150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (21 - 27 AUGUST 1873)
This week's many stories include the town's first public illuminated clock, the two drunks that drowned in the canal, the train company sued after a railway accident at Rainford, Sangers Circus present a monstre fete and the unusual reason why convictions for drunkenness in St Helens had risen by a third.
With the time of day available to us now in a vast variety of forms – including cheap watches, mobile phones and even microwaves – there is no great necessity to have a traditional clock in the house. And the public ones on display in St Helens tend to have stopped but nobody seems to mind!
However, it was very different 150 years ago when many people did not own a timepiece and only a handful of places like churches had clocks. And during dark nights in St Helens these would be impossible to see. In 1870 a letter was published in the St Helens Newspaper from someone calling themselves "A. Ratepayer" demanding an illuminated clock. The writer said:
"Is it not a standing disgrace to the town and corporation of St. Helens that the town should be so utterly without an illuminated clock? Those who know St Helens are aware how inconvenient it is to those who are not in possession of a good watch to ascertain the correct time at night."
On the 21st of this week St Helens joined other local towns – such as Wigan, Warrington and Widnes – in possessing such a clock. It was the gift of Ald. James Radley and had been located in the parish church tower. The St Helens Newspaper described the timepiece as a "remarkable work of art" with four dials, each 5ft in diameter with "massive" gilt hands. And to prevent air pollution from damaging the clock, the whole of the metal that formed the works had been lacquered to "resist the action of the St. Helens atmosphere".
The many railway accidents that occurred rarely resulted in court proceedings being instigated by injured passengers. The companies had arrangements with certain doctors to provide free treatment to those hurt whilst travelling on their trains. And ancillary expenses – such as overnight accommodation in an inn – were also paid.
That reduced the chances of litigation and although it cost little to bring an action in St Helens County Court, a civil case in the assizes that might result in greater damages being awarded could prove expensive. However, on the 21st John Copland – who was described as a travelling draper – found the cash to sue the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.
The court at Liverpool Assizes was told that on January 1st Mr Copland had been a passenger on a train that had stopped at Rainford Junction. As it was starting up again another train ran into the back of it and Copland received severe injuries to his spine and chest. He said he had been ill and unable to carry on his business for most of the previous eight months, although his health was improving and he was likely to make a full recovery. The train company admitted liability and the parties agreed on a compensation figure of £300 – which was a huge amount then.
Men were responsible in law for the debts of their spouses. But during times of domestic strife, husbands would place indemnity notices in newspapers refuting their responsibility for monies owed by their wife. A typical notice would say: "I, JOE BLOGGS – of No. 1 Church Street, St. Helens, do hereby give notice that I will NOT BE RESPONSIBLE for any Debt or Debts contracted by my wife, Jane Bloggs, after this date – August 20th, 1873."
In this week's Newspaper on the 23rd, Samuel Elson of Robins Lane in Sutton declared that he would no longer pay any debts contracted by his wife Ann. And William Fairhurst of Tups Row in Sutton said he would repudiate any future debts that his wife Sarah made. The notices were published in spite of a judgement made in St Helens County Court earlier in the year that said such notices relied too heavily upon traders happening to see them. The judge ruled that unless a creditor had been personally informed of the husband's indemnity, such notices would not stand.
The Baths Hotel was situated in what became Warrington New Road and closed in 1907. The Newspaper described how James Campbell's visit to the Baths after work had infuriated Elizabeth Kelly and Christine Miller. That was because he had Mrs Kelly's husband along with him and the women blamed Campbell for "enticing" him into public houses and away from his home. Elizabeth Kelly had appeared in St Helens Petty Sessions this week accused of throwing a large stone at Campbell that had cut his wrist and both women were fined 10 shillings and costs.
It was usual for workers to receive their wages on Saturday lunchtime when they finished work for the week. Some headed straight to the nearest pub and stayed there for quite some time with their pay burning a hole in their pocket. Wise wives would wait outside their husband's works and relieve them of their pay packet as they came out – giving them back a bit of spending money. I don't know whether John McGough of Pocket Nook was married. But he got his wages at 1pm on a Saturday and headed straight for the pub.
At 9pm he was seen still drinking in the Nancy Hotel in Pocket Nook Street and an hour or so later was found splashing about in the canal. McGough was pulled out but died on the following day, with the St Helens Newspaper writing: "The effects of the immersion, and the foul water he swallowed, proved fatal to life." It was assumed that McGough had been walking home in the dark and had fallen into the canal while drunk – a fate that befell many inebriated men and some women.
