150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (20th - 26th DECEMBER 1871)
This week's stories include the seasonal kissing in a St Helens beerhouse that led to an assault, the Christmas raffle in Golborne that almost caused a riot, the St Helens rifle volunteers Christmas shoot, the expensive tea urn trip at Rainford Junction station and the Parr boy falsely accused of purse stealing in the market.
Christmas adverts were few and far between in the St Helens Newspaper during the 19th century. However, butcher John Harrison of Bridge Street – who certainly liked his exclamation marks and saying "Ah!" – had this advert in the paper again this year:
"FAT PIGS! FAT PIGS!! Ah! Ah!! Ah!!! And J. H.'s Christmas Fat Pigs will be under seven months old, and a constant supply of prime fed from the first Cheshire and other feeders. FAT GEESE FOR CHRISTMAS. English Geese for Christmas, (Hatched in 1871). And will reach the weight of sixteen pounds. TURKEYS. Fat Turkeys For Christmas, This year's birds, Ah! Ah!! Ah!!! And the above will be the qualities to dine off, not forgetting the New Year. Look and judge for yourselves."
Peter McKinley had premises at Birmingham House in Bridge Street and in Market Street. He was advertising a "large and varied stock of foreign toys and fancy goods", with "all the latest styles in dolls".
Although Dromgoole's stationers and bookshop of Hardshaw Street – which was owned by the St Helens Newspaper – was advertising a range of Christmas annuals and almanacs. Mainly selling for 10d, the titles included 'Tom Hood's Comic Annual', 'Band of Hope For 1871', 'The Child's Own Magazine', 'Children's Annual' and 'The British Workman For 1871'.
On the 20th the monthly meeting of St Helens Highway Committee was held. Their surveyor drew the members' attention to the fact that many inhabited streets in the borough had no sewers. A proposal to expand the sewerage system had been considered in the past but had been deferred due to its cost. The surveyor wondered whether it would be wise to delay the scheme any longer when epidemics – including possibly cholera – were expected next year. The authorities were starting to make a connection between bad sanitation and ill-health and so he was asked to prepare estimates for new sewers.
One of the advantages of being in the St Helens rifle volunteers (47th LRV) was being able to win some cash in their regular contests held on their St Helens Junction rifle range. The biggest shoot of all took place each Christmas and this year 286 men had competed for 205 prizes. I have few details of them but they usually comprised food – such as game, geese, ducks, beef, mutton and ale – and loads of coal. However, three years ago there had also been what the Liverpool Mercury described as a "live donkey of the shaggy species".
During the evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant-Colonel Gamble distributed the prizes to all the winners of the contest and – according to the Wigan Observer – said: "On behalf of the battalion, I want to express the heartiest gladness at the favourable condition of the Prince of Wales". The man who would become Edward VII in 1901, had for several weeks been very seriously ill with typhoid fever but was now on the mend.
On the 23rd a Christmas raffle was held in Golborne that nearly caused a riot, as described by the Observer: "In this, as in larger communities, Christmas brings with it a number of raffles, the prizes ranging from a glass of “mountain dew” to a couple of fat turkeys. In accordance with this custom one of the leading butchers in the township made the arrangement of the raffle a matter of business, and he obtained members with such amazing rapidity as to exceed his most sanguine anticipations, and long ere the date fixed, the specified number had been enrolled.
"Saturday evening last was arranged as the time when the raffle should take place, and each of the members having been acquainted, a large number congregated in front of the New Inn, and soon began to try their luck. Whilst this was going on an evil one was at hand, and bore away the prize; nor was this fact known until the proceedings were over, and the victor applied for what he considered to be his property. Much confusion then ensued, and in a few moments a crowd numbering upwards of 200 persons gathered in front of the shop.
"Many thought that the whole affair was a swindle, and were not sparing in words of censure upon the worthy butcher, but these remarks however were afterwards proved to be without foundation, for the thief probably fancying that things were getting too hot, in a very short time mysteriously replaced the turkey on the spot from whence it had been removed, the whole affair being shrouded in mystery. In the meantime, however, the money paid by each of the members had been demanded and returned, and the finale was that the turkey had to be disposed of at a decided loss."
