150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK 27 APRIL - 3 MAY 1876
This week's many stories include the St Helens May Day horse parade, the attempted rape of a 3-year-old girl in Gerards Bridge, the half-day closing movement, the resignation of the mayor and the trap tragedy that was caused by a bolting horse.
One of the big news stories of the week was the resignation of the Mayor of St Helens. That was because in a recent appointment of new County Magistrates, mine owner James Radley (pictured above) had been passed over in favour of two local men, both younger than him and less experienced.
Radley felt for some reason that his omission was through being mayor, which he considered to be an insult to him, the council and the town at large. Why he felt being mayor had blocked his appointment was unexplained, with his term expiring in a few months. However, the St Helens Newspaper felt he had been "scurvily treated". But after discussions had taken place, Radley was persuaded to withdraw his resignation.
The movement that called for the introduction of half-day closing of shops had begun in 1855 when the Rev Edward Carr, the Vicar of St Helens, held a public meeting in the Town Hall. Progress was slow as traders were suspicious of other retailers remaining open and taking their business if they were to close.
On the 27th another meeting of what was being called the half-holiday movement took place in the Public Hall in Hardshaw Street. It was decided that the whole of the tradesmen in the town would be canvassed to see if they would support half-day closing on a Thursday. To encourage support it was decided that no half-day would be asked for when Christmas Day fell on a Friday or Saturday and during those weeks in which Good Friday or Race Friday occurred.
The latter was when most shops in St Helens closed when Newton Races took place. St Helens did not adopt early closing on Thursdays until January 1884. But even that was only initially agreed by a limited number of the town's traders, such as drapers, tailors, bootmakers and pawnbrokers.
Nervous horses attached to a conveyance could cause mayhem if some unexpected sight or sound led to them taking fright. On the afternoon of the 27th, Richard and Sarah Morris from Upholland were in St Helens with the intention of visiting Sarah's sister on Cowley Hill. It was their usual practice of putting up their horse and trap at the Fleece Inn but as they were approaching Church Street, the animal bolted at a furious rate.
The trap's nearside wheels came in contact with a lamppost by the canal bridge and Mrs Morris received a severe blow to her head and was thrown out of the vehicle. The 26-year-old was picked up and carried unconscious into an adjoining shop and Dr Twyford was sent for but she died almost immediately. Meanwhile, the horse continued its journey until it finally overturned the trap after getting across the bridge, with Mr Morris being dragged a considerable distance, although escaping serious injury.
At the beginning of the month James Dalton had been charged in St Helens Petty Sessions with "attempting to ravish" an 11-year-old girl named Margaret Riley in Greenbank. Dalton had entered her house at 9 o’clock at night when Margaret was alone. Through lack of evidence, the attempted rape charge had to be downgraded to one of indecent assault and James Dalton was sentenced to two months hard labour.
On the 27th in St Helens Petty Sessions, Andrew Johnson was charged with a similar crime against a 3-year-old girl. The 19-year-old was accused of attempting to ravish Mary Kenny in Gerards Bridge after entering her home at 11pm while her parents were out. The Newspaper in its write-up said:
"On the return of Mrs Kenny in the course of a few minutes, she saw Johnson on the bed where the child was, in such a position as left no doubt as to the nature of the offence he was attempting to commit. She at once seized the fire shovel, with the intention of striking Johnson with it, but he effected his escape although pursued by the father of the child, who, however, lost sight of him in the darkness." Johnson was arrested by PC Gilligan on the following day and was remanded in custody.
An advert in the St Helens Newspaper on the 29th called for any benefit or trade society or other body that wanted to join the procession in connection with the opening of the new Town Hall to apply to the Town Clerk as soon as possible.
In a separate editorial it was stated that a "very strong and general feeling" had been expressed in favour of the opening ceremony taking place on Whit Monday, instead of the Tuesday as announced. As a result the Procession Committee was expected to recommend to the Town Hall General Committee that the day be switched.
