7 September 1901
THE DUKINFIELD
GRAVEYARD SCANDAL
Extraordinary Developments
The past week has seen fresh developments
in connection with the Dukinfield graveyard scandal,
about which so much has been said and written
of late. The crisis appears to have been reached
on Monday afternoon when a retired gentleman resident
in the borough, desirous of satisfying his curiosity,
gained access to the disposed burial ground, where
building operations are going on, through one
of the adjoining houses, by permission of the
tenant. What he saw, he states, shocked him. In
places where excavations were going on, he states
that coffins were broken up and remains scattered
about. The smell he described as being loathsome
in the extreme.
After a little unpleasantness with
one of the officials, he drew the borough surveyor"s
attention to the matter, and the same afternoon
that official paid a visit to the spot. What followed
may have its sequel in a law court, but gossips
say that there was a conflict between the surveyor
and one of the officials carrying out the work.
A large crowd gathered in the street, and later
on a town councillor arrived on the scene and
saw what was going on. The councillor, with a
public duty before him, determined to thoroughly
sift the matter, and preparing himself with a
lot of data, he went to the General Purposes Committee
of the Town Council on Monday night, and in the
presence of a proprietor of the works where the
excavations were going on, he reviewed the whole
situation, and stated in detail the many rumours
current in the neighbourhood.
One of the rumours was about a jawbone
with about a dozen teeth, taken from the ground,
which was stated to have been exhibited in a public
house. Other revolting rumours were stated, and
in all some 40 or 50 questions were put by the
Councillor. There was a heated debate, lasting
for over an hour and a half, and one member of
the Council was heard to remark that they had
better send for the military. The Acts dealing
with disused burial grounds, given in the Reporter
of Aug. 18th last, were discussed, as was also
the legal aspect of the case.
The Surveyor was appealed to, and
he gave a detailed account of what he had seen.
A councillor, who was a member of the firm erecting
the new building, reprised, and endeavoured to
exonerate the firm from any irreverent action
whatever in the matter. He said that if he had
known what he knew now, the firm would not have
bought the land. The outcome of the meeting was
that two resolutions were passed that a communication
be sent to the Home Secretary notifying him of
the erection of the building and the excavations;
also that a letter be written to the official
regarding the alleged assault upon the surveyor,
and asking for an apology. Notwithstanding the
fact that one or two members of the Council appealed
that the matter might be adjourned for a month
for further consideration, the motion to communicate
with the Home Secretary was carried by ten votes
to five.
HOOLEY HILL & AUDENSHAW
Booth House, Audenshaw, the residence of the
late Joseph HADWEN, Esq, and the grounds in which
it stands, is on sale. We understand that the family
is removing to London.
PONY STRAYING. — For
this offence, on August 13th, at Audenshaw, to
which he pleaded guilty, John HYDE was fined 6s
at the Ashton County Police Court, on Wednesday.
BREACH OF THE PEACE.—
Thomas TUDOR, Mrs EARDIN, Mrs SMITH, and Mrs CHANTRY
were before the Ashton County justices on Wednesday,
charged with committing a breach of the peace
in Howard-street, Audenshaw, on August 18th.Ì
Defendants pleaded guilty, and bound over in 40s
to be of good behaviour for three months.
A BIG CAPTURE.— Clement
DERRICK, of Bank-street, Hooley Hill, whilst fishing
last week in Lough Sheelin, Ireland, with single
gut and one small hook, baited with a gudgeon,
caught a pike that weighed 20á lbs, its extreme
length was 41in, and girth 31áin. It was a splendid
specimen, and gave grand sport. It has been sent
to Messrs Cooper and Sons, London, for preservation.
A SLEEPY DRIVER.— James
WHALLEY was charged at the Ashton County Police
Court, on Wednesday, with being asleep in charge
of a horse and lurry at Audenshaw, on the 15th.
Defendant pleaded not guilty.Ì A constable deposed
to "boarding" defendant"s lurry
and finding him asleep. Witness rode several yards
on the lurry and took charge of the reins and
then awoke the driver.Ì Fined 5s 6d and costs.
