150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (21st - 27th JUNE 1871)
This week's stories include the brutal wife-beater who received his comeuppance, the violent Looneys of Smithy Brow, the tardy Whiston Workhouse pauper who was sent to prison, the death of a Waterloo veteran and the diseased pig carcass in Warrington Road.
Under the headline "The Girdle Almost Complete", the New York Tribune wrote this week: "The electric telegraph has almost encircled the globe. To-day we have information that a submarine cable has been laid and is in practical operation between Singapore and Hong Kong, thus placing the British colony at the last named port in direct communication with London. When the gap which now exists in the girdle shall be filled by a cable under the Pacific Ocean, we shall have practically abolished the old terms of East and West, and shall have such another confusion of telegraphic time tables that no man heretofore has dreamed of."
Although the Victorian version of the information super-highway was picking up pace on a global scale, communication locally could still be slow. Reports could take a day or two to be received and on the 23rd the Liverpool Mercury was still publishing descriptions of the violent storm that had struck the country two days earlier. Although no one appears to have died in St Helens, the heavy rain and lightning must have done considerable damage to crops and trees.
A few miles away at Aspull, near Wigan, a miner's wife named Margaret Goulding, was killed whilst whitewashing her front room upstairs. The Mercury wrote: "The lightning entered at the window, which was open, and, striking her on the forehead, neck, and shoulder, killed her instantly, at the same time setting her clothes on fire which were immediately extinguished by her husband." At Batley a mill girl was struck blind by lightning while working in a weaving room.
Also on the 23rd the Wigan Observer published this account of the Newton Congregational Sunday School Treat: "On Thursday in last week, the teachers and scholars met at the school, in Crow-lane, were marshalled, and thence proceeded to Mr. Wallington's, in Ashton-lane. Heralded by a new flag, with the name of the school emblazoned thereon, and led by their own drum and fife band, the procession looked very imposing and effective, with a spick and span new waggon bringing up the rear, and containing the infant classes.
"The band played out their not yet exhausted repertory for Mrs. Wallington, and gave three times three cheers. The colours were advanced and the march resumed to the playground, where the remainder of the day was pleasantly spent, and the dainties provided were consumed. On the return journey due thanks were tendered by the Rev. Mr. Allatt to all friends who had assisted to bring about so happy a meeting."
The St Helens Newspaper was published on the 24th and reported on a number of recent court cases involving violent crimes. The Irish Looney family of Parr did like to live up to their name with crazy fights between relatives and supposed friends. This time Bernard Looney claimed to be the victim after being attacked with a brick. However it was revealed in the Petty Sessions that he'd bashed his alleged attacker with a poker. The Newspaper takes up the story of what had occurred in Smithy Brow on the previous Saturday night when Bernard Looney (the prosecutor) was returning home at midnight:
"When he got to the door he heard a noise from inside, and it turned out to be caused by Roger O’Brien and his (prosecutor's) brother-in-law, who were beating his father. He caught O’Brien and ordered him to leave the house quietly, which he refused to do, and then a struggle took place, which resulted in the expulsion of the intruder through the back door. At a somewhat later hour of the night O’Brien returned, as the prosecutor was standing inside the door, and began to talk in a spiteful way of having been thrown out of the house.
"Some warm words ensued, and then the prisoner drew forth a brick and threw it at the prosecutor's face, which it cut and bruised very severely. During a rather lengthened cross-examination of the prosecutor by the prisoner, the latter sought to establish that his opponent had given him four scalp wounds with a poker, which were represented and indicated by four pieces of plaster. Dr. Lyon said that he attended the injured man on Sunday morning, and found him suffering from a contused and lacerated wound over the left eye, which was of considerable severity."
Roger O’Brien was sent for trial at the Assizes at Kirkdale where the 25-year-old labourer would be sentenced to four months in prison. However that was not the end of the squabble. Later in the week Bernard Looney was charged with assaulting Margaret Quinlan in Smithy Brow but the case was dismissed through conflicting evidence. Then on July 7th Looney appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions charged with a "murderous assault" on his brother Hugh in Parr. For that he received two months with hard labour.
The Newspaper also described how James Ward had attacked Denis McKeogh with a knife outside a pub in Canal Street: "James Seddon was called as a witness for the defence. He said that the men were talking pleasantly enough in the vaults about glass carrying, when the prosecutor suddenly said that he would cut the other's eye out. The observation acted like a match amongst combustible matters, and in a few minutes they were hammering away. He was sent for trial." James Ward would be found guilty of unlawful wounding and sent to prison for four months.
Being a pauper in Whiston Workhouse (pictured above) was little better than being in prison – and if you broke the rules you could receive the real thing. The St Helens Newspaper also described how Henry Martindale had been sent to Kirkdale Gaol for 7 days for exceeding his leave of absence. The man had been allowed to leave the workhouse for 48 hours but had not returned on time. The Newspaper wrote: "The master of the workhouse pressed for punishment, as there were a number of such characters under him, who required a wholesome example."