It also happened to William Smith, a ginger beer maker from Cotham Street, who was last seen in Parr Street this week but didn’t make it home. His body was found close to the nearby swivel bridge and the St Helens Newspaper wrote: "It is a very unfortunate circumstance that there should be so little protection at that particular spot, as to make a passage across the bridge, in the darkness, a very risky matter."
It was common for farmers to auction off their crops and on the 25th the 13th annual sale of potatoes at Henry Hall's farm in Dentons Green Lane took place. Different types of spuds were grown in lots across five Cheshire acres and were not seemingly cultivated until after the sale.
The 25th was also when a "Monstre Fete and Great Celebration" was held on land opposite the Bird i’th Hand in Prescot Road (pictured above). Essentially, the event was Sangers Circus putting on a big show with 170 "magnificent" horses and ponies that took part in dramas and steeplechasing. A special attraction was a balloon flight in what they claimed to be the largest balloon ever made and a "grand pyrotechnic display".
The advert for the show also promised "a great stag hunt, with a pack of 50 hounds and real stags!" And also this even more disturbing line: "There will be an exciting and laughter provoking and side splitting race by men of colour, on milk white mules." The Monstre Fete also included a "grand race" between camels, dromedaries and elephants. Admission was a shilling.
The annual licensing meeting for the St Helens division was held on the 26th in which it was revealed that the district had 166 inns and 175 beerhouses, with an average population of 169 persons to each house. All the existing licences were renewed, after 13 holders had been reprimanded for committing various minor offences.
The report of Supt. James Ludlam – who was in charge of St Helens police – showed that during the past year the convictions for drunkenness amounted to 1,247, as compared with 920 in the previous year. The superintendent attributed the rise to the "extraordinary abundance of work and the high rate of wages", which was leading to men spending more money on drink.
And finally on the evening of the 27th, the re-opening (as it was called) of the Parish Church Organ took place. The organ had been reconstructed and enlarged and now had a "beautiful voicing and quality of tone" and a famous Leeds organist provided what adverts promised would be a "musical treat".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the exhausted horse hauling 3 tons of sand up Croppers Hill, the Parr defamation case, the 13-year-old boy whipped and imprisoned for theft and the Liverpool Road window smasher that had a heavy penalty to pay.
With the time of day available to us now in a vast variety of forms – including cheap watches, mobile phones and even microwaves – there is no great necessity to have a traditional clock in the house. And the public ones on display in St Helens tend to have stopped but nobody seems to mind!
However, it was very different 150 years ago when many people did not own a timepiece and only a handful of places like churches had clocks. And during dark nights in St Helens these would be impossible to see. In 1870 a letter was published in the St Helens Newspaper from someone calling themselves "A. Ratepayer" demanding an illuminated clock. The writer said:
"Is it not a standing disgrace to the town and corporation of St. Helens that the town should be so utterly without an illuminated clock? Those who know St Helens are aware how inconvenient it is to those who are not in possession of a good watch to ascertain the correct time at night."
On the 21st of this week St Helens joined other local towns – such as Wigan, Warrington and Widnes – in possessing such a clock. It was the gift of Ald. James Radley and had been located in the parish church tower. The St Helens Newspaper described the timepiece as a "remarkable work of art" with four dials, each 5ft in diameter with "massive" gilt hands. And to prevent air pollution from damaging the clock, the whole of the metal that formed the works had been lacquered to "resist the action of the St. Helens atmosphere".
The many railway accidents that occurred rarely resulted in court proceedings being instigated by injured passengers. The companies had arrangements with certain doctors to provide free treatment to those hurt whilst travelling on their trains. And ancillary expenses – such as overnight accommodation in an inn – were also paid.
That reduced the chances of litigation and although it cost little to bring an action in St Helens County Court, a civil case in the assizes that might result in greater damages being awarded could prove expensive. However, on the 21st John Copland – who was described as a travelling draper – found the cash to sue the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.
The court at Liverpool Assizes was told that on January 1st Mr Copland had been a passenger on a train that had stopped at Rainford Junction. As it was starting up again another train ran into the back of it and Copland received severe injuries to his spine and chest. He said he had been ill and unable to carry on his business for most of the previous eight months, although his health was improving and he was likely to make a full recovery. The train company admitted liability and the parties agreed on a compensation figure of £300 – which was a huge amount then.