And a very brief letter published in the Newspaper from someone called Isabel wondered what those that were making the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall were thinking in proposing a celebratory ball to be held in the month of June. "Can they really expect ladies to attend a ball so near Midsummer?" No explanation was offered and I can only presume that it was the prospect of warm weather and getting hot and sweaty while dancing that was so offensive to Isabel.
Alfred Glignor was an opportunistic thief who had seen Mary Booth of Thatto Heath put down a bundle while buying some meat from John Hatton's stall in St Helens marketplace. When she left the stall, Mary forgot her bundle that contained a pair of trousers and a vest and Glignor went to claim it, claiming that his wife had left the bundle there and she had sent him to collect it. The man took the clothes to a pawnshop in Church Street but was soon arrested and in court this week was sent to prison for one month with hard labour.
The silly nature of neighbours' quarrels – with the parties involved suing one another for various offences – was again shown in another case. The litigants all lived in Union Street on Cowley Hill and the prosecutions began with Ellen Twist summoning Thomas Webb for making threats.
Then Thomas Webb's wife, Mary, charged Ellen Twist with uttering bad language to her. And Ellen Laffy – the mother of Ellen Twist – brought a case against Mary Webb for using slanderous language towards her. Each case was heard separately and the defendants were either bound over or the charge was dismissed.
On May 2nd the Liverpool Daily Post published this piece about the St Helens May Day Horse Parade: "There are few places of its size where May Day and its associations are more enthusiastically observed than in St. Helens, and each year it seems to increase in attraction. The remark is equally applicable to the turn-outs [horses and carts] which are to be witnessed, and which would perfectly astonish a stranger.
"Owing to the increased number and value of the prizes this year, the number of competitors was much larger than usual, whilst the general quality and appearance of the various teams was a considerable improvement on former years. The town was en fete from an early hour, and hundreds of people flocked in from the surrounding districts to witness the procession.
"The prizes given by the committee consisted of an eight-day clock, copper kettles, knives and forks, whips, &c., and were awarded to the neatest and cleanest pair of horses and harness, the neatest and cleanest single horse and harness, the neatest and cleanest cobs, post boys and ponies, &c. The procession, which was of great length, started at about noon, headed by the Fire Brigade, next to which came the Corporation carts, all newly painted, and making their first appearance on these occasions."
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall, the death down St Helens Colliery, two men deny serious allegations against them and the man who attempted to saw another man's head off returns to court.
Radley felt for some reason that his omission was through being mayor, which he considered to be an insult to him, the council and the town at large. Why he felt being mayor had blocked his appointment was unexplained, with his term expiring in a few months. However, the St Helens Newspaper felt he had been "scurvily treated". But after discussions had taken place, Radley was persuaded to withdraw his resignation.
The movement that called for the introduction of half-day closing of shops had begun in 1855 when the Rev Edward Carr, the Vicar of St Helens, held a public meeting in the Town Hall. Progress was slow as traders were suspicious of other retailers remaining open and taking their business if they were to close.
On the 27th another meeting of what was being called the half-holiday movement took place in the Public Hall in Hardshaw Street. It was decided that the whole of the tradesmen in the town would be canvassed to see if they would support half-day closing on a Thursday. To encourage support it was decided that no half-day would be asked for when Christmas Day fell on a Friday or Saturday and during those weeks in which Good Friday or Race Friday occurred.
The latter was when most shops in St Helens closed when Newton Races took place. St Helens did not adopt early closing on Thursdays until January 1884. But even that was only initially agreed by a limited number of the town's traders, such as drapers, tailors, bootmakers and pawnbrokers.
Nervous horses attached to a conveyance could cause mayhem if some unexpected sight or sound led to them taking fright. On the afternoon of the 27th, Richard and Sarah Morris from Upholland were in St Helens with the intention of visiting Sarah's sister on Cowley Hill. It was their usual practice of putting up their horse and trap at the Fleece Inn but as they were approaching Church Street, the animal bolted at a furious rate.
The trap's nearside wheels came in contact with a lamppost by the canal bridge and Mrs Morris received a severe blow to her head and was thrown out of the vehicle. The 26-year-old was picked up and carried unconscious into an adjoining shop and Dr Twyford was sent for but she died almost immediately. Meanwhile, the horse continued its journey until it finally overturned the trap after getting across the bridge, with Mr Morris being dragged a considerable distance, although escaping serious injury.