John Howard appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 24th charged with stealing five pigeons, the property of Joseph Duckworth from Sutton. The 17-year-old labourer was committed for trial having not been long out of Kirkdale Gaol. On July 11th the pigeon pincher was sent to prison for four months.
Can you imagine today being prosecuted by your boss for not going to work? That happened a lot during the 1870s and apprentices were regularly in the dock. They were bound to their employers from the age of 14 until they turned 21 and obtained their indentures. It was a harsh agreement for very low pay. At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 26th, Peter Norton was charged in his absence with "absconding from his employment" on the 18th instant. As the apprentice at Pilkingtons had not shown up to court, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
It's nice to read of a brutal husband getting a taste of what he deserves – but I can't help wondering about the wife that's left behind when her spouse is sent to prison. How is she going to cope without a breadwinner and what will happen when the husband is released from gaol and returns home? Thomas Thompson was charged in the St Helens Petty Sessions with assaulting his wife, Caroline, after knocking her down and kicking her brutally. Thompson was ordered to be imprisoned for two months with hard labour and upon his release be bound over to keep the peace for six months. And hard labour in 1871 meant working the treadmill for six or so hours a day – and it wasn't to keep fit!
There was this rather surprising piece in the Liverpool Mercury on the 26th: "On Saturday, the employes of Mr. S. S. Bacon, No. 52, Bold-street, accompanied by several visitors held a pic-nic at the beautiful gardens, near Rainhill, known as Thatto Heath. The party, numbering about 50, went out at the invitation of Mr. Bacon, who provided for them a most enjoyable entertainment. After dinner, dancing and other amusements occupied the rest of the evening; and the company returned at a late hour, after having expressed, in the usual English fashion, their high appreciation of the gentleman who had been the cause of their happy assembly."
However I don't think St Helens with its filthy atmosphere had any great likelihood of becoming a tourist destination any time soon! In fact this week an unnamed chemical manufacturer in the town had been forced to pay a £50 fine for allowing too much acid to escape into the atmosphere. This had been under the new Alkali Act and all the prosecutions so far had been chemical works in either St Helens or Widnes. I expect that the Liverpool dressmakers S.S. Bacon (they sound more like a ship!) had visited the Victoria Pleasure Gardens in Thatto Heath. Its situation appears to have allowed itself to bypass much of the atmospheric filth that was giving St Helens a terrible reputation.
At the Petty Sessions on the 27th the Corporation nuisance inspector applied for an order to destroy the carcass of a pig. He told the magistrates that had seized it from the stable of James Grimes of Warrington Road. The flesh, he added, was much diseased and when he made the seizure it was admitted by Grimes that the pork had been intended for sale. The required order was granted.
And finally, in April I mentioned a court case in which a witness claimed to be an old Waterloo hero. However upon being questioned by the judge, he admitted referring to Waterloo near Crosby and not Waterloo in Belgium! He probably would have been too young to have actually fought at the battle – but someone who had been there died this week, leading the Liverpool Mercury to publish this article:
"DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN – "In the Mercury there recently appeared a notice of the decease of Mr. Joshua Reader, Old Chester-road, Tranmere, aged 80 years. This Waterloo veteran should not be allowed to pass from our midst without a special notice, as he occupied a most advantageous yet perilous position on the memorable 18th of June. He was orderly to the Duke of Wellington, and followed, close at his heels throughout the whole of that memorable day, carrying his despatch box, telescope, and purse; and, following the commander-in-chief, visited every part of the battle field, and was an eye-witness to the death or dispersion of the entire staff, himself escaping unharmed until the last grand charge.
"Although in conversation he would say nothing respecting the order “Up, guards, and at them!” yet he could testify to the enthusiasm that animated the entire army when that electric cry, “Forward!” came from the great chief. Just as the Prussian columns debouched on the field, and that mighty onslaught commenced which dashed the imperial eagles to the ground, and procured peace in Europe for 30 years, a round shot (nearly, if not quite, the last one fired) struck his faithful charger, rolling both horse and rider in the dust.
"Whilst young Reader thus lay dreadfully wounded, that gallant officer the Earl of March (afterwards Duke of Richmond) rode up, and, dismounting, went to the spot where he was lying, and seeing his shattered condition received from him the despatch box, &c. Having requested some soldiers to carry the wounded man to the rear, he galloped after the duke and continued to act as orderly for the remainder of the day. The deceased was always exceedingly modest in relating the scenes of his early years, but he narrated with great clearness the events of the 17th and 18th June, and used to say that although he occupied but a lowly position in the service, he was enabled to see more of and understand better the plan of the battle of Waterloo than any other Englishman, except the great duke himself."