Men were responsible in law for the debts of their spouses. But during times of domestic strife, husbands would place indemnity notices in newspapers refuting their responsibility for monies owed by their wife. A typical notice would say: "I, JOE BLOGGS – of No. 1 Church Street, St. Helens, do hereby give notice that I will NOT BE RESPONSIBLE for any Debt or Debts contracted by my wife, Jane Bloggs, after this date – August 20th, 1873."
In this week's Newspaper on the 23rd, Samuel Elson of Robins Lane in Sutton declared that he would no longer pay any debts contracted by his wife Ann. And William Fairhurst of Tups Row in Sutton said he would repudiate any future debts that his wife Sarah made. The notices were published in spite of a judgement made in St Helens County Court earlier in the year that said such notices relied too heavily upon traders happening to see them. The judge ruled that unless a creditor had been personally informed of the husband's indemnity, such notices would not stand.
The Baths Hotel was situated in what became Warrington New Road and closed in 1907. The Newspaper described how James Campbell's visit to the Baths after work had infuriated Elizabeth Kelly and Christine Miller. That was because he had Mrs Kelly's husband along with him and the women blamed Campbell for "enticing" him into public houses and away from his home. Elizabeth Kelly had appeared in St Helens Petty Sessions this week accused of throwing a large stone at Campbell that had cut his wrist and both women were fined 10 shillings and costs.
It was usual for workers to receive their wages on Saturday lunchtime when they finished work for the week. Some headed straight to the nearest pub and stayed there for quite some time with their pay burning a hole in their pocket. Wise wives would wait outside their husband's works and relieve them of their pay packet as they came out – giving them back a bit of spending money. I don't know whether John McGough of Pocket Nook was married. But he got his wages at 1pm on a Saturday and headed straight for the pub.
At 9pm he was seen still drinking in the Nancy Hotel in Pocket Nook Street and an hour or so later was found splashing about in the canal. McGough was pulled out but died on the following day, with the St Helens Newspaper writing: "The effects of the immersion, and the foul water he swallowed, proved fatal to life." It was assumed that McGough had been walking home in the dark and had fallen into the canal while drunk – a fate that befell many inebriated men and some women.
It also happened to William Smith, a ginger beer maker from Cotham Street, who was last seen in Parr Street this week but didn’t make it home. His body was found close to the nearby swivel bridge and the St Helens Newspaper wrote: "It is a very unfortunate circumstance that there should be so little protection at that particular spot, as to make a passage across the bridge, in the darkness, a very risky matter."
It was common for farmers to auction off their crops and on the 25th the 13th annual sale of potatoes at Henry Hall's farm in Dentons Green Lane took place. Different types of spuds were grown in lots across five Cheshire acres and were not seemingly cultivated until after the sale.
The advert for the show also promised "a great stag hunt, with a pack of 50 hounds and real stags!" And also this even more disturbing line: "There will be an exciting and laughter provoking and side splitting race by men of colour, on milk white mules." The Monstre Fete also included a "grand race" between camels, dromedaries and elephants. Admission was a shilling.
The annual licensing meeting for the St Helens division was held on the 26th in which it was revealed that the district had 166 inns and 175 beerhouses, with an average population of 169 persons to each house. All the existing licences were renewed, after 13 holders had been reprimanded for committing various minor offences.
The report of Supt. James Ludlam – who was in charge of St Helens police – showed that during the past year the convictions for drunkenness amounted to 1,247, as compared with 920 in the previous year. The superintendent attributed the rise to the "extraordinary abundance of work and the high rate of wages", which was leading to men spending more money on drink.
And finally on the evening of the 27th, the re-opening (as it was called) of the Parish Church Organ took place. The organ had been reconstructed and enlarged and now had a "beautiful voicing and quality of tone" and a famous Leeds organist provided what adverts promised would be a "musical treat".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the exhausted horse hauling 3 tons of sand up Croppers Hill, the Parr defamation case, the 13-year-old boy whipped and imprisoned for theft and the Liverpool Road window smasher that had a heavy penalty to pay.
This week's many stories include the town's first public illuminated clock, the two drunks that drowned in the canal, the train company sued after a railway accident at Rainford, Sangers Circus present a monstre fete and the unusual reason why convictions for drunkenness in St Helens had risen by a third.