At the beginning of the month James Dalton had been charged in St Helens Petty Sessions with "attempting to ravish" an 11-year-old girl named Margaret Riley in Greenbank. Dalton had entered her house at 9 o’clock at night when Margaret was alone. Through lack of evidence, the attempted rape charge had to be downgraded to one of indecent assault and James Dalton was sentenced to two months hard labour.
On the 27th in St Helens Petty Sessions, Andrew Johnson was charged with a similar crime against a 3-year-old girl. The 19-year-old was accused of attempting to ravish Mary Kenny in Gerards Bridge after entering her home at 11pm while her parents were out. The Newspaper in its write-up said:
"On the return of Mrs Kenny in the course of a few minutes, she saw Johnson on the bed where the child was, in such a position as left no doubt as to the nature of the offence he was attempting to commit. She at once seized the fire shovel, with the intention of striking Johnson with it, but he effected his escape although pursued by the father of the child, who, however, lost sight of him in the darkness." Johnson was arrested by PC Gilligan on the following day and was remanded in custody.
An advert in the St Helens Newspaper on the 29th called for any benefit or trade society or other body that wanted to join the procession in connection with the opening of the new Town Hall to apply to the Town Clerk as soon as possible.
In a separate editorial it was stated that a "very strong and general feeling" had been expressed in favour of the opening ceremony taking place on Whit Monday, instead of the Tuesday as announced. As a result the Procession Committee was expected to recommend to the Town Hall General Committee that the day be switched.
And a very brief letter published in the Newspaper from someone called Isabel wondered what those that were making the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall were thinking in proposing a celebratory ball to be held in the month of June. "Can they really expect ladies to attend a ball so near Midsummer?" No explanation was offered and I can only presume that it was the prospect of warm weather and getting hot and sweaty while dancing that was so offensive to Isabel.
Alfred Glignor was an opportunistic thief who had seen Mary Booth of Thatto Heath put down a bundle while buying some meat from John Hatton's stall in St Helens marketplace. When she left the stall, Mary forgot her bundle that contained a pair of trousers and a vest and Glignor went to claim it, claiming that his wife had left the bundle there and she had sent him to collect it. The man took the clothes to a pawnshop in Church Street but was soon arrested and in court this week was sent to prison for one month with hard labour.
The silly nature of neighbours' quarrels – with the parties involved suing one another for various offences – was again shown in another case. The litigants all lived in Union Street on Cowley Hill and the prosecutions began with Ellen Twist summoning Thomas Webb for making threats.
Then Thomas Webb's wife, Mary, charged Ellen Twist with uttering bad language to her. And Ellen Laffy – the mother of Ellen Twist – brought a case against Mary Webb for using slanderous language towards her. Each case was heard separately and the defendants were either bound over or the charge was dismissed.
"Owing to the increased number and value of the prizes this year, the number of competitors was much larger than usual, whilst the general quality and appearance of the various teams was a considerable improvement on former years. The town was en fete from an early hour, and hundreds of people flocked in from the surrounding districts to witness the procession.
"The prizes given by the committee consisted of an eight-day clock, copper kettles, knives and forks, whips, &c., and were awarded to the neatest and cleanest pair of horses and harness, the neatest and cleanest single horse and harness, the neatest and cleanest cobs, post boys and ponies, &c. The procession, which was of great length, started at about noon, headed by the Fire Brigade, next to which came the Corporation carts, all newly painted, and making their first appearance on these occasions."
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall, the death down St Helens Colliery, two men deny serious allegations against them and the man who attempted to saw another man's head off returns to court.
This week's many stories include the St Helens May Day horse parade, the attempted rape of a 3-year-old girl in Gerards Bridge, the half-day closing movement, the resignation of the mayor and the trap tragedy that was caused by a bolting horse.
One of the big news stories of the week was the resignation of the Mayor of St Helens.