Next week's stories will include the wife deserter with a conscience, the St Helens man who had been drunk and riotous in Ormskirk, the harsh treatment of miners at Ashton and the tramp who bedded himself in a pig sty after ejecting the pigs.
Under the headline "The Girdle Almost Complete", the New York Tribune wrote this week: "The electric telegraph has almost encircled the globe. To-day we have information that a submarine cable has been laid and is in practical operation between Singapore and Hong Kong, thus placing the British colony at the last named port in direct communication with London. When the gap which now exists in the girdle shall be filled by a cable under the Pacific Ocean, we shall have practically abolished the old terms of East and West, and shall have such another confusion of telegraphic time tables that no man heretofore has dreamed of."
Although the Victorian version of the information super-highway was picking up pace on a global scale, communication locally could still be slow. Reports could take a day or two to be received and on the 23rd the Liverpool Mercury was still publishing descriptions of the violent storm that had struck the country two days earlier. Although no one appears to have died in St Helens, the heavy rain and lightning must have done considerable damage to crops and trees.
A few miles away at Aspull, near Wigan, a miner's wife named Margaret Goulding, was killed whilst whitewashing her front room upstairs. The Mercury wrote: "The lightning entered at the window, which was open, and, striking her on the forehead, neck, and shoulder, killed her instantly, at the same time setting her clothes on fire which were immediately extinguished by her husband." At Batley a mill girl was struck blind by lightning while working in a weaving room.
Also on the 23rd the Wigan Observer published this account of the Newton Congregational Sunday School Treat: "On Thursday in last week, the teachers and scholars met at the school, in Crow-lane, were marshalled, and thence proceeded to Mr. Wallington's, in Ashton-lane. Heralded by a new flag, with the name of the school emblazoned thereon, and led by their own drum and fife band, the procession looked very imposing and effective, with a spick and span new waggon bringing up the rear, and containing the infant classes.
"The band played out their not yet exhausted repertory for Mrs. Wallington, and gave three times three cheers. The colours were advanced and the march resumed to the playground, where the remainder of the day was pleasantly spent, and the dainties provided were consumed. On the return journey due thanks were tendered by the Rev. Mr. Allatt to all friends who had assisted to bring about so happy a meeting."
The St Helens Newspaper was published on the 24th and reported on a number of recent court cases involving violent crimes. The Irish Looney family of Parr did like to live up to their name with crazy fights between relatives and supposed friends. This time Bernard Looney claimed to be the victim after being attacked with a brick. However it was revealed in the Petty Sessions that he'd bashed his alleged attacker with a poker. The Newspaper takes up the story of what had occurred in Smithy Brow on the previous Saturday night when Bernard Looney (the prosecutor) was returning home at midnight:
"When he got to the door he heard a noise from inside, and it turned out to be caused by Roger O’Brien and his (prosecutor's) brother-in-law, who were beating his father. He caught O’Brien and ordered him to leave the house quietly, which he refused to do, and then a struggle took place, which resulted in the expulsion of the intruder through the back door. At a somewhat later hour of the night O’Brien returned, as the prosecutor was standing inside the door, and began to talk in a spiteful way of having been thrown out of the house.
"Some warm words ensued, and then the prisoner drew forth a brick and threw it at the prosecutor's face, which it cut and bruised very severely. During a rather lengthened cross-examination of the prosecutor by the prisoner, the latter sought to establish that his opponent had given him four scalp wounds with a poker, which were represented and indicated by four pieces of plaster. Dr. Lyon said that he attended the injured man on Sunday morning, and found him suffering from a contused and lacerated wound over the left eye, which was of considerable severity."
Roger O’Brien was sent for trial at the Assizes at Kirkdale where the 25-year-old labourer would be sentenced to four months in prison. However that was not the end of the squabble. Later in the week Bernard Looney was charged with assaulting Margaret Quinlan in Smithy Brow but the case was dismissed through conflicting evidence. Then on July 7th Looney appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions charged with a "murderous assault" on his brother Hugh in Parr. For that he received two months with hard labour.
The Newspaper also described how James Ward had attacked Denis McKeogh with a knife outside a pub in Canal Street: "James Seddon was called as a witness for the defence. He said that the men were talking pleasantly enough in the vaults about glass carrying, when the prosecutor suddenly said that he would cut the other's eye out. The observation acted like a match amongst combustible matters, and in a few minutes they were hammering away. He was sent for trial." James Ward would be found guilty of unlawful wounding and sent to prison for four months.
John Howard appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 24th charged with stealing five pigeons, the property of Joseph Duckworth from Sutton. The 17-year-old labourer was committed for trial having not been long out of Kirkdale Gaol. On July 11th the pigeon pincher was sent to prison for four months.
