150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (26th DEC. 1872 - 1st JAN. 1873)
This week's stories include the ruffianly assault at St Helens railway station, the magistrate that said he pitied a wife-beating husband, there's praise for the town's new water supply and the railway man in intense agony for six hours after being knocked down by a train.
The St Helens Newspaper described working-class fights and violence in virtually every edition of their paper, while covering cases heard in the Petty Sessions. Quite often those involved were ridiculed for their behaviour but it was a different story when the participants were middle-class. Under the headline "A Ruffianly Assault At The St. Helens Station", the paper on the 28th described a dispute between the landlord of the Red Lion Inn in Bridge Street (pictured above) and a salesman for a well-known rope works:
"A violent and discreditable scene took place at the St. Helens railway station a little after ten o’clock last Tuesday night. It appears that Mr. William Glover, of the Red Lion, and Mr. James Hodgson, traveller for Messrs. Glover's ropery, had journeyed together from Liverpool. While in the carriage a good deal of chaff took place, and it would appear that Hodgson got the worst of it, for on leaving the platform and reaching the outer door of the station, we understand that he challenged Glover saying “Now, it's you and me for it,” and followed up the challenge with a blow.
"Some blows or wrestling took place, and in the melee, Mr. Glover‘s hat was knocked off and his bald head exposed; whereupon Hodgson struck his opponent a savage blow on his bare head with the weighted end of a stick he carried, and with such force was the blow delivered that it inflicted a severe wound from which blood flowed very freely. He was taken inside the station, where he continued to bleed for some time.
"Hodgson when he saw that he had placed his friend hors de combat [incapacitated], stretched himself up and walked away, the people who had gathered around, saying he was a coward to strike a man on the head with such a stick. Subsequently a cab was sent for, and the injured man was conveyed home and attended by a surgeon who found that the cut was one requiring careful treatment."
The Newspaper also reflected on the events of the past year and was particularly pleased with the introduction of the Ballot Act in St Helens which had made secret voting a reality. But what excited the passion of the paper most of all was something that we these days take very much for granted – water. New works at Whiston had finally come to fruition despite many setbacks and had been able to alleviate a water shortage, as the paper explained:
"We have obtained a pure and plentiful supply of water from the works at Whiston. In the face of difficulties and obstacles, sufficient to damp the ardour of less persevering men, and in defiance of serious disappointments, made more painful by open ridicule, the friends of the project accomplished a great work, for which they deserve the thanks of the ratepayers. We have gained not alone the blessing of an abundant supply of one of the first requisites of health and prosperity, but a property that will yet repay its cost a hundred fold."
The decision to proceed with the building of a new town hall, in spite of opposition by some ratepayers, was also praised by the paper. Their comments were a change of tune by the Newspaper, which had often been critical of the Corporation since its creation in 1868.
Jonathan Welsby had an advert published in the paper that said he "begs to inform his friends and the public generally" that he had taken over the working of Rainhill Quarry and was able to supply stones "to any dimensions". Rainhill had a good reputation for the quality of its stone and many public buildings in St Helens sourced its supply of building materials from the quarry.
The New Theatre Royal's pantomime called 'Aladdin The Wonderful Scamp' continued to be performed in the building we know as the Citadel throughout this week. On Saturdays there were "Grand Illuminated Day Performances" – we would, of course, simply call them matinees. The Aladdin story had been localised with many references to places such as Thatto Heath, Smithy Brow, Greenbank and Peasley Cross and to some well-known St Helens works. In its review the St Helens Newspaper said the panto was "fully up to the mark, and worthy of liberal patronage."
There was a very casual attitude by many in using the railway line to get from A to B. The track provided handy short-cuts and was often in a better condition to walk on than the roads. However, walking on the line was dangerous and some of the more complacent users were railway workers themselves. The Newspaper described how a railway signal man named John Hall, who was stationed at Thatto Heath, had been seriously injured after being struck down by a train.