That was because in a recent appointment of new County Magistrates, mine owner James Radley (pictured above) had been passed over in favour of two local men, both younger than him and less experienced.
Radley felt for some reason that his omission was through being mayor, which he considered to be an insult to him, the council and the town at large.
Why he felt being mayor had blocked his appointment was unexplained, with his term expiring in a few months. However, the St Helens Newspaper felt he had been "scurvily treated".
But after discussions had taken place, Radley was persuaded to withdraw his resignation.
The movement that called for the introduction of half-day closing of shops had begun in 1855 when the Rev Edward Carr, the Vicar of St Helens, held a public meeting in the Town Hall.
Progress was slow as traders were suspicious of other retailers remaining open and taking their business if they were to close.
On the 27th another meeting of what was being called the half-holiday movement took place in the Public Hall in Hardshaw Street.
It was decided that the whole of the tradesmen in the town would be canvassed to see if they would support half-day closing on a Thursday.
To encourage support it was decided that no half-day would be asked for when Christmas Day fell on a Friday or Saturday and during those weeks in which Good Friday or Race Friday occurred.
The latter was when most shops in St Helens closed when Newton Races took place.
St Helens did not adopt early closing on Thursdays until January 1884. But even that was only initially agreed by a limited number of the town's traders, such as drapers, tailors, bootmakers and pawnbrokers.
Nervous horses attached to a conveyance could cause mayhem if some unexpected sight or sound led to them taking fright.
On the afternoon of the 27th, Richard and Sarah Morris from Upholland were in St Helens with the intention of visiting Sarah's sister on Cowley Hill.
It was their usual practice of putting up their horse and trap at the Fleece Inn but as they were approaching Church Street, the animal bolted at a furious rate.
The trap's nearside wheels came in contact with a lamppost by the canal bridge and Mrs Morris received a severe blow to her head and was thrown out of the vehicle.
The 26-year-old was picked up and carried unconscious into an adjoining shop and Dr Twyford was sent for but she died almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the horse continued its journey until it finally overturned the trap after getting across the bridge, with Mr Morris being dragged a considerable distance, although escaping serious injury.
At the beginning of the month James Dalton had been charged in St Helens Petty Sessions with "attempting to ravish" an 11-year-old girl named Margaret Riley in Greenbank.
Dalton had entered her house at 9 o’clock at night when Margaret was alone.
Through lack of evidence, the attempted rape charge had to be downgraded to one of indecent assault and James Dalton was sentenced to two months hard labour.
On the 27th in St Helens Petty Sessions, Andrew Johnson was charged with a similar crime against a 3-year-old girl.
The 19-year-old was accused of attempting to ravish Mary Kenny in Gerards Bridge after entering her home at 11pm while her parents were out. The Newspaper in its write-up said:
"On the return of Mrs Kenny in the course of a few minutes, she saw Johnson on the bed where the child was, in such a position as left no doubt as to the nature of the offence he was attempting to commit.
"She at once seized the fire shovel, with the intention of striking Johnson with it, but he effected his escape although pursued by the father of the child, who, however, lost sight of him in the darkness."
Johnson was arrested by PC Gilligan on the following day and was remanded in custody.
An advert in the St Helens Newspaper on the 29th called for any benefit or trade society or other body that wanted to join the procession in connection with the opening of the new Town Hall to apply to the Town Clerk as soon as possible.
In a separate editorial it was stated that a "very strong and general feeling" had been expressed in favour of the opening ceremony taking place on Whit Monday, instead of the Tuesday as announced.
As a result the Procession Committee was expected to recommend to the Town Hall General Committee that the day be switched.
And a very brief letter published in the Newspaper from someone called Isabel wondered what those that were making the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall were thinking in proposing a celebratory ball to be held in the month of June.
"Can they really expect ladies to attend a ball so near Midsummer?"
No explanation was offered and I can only presume that it was the prospect of warm weather and getting hot and sweaty while dancing that was so offensive to Isabel.
Alfred Glignor was an opportunistic thief who had seen Mary Booth of Thatto Heath put down a bundle while buying some meat from John Hatton's stall in St Helens marketplace.