Also on the 23rd, the Wigan Observer reported on a couple of cases heard at the recent Liverpool Assizes. Although known mainly for the criminal prosecutions that were heard at the Kirkdale court – in which long prison sentences could be doled out for relatively minor offences – there was also a civil side. This was known as the Nisi Prius Court where what was described as a special jury had heard Ann Harris's action against the London & North Western Railway Company.
In the 1871 census the 59-year-old widow from Westfield Street in St Helens has her occupation listed as "formerly milliner". The use of the past tense was through what had occurred at Rainford Junction station last Christmas. Mrs Harris had been returning home after visiting a son in Skelmersdale and been about to get into the St Helens train when she tripped over some tea urns. These had been left on the platform of the Junction station and the fall led to her injuring her face and one of her arms. As a consequence Mrs Harris could no longer use her fingers to undertake her millinery and dressmaking work.
The railway company was accused of being negligent for not having sufficient lighting on the platform and enough porters employed at the station. This was denied by the defence lawyer, who said the fault lay with Mrs Harris for her "want of ordinary care" – not looking where she was going, in other words. The all-male jury was, no doubt, sympathetic to the widow woman and unsympathetic to the railway company that had probably annoyed them in the past by running trains late and having poorly lit platforms. And so they brought in a verdict of a whopping £300 damages that the London & North Western Railway Company were ordered to pay.
Not so fortunate was Henry Evans who through his father brought an action against a Miss Wright. The woman had accused the 15-year-old son of a Parr publican of stealing her purse in St Helens Market (pictured above). It appeared that the woman had missed her purse while standing at a stall next to Henry Evans and simply decided that he must have taken it. Miss Wright was accused of having repeated her allegation on several occasions and had refused to apologise for her slur on the boy. In the court she denied accusing the boy of theft, saying she had simply enquired if he had her purse. Although the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, they added that they considered the boy "free from any imputation" of stealing the purse.
On Boxing Day in a certain St Helens beerhouse, a lot of Christmas kissing went on! Sadly the newspaper report describing the subsequent court case fails to reveal which drinking hole it was – and where it was. What we do know is that Thomas Duffy told magistrates that a barmaid in the beerhouse had kissed him – and then demanded a shilling. His refusal to part with a bob for such a brief moment of passion led to Thomas Forber kicking him and then holding him down until he was "almost strangled".
The St Helens Newspaper added: "A witness was called who made the court laugh heartily at his description of the kissing scene. The servant kissed the whole company in turn, for the good of the house, each of course paying something for beer in receiving a salute. The servant in question was the next witness called, and she told her own share of the proceedings quite jauntily, but at the time stated that she did not kiss Duffy for his beauty. The case was dismissed."
And finally, under the headline "Letter Carriers & Christmas Boxes", this article was published this week in the Liverpool Mercury: "There seems to be some misapprehension on the subject of the solicitation by letter carriers for Christmas boxes. A notice has been issued from the General Postoffice, which in some quarters is understood – and has been so stated in several journals – to forbid the letter carriers asking for the customary gifts from the public at Christmas.
"Such a proceeding would smack of unnecessary harshness. There is no class of public servants who work harder for so little pay, and who are better entitled to a bonus at the end of the year. It is well, therefore, that the true position of the case should be stated. Some enterprising firm advertised for sale among letter carriers cards of solicitation for presentation at the houses and places of business on their rounds.
"And, believing that such a deliberate and organised system of begging must be distasteful to a large section of the public, the Postmaster-General has thought to prohibit the use of these cards, intimating at the same time that, though the solicitation of Christmas boxes is not at present forbidden, the use of the cards or other forms of begging may compel the prohibition of all applications. As the matter stands, therefore, the postmen are in the same position that they have hitherto been. They may ask to be remembered; and they have certainly as much title to be remembered in a substantial form as any who solicit."