PICNIC TO GRIMSBY.—
On Sunday a nice party left the house of Mr C
WORTHINGTON, Gardeners Arms, for a day"s
outing to Grimsby and Cleethorpes, special accommodation
having been provided for them by the Great Central
Railway Company. After a pleasant journey, the
party arrived at Grimsby in good time, and had
a walk round to view the sights, afterwards going
on to Cleethorpes. At the latter place they had
a splendid dinner, after which the rest of the
afternoon was spent in a very pleasant manner.
Train time arrived all too soon, and after a capital
run the party arrived at Guidebridge about eight
o"clock, everyone highly delighted with the
day"s pleasure.
BENEFIT CRICKET MATCH.—
On Tuesday afternoon a cricket match between the
county police and tradesmen was played on the
ground behind the Pack Horse Inn, Hooley Hill,
for the benefit of the families of the two poor
unfortunate fellows who were suffocated in sewering
operations a few weeks ago. There was a fair sprinkling
of spectators witnessing the match. The police
batted first, but could do nothing with the bowling
of BARDSLEY, who took eight for nine runs, the
whole side being out for 31. On the tradesmen
going in they made a bad start, losing three wickets
in quick time, but afterwards matters went in
their favour, their total at the close being 58
for eight wickets. Both policemen and tradesmen
have worked with a will to make the affair a success,
and they disposed of a large number of tickets,
and we are informed that a handsome surplus will
be left to hand over to the bereaved families.
GROGGING SPIRIT CASKS AT
HIGHMOOR
Heavy Penalty Imposed
A charge of grogging two spirit casks was preferred
against Molly Waring TAYLOR, landlady of the Old
Original Inn, Highmoor, on Wednesday last, Mr SIMPSON,
of the Solicitors" Department of the Inland
Revenue, Somerset House, prosecuting. In his opening
remarks, Mr SIMPSON said it was the first case of
that kind ever before the Uppermill bench, and was
very important in its nature and bearing upon public
houses, publicans and retailers of spirits generally,
and it was necessary the bench should understand
the full bearing of the Act under which the proceedings
were to be taken.
The offence was very much like smuggling
spirits in its nature. They were aware, no doubt,
that the greater part of the revenue of the country
was derived from the sale of spirits, spirits
paying a greater proportion to the revenue than
any other commodity, being no less than 11s per
gallon, and consequently offering, perhaps, the
best inducement to anyone who wished to defraud
the revenue by smuggling or selling spirits that
had not paid duty. In order that no spirits might
be sold without payment of duty, stringent rules
had been laid down for the transit of casks, and
particularly with regard to the treatment which
casks should receive.
The duty on spirits was not paid
immediately they were manufactured or distilled,
nor whilst in bond, but after they came out of
bond, when a portion of the spirits had evaporated
and another portion entered the wood of the casks,
becoming absorbed in it. It was after the cask
was emptied and the spirits poured out for consumption
that the offence became possible. Grogging meant
pouring in a cask any spirit which was either
watered or had been extracted from the wood.
Until the Finance Act of 1898 this
operation was not in itself illegal, and was extensively
practised. It was found so long as duty was paid
on the spirit after it had been extracted and
before it was sold the revenue had no objection
to the operation, but it was found that in by
far the greater majority of cases the spirit was
sold for consumption without duty being paid on
it, and it was found very difficult indeed to
prove the spirit when it had once been allowed
to be extracted in this way. Therefore section
4 of the Finance Act was found necessary to prohibit
the practice altogether, and to allow no cask
to be grogged under any consideration whatever.
The Act provided that any person subjecting any
cask to a process for the purpose of extracting
any spirit absorbed in the wood in contravention
thereof would be subject to a fine of £50. A further
penalty could also be imposed under the Spirits
Act of 1880.
Defendant had been previously warned
as to what she could or should do, and it was
important the magistrates should see the case
carefully carried out, and mark their sense of
the importance of the subject. With reference
to the case, the revenue officer went to the premises
of Mrs TAYLOR on a certain date, entering the
bar. Mrs TAYLOR, at the time he went in, was in
a cellar on the same floor as the bar and immediately
on seeing him she said, "I know what you
are after; you want to see about those washed
casks; we hav"nt any, and do not do that,
because it does not pay." This aroused the
officer"s suspicions, and on examining the
place he found behind the bar four casks, two
containing spirits which had been put into them
in the first instance, and the other two having
upon them other articles.