Can you imagine today being prosecuted by your boss for not going to work? That happened a lot during the 1870s and apprentices were regularly in the dock. They were bound to their employers from the age of 14 until they turned 21 and obtained their indentures. It was a harsh agreement for very low pay. At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 26th, Peter Norton was charged in his absence with "absconding from his employment" on the 18th instant. As the apprentice at Pilkingtons had not shown up to court, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
It's nice to read of a brutal husband getting a taste of what he deserves – but I can't help wondering about the wife that's left behind when her spouse is sent to prison. How is she going to cope without a breadwinner and what will happen when the husband is released from gaol and returns home? Thomas Thompson was charged in the St Helens Petty Sessions with assaulting his wife, Caroline, after knocking her down and kicking her brutally. Thompson was ordered to be imprisoned for two months with hard labour and upon his release be bound over to keep the peace for six months. And hard labour in 1871 meant working the treadmill for six or so hours a day – and it wasn't to keep fit!
There was this rather surprising piece in the Liverpool Mercury on the 26th: "On Saturday, the employes of Mr. S. S. Bacon, No. 52, Bold-street, accompanied by several visitors held a pic-nic at the beautiful gardens, near Rainhill, known as Thatto Heath. The party, numbering about 50, went out at the invitation of Mr. Bacon, who provided for them a most enjoyable entertainment. After dinner, dancing and other amusements occupied the rest of the evening; and the company returned at a late hour, after having expressed, in the usual English fashion, their high appreciation of the gentleman who had been the cause of their happy assembly."
However I don't think St Helens with its filthy atmosphere had any great likelihood of becoming a tourist destination any time soon! In fact this week an unnamed chemical manufacturer in the town had been forced to pay a £50 fine for allowing too much acid to escape into the atmosphere. This had been under the new Alkali Act and all the prosecutions so far had been chemical works in either St Helens or Widnes. I expect that the Liverpool dressmakers S.S. Bacon (they sound more like a ship!) had visited the Victoria Pleasure Gardens in Thatto Heath. Its situation appears to have allowed itself to bypass much of the atmospheric filth that was giving St Helens a terrible reputation.
At the Petty Sessions on the 27th the Corporation nuisance inspector applied for an order to destroy the carcass of a pig. He told the magistrates that had seized it from the stable of James Grimes of Warrington Road. The flesh, he added, was much diseased and when he made the seizure it was admitted by Grimes that the pork had been intended for sale. The required order was granted.
And finally, in April I mentioned a court case in which a witness claimed to be an old Waterloo hero. However upon being questioned by the judge, he admitted referring to Waterloo near Crosby and not Waterloo in Belgium! He probably would have been too young to have actually fought at the battle – but someone who had been there died this week, leading the Liverpool Mercury to publish this article:
"DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN – "In the Mercury there recently appeared a notice of the decease of Mr. Joshua Reader, Old Chester-road, Tranmere, aged 80 years. This Waterloo veteran should not be allowed to pass from our midst without a special notice, as he occupied a most advantageous yet perilous position on the memorable 18th of June. He was orderly to the Duke of Wellington, and followed, close at his heels throughout the whole of that memorable day, carrying his despatch box, telescope, and purse; and, following the commander-in-chief, visited every part of the battle field, and was an eye-witness to the death or dispersion of the entire staff, himself escaping unharmed until the last grand charge.
"Although in conversation he would say nothing respecting the order “Up, guards, and at them!” yet he could testify to the enthusiasm that animated the entire army when that electric cry, “Forward!” came from the great chief. Just as the Prussian columns debouched on the field, and that mighty onslaught commenced which dashed the imperial eagles to the ground, and procured peace in Europe for 30 years, a round shot (nearly, if not quite, the last one fired) struck his faithful charger, rolling both horse and rider in the dust.
"Whilst young Reader thus lay dreadfully wounded, that gallant officer the Earl of March (afterwards Duke of Richmond) rode up, and, dismounting, went to the spot where he was lying, and seeing his shattered condition received from him the despatch box, &c. Having requested some soldiers to carry the wounded man to the rear, he galloped after the duke and continued to act as orderly for the remainder of the day. The deceased was always exceedingly modest in relating the scenes of his early years, but he narrated with great clearness the events of the 17th and 18th June, and used to say that although he occupied but a lowly position in the service, he was enabled to see more of and understand better the plan of the battle of Waterloo than any other Englishman, except the great duke himself."
Next week's stories will include the wife deserter with a conscience, the St Helens man who had been drunk and riotous in Ormskirk, the harsh treatment of miners at Ashton and the tramp who bedded himself in a pig sty after ejecting the pigs.
This week's stories include the brutal wife-beater who received his comeuppance, the violent Looneys of Smithy Brow, the tardy Whiston Workhouse pauper who was sent to prison, the death of a Waterloo veteran and the diseased pig carcass in Warrington Road.