The man had been visiting friends in Manchester and upon returning home by a late train, had started walking along the line from St Helens Station towards Thatto Heath. However, before he had got halfway home, Hall was struck by a Blackburn goods train, which smashed his left forearm and broke his knee. The Newspaper took up the rest of the story:
"It was about midnight then, and the poor-fellow, become perfectly helpless, and unable to rise, lay where he had fallen until six o’clock on this (Tuesday) morning, awaiting assistance. Several times during the night, he heard the footsteps of men passing to and fro in contiguity to the line, and he shouted for help, but it would seem that his voice was unable to reach them, for no answering sign came.
"As soon as he was discovered Dr Ricketts was summoned, and he, assisted by a gentleman from the surgery of Dr Gaskell, amputated the wounded arm. The agony the unfortunate man suffered must have been intense, as he had to lie with his arm elevated, to check the flow of blood, lest it should cause his death before he received relief."
Donkeys were commonly used by poor traders in 19th century St Helens and were particularly favoured by older men and women, who appreciated a more sedate life. However, they were not always treated well and the Newspaper described how an old man called Thomas Barnes had appeared in court charged with "ill-treating an ass by working it in an unfit state".
PC Callister told the court that he had seen the donkey pulling a load up Liverpool Road, while suffering from a "very large and irritated sore". Mr Barnes said the sore had only appeared that day when he'd put the harness on. That was the usual excuse from those charged with ill-treating an animal. But the magistrates took pity on the old chap due to his poverty and his promise not to work his ass again (as it was put) and they allowed the case to be withdrawn.
It was a brave woman who took her husband to court for assault, particularly if she had in any way fought back against her violent spouse. Mary Tallon this week summoned her husband Edward to the St Helens Petty Sessions alleging that he had given her a "very severe beating". However, she had to admit that after Edward had called her a "very foul name", she had thrown a plate at him and pushed the dining table over, leading to her husband's brutal assault.
Mary's admission led to the Chairman of the Bench, saying that he pitted the defendant as he knew the man to be respectable and then he promptly dismissed the case. In the 1871 census the couple were listed as in their mid-30s and living in King Street in St Helens and had four young daughters.
It was not just within the works and coalmines of St Helens that danger lurked for employees. Many works had their own railway connections and with lax safety procedures a moment's lapse in concentration could lead to tragedy. The Newspaper also described how Kate Downey had been run over by an engine at Pilkingtons glass works. The 17-year-old was employed as a glass washer and while on an errand was knocked down by an engine with three wagons attached. The Newspaper said: "She was dreadfully crushed, and of course killed instantly". Kate died on the fourth anniversary of her father's accidental death.
Father James Nugent – the pioneering child welfare reformer of which the Nugent Care charity is named after – appears to have been in St Helens on the 31st. At least his Boys of the Refuge and Night Asylum from St Anne Street in Liverpool were in the town – as they performed a vocal and instrumental concert at the Volunteer Hall. The concert was in aid of Lowe House Church's organ fund and was in conjunction with a Grand Bazaar. That was being held in Lowe House School in Duke Street "for the sale of fancy & useful articles".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the railway robbery of boots and pickles, the attempted cash theft from a Liverpool Road grocer's, two cases of wife beating and a claim that Irishmen attacked St Helens police officers on an almost daily basis.
"A violent and discreditable scene took place at the St. Helens railway station a little after ten o’clock last Tuesday night. It appears that Mr. William Glover, of the Red Lion, and Mr. James Hodgson, traveller for Messrs. Glover's ropery, had journeyed together from Liverpool. While in the carriage a good deal of chaff took place, and it would appear that Hodgson got the worst of it, for on leaving the platform and reaching the outer door of the station, we understand that he challenged Glover saying “Now, it's you and me for it,” and followed up the challenge with a blow.
"Some blows or wrestling took place, and in the melee, Mr. Glover‘s hat was knocked off and his bald head exposed; whereupon Hodgson struck his opponent a savage blow on his bare head with the weighted end of a stick he carried, and with such force was the blow delivered that it inflicted a severe wound from which blood flowed very freely. He was taken inside the station, where he continued to bleed for some time.