Next week's stories will include the late-night scramble for cash in St Helens Market, the Sutton glassworker who was dreadfully gashed, the Newton man who threatened to stab his wife and child and the Greenall's carter run over by his own cart.
Christmas adverts were few and far between in the St Helens Newspaper during the 19th century. However, butcher John Harrison of Bridge Street – who certainly liked his exclamation marks and saying "Ah!" – had this advert in the paper again this year:
"FAT PIGS! FAT PIGS!! Ah! Ah!! Ah!!! And J. H.'s Christmas Fat Pigs will be under seven months old, and a constant supply of prime fed from the first Cheshire and other feeders. FAT GEESE FOR CHRISTMAS. English Geese for Christmas, (Hatched in 1871). And will reach the weight of sixteen pounds. TURKEYS. Fat Turkeys For Christmas, This year's birds, Ah! Ah!! Ah!!! And the above will be the qualities to dine off, not forgetting the New Year. Look and judge for yourselves."
Peter McKinley had premises at Birmingham House in Bridge Street and in Market Street. He was advertising a "large and varied stock of foreign toys and fancy goods", with "all the latest styles in dolls".
Although Dromgoole's stationers and bookshop of Hardshaw Street – which was owned by the St Helens Newspaper – was advertising a range of Christmas annuals and almanacs. Mainly selling for 10d, the titles included 'Tom Hood's Comic Annual', 'Band of Hope For 1871', 'The Child's Own Magazine', 'Children's Annual' and 'The British Workman For 1871'.
On the 20th the monthly meeting of St Helens Highway Committee was held. Their surveyor drew the members' attention to the fact that many inhabited streets in the borough had no sewers. A proposal to expand the sewerage system had been considered in the past but had been deferred due to its cost. The surveyor wondered whether it would be wise to delay the scheme any longer when epidemics – including possibly cholera – were expected next year. The authorities were starting to make a connection between bad sanitation and ill-health and so he was asked to prepare estimates for new sewers.
One of the advantages of being in the St Helens rifle volunteers (47th LRV) was being able to win some cash in their regular contests held on their St Helens Junction rifle range. The biggest shoot of all took place each Christmas and this year 286 men had competed for 205 prizes. I have few details of them but they usually comprised food – such as game, geese, ducks, beef, mutton and ale – and loads of coal. However, three years ago there had also been what the Liverpool Mercury described as a "live donkey of the shaggy species".
During the evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant-Colonel Gamble distributed the prizes to all the winners of the contest and – according to the Wigan Observer – said: "On behalf of the battalion, I want to express the heartiest gladness at the favourable condition of the Prince of Wales". The man who would become Edward VII in 1901, had for several weeks been very seriously ill with typhoid fever but was now on the mend.
On the 23rd a Christmas raffle was held in Golborne that nearly caused a riot, as described by the Observer: "In this, as in larger communities, Christmas brings with it a number of raffles, the prizes ranging from a glass of “mountain dew” to a couple of fat turkeys. In accordance with this custom one of the leading butchers in the township made the arrangement of the raffle a matter of business, and he obtained members with such amazing rapidity as to exceed his most sanguine anticipations, and long ere the date fixed, the specified number had been enrolled.
"Saturday evening last was arranged as the time when the raffle should take place, and each of the members having been acquainted, a large number congregated in front of the New Inn, and soon began to try their luck. Whilst this was going on an evil one was at hand, and bore away the prize; nor was this fact known until the proceedings were over, and the victor applied for what he considered to be his property. Much confusion then ensued, and in a few moments a crowd numbering upwards of 200 persons gathered in front of the shop.
"Many thought that the whole affair was a swindle, and were not sparing in words of censure upon the worthy butcher, but these remarks however were afterwards proved to be without foundation, for the thief probably fancying that things were getting too hot, in a very short time mysteriously replaced the turkey on the spot from whence it had been removed, the whole affair being shrouded in mystery. In the meantime, however, the money paid by each of the members had been demanded and returned, and the finale was that the turkey had to be disposed of at a decided loss."