Under the headline "The Girdle Almost Complete", the New York Tribune wrote this week:
"The electric telegraph has almost encircled the globe. To-day we have information that a submarine cable has been laid and is in practical operation between Singapore and Hong Kong, thus placing the British colony at the last named port in direct communication with London.
"When the gap which now exists in the girdle shall be filled by a cable under the Pacific Ocean, we shall have practically abolished the old terms of East and West, and shall have such another confusion of telegraphic time tables that no man heretofore has dreamed of."
Although the Victorian version of the information super-highway was picking up pace on a global scale, communication locally could still be slow.
Reports could take a day or two to be received and on the 23rd the Liverpool Mercury was still publishing descriptions of the violent storm that had struck the country two days earlier.
Although no one appears to have died in St Helens, the heavy rain and lightning must have done considerable damage to crops and trees.
A few miles away at Aspull, near Wigan, a miner's wife named Margaret Goulding, was killed whilst whitewashing her front room upstairs. The Mercury wrote:
"The lightning entered at the window, which was open, and, striking her on the forehead, neck, and shoulder, killed her instantly, at the same time setting her clothes on fire which were immediately extinguished by her husband."
At Batley a mill girl was struck blind by lightning while working in a weaving room.
Also on the 23rd the Wigan Observer published this account of the Newton Congregational Sunday School Treat:
"On Thursday in last week, the teachers and scholars met at the school, in Crow-lane, were marshalled, and thence proceeded to Mr. Wallington's, in Ashton-lane.
"Heralded by a new flag, with the name of the school emblazoned thereon, and led by their own drum and fife band, the procession looked very imposing and effective, with a spick and span new waggon bringing up the rear, and containing the infant classes.
"The band played out their not yet exhausted repertory for Mrs. Wallington, and gave three times three cheers.
"The colours were advanced and the march resumed to the playground, where the remainder of the day was pleasantly spent, and the dainties provided were consumed.
"On the return journey due thanks were tendered by the Rev. Mr. Allatt to all friends who had assisted to bring about so happy a meeting."
The St Helens Newspaper was published on the 24th and reported on a number of recent court cases involving violent crimes.
The Irish Looney family of Parr did like to live up to their name with crazy fights between relatives and supposed friends.
This time Bernard Looney claimed to be the victim after being attacked with a brick. However it was revealed in the Petty Sessions that he'd bashed his alleged attacker with a poker.
The Newspaper takes up the story of what had occurred in Smithy Brow on the previous Saturday night when Bernard Looney (the prosecutor) was returning home at midnight:
"When he got to the door he heard a noise from inside, and it turned out to be caused by Roger O’Brien and his (prosecutor's) brother-in-law, who were beating his father.
"He caught O’Brien and ordered him to leave the house quietly, which he refused to do, and then a struggle took place, which resulted in the expulsion of the intruder through the back door.
"At a somewhat later hour of the night O’Brien returned, as the prosecutor was standing inside the door, and began to talk in a spiteful way of having been thrown out of the house.
"Some warm words ensued, and then the prisoner drew forth a brick and threw it at the prosecutor's face, which it cut and bruised very severely.
"During a rather lengthened cross-examination of the prosecutor by the prisoner, the latter sought to establish that his opponent had given him four scalp wounds with a poker, which were represented and indicated by four pieces of plaster.
"Dr. Lyon said that he attended the injured man on Sunday morning, and found him suffering from a contused and lacerated wound over the left eye, which was of considerable severity."
Roger O’Brien was sent for trial at the Assizes at Kirkdale where the 25-year-old labourer would be sentenced to four months in prison. However that was not the end of the squabble.
Later in the week Bernard Looney was charged with assaulting Margaret Quinlan in Smithy Brow but the case was dismissed through conflicting evidence.
Then on July 7th Looney appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions charged with a "murderous assault" on his brother Hugh in Parr. For that he received two months with hard labour.
The Newspaper also described how James Ward had attacked Denis McKeogh with a knife outside a pub in Canal Street:
"James Seddon was called as a witness for the defence. He said that the men were talking pleasantly enough in the vaults about glass carrying, when the prosecutor suddenly said that he would cut the other's eye out.
"The observation acted like a match amongst combustible matters, and in a few minutes they were hammering away. He was sent for trial."
James Ward would be found guilty of unlawful wounding and sent to prison for four months.
Being a pauper in Whiston Workhouse (pictured above) was little better than being in prison – and if you broke the rules you could receive the real thing.
The St Helens Newspaper also described how Henry Martindale had been sent to Kirkdale Gaol for 7 days for exceeding his leave of absence.
The man had been allowed to leave the workhouse for 48 hours but had not returned on time. The Newspaper wrote:
"The master of the workhouse pressed for punishment, as there were a number of such characters under him, who required a wholesome example."
John Howard appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 24th charged with stealing five pigeons, the property of Joseph Duckworth from Sutton.