In the bottom of one of these casks
he found two quarts, and in the other one quart
of spirits. On examining the stock book he found
the casks had contained spirits of a certain specific
degree of strength, and found, with a hydrometer,
that the contents were very much diluted. The
samples taken by him were sent to the Government
laboratory, and the analyst had found the spirits
certainly similar to those originally in the casks,
but diluted, and containing evidence of having
been in the wood.
On his asking to see the casks the
landlady immediately complied with his request.
On the top of one was a cask of brandy, whilst
on the other was standing a mug of bread. Both
the under casks were securely corked. Mrs TAYLOR,
on having the offence pointed out, said she did
not think she was doing any harm, as she thought
she was allowed to put cold water in the casks.
A fine of £2 and costs was imposed.
MOSSLEY POLICE COURT
MUSIC LICENSE.— Benjamin WINTERBOTTOM,
landlord of the Dysart"s Arms, who was represented
by his wife, was granted a music license.
OCCASIONAL LICENSE.—
John Edward HAMPSON, landlord of the Hare and
Hounds Inn, Luzley, was granted an occasional
license to sell intoxicants at a cricket match
to be held at Micklehurst next Saturday.
NO APPEARANCE.— Edward
WHITEHEAD was on the list to answer a charge of
being drunk and disorderly, but he did not put
in an appearance. He had six previous convictions
standing against him, and the magistrates decided
to issue a warrant for his apprehension.
VACCINATION EXEMPTION.—
Certificates of exemption from vaccination on
account of their children were granted to Green
KINDER, J W HEAP, J ANDREW, T COOK, M CONNOLLY,
J BELL, Robert WEBB, Luke LEES, George S LISTER,
J ROYLANCE, J H BROOKS, and M MASON.
STONE THROWING.— Three
youths named W WAKEFIELD, Harry CAPSTICK and Miles
CAPSTICK were charged with stone-throwing in Stamford-road
on the 25th August. All three pleaded guilty and
they were let off upon paying the costs and promising
not to commit a similar offence again.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—
Daniel CLAYTON, who was represented by his wife,
was charged with being drunk and disorderly in
Wagon-road on the 23rd of August. The constable
who proved the charge stated that the defendant
was using very bad language.Ì A fine of 5s and
costs was imposed.
PLAYING AT FOOTBALL IN THE STREET.—
Three youths, named Herbert ROBERTS, Harry HOLT,
and John HOLT, were charged with playing at football
in Stamford-street on the 19th of August. All
three pleaded not guilty.Ì Constable WINDCOTT
proved the charge. He stated that he saw all the
three defendants kicking a ball up the street
from opposite the Church Inn to Broadcarr-road.Ì
The Chairman said the magistrates were disposed
to be lenient with them this time, and the case
would be dismissed. They hoped it would, however,
be a warning to them not to offend against the
law again.Ì Mr RAWSON said it was a most dangerous
game to play in the streets, and he had witnessed
it taking place himself.
DRUNK ON LICENSED PREMISES.—
Thomas ROWE and James GRIMES were charged with
being drunk on the premises of John HALLSWORTH,
Crown Inn, on the 19th of August.Ì The constable
who proved the charge stated that the landlady
said she had not served either of the defendants.
One of the defendants said that was correct, but
the other said she had served them.Ì A fine of
2s 6d each and costs, or seven days, was imposed.
Arthur LAMMEN and John LITTLETON
were charged with being drunk on the premises
of John RADCLIFFE, George Hotel, on the 29th of
August.Ì Sergt GOULD proved the charge.Ì The defendants
said they were not so drunk, but they knew to
go away when ordered to do so. One of them said
he could not be so drunk when he could tell what
time it was, while the other said they could both
walk home.Ì (Laughter) LAMMEN said they had not
had their tea and a little drink took hold of
them.Ì A fine of 2s 6d each and costs was imposed.
AN ABSENTEE MILITIAMAN.—
James COOK, who belongs at the 3rd West Riding
Regiment of Militia at Halifax, was charged with
being absent from his regiment since the 12th
of August.Ì Inspector HUMPHREYS produced the "Police
Gazette," in which the absentee was advertised
as missing.Ì The defendant stated that he went
up to Halifax on the 2nd instant, and the officers
sent him back on account of ill-health and not
being fit for service. He produced a certificate
to this effect, but it was not signed. He was
now residing in Bank-street, Mossley.Ì The