Also on the 23rd, the Wigan Observer reported on a couple of cases heard at the recent Liverpool Assizes. Although known mainly for the criminal prosecutions that were heard at the Kirkdale court – in which long prison sentences could be doled out for relatively minor offences – there was also a civil side. This was known as the Nisi Prius Court where what was described as a special jury had heard Ann Harris's action against the London & North Western Railway Company.
In the 1871 census the 59-year-old widow from Westfield Street in St Helens has her occupation listed as "formerly milliner". The use of the past tense was through what had occurred at Rainford Junction station last Christmas. Mrs Harris had been returning home after visiting a son in Skelmersdale and been about to get into the St Helens train when she tripped over some tea urns. These had been left on the platform of the Junction station and the fall led to her injuring her face and one of her arms. As a consequence Mrs Harris could no longer use her fingers to undertake her millinery and dressmaking work.
The railway company was accused of being negligent for not having sufficient lighting on the platform and enough porters employed at the station. This was denied by the defence lawyer, who said the fault lay with Mrs Harris for her "want of ordinary care" – not looking where she was going, in other words. The all-male jury was, no doubt, sympathetic to the widow woman and unsympathetic to the railway company that had probably annoyed them in the past by running trains late and having poorly lit platforms. And so they brought in a verdict of a whopping £300 damages that the London & North Western Railway Company were ordered to pay.
On Boxing Day in a certain St Helens beerhouse, a lot of Christmas kissing went on! Sadly the newspaper report describing the subsequent court case fails to reveal which drinking hole it was – and where it was. What we do know is that Thomas Duffy told magistrates that a barmaid in the beerhouse had kissed him – and then demanded a shilling. His refusal to part with a bob for such a brief moment of passion led to Thomas Forber kicking him and then holding him down until he was "almost strangled".
The St Helens Newspaper added: "A witness was called who made the court laugh heartily at his description of the kissing scene. The servant kissed the whole company in turn, for the good of the house, each of course paying something for beer in receiving a salute. The servant in question was the next witness called, and she told her own share of the proceedings quite jauntily, but at the time stated that she did not kiss Duffy for his beauty. The case was dismissed."
And finally, under the headline "Letter Carriers & Christmas Boxes", this article was published this week in the Liverpool Mercury: "There seems to be some misapprehension on the subject of the solicitation by letter carriers for Christmas boxes. A notice has been issued from the General Postoffice, which in some quarters is understood – and has been so stated in several journals – to forbid the letter carriers asking for the customary gifts from the public at Christmas.
"Such a proceeding would smack of unnecessary harshness. There is no class of public servants who work harder for so little pay, and who are better entitled to a bonus at the end of the year. It is well, therefore, that the true position of the case should be stated. Some enterprising firm advertised for sale among letter carriers cards of solicitation for presentation at the houses and places of business on their rounds.
"And, believing that such a deliberate and organised system of begging must be distasteful to a large section of the public, the Postmaster-General has thought to prohibit the use of these cards, intimating at the same time that, though the solicitation of Christmas boxes is not at present forbidden, the use of the cards or other forms of begging may compel the prohibition of all applications. As the matter stands, therefore, the postmen are in the same position that they have hitherto been. They may ask to be remembered; and they have certainly as much title to be remembered in a substantial form as any who solicit."
Next week's stories will include the late-night scramble for cash in St Helens Market, the Sutton glassworker who was dreadfully gashed, the Newton man who threatened to stab his wife and child and the Greenall's carter run over by his own cart.
This week's stories include the seasonal kissing in a St Helens beerhouse that led to an assault, the Christmas raffle in Golborne that almost caused a riot, the St Helens rifle volunteers Christmas shoot, the expensive tea urn trip at Rainford Junction station and the Parr boy who was falsely accused of purse stealing in the market.
Christmas adverts were few and far between in the St Helens Newspaper during the 19th century.