The 17-year-old labourer was committed for trial having not been long out of Kirkdale Gaol. On July 11th the pigeon pincher was sent to prison for four months.
Can you imagine today being prosecuted by your boss for not going to work? That happened a lot during the 1870s and apprentices were regularly in the dock.
They were bound to their employers from the age of 14 until they turned 21 and obtained their indentures. It was a harsh agreement for very low pay.
At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 26th, Peter Norton was charged in his absence with "absconding from his employment" on the 18th instant.
As the apprentice at Pilkingtons had not shown up to court, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
It's nice to read of a brutal husband getting a taste of what he deserves – but I can't help wondering about the wife that's left behind when her spouse is sent to prison.
How is she going to cope without a breadwinner and what will happen when the husband is released from gaol and returns home?
Thomas Thompson was charged in the St Helens Petty Sessions with assaulting his wife, Caroline, after knocking her down and kicking her brutally.
Thompson was ordered to be imprisoned for two months with hard labour and upon his release be bound over to keep the peace for six months.
And hard labour in 1871 meant working the treadmill for six or so hours a day – and it wasn't to keep fit!
There was this rather surprising piece in the Liverpool Mercury on the 26th:
"On Saturday, the employes of Mr. S. S. Bacon, No. 52, Bold-street, accompanied by several visitors held a pic-nic at the beautiful gardens, near Rainhill, known as Thatto Heath.
"The party, numbering about 50, went out at the invitation of Mr. Bacon, who provided for them a most enjoyable entertainment.
"After dinner, dancing and other amusements occupied the rest of the evening; and the company returned at a late hour, after having expressed, in the usual English fashion, their high appreciation of the gentleman who had been the cause of their happy assembly."
However I don't think St Helens with its filthy atmosphere had any great likelihood of becoming a tourist destination any time soon!
In fact this week an unnamed chemical manufacturer in the town had been forced to pay a £50 fine for allowing too much acid to escape into the atmosphere.
This had been under the new Alkali Act and all the prosecutions so far had been chemical works in either St Helens or Widnes.
I expect that the Liverpool dressmakers S.S. Bacon (they sound more like a ship!) had visited the Victoria Pleasure Gardens in Thatto Heath.
Its situation appears to have allowed itself to bypass much of the atmospheric filth that was giving St Helens a terrible reputation.
At the Petty Sessions on the 27th the Corporation nuisance inspector applied for an order to destroy the carcass of a pig.
He told the magistrates that had seized it from the stable of James Grimes of Warrington Road.
The flesh, he added, was much diseased and when he made the seizure it was admitted by Grimes that the pork had been intended for sale. The required order was granted.
And finally, in April I mentioned a court case in which a witness claimed to be an old Waterloo hero.
However upon being questioned by the judge, he admitted referring to Waterloo near Crosby and not Waterloo in Belgium!
He probably would have been too young to have actually fought at the battle – but someone who had been there died this week, leading the Liverpool Mercury to publish this article:
"DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN – "In the Mercury there recently appeared a notice of the decease of Mr. Joshua Reader, Old Chester-road, Tranmere, aged 80 years.
"This Waterloo veteran should not be allowed to pass from our midst without a special notice, as he occupied a most advantageous yet perilous position on the memorable 18th of June.
"He was orderly to the Duke of Wellington, and followed, close at his heels throughout the whole of that memorable day, carrying his despatch box, telescope, and purse; and, following the commander-in-chief, visited every part of the battle field, and was an eye-witness to the death or dispersion of the entire staff, himself escaping unharmed until the last grand charge.
"Although in conversation he would say nothing respecting the order “Up, guards, and at them!” yet he could testify to the enthusiasm that animated the entire army when that electric cry, “Forward!” came from the great chief.
"Just as the Prussian columns debouched on the field, and that mighty onslaught commenced which dashed the imperial eagles to the ground, and procured peace in Europe for 30 years, a round shot (nearly, if not quite, the last one fired) struck his faithful charger, rolling both horse and rider in the dust.
"Whilst young Reader thus lay dreadfully wounded, that gallant officer the Earl of March (afterwards Duke of Richmond) rode up, and, dismounting, went to the spot where he was lying, and seeing his shattered condition received from him the despatch box, &c.
"Having requested some soldiers to carry the wounded man to the rear, he galloped after the duke and continued to act as orderly for the remainder of the day.
"The deceased was always exceedingly modest in relating the scenes of his early years, but he narrated with great clearness the events of the 17th and 18th June, and used to say that although he occupied but a lowly position in the service, he was enabled to see more of and understand better the plan of the battle of Waterloo than any other Englishman, except the great duke himself."
Next week's stories will include the wife deserter with a conscience, the St Helens man who had been drunk and riotous in Ormskirk, the harsh treatment of miners at Ashton and the tramp who bedded himself in a pig sty after ejecting the pigs.