"Hodgson when he saw that he had placed his friend hors de combat [incapacitated], stretched himself up and walked away, the people who had gathered around, saying he was a coward to strike a man on the head with such a stick. Subsequently a cab was sent for, and the injured man was conveyed home and attended by a surgeon who found that the cut was one requiring careful treatment."
The Newspaper also reflected on the events of the past year and was particularly pleased with the introduction of the Ballot Act in St Helens which had made secret voting a reality. But what excited the passion of the paper most of all was something that we these days take very much for granted – water. New works at Whiston had finally come to fruition despite many setbacks and had been able to alleviate a water shortage, as the paper explained:
"We have obtained a pure and plentiful supply of water from the works at Whiston. In the face of difficulties and obstacles, sufficient to damp the ardour of less persevering men, and in defiance of serious disappointments, made more painful by open ridicule, the friends of the project accomplished a great work, for which they deserve the thanks of the ratepayers. We have gained not alone the blessing of an abundant supply of one of the first requisites of health and prosperity, but a property that will yet repay its cost a hundred fold."
The decision to proceed with the building of a new town hall, in spite of opposition by some ratepayers, was also praised by the paper. Their comments were a change of tune by the Newspaper, which had often been critical of the Corporation since its creation in 1868.
Jonathan Welsby had an advert published in the paper that said he "begs to inform his friends and the public generally" that he had taken over the working of Rainhill Quarry and was able to supply stones "to any dimensions". Rainhill had a good reputation for the quality of its stone and many public buildings in St Helens sourced its supply of building materials from the quarry.
The New Theatre Royal's pantomime called 'Aladdin The Wonderful Scamp' continued to be performed in the building we know as the Citadel throughout this week. On Saturdays there were "Grand Illuminated Day Performances" – we would, of course, simply call them matinees. The Aladdin story had been localised with many references to places such as Thatto Heath, Smithy Brow, Greenbank and Peasley Cross and to some well-known St Helens works. In its review the St Helens Newspaper said the panto was "fully up to the mark, and worthy of liberal patronage."
There was a very casual attitude by many in using the railway line to get from A to B. The track provided handy short-cuts and was often in a better condition to walk on than the roads. However, walking on the line was dangerous and some of the more complacent users were railway workers themselves. The Newspaper described how a railway signal man named John Hall, who was stationed at Thatto Heath, had been seriously injured after being struck down by a train.
The man had been visiting friends in Manchester and upon returning home by a late train, had started walking along the line from St Helens Station towards Thatto Heath. However, before he had got halfway home, Hall was struck by a Blackburn goods train, which smashed his left forearm and broke his knee. The Newspaper took up the rest of the story:
"It was about midnight then, and the poor-fellow, become perfectly helpless, and unable to rise, lay where he had fallen until six o’clock on this (Tuesday) morning, awaiting assistance. Several times during the night, he heard the footsteps of men passing to and fro in contiguity to the line, and he shouted for help, but it would seem that his voice was unable to reach them, for no answering sign came.
"As soon as he was discovered Dr Ricketts was summoned, and he, assisted by a gentleman from the surgery of Dr Gaskell, amputated the wounded arm. The agony the unfortunate man suffered must have been intense, as he had to lie with his arm elevated, to check the flow of blood, lest it should cause his death before he received relief."
Donkeys were commonly used by poor traders in 19th century St Helens and were particularly favoured by older men and women, who appreciated a more sedate life. However, they were not always treated well and the Newspaper described how an old man called Thomas Barnes had appeared in court charged with "ill-treating an ass by working it in an unfit state".
PC Callister told the court that he had seen the donkey pulling a load up Liverpool Road, while suffering from a "very large and irritated sore". Mr Barnes said the sore had only appeared that day when he'd put the harness on. That was the usual excuse from those charged with ill-treating an animal. But the magistrates took pity on the old chap due to his poverty and his promise not to work his ass again (as it was put) and they allowed the case to be withdrawn.