However, butcher John Harrison of Bridge Street – who certainly liked his exclamation marks and saying "Ah!" – had this advert in the paper again this year:
"FAT PIGS! FAT PIGS!! Ah! Ah!! Ah!!! And J. H.'s Christmas Fat Pigs will be under seven months old, and a constant supply of prime fed from the first Cheshire and other feeders.
"FAT GEESE FOR CHRISTMAS. English Geese for Christmas, (Hatched in 1871). And will reach the weight of sixteen pounds.
"TURKEYS. Fat Turkeys For Christmas, This year's birds, Ah! Ah!! Ah!!!
"And the above will be the qualities to dine off, not forgetting the New Year. Look and judge for yourselves."
Peter McKinley had premises at Birmingham House in Bridge Street and in Market Street.
He was advertising a "large and varied stock of foreign toys and fancy goods", with "all the latest styles in dolls.
Although Dromgoole's stationers and bookshop of Hardshaw Street – which was owned by the St Helens Newspaper – was advertising a range of Christmas annuals and almanacs.
Mainly selling for 10d, the titles included 'Tom Hood's Comic Annual', 'Band of Hope For 1871', 'The Child's Own Magazine', 'Children's Annual' and 'The British Workman For 1871'.
On the 20th the monthly meeting of St Helens Highway Committee was held.
Their surveyor drew the members' attention to the fact that many inhabited streets in the borough had no sewers.
A proposal to expand the sewerage system had been considered in the past but had been deferred due to its cost.
The surveyor wondered whether it would be wise to delay the scheme any longer when epidemics – including possibly cholera – were expected next year.
The authorities were starting to make a connection between bad sanitation and ill-health and so he was asked to prepare estimates for new sewers.
One of the advantages of being in the St Helens rifle volunteers (47th LRV) was being able to win some cash in their regular contests held on their St Helens Junction rifle range.
The biggest shoot of all took place each Christmas and this year 286 men had competed for 205 prizes.
I have few details of them but they usually comprised food – such as game, geese, ducks, beef, mutton and ale – and loads of coal.
However, three years ago there had also been what the Liverpool Mercury described as a "live donkey of the shaggy species".
During the evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant-Colonel Gamble distributed the prizes to all the winners of the contest and – according to the Wigan Observer – said:
"On behalf of the battalion, I want to express the heartiest gladness at the favourable condition of the Prince of Wales".
The man who would become Edward VII in 1901, had for several weeks been very seriously ill with typhoid fever but was now on the mend.
On the 23rd a Christmas raffle was held in Golborne that nearly caused a riot, as described by the Observer:
"In this, as in larger communities, Christmas brings with it a number of raffles, the prizes ranging from a glass of “mountain dew” to a couple of fat turkeys.
"In accordance with this custom one of the leading butchers in the township made the arrangement of the raffle a matter of business, and he obtained members with such amazing rapidity as to exceed his most sanguine anticipations, and long ere the date fixed, the specified number had been enrolled.
"Saturday evening last was arranged as the time when the raffle should take place, and each of the members having been acquainted, a large number congregated in front of the New Inn, and soon began to try their luck.
"Whilst this was going on an evil one was at hand, and bore away the prize; nor was this fact known until the proceedings were over, and the victor applied for what he considered to be his property.
"Much confusion then ensued, and in a few moments a crowd numbering upwards of 200 persons gathered in front of the shop.
"Many thought that the whole affair was a swindle, and were not sparing in words of censure upon the worthy butcher, but these remarks however were afterwards proved to be without foundation, for the thief probably fancying that things were getting too hot, in a very short time mysteriously replaced the turkey on the spot from whence it had been removed, the whole affair being shrouded in mystery.
"In the meantime, however, the money paid by each of the members had been demanded and returned, and the finale was that the turkey had to be disposed of at a decided loss."
Also on the 23rd, the Wigan Observer reported on a couple of cases heard at the recent Liverpool Assizes.