Under the headline "The Girdle Almost Complete", the New York Tribune wrote this week:
"The electric telegraph has almost encircled the globe. To-day we have information that a submarine cable has been laid and is in practical operation between Singapore and Hong Kong, thus placing the British colony at the last named port in direct communication with London.
"When the gap which now exists in the girdle shall be filled by a cable under the Pacific Ocean, we shall have practically abolished the old terms of East and West, and shall have such another confusion of telegraphic time tables that no man heretofore has dreamed of."
Although the Victorian version of the information super-highway was picking up pace on a global scale, communication locally could still be slow.
Reports could take a day or two to be received and on the 23rd the Liverpool Mercury was still publishing descriptions of the violent storm that had struck the country two days earlier.
Although no one appears to have died in St Helens, the heavy rain and lightning must have done considerable damage to crops and trees.
A few miles away at Aspull, near Wigan, a miner's wife named Margaret Goulding, was killed whilst whitewashing her front room upstairs. The Mercury wrote:
"The lightning entered at the window, which was open, and, striking her on the forehead, neck, and shoulder, killed her instantly, at the same time setting her clothes on fire which were immediately extinguished by her husband."
At Batley a mill girl was struck blind by lightning while working in a weaving room.
Also on the 23rd the Wigan Observer published this account of the Newton Congregational Sunday School Treat:
"On Thursday in last week, the teachers and scholars met at the school, in Crow-lane, were marshalled, and thence proceeded to Mr. Wallington's, in Ashton-lane.
"Heralded by a new flag, with the name of the school emblazoned thereon, and led by their own drum and fife band, the procession looked very imposing and effective, with a spick and span new waggon bringing up the rear, and containing the infant classes.
"The band played out their not yet exhausted repertory for Mrs. Wallington, and gave three times three cheers.
"The colours were advanced and the march resumed to the playground, where the remainder of the day was pleasantly spent, and the dainties provided were consumed.
"On the return journey due thanks were tendered by the Rev. Mr. Allatt to all friends who had assisted to bring about so happy a meeting."
The St Helens Newspaper was published on the 24th and reported on a number of recent court cases involving violent crimes.
The Irish Looney family of Parr did like to live up to their name with crazy fights between relatives and supposed friends.
This time Bernard Looney claimed to be the victim after being attacked with a brick. However it was revealed in the Petty Sessions that he'd bashed his alleged attacker with a poker.
The Newspaper takes up the story of what had occurred in Smithy Brow on the previous Saturday night when Bernard Looney (the prosecutor) was returning home at midnight:
"When he got to the door he heard a noise from inside, and it turned out to be caused by Roger O’Brien and his (prosecutor's) brother-in-law, who were beating his father.
"He caught O’Brien and ordered him to leave the house quietly, which he refused to do, and then a struggle took place, which resulted in the expulsion of the intruder through the back door.
"At a somewhat later hour of the night O’Brien returned, as the prosecutor was standing inside the door, and began to talk in a spiteful way of having been thrown out of the house.
"Some warm words ensued, and then the prisoner drew forth a brick and threw it at the prosecutor's face, which it cut and bruised very severely.
"During a rather lengthened cross-examination of the prosecutor by the prisoner, the latter sought to establish that his opponent had given him four scalp wounds with a poker, which were represented and indicated by four pieces of plaster.
"Dr. Lyon said that he attended the injured man on Sunday morning, and found him suffering from a contused and lacerated wound over the left eye, which was of considerable severity."
Roger O’Brien was sent for trial at the Assizes at Kirkdale where the 25-year-old labourer would be sentenced to four months in prison. However that was not the end of the squabble.
Later in the week Bernard Looney was charged with assaulting Margaret Quinlan in Smithy Brow but the case was dismissed through conflicting evidence.
Then on July 7th Looney appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions charged with a "murderous assault" on his brother Hugh in Parr. For that he received two months with hard labour.
The Newspaper also described how James Ward had attacked Denis McKeogh with a knife outside a pub in Canal Street:
"James Seddon was called as a witness for the defence. He said that the men were talking pleasantly enough in the vaults about glass carrying, when the prosecutor suddenly said that he would cut the other's eye out.
"The observation acted like a match amongst combustible matters, and in a few minutes they were hammering away. He was sent for trial."
James Ward would be found guilty of unlawful wounding and sent to prison for four months.
The St Helens Newspaper also described how Henry Martindale had been sent to Kirkdale Gaol for 7 days for exceeding his leave of absence.
The man had been allowed to leave the workhouse for 48 hours but had not returned on time. The Newspaper wrote:
"The master of the workhouse pressed for punishment, as there were a number of such characters under him, who required a wholesome example."
John Howard appeared in the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 24th charged with stealing five pigeons, the property of Joseph Duckworth from Sutton.
The 17-year-old labourer was committed for trial having not been long out of Kirkdale Gaol. On July 11th the pigeon pincher was sent to prison for four months.