When she left the stall, Mary forgot her bundle that contained a pair of trousers and a vest and Glignor went to claim it, claiming that his wife had left the bundle there and she had sent him to collect it.
The man took the clothes to a pawnshop in Church Street but was soon arrested and in court this week was sent to prison for one month with hard labour.
The silly nature of neighbours' quarrels – with the parties involved suing one another for various offences – was again shown in another case.
The litigants all lived in Union Street on Cowley Hill and the prosecutions began with Ellen Twist summoning Thomas Webb for making threats.
Then Thomas Webb's wife, Mary, charged Ellen Twist with uttering bad language to her.
And Ellen Laffy – the mother of Ellen Twist – brought a case against Mary Webb for using slanderous language towards her.
Each case was heard separately and the defendants were either bound over or the charge was dismissed.
On May 2nd the Liverpool Daily Post published this piece about the St Helens May Day Horse Parade:
"There are few places of its size where May Day and its associations are more enthusiastically observed than in St. Helens, and each year it seems to increase in attraction.
"The remark is equally applicable to the turn-outs [horses and carts] which are to be witnessed, and which would perfectly astonish a stranger.
"Owing to the increased number and value of the prizes this year, the number of competitors was much larger than usual, whilst the general quality and appearance of the various teams was a considerable improvement on former years.
"The town was en fete from an early hour, and hundreds of people flocked in from the surrounding districts to witness the procession.
"The prizes given by the committee consisted of an eight-day clock, copper kettles, knives and forks, whips, &c., and were awarded to the neatest and cleanest pair of horses and harness, the neatest and cleanest single horse and harness, the neatest and cleanest cobs, post boys and ponies, &c.
"The procession, which was of great length, started at about noon, headed by the Fire Brigade, next to which came the Corporation carts, all newly painted, and making their first appearance on these occasions."
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall, the death down St Helens Colliery, two men deny serious allegations against them and the man who attempted to saw another man's head off returns to court.
That was because in a recent appointment of new County Magistrates, mine owner James Radley (pictured above) had been passed over in favour of two local men, both younger than him and less experienced.
Radley felt for some reason that his omission was through being mayor, which he considered to be an insult to him, the council and the town at large.
Why he felt being mayor had blocked his appointment was unexplained, with his term expiring in a few months. However, the St Helens Newspaper felt he had been "scurvily treated".
But after discussions had taken place, Radley was persuaded to withdraw his resignation.
The movement that called for the introduction of half-day closing of shops had begun in 1855 when the Rev Edward Carr, the Vicar of St Helens, held a public meeting in the Town Hall.
Progress was slow as traders were suspicious of other retailers remaining open and taking their business if they were to close.
On the 27th another meeting of what was being called the half-holiday movement took place in the Public Hall in Hardshaw Street.
It was decided that the whole of the tradesmen in the town would be canvassed to see if they would support half-day closing on a Thursday.
To encourage support it was decided that no half-day would be asked for when Christmas Day fell on a Friday or Saturday and during those weeks in which Good Friday or Race Friday occurred.
The latter was when most shops in St Helens closed when Newton Races took place.
St Helens did not adopt early closing on Thursdays until January 1884. But even that was only initially agreed by a limited number of the town's traders, such as drapers, tailors, bootmakers and pawnbrokers.
Nervous horses attached to a conveyance could cause mayhem if some unexpected sight or sound led to them taking fright.
On the afternoon of the 27th, Richard and Sarah Morris from Upholland were in St Helens with the intention of visiting Sarah's sister on Cowley Hill.
It was their usual practice of putting up their horse and trap at the Fleece Inn but as they were approaching Church Street, the animal bolted at a furious rate.
The trap's nearside wheels came in contact with a lamppost by the canal bridge and Mrs Morris received a severe blow to her head and was thrown out of the vehicle.
The 26-year-old was picked up and carried unconscious into an adjoining shop and Dr Twyford was sent for but she died almost immediately.
Meanwhile, the horse continued its journey until it finally overturned the trap after getting across the bridge, with Mr Morris being dragged a considerable distance, although escaping serious injury.