Although known mainly for the criminal prosecutions that were heard at the Kirkdale court – in which long prison sentences could be doled out for relatively minor offences – there was also a civil side.
This was known as the Nisi Prius Court where what was described as a special jury had heard Ann Harris's action against the London & North Western Railway Company.
In the 1871 census the 59-year-old widow from Westfield Street in St Helens has her occupation listed as "formerly milliner".
The use of the past tense was through what had occurred at Rainford Junction station last Christmas.
Mrs Harris had been returning home after visiting a son in Skelmersdale and been about to get into the St Helens train when she tripped over some tea urns.
These had been left on the platform of the Junction station and the fall led to her injuring her face and one of her arms.
As a consequence Mrs Harris could no longer use her fingers to undertake her millinery and dressmaking work.
The railway company was accused of being negligent for not having sufficient lighting on the platform and enough porters employed at the station.
This was denied by the defence lawyer, who said the fault lay with Mrs Harris for her "want of ordinary care" – not looking where she was going, in other words.
The all-male jury was, no doubt, sympathetic to the widow woman and unsympathetic to the railway company that had probably annoyed them in the past by running trains late and having poorly lit platforms.
And so they brought in a verdict of a whopping £300 damages that the London & North Western Railway Company were ordered to pay.
Not so fortunate was Henry Evans who through his father brought an action against a Miss Wright.
The woman had accused the 15-year-old son of a Parr publican of stealing her purse in St Helens Market (pictured above).
It appeared that the woman had missed her purse while standing at a stall next to Henry Evans and simply decided that he must have taken it.
Miss Wright was accused of having repeated her allegation on several occasions and had refused to apologise for her slur on the boy.
In the court she denied accusing the boy of theft, saying she had simply enquired if he had her purse.
Although the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, they added that they considered the boy "free from any imputation" of stealing the purse.
On Boxing Day in a certain St Helens beerhouse, a lot of Christmas kissing went on!
Sadly the newspaper report describing the subsequent court case fails to reveal which drinking hole it was – and where it was.
What we do know is that Thomas Duffy told magistrates that a barmaid in the beerhouse had kissed him – and then demanded a shilling.
His refusal to part with a bob for such a brief moment of passion led to Thomas Forber kicking him and then holding him down until he was "almost strangled".
The St Helens Newspaper added: "A witness was called who made the court laugh heartily at his description of the kissing scene. The servant kissed the whole company in turn, for the good of the house, each of course paying something for beer in receiving a salute.
"The servant in question was the next witness called, and she told her own share of the proceedings quite jauntily, but at the time stated that she did not kiss Duffy for his beauty. The case was dismissed."
And finally, under the headline "Letter Carriers & Christmas Boxes", this article was published this week in the Liverpool Mercury:
"There seems to be some misapprehension on the subject of the solicitation by letter carriers for Christmas boxes.
"A notice has been issued from the General Postoffice, which in some quarters is understood – and has been so stated in several journals – to forbid the letter carriers asking for the customary gifts from the public at Christmas.
"Such a proceeding would smack of unnecessary harshness. There is no class of public servants who work harder for so little pay, and who are better entitled to a bonus at the end of the year.
"It is well, therefore, that the true position of the case should be stated.
"Some enterprising firm advertised for sale among letter carriers cards of solicitation for presentation at the houses and places of business on their rounds.
"And, believing that such a deliberate and organised system of begging must be distasteful to a large section of the public, the Postmaster-General has thought to prohibit the use of these cards, intimating at the same time that, though the solicitation of Christmas boxes is not at present forbidden, the use of the cards or other forms of begging may compel the prohibition of all applications.
"As the matter stands, therefore, the postmen are in the same position that they have hitherto been. They may ask to be remembered; and they have certainly as much title to be remembered in a substantial form as any who solicit."
Next week's stories will include the late-night scramble for cash in St Helens Market, the Sutton glassworker who was dreadfully gashed, the Newton man who threatened to stab his wife and child and the Greenall's carter run over by his own cart.