It was a brave woman who took her husband to court for assault, particularly if she had in any way fought back against her violent spouse. Mary Tallon this week summoned her husband Edward to the St Helens Petty Sessions alleging that he had given her a "very severe beating". However, she had to admit that after Edward had called her a "very foul name", she had thrown a plate at him and pushed the dining table over, leading to her husband's brutal assault.
Mary's admission led to the Chairman of the Bench, saying that he pitted the defendant as he knew the man to be respectable and then he promptly dismissed the case. In the 1871 census the couple were listed as in their mid-30s and living in King Street in St Helens and had four young daughters.
It was not just within the works and coalmines of St Helens that danger lurked for employees. Many works had their own railway connections and with lax safety procedures a moment's lapse in concentration could lead to tragedy. The Newspaper also described how Kate Downey had been run over by an engine at Pilkingtons glass works. The 17-year-old was employed as a glass washer and while on an errand was knocked down by an engine with three wagons attached. The Newspaper said: "She was dreadfully crushed, and of course killed instantly". Kate died on the fourth anniversary of her father's accidental death.
Father James Nugent – the pioneering child welfare reformer of which the Nugent Care charity is named after – appears to have been in St Helens on the 31st. At least his Boys of the Refuge and Night Asylum from St Anne Street in Liverpool were in the town – as they performed a vocal and instrumental concert at the Volunteer Hall. The concert was in aid of Lowe House Church's organ fund and was in conjunction with a Grand Bazaar. That was being held in Lowe House School in Duke Street "for the sale of fancy & useful articles".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the railway robbery of boots and pickles, the attempted cash theft from a Liverpool Road grocer's, two cases of wife beating and a claim that Irishmen attacked St Helens police officers on an almost daily basis.
This week's stories include the ruffianly assault at St Helens railway station, the magistrate that said he pitied a wife-beating husband, there's praise for the town's new water supply and the railway man in intense agony for six hours after being knocked down by a train.
The St Helens Newspaper described working-class fights and violence in virtually every edition of their paper, while covering cases heard in the Petty Sessions.
Quite often those involved were ridiculed for their behaviour but it was a different story when the participants were middle-class.
Under the headline "A Ruffianly Assault At The St. Helens Station", the paper on the 28th described a dispute between the landlord of the Red Lion Inn in Bridge Street (pictured above) and a salesman for a well-known rope works:
"A violent and discreditable scene took place at the St. Helens railway station a little after ten o’clock last Tuesday night.
"It appears that Mr. William Glover, of the Red Lion, and Mr. James Hodgson, traveller for Messrs. Glover's ropery, had journeyed together from Liverpool.
"While in the carriage a good deal of chaff took place, and it would appear that Hodgson got the worst of it, for on leaving the platform and reaching the outer door of the station, we understand that he challenged Glover saying “Now, it's you and me for it,” and followed up the challenge with a blow.
"Some blows or wrestling took place, and in the melee, Mr. Glover‘s hat was knocked off and his bald head exposed; whereupon Hodgson struck his opponent a savage blow on his bare head with the weighted end of a stick he carried, and with such force was the blow delivered that it inflicted a severe wound from which blood flowed very freely.
"He was taken inside the station, where he continued to bleed for some time. Hodgson when he saw that he had placed his friend hors de combat [incapacitated], stretched himself up and walked away, the people who had gathered around, saying he was a coward to strike a man on the head with such a stick.
"Subsequently a cab was sent for, and the injured man was conveyed home and attended by a surgeon who found that the cut was one requiring careful treatment."
The Newspaper also reflected on the events of the past year and was particularly pleased with the introduction of the Ballot Act in St Helens which had made secret voting a reality.
But what excited the passion of the paper most of all was something that we these days take very much for granted – water.