Can you imagine today being prosecuted by your boss for not going to work? That happened a lot during the 1870s and apprentices were regularly in the dock.
They were bound to their employers from the age of 14 until they turned 21 and obtained their indentures. It was a harsh agreement for very low pay.
At the St Helens Petty Sessions on the 26th, Peter Norton was charged in his absence with "absconding from his employment" on the 18th instant.
As the apprentice at Pilkingtons had not shown up to court, a warrant for his arrest was issued.
It's nice to read of a brutal husband getting a taste of what he deserves – but I can't help wondering about the wife that's left behind when her spouse is sent to prison.
How is she going to cope without a breadwinner and what will happen when the husband is released from gaol and returns home?
Thomas Thompson was charged in the St Helens Petty Sessions with assaulting his wife, Caroline, after knocking her down and kicking her brutally.
Thompson was ordered to be imprisoned for two months with hard labour and upon his release be bound over to keep the peace for six months.
And hard labour in 1871 meant working the treadmill for six or so hours a day – and it wasn't to keep fit!
There was this rather surprising piece in the Liverpool Mercury on the 26th:
"On Saturday, the employes of Mr. S. S. Bacon, No. 52, Bold-street, accompanied by several visitors held a pic-nic at the beautiful gardens, near Rainhill, known as Thatto Heath.
"The party, numbering about 50, went out at the invitation of Mr. Bacon, who provided for them a most enjoyable entertainment.
"After dinner, dancing and other amusements occupied the rest of the evening; and the company returned at a late hour, after having expressed, in the usual English fashion, their high appreciation of the gentleman who had been the cause of their happy assembly."
However I don't think St Helens with its filthy atmosphere had any great likelihood of becoming a tourist destination any time soon!
In fact this week an unnamed chemical manufacturer in the town had been forced to pay a £50 fine for allowing too much acid to escape into the atmosphere.
This had been under the new Alkali Act and all the prosecutions so far had been chemical works in either St Helens or Widnes.
I expect that the Liverpool dressmakers S.S. Bacon (they sound more like a ship!) had visited the Victoria Pleasure Gardens in Thatto Heath.
Its situation appears to have allowed itself to bypass much of the atmospheric filth that was giving St Helens a terrible reputation.
At the Petty Sessions on the 27th the Corporation nuisance inspector applied for an order to destroy the carcass of a pig.
He told the magistrates that had seized it from the stable of James Grimes of Warrington Road.
The flesh, he added, was much diseased and when he made the seizure it was admitted by Grimes that the pork had been intended for sale. The required order was granted.
And finally, in April I mentioned a court case in which a witness claimed to be an old Waterloo hero.
However upon being questioned by the judge, he admitted referring to Waterloo near Crosby and not Waterloo in Belgium!
He probably would have been too young to have actually fought at the battle – but someone who had been there died this week, leading the Liverpool Mercury to publish this article:
"DEATH OF A WATERLOO VETERAN – "In the Mercury there recently appeared a notice of the decease of Mr. Joshua Reader, Old Chester-road, Tranmere, aged 80 years.
"This Waterloo veteran should not be allowed to pass from our midst without a special notice, as he occupied a most advantageous yet perilous position on the memorable 18th of June.
"He was orderly to the Duke of Wellington, and followed, close at his heels throughout the whole of that memorable day, carrying his despatch box, telescope, and purse; and, following the commander-in-chief, visited every part of the battle field, and was an eye-witness to the death or dispersion of the entire staff, himself escaping unharmed until the last grand charge.
"Although in conversation he would say nothing respecting the order “Up, guards, and at them!” yet he could testify to the enthusiasm that animated the entire army when that electric cry, “Forward!” came from the great chief.
"Just as the Prussian columns debouched on the field, and that mighty onslaught commenced which dashed the imperial eagles to the ground, and procured peace in Europe for 30 years, a round shot (nearly, if not quite, the last one fired) struck his faithful charger, rolling both horse and rider in the dust.
"Whilst young Reader thus lay dreadfully wounded, that gallant officer the Earl of March (afterwards Duke of Richmond) rode up, and, dismounting, went to the spot where he was lying, and seeing his shattered condition received from him the despatch box, &c.
"Having requested some soldiers to carry the wounded man to the rear, he galloped after the duke and continued to act as orderly for the remainder of the day.
"The deceased was always exceedingly modest in relating the scenes of his early years, but he narrated with great clearness the events of the 17th and 18th June, and used to say that although he occupied but a lowly position in the service, he was enabled to see more of and understand better the plan of the battle of Waterloo than any other Englishman, except the great duke himself."
Next week's stories will include the wife deserter with a conscience, the St Helens man who had been drunk and riotous in Ormskirk, the harsh treatment of miners at Ashton and the tramp who bedded himself in a pig sty after ejecting the pigs.