – as well as some financial advantages of being a wife – were clearly considered by Margaret to be worth the risk of receiving another thumping.
The banging of kettles, pots and tins outside of a house was the traditional means of showing disapproval of a person's behaviour.
The making of hooting noises, whistling and, sometimes, the burning of an effigy, would often accompany the racket.
Well, there was no television and people had to get their kicks somehow! And a mob picking on some poor soul has always been a popular pastime – although, not, of course, with the victim.
Certainly Elizabeth Platt from Parr did not appreciate being persecuted.
She told the court that at about 5 o’clock one afternoon a group of mainly women had approached her house carrying kettles and tins.
While she was looking at them through the window of her home, a man called Thomas Jackson dashed his fist through the glass from outside, which badly cut her face.
Jackson claimed that the woman had fallen out with two young girls in the neighbourhood and had behaved in a scandalous manner before hundreds of people.
He said he had spoken to her about it and her response so aggravated him that he struck at her through the window.
As I've often said, violence was tolerated to a large degree in the 1870s and the glass smasher was only fined 2s. 6d.
However, matters were not done as Elizabeth Platt then moved into the defendant's box and was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Holmes.
Calling their battle an assault was a considerable understatement as the ladies' fight went on for quite some time and they were said by a watching doctor to have been in danger of choking each other.
Several witnesses gave evidence, including a middle-aged woman called Ellen Rigby, which the Newspaper said: "Being a female of course the court was treated to a rehash of the most filthy language."
Another witness called Mary O’Neill said that after the first round of fighting, the "brow girls" had tied up the loosened hair of the complainant, Elizabeth Holmes, to make her ready for the second round. The Bench fined Elizabeth Platt 2s 6d.
On the 21st the Lowe House schoolchildren held their annual treat in Littler's Field, with 500 of the boys and girls walking to Dentons Green on what was a fine day and participating in the usual sports and games.
Beecham's Pills was still somewhat in its infancy. And so when the inquest on its founder's wife was held at the Royal Hotel in Westfield Street on the 21st, Thomas Beecham was simply described in the St Helens Newspaper as a "patent medicine dealer".
Jane Beecham was only 59 and her death – which had taken place in a "very sudden manner" – was blamed on "excessive intemperance".
Her addiction to alcohol had let to Thomas and Jane separating and for a considerable time until recently, she had been living with her son, Joseph.
On the day of her death, the future mayor of St Helens considered his mother to have become insane – as the Newspaper put it – and went to the police station to learn how to have her committed to an asylum.
Jane's death occurred at her daughter's house in New Cross Street and its rapid manner led to the usual malicious gossip.
The Newspaper wrote: "From the period of her death disquieting rumours of a vague character were floating about, which the police endeavoured to have sifted …and the result was that the rumours were shown to have been without foundation."
One of the jurymen at the inquest commented that the certificate of a doctor should be sufficient evidence of death without jurors having to view the body of the deceased.
The Newspaper wrote: "The Coroner said there was no help for it. The law on which the viewing of bodies [at inquests] was founded was older than any Act of Parliament, and could not be repealed without a special act."
Inquests were always described in the newspapers as being held "on the body of such a person…", due to that law which was designed to prevent misidentification and to give the jurors the opportunity to inspect bodies for signs of injuries.
Transparency is very much to be encouraged, of course, but open coffins at inquests was taking it a bit too far, methinks!
Next week's stories will include the Rainford farm fire in Berringtons Lane, the wroth of St Helens tipplers observing the new Licensing Act and the St Helens chemical workers train crash while on a treat to Windermere.