New works at Whiston had finally come to fruition despite many setbacks and had been able to alleviate a water shortage, as the paper explained:
"We have obtained a pure and plentiful supply of water from the works at Whiston. In the face of difficulties and obstacles, sufficient to damp the ardour of less persevering men, and in defiance of serious disappointments, made more painful by open ridicule, the friends of the project accomplished a great work, for which they deserve the thanks of the ratepayers.
"We have gained not alone the blessing of an abundant supply of one of the first requisites of health and prosperity, but a property that will yet repay its cost a hundred fold."
The decision to proceed with the building of a new town hall, in spite of opposition by some ratepayers, was also praised by the paper.
Their comments were a change of tune by the Newspaper, which had often been critical of the Corporation since its creation in 1868.
Jonathan Welsby had an advert published in the paper that said he "begs to inform his friends and the public generally" that he had taken over the working of Rainhill Quarry and was able to supply stones "to any dimensions".
Rainhill had a good reputation for the quality of its stone and many public buildings in St Helens sourced its supply of building materials from the quarry.
The New Theatre Royal's pantomime called 'Aladdin The Wonderful Scamp' continued to be performed in the building we know as the Citadel throughout this week.
On Saturdays there were "Grand Illuminated Day Performances" – we would, of course, simply call them matinees.
The Aladdin story had been localised with many references to places such as Thatto Heath, Smithy Brow, Greenbank and Peasley Cross and to some well-known St Helens works.
In its review the St Helens Newspaper said the panto was "fully up to the mark, and worthy of liberal patronage."
There was a very casual attitude by many in using the railway line to get from A to B.
The track provided handy short-cuts and was often in a better condition to walk on than the roads.
However, walking on the line was dangerous and some of the more complacent users were railway workers themselves.
The Newspaper described how a railway signal man named John Hall, who was stationed at Thatto Heath, had been seriously injured after being struck down by a train.
The man had been visiting friends in Manchester and upon returning home by a late train, had started walking along the line from St Helens Station towards Thatto Heath.
However, before he had got halfway home, Hall was struck by a Blackburn goods train, which smashed his left forearm and broke his knee. The Newspaper took up the rest of the story:
"It was about midnight then, and the poor-fellow, become perfectly helpless, and unable to rise, lay where he had fallen until six o’clock on this (Tuesday) morning, awaiting assistance.
"Several times during the night, he heard the footsteps of men passing to and fro in contiguity to the line, and he shouted for help, but it would seem that his voice was unable to reach them, for no answering sign came.
"As soon as he was discovered Dr Ricketts was summoned, and he, assisted by a gentleman from the surgery of Dr Gaskell, amputated the wounded arm. The agony the unfortunate man suffered must have been intense, as he had to lie with his arm elevated, to check the flow of blood, lest it should cause his death before he received relief."
Donkeys were commonly used by poor traders in 19th century St Helens and were particularly favoured by older men and women, who appreciated a more sedate life.
However, they were not always treated well and the Newspaper described how an old man called Thomas Barnes had appeared in court charged with "ill-treating an ass by working it in an unfit state".
PC Callister told the court that he had seen the donkey pulling a load up Liverpool Road, while suffering from a "very large and irritated sore".
Mr Barnes said the sore had only appeared that day when he'd put the harness on. That was the usual excuse from those charged with ill-treating an animal.
But the magistrates took pity on the old chap due to his poverty and his promise not to work his ass again (as it was put) and they allowed the case to be withdrawn.
It was a brave woman who took her husband to court for assault, particularly if she had in any way fought back against her violent spouse.
Mary Tallon this week summoned her husband Edward to the St Helens Petty Sessions alleging that he had given her a "very severe beating".
However, she had to admit that after Edward had called her a "very foul name", she had thrown a plate at him and pushed the dining table over, leading to her husband's brutal assault.
Mary's admission led to the Chairman of the Bench, saying that he pitted the defendant as he knew the man to be respectable and then he promptly dismissed the case.
In the 1871 census the couple were in their mid-30s and living in King Street in St Helens and had four young daughters.
It was not just within the works and coalmines of St Helens that danger lurked for employees.