With the time of day available to us now in a vast variety of forms – including cheap watches, mobile phones and even microwaves – there is no great necessity to have a traditional clock in the house.
And the public ones on display in St Helens tend to have stopped but nobody seems to mind!
However, it was very different 150 years ago when many people did not own a timepiece and only a handful of places like churches had clocks. And during dark nights in St Helens these would be impossible to see.
In 1870 a letter was published in the St Helens Newspaper from someone calling themselves "A. Ratepayer" demanding an illuminated clock. The writer said:
"Is it not a standing disgrace to the town and corporation of St. Helens that the town should be so utterly without an illuminated clock?
"Those who know St Helens are aware how inconvenient it is to those who are not in possession of a good watch to ascertain the correct time at night."
On the 21st of this week St Helens joined other local towns – such as Wigan, Warrington and Widnes – in possessing such a clock.
It was the gift of Ald. James Radley and had been located in the parish church tower. The St Helens Newspaper described the timepiece as a "remarkable work of art" with four dials, each 5ft in diameter with "massive" gilt hands.
And to prevent air pollution from damaging the clock, the whole of the metal that formed the works had been lacquered to "resist the action of the St. Helens atmosphere".
The many railway accidents that occurred rarely resulted in court proceedings being instigated by injured passengers.
The companies had arrangements with certain doctors to provide free treatment to those hurt whilst travelling on their trains.
And ancillary expenses – such as overnight accommodation in an inn – were also paid.
That reduced the chances of litigation and although it cost little to bring an action in St Helens County Court, a civil case in the assizes that might result in greater damages being awarded could prove expensive.
However, on the 21st John Copland – who was described as a travelling draper – found the cash to sue the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.
The court at Liverpool Assizes was told that on January 1st Mr Copland had been a passenger on a train that had stopped at Rainford Junction.
As it was starting up again another train ran into the back of it and Copland received severe injuries to his spine and chest.
He said he had been ill and unable to carry on his business for most of the previous eight months, although his health was improving and he was likely to make a full recovery.
The train company admitted liability and the parties agreed on a compensation figure of £300 – which was a huge amount then.
Men were responsible in law for the debts of their spouses. But during times of domestic strife, husbands would place indemnity notices in newspapers refuting their responsibility for monies owed by their wife. A typical notice would say:
"I, JOE BLOGGS – of No. 1 Church Street, St. Helens, do hereby give notice that I will NOT BE RESPONSIBLE for any Debt or Debts contracted by my wife, Jane Bloggs, after this date – August 20th, 1873."
In this week's Newspaper on the 23rd, Samuel Elson of Robins Lane in Sutton declared that he would no longer pay any debts contracted by his wife Ann.
And William Fairhurst of Tups Row in Sutton said he would repudiate any future debts that his wife Sarah made.
The notices were published in spite of a judgement made in St Helens County Court earlier in the year that said such notices relied too heavily upon traders happening to see them.
The judge ruled that unless a creditor had been personally informed of the husband's indemnity, such notices would not stand.
The Baths Hotel was situated in what became Warrington New Road and closed in 1907.
The Newspaper described how James Campbell's visit to the Baths after work had infuriated Elizabeth Kelly and Christine Miller.
That was because he had Mrs Kelly's husband along with him and the women blamed Campbell for "enticing" him into public houses and away from his home.
Elizabeth Kelly had appeared in St Helens Petty Sessions this week accused of throwing a large stone at Campbell that had cut his wrist and both women were fined 10 shillings and costs.
It was usual for workers to receive their wages on Saturday lunchtime when they finished work for the week.
Some headed straight to the nearest pub and stayed there for quite some time with their pay burning a hole in their pocket.
Wise wives would wait outside their husband's works and relieve them of their pay packet as they came out – giving them back a bit of spending money.
I don't know whether John McGough of Pocket Nook was married. But he got his wages at 1pm on a Saturday and headed straight for the pub.
At 9pm he was seen still drinking in the Nancy Hotel in Pocket Nook Street and an hour or so later was found splashing about in the canal.
McGough was pulled out but died on the following day, with the St Helens Newspaper writing:
"The effects of the immersion, and the foul water he swallowed, proved fatal to life."
It was assumed that McGough had been walking home in the dark and had fallen into the canal while drunk – a fate that befell many inebriated men and some women.