At the beginning of the month James Dalton had been charged in St Helens Petty Sessions with "attempting to ravish" an 11-year-old girl named Margaret Riley in Greenbank.
Dalton had entered her house at 9 o’clock at night when Margaret was alone.
Through lack of evidence, the attempted rape charge had to be downgraded to one of indecent assault and James Dalton was sentenced to two months hard labour.
On the 27th in St Helens Petty Sessions, Andrew Johnson was charged with a similar crime against a 3-year-old girl.
The 19-year-old was accused of attempting to ravish Mary Kenny in Gerards Bridge after entering her home at 11pm while her parents were out. The Newspaper in its write-up said:
"On the return of Mrs Kenny in the course of a few minutes, she saw Johnson on the bed where the child was, in such a position as left no doubt as to the nature of the offence he was attempting to commit.
"She at once seized the fire shovel, with the intention of striking Johnson with it, but he effected his escape although pursued by the father of the child, who, however, lost sight of him in the darkness."
Johnson was arrested by PC Gilligan on the following day and was remanded in custody.
An advert in the St Helens Newspaper on the 29th called for any benefit or trade society or other body that wanted to join the procession in connection with the opening of the new Town Hall to apply to the Town Clerk as soon as possible.
In a separate editorial it was stated that a "very strong and general feeling" had been expressed in favour of the opening ceremony taking place on Whit Monday, instead of the Tuesday as announced.
As a result the Procession Committee was expected to recommend to the Town Hall General Committee that the day be switched.
And a very brief letter published in the Newspaper from someone called Isabel wondered what those that were making the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall were thinking in proposing a celebratory ball to be held in the month of June.
"Can they really expect ladies to attend a ball so near Midsummer?"
No explanation was offered and I can only presume that it was the prospect of warm weather and getting hot and sweaty while dancing that was so offensive to Isabel.
Alfred Glignor was an opportunistic thief who had seen Mary Booth of Thatto Heath put down a bundle while buying some meat from John Hatton's stall in St Helens marketplace.
When she left the stall, Mary forgot her bundle that contained a pair of trousers and a vest and Glignor went to claim it, claiming that his wife had left the bundle there and she had sent him to collect it.
The man took the clothes to a pawnshop in Church Street but was soon arrested and in court this week was sent to prison for one month with hard labour.
The silly nature of neighbours' quarrels – with the parties involved suing one another for various offences – was again shown in another case.
The litigants all lived in Union Street on Cowley Hill and the prosecutions began with Ellen Twist summoning Thomas Webb for making threats.
Then Thomas Webb's wife, Mary, charged Ellen Twist with uttering bad language to her.
And Ellen Laffy – the mother of Ellen Twist – brought a case against Mary Webb for using slanderous language towards her.
Each case was heard separately and the defendants were either bound over or the charge was dismissed.
"There are few places of its size where May Day and its associations are more enthusiastically observed than in St. Helens, and each year it seems to increase in attraction.
"The remark is equally applicable to the turn-outs [horses and carts] which are to be witnessed, and which would perfectly astonish a stranger.
"Owing to the increased number and value of the prizes this year, the number of competitors was much larger than usual, whilst the general quality and appearance of the various teams was a considerable improvement on former years.
"The town was en fete from an early hour, and hundreds of people flocked in from the surrounding districts to witness the procession.
"The prizes given by the committee consisted of an eight-day clock, copper kettles, knives and forks, whips, &c., and were awarded to the neatest and cleanest pair of horses and harness, the neatest and cleanest single horse and harness, the neatest and cleanest cobs, post boys and ponies, &c.
"The procession, which was of great length, started at about noon, headed by the Fire Brigade, next to which came the Corporation carts, all newly painted, and making their first appearance on these occasions."
St Helens Newspaper courtesy St Helens Archive Service at Eccleston Library
Next Week's stories will include the arrangements for the opening of the new Town Hall, the death down St Helens Colliery, two men deny serious allegations against them and the man who attempted to saw another man's head off returns to court.