Many works had their own railway connections and with lax safety procedures a moment's lapse in concentration could lead to tragedy.
The Newspaper also described how Kate Downey had been run over by an engine at Pilkingtons glass works.
The 17-year-old was employed as a glass washer and while on an errand was knocked down by an engine with three wagons attached.
The Newspaper said: "She was dreadfully crushed, and of course killed instantly". Kate died on the fourth anniversary of her father's accidental death.
Father James Nugent – the pioneering child welfare reformer of which the Nugent Care charity is named after – appears to have been in St Helens on the 31st.
At least his Boys of the Refuge and Night Asylum from St Anne Street in Liverpool were in the town – as they performed a vocal and instrumental concert at the Volunteer Hall.
The concert was in aid of Lowe House Church's organ fund and was in conjunction with a Grand Bazaar. That was being held in Lowe House School in Duke Street "for the sale of fancy & useful articles".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the railway robbery of boots and pickles, the attempted cash theft from a Liverpool Road grocer's, two cases of wife beating and a claim that Irishmen attacked St Helens police officers on an almost daily basis.
The St Helens Newspaper described working-class fights and violence in virtually every edition of their paper, while covering cases heard in the Petty Sessions.
Quite often those involved were ridiculed for their behaviour but it was a different story when the participants were middle-class.
"A violent and discreditable scene took place at the St. Helens railway station a little after ten o’clock last Tuesday night.
"It appears that Mr. William Glover, of the Red Lion, and Mr. James Hodgson, traveller for Messrs. Glover's ropery, had journeyed together from Liverpool.
"While in the carriage a good deal of chaff took place, and it would appear that Hodgson got the worst of it, for on leaving the platform and reaching the outer door of the station, we understand that he challenged Glover saying “Now, it's you and me for it,” and followed up the challenge with a blow.
"Some blows or wrestling took place, and in the melee, Mr. Glover‘s hat was knocked off and his bald head exposed; whereupon Hodgson struck his opponent a savage blow on his bare head with the weighted end of a stick he carried, and with such force was the blow delivered that it inflicted a severe wound from which blood flowed very freely.
"He was taken inside the station, where he continued to bleed for some time. Hodgson when he saw that he had placed his friend hors de combat [incapacitated], stretched himself up and walked away, the people who had gathered around, saying he was a coward to strike a man on the head with such a stick.
"Subsequently a cab was sent for, and the injured man was conveyed home and attended by a surgeon who found that the cut was one requiring careful treatment."
The Newspaper also reflected on the events of the past year and was particularly pleased with the introduction of the Ballot Act in St Helens which had made secret voting a reality.
But what excited the passion of the paper most of all was something that we these days take very much for granted – water.
New works at Whiston had finally come to fruition despite many setbacks and had been able to alleviate a water shortage, as the paper explained:
"We have obtained a pure and plentiful supply of water from the works at Whiston. In the face of difficulties and obstacles, sufficient to damp the ardour of less persevering men, and in defiance of serious disappointments, made more painful by open ridicule, the friends of the project accomplished a great work, for which they deserve the thanks of the ratepayers.
"We have gained not alone the blessing of an abundant supply of one of the first requisites of health and prosperity, but a property that will yet repay its cost a hundred fold."
The decision to proceed with the building of a new town hall, in spite of opposition by some ratepayers, was also praised by the paper.
Their comments were a change of tune by the Newspaper, which had often been critical of the Corporation since its creation in 1868.
Jonathan Welsby had an advert published in the paper that said he "begs to inform his friends and the public generally" that he had taken over the working of Rainhill Quarry and was able to supply stones "to any dimensions".
Rainhill had a good reputation for the quality of its stone and many public buildings in St Helens sourced its supply of building materials from the quarry.
The New Theatre Royal's pantomime called 'Aladdin The Wonderful Scamp' continued to be performed in the building we know as the Citadel throughout this week.
On Saturdays there were "Grand Illuminated Day Performances" – we would, of course, simply call them matinees.