It also happened to William Smith, a ginger beer maker from Cotham Street, who was last seen in Parr Street this week but didn’t make it home.
His body was found close to the nearby swivel bridge and the St Helens Newspaper wrote:
"It is a very unfortunate circumstance that there should be so little protection at that particular spot, as to make a passage across the bridge, in the darkness, a very risky matter."
It was common for farmers to auction off their crops and on the 25th the 13th annual sale of potatoes at Henry Hall's farm in Dentons Green Lane took place.
Different types of spuds were grown in lots across five Cheshire acres and were not seemingly cultivated until after the sale.
The 25th was also when a "Monstre Fete and Great Celebration" was held on land opposite the Bird i’th Hand in Prescot Road (pictured above).
Essentially, the event was Sangers Circus putting on a big show with 170 "magnificent" horses and ponies that took part in dramas and steeplechasing.
A special attraction was a balloon flight in what they claimed to be the largest balloon ever made and a "grand pyrotechnic display".
The advert for the show also promised "a great stag hunt, with a pack of 50 hounds and real stags!"
And also this even more disturbing line: "There will be an exciting and laughter provoking and side splitting race by men of colour, on milk white mules."
The Monstre Fete also included a "grand race" between camels, dromedaries and elephants. Admission was a shilling.
The annual licensing meeting for the St Helens division was held on the 26th in which it was revealed that the district had 166 inns and 175 beerhouses, with an average population of 169 persons to each house.
All the existing licences were renewed, after 13 holders had been reprimanded for committing various minor offences.
The report of Supt. James Ludlam – who was in charge of St Helens police – showed that during the past year the convictions for drunkenness amounted to 1,247, as compared with 920 in the previous year.
The superintendent attributed the rise to the "extraordinary abundance of work and the high rate of wages", which was leading to men spending more money on drink.
And finally on the evening of the 27th, the re-opening (as it was called) of the Parish Church Organ took place.
The organ had been reconstructed and enlarged and now had a "beautiful voicing and quality of tone" and a famous Leeds organist provided what adverts promised would be a "musical treat".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the exhausted horse hauling 3 tons of sand up Croppers Hill, the Parr defamation case, the 13-year-old boy whipped and imprisoned for theft and the Liverpool Road window smasher that had a heavy penalty to pay.
With the time of day available to us now in a vast variety of forms – including cheap watches, mobile phones and even microwaves – there is no great necessity to have a traditional clock in the house.
And the public ones on display in St Helens tend to have stopped but nobody seems to mind!
However, it was very different 150 years ago when many people did not own a timepiece and only a handful of places like churches had clocks. And during dark nights in St Helens these would be impossible to see.
In 1870 a letter was published in the St Helens Newspaper from someone calling themselves "A. Ratepayer" demanding an illuminated clock. The writer said:
"Is it not a standing disgrace to the town and corporation of St. Helens that the town should be so utterly without an illuminated clock?
"Those who know St Helens are aware how inconvenient it is to those who are not in possession of a good watch to ascertain the correct time at night."
On the 21st of this week St Helens joined other local towns – such as Wigan, Warrington and Widnes – in possessing such a clock.
It was the gift of Ald. James Radley and had been located in the parish church tower. The St Helens Newspaper described the timepiece as a "remarkable work of art" with four dials, each 5ft in diameter with "massive" gilt hands.
And to prevent air pollution from damaging the clock, the whole of the metal that formed the works had been lacquered to "resist the action of the St. Helens atmosphere".
The many railway accidents that occurred rarely resulted in court proceedings being instigated by injured passengers.
The companies had arrangements with certain doctors to provide free treatment to those hurt whilst travelling on their trains.
And ancillary expenses – such as overnight accommodation in an inn – were also paid.
That reduced the chances of litigation and although it cost little to bring an action in St Helens County Court, a civil case in the assizes that might result in greater damages being awarded could prove expensive.
However, on the 21st John Copland – who was described as a travelling draper – found the cash to sue the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company.
The court at Liverpool Assizes was told that on January 1st Mr Copland had been a passenger on a train that had stopped at Rainford Junction.
As it was starting up again another train ran into the back of it and Copland received severe injuries to his spine and chest.
He said he had been ill and unable to carry on his business for most of the previous eight months, although his health was improving and he was likely to make a full recovery.
The train company admitted liability and the parties agreed on a compensation figure of £300 – which was a huge amount then.