Christmas adverts were few and far between in the St Helens Newspaper during the 19th century.
However, butcher John Harrison of Bridge Street – who certainly liked his exclamation marks and saying "Ah!" – had this advert in the paper again this year:
"FAT PIGS! FAT PIGS!! Ah! Ah!! Ah!!! And J. H.'s Christmas Fat Pigs will be under seven months old, and a constant supply of prime fed from the first Cheshire and other feeders.
"FAT GEESE FOR CHRISTMAS. English Geese for Christmas, (Hatched in 1871). And will reach the weight of sixteen pounds.
"TURKEYS. Fat Turkeys For Christmas, This year's birds, Ah! Ah!! Ah!!!
"And the above will be the qualities to dine off, not forgetting the New Year. Look and judge for yourselves."
Peter McKinley had premises at Birmingham House in Bridge Street and in Market Street.
He was advertising a "large and varied stock of foreign toys and fancy goods", with "all the latest styles in dolls.
Although Dromgoole's stationers and bookshop of Hardshaw Street – which was owned by the St Helens Newspaper – was advertising a range of Christmas annuals and almanacs.
Mainly selling for 10d, the titles included 'Tom Hood's Comic Annual', 'Band of Hope For 1871', 'The Child's Own Magazine', 'Children's Annual' and 'The British Workman For 1871'.
On the 20th the monthly meeting of St Helens Highway Committee was held.
Their surveyor drew the members' attention to the fact that many inhabited streets in the borough had no sewers.
A proposal to expand the sewerage system had been considered in the past but had been deferred due to its cost.
The surveyor wondered whether it would be wise to delay the scheme any longer when epidemics – including possibly cholera – were expected next year.
The authorities were starting to make a connection between bad sanitation and ill-health and so he was asked to prepare estimates for new sewers.
One of the advantages of being in the St Helens rifle volunteers (47th LRV) was being able to win some cash in their regular contests held on their St Helens Junction rifle range.
The biggest shoot of all took place each Christmas and this year 286 men had competed for 205 prizes.
I have few details of them but they usually comprised food – such as game, geese, ducks, beef, mutton and ale – and loads of coal.
However, three years ago there had also been what the Liverpool Mercury described as a "live donkey of the shaggy species".
During the evening of the 22nd, Lieutenant-Colonel Gamble distributed the prizes to all the winners of the contest and – according to the Wigan Observer – said:
"On behalf of the battalion, I want to express the heartiest gladness at the favourable condition of the Prince of Wales".
The man who would become Edward VII in 1901, had for several weeks been very seriously ill with typhoid fever but was now on the mend.
On the 23rd a Christmas raffle was held in Golborne that nearly caused a riot, as described by the Observer:
"In this, as in larger communities, Christmas brings with it a number of raffles, the prizes ranging from a glass of “mountain dew” to a couple of fat turkeys.
"In accordance with this custom one of the leading butchers in the township made the arrangement of the raffle a matter of business, and he obtained members with such amazing rapidity as to exceed his most sanguine anticipations, and long ere the date fixed, the specified number had been enrolled.
"Saturday evening last was arranged as the time when the raffle should take place, and each of the members having been acquainted, a large number congregated in front of the New Inn, and soon began to try their luck.
"Whilst this was going on an evil one was at hand, and bore away the prize; nor was this fact known until the proceedings were over, and the victor applied for what he considered to be his property.
"Much confusion then ensued, and in a few moments a crowd numbering upwards of 200 persons gathered in front of the shop.
"Many thought that the whole affair was a swindle, and were not sparing in words of censure upon the worthy butcher, but these remarks however were afterwards proved to be without foundation, for the thief probably fancying that things were getting too hot, in a very short time mysteriously replaced the turkey on the spot from whence it had been removed, the whole affair being shrouded in mystery.
"In the meantime, however, the money paid by each of the members had been demanded and returned, and the finale was that the turkey had to be disposed of at a decided loss."
Also on the 23rd, the Wigan Observer reported on a couple of cases heard at the recent Liverpool Assizes.