The Aladdin story had been localised with many references to places such as Thatto Heath, Smithy Brow, Greenbank and Peasley Cross and to some well-known St Helens works.
In its review the St Helens Newspaper said the panto was "fully up to the mark, and worthy of liberal patronage."
There was a very casual attitude by many in using the railway line to get from A to B.
The track provided handy short-cuts and was often in a better condition to walk on than the roads.
However, walking on the line was dangerous and some of the more complacent users were railway workers themselves.
The Newspaper described how a railway signal man named John Hall, who was stationed at Thatto Heath, had been seriously injured after being struck down by a train.
The man had been visiting friends in Manchester and upon returning home by a late train, had started walking along the line from St Helens Station towards Thatto Heath.
However, before he had got halfway home, Hall was struck by a Blackburn goods train, which smashed his left forearm and broke his knee. The Newspaper took up the rest of the story:
"It was about midnight then, and the poor-fellow, become perfectly helpless, and unable to rise, lay where he had fallen until six o’clock on this (Tuesday) morning, awaiting assistance.
"Several times during the night, he heard the footsteps of men passing to and fro in contiguity to the line, and he shouted for help, but it would seem that his voice was unable to reach them, for no answering sign came.
"As soon as he was discovered Dr Ricketts was summoned, and he, assisted by a gentleman from the surgery of Dr Gaskell, amputated the wounded arm. The agony the unfortunate man suffered must have been intense, as he had to lie with his arm elevated, to check the flow of blood, lest it should cause his death before he received relief."
Donkeys were commonly used by poor traders in 19th century St Helens and were particularly favoured by older men and women, who appreciated a more sedate life.
However, they were not always treated well and the Newspaper described how an old man called Thomas Barnes had appeared in court charged with "ill-treating an ass by working it in an unfit state".
PC Callister told the court that he had seen the donkey pulling a load up Liverpool Road, while suffering from a "very large and irritated sore".
Mr Barnes said the sore had only appeared that day when he'd put the harness on. That was the usual excuse from those charged with ill-treating an animal.
But the magistrates took pity on the old chap due to his poverty and his promise not to work his ass again (as it was put) and they allowed the case to be withdrawn.
It was a brave woman who took her husband to court for assault, particularly if she had in any way fought back against her violent spouse.
Mary Tallon this week summoned her husband Edward to the St Helens Petty Sessions alleging that he had given her a "very severe beating".
However, she had to admit that after Edward had called her a "very foul name", she had thrown a plate at him and pushed the dining table over, leading to her husband's brutal assault.
Mary's admission led to the Chairman of the Bench, saying that he pitted the defendant as he knew the man to be respectable and then he promptly dismissed the case.
In the 1871 census the couple were in their mid-30s and living in King Street in St Helens and had four young daughters.
It was not just within the works and coalmines of St Helens that danger lurked for employees.
Many works had their own railway connections and with lax safety procedures a moment's lapse in concentration could lead to tragedy.
The Newspaper also described how Kate Downey had been run over by an engine at Pilkingtons glass works.
The 17-year-old was employed as a glass washer and while on an errand was knocked down by an engine with three wagons attached.
The Newspaper said: "She was dreadfully crushed, and of course killed instantly". Kate died on the fourth anniversary of her father's accidental death.
Father James Nugent – the pioneering child welfare reformer of which the Nugent Care charity is named after – appears to have been in St Helens on the 31st.
At least his Boys of the Refuge and Night Asylum from St Anne Street in Liverpool were in the town – as they performed a vocal and instrumental concert at the Volunteer Hall.
The concert was in aid of Lowe House Church's organ fund and was in conjunction with a Grand Bazaar. That was being held in Lowe House School in Duke Street "for the sale of fancy & useful articles".
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next week's stories will include the railway robbery of boots and pickles, the attempted cash theft from a Liverpool Road grocer's, two cases of wife beating and a claim that Irishmen attacked St Helens police officers on an almost daily basis.