Men were responsible in law for the debts of their spouses. But during times of domestic strife, husbands would place indemnity notices in newspapers refuting their responsibility for monies owed by their wife. A typical notice would say:
"I, JOE BLOGGS – of No. 1 Church Street, St. Helens, do hereby give notice that I will NOT BE RESPONSIBLE for any Debt or Debts contracted by my wife, Jane Bloggs, after this date – August 20th, 1873."
In this week's Newspaper on the 23rd, Samuel Elson of Robins Lane in Sutton declared that he would no longer pay any debts contracted by his wife Ann.
And William Fairhurst of Tups Row in Sutton said he would repudiate any future debts that his wife Sarah made.
The notices were published in spite of a judgement made in St Helens County Court earlier in the year that said such notices relied too heavily upon traders happening to see them.
The judge ruled that unless a creditor had been personally informed of the husband's indemnity, such notices would not stand.
The Baths Hotel was situated in what became Warrington New Road and closed in 1907.
The Newspaper described how James Campbell's visit to the Baths after work had infuriated Elizabeth Kelly and Christine Miller.
That was because he had Mrs Kelly's husband along with him and the women blamed Campbell for "enticing" him into public houses and away from his home.
Elizabeth Kelly had appeared in St Helens Petty Sessions this week accused of throwing a large stone at Campbell that had cut his wrist and both women were fined 10 shillings and costs.
It was usual for workers to receive their wages on Saturday lunchtime when they finished work for the week.
Some headed straight to the nearest pub and stayed there for quite some time with their pay burning a hole in their pocket.
Wise wives would wait outside their husband's works and relieve them of their pay packet as they came out – giving them back a bit of spending money.
I don't know whether John McGough of Pocket Nook was married. But he got his wages at 1pm on a Saturday and headed straight for the pub.
At 9pm he was seen still drinking in the Nancy Hotel in Pocket Nook Street and an hour or so later was found splashing about in the canal.
McGough was pulled out but died on the following day, with the St Helens Newspaper writing:
"The effects of the immersion, and the foul water he swallowed, proved fatal to life."
It was assumed that McGough had been walking home in the dark and had fallen into the canal while drunk – a fate that befell many inebriated men and some women.
It also happened to William Smith, a ginger beer maker from Cotham Street, who was last seen in Parr Street this week but didn’t make it home.
His body was found close to the nearby swivel bridge and the St Helens Newspaper wrote:
"It is a very unfortunate circumstance that there should be so little protection at that particular spot, as to make a passage across the bridge, in the darkness, a very risky matter."
It was common for farmers to auction off their crops and on the 25th the 13th annual sale of potatoes at Henry Hall's farm in Dentons Green Lane took place.
Different types of spuds were grown in lots across five Cheshire acres and were not seemingly cultivated until after the sale.
Essentially, the event was Sangers Circus putting on a big show with 170 "magnificent" horses and ponies that took part in dramas and steeplechasing.
A special attraction was a balloon flight in what they claimed to be the largest balloon ever made and a "grand pyrotechnic display".
The advert for the show also promised "a great stag hunt, with a pack of 50 hounds and real stags!"
And also this even more disturbing line: "There will be an exciting and laughter provoking and side splitting race by men of colour, on milk white mules."
The Monstre Fete also included a "grand race" between camels, dromedaries and elephants. Admission was a shilling.
The annual licensing meeting for the St Helens division was held on the 26th in which it was revealed that the district had 166 inns and 175 beerhouses, with an average population of 169 persons to each house.
All the existing licences were renewed, after 13 holders had been reprimanded for committing various minor offences.
The report of Supt. James Ludlam – who was in charge of St Helens police – showed that during the past year the convictions for drunkenness amounted to 1,247, as compared with 920 in the previous year.
The superintendent attributed the rise to the "extraordinary abundance of work and the high rate of wages", which was leading to men spending more money on drink.
And finally on the evening of the 27th, the re-opening (as it was called) of the Parish Church Organ took place.
The organ had been reconstructed and enlarged and now had a "beautiful voicing and quality of tone" and a famous Leeds organist provided what adverts promised would be a "musical treat".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the exhausted horse hauling 3 tons of sand up Croppers Hill, the Parr defamation case, the 13-year-old boy whipped and imprisoned for theft and the Liverpool Road window smasher that had a heavy penalty to pay.