Although known mainly for the criminal prosecutions that were heard at the Kirkdale court – in which long prison sentences could be doled out for relatively minor offences – there was also a civil side.
This was known as the Nisi Prius Court where what was described as a special jury had heard Ann Harris's action against the London & North Western Railway Company.
In the 1871 census the 59-year-old widow from Westfield Street in St Helens has her occupation listed as "formerly milliner".
The use of the past tense was through what had occurred at Rainford Junction station last Christmas.
Mrs Harris had been returning home after visiting a son in Skelmersdale and been about to get into the St Helens train when she tripped over some tea urns.
These had been left on the platform of the Junction station and the fall led to her injuring her face and one of her arms.
As a consequence Mrs Harris could no longer use her fingers to undertake her millinery and dressmaking work.
The railway company was accused of being negligent for not having sufficient lighting on the platform and enough porters employed at the station.
This was denied by the defence lawyer, who said the fault lay with Mrs Harris for her "want of ordinary care" – not looking where she was going, in other words.
The all-male jury was, no doubt, sympathetic to the widow woman and unsympathetic to the railway company that had probably annoyed them in the past by running trains late and having poorly lit platforms.
And so they brought in a verdict of a whopping £300 damages that the London & North Western Railway Company were ordered to pay.
The woman had accused the 15-year-old son of a Parr publican of stealing her purse in St Helens Market (pictured above).
It appeared that the woman had missed her purse while standing at a stall next to Henry Evans and simply decided that he must have taken it.
Miss Wright was accused of having repeated her allegation on several occasions and had refused to apologise for her slur on the boy.
In the court she denied accusing the boy of theft, saying she had simply enquired if he had her purse.
Although the jury returned a verdict for the defendant, they added that they considered the boy "free from any imputation" of stealing the purse.
On Boxing Day in a certain St Helens beerhouse, a lot of Christmas kissing went on!
Sadly the newspaper report describing the subsequent court case fails to reveal which drinking hole it was – and where it was.
What we do know is that Thomas Duffy told magistrates that a barmaid in the beerhouse had kissed him – and then demanded a shilling.
His refusal to part with a bob for such a brief moment of passion led to Thomas Forber kicking him and then holding him down until he was "almost strangled".
The St Helens Newspaper added: "A witness was called who made the court laugh heartily at his description of the kissing scene. The servant kissed the whole company in turn, for the good of the house, each of course paying something for beer in receiving a salute.
"The servant in question was the next witness called, and she told her own share of the proceedings quite jauntily, but at the time stated that she did not kiss Duffy for his beauty. The case was dismissed."
And finally, under the headline "Letter Carriers & Christmas Boxes", this article was published this week in the Liverpool Mercury:
"There seems to be some misapprehension on the subject of the solicitation by letter carriers for Christmas boxes.
"A notice has been issued from the General Postoffice, which in some quarters is understood – and has been so stated in several journals – to forbid the letter carriers asking for the customary gifts from the public at Christmas.
"Such a proceeding would smack of unnecessary harshness. There is no class of public servants who work harder for so little pay, and who are better entitled to a bonus at the end of the year.
"It is well, therefore, that the true position of the case should be stated.
"Some enterprising firm advertised for sale among letter carriers cards of solicitation for presentation at the houses and places of business on their rounds.
"And, believing that such a deliberate and organised system of begging must be distasteful to a large section of the public, the Postmaster-General has thought to prohibit the use of these cards, intimating at the same time that, though the solicitation of Christmas boxes is not at present forbidden, the use of the cards or other forms of begging may compel the prohibition of all applications.
"As the matter stands, therefore, the postmen are in the same position that they have hitherto been. They may ask to be remembered; and they have certainly as much title to be remembered in a substantial form as any who solicit."
Next week's stories will include the late-night scramble for cash in St Helens Market, the Sutton glassworker who was dreadfully gashed, the Newton man who threatened to stab his wife and child and the Greenall's carter run over by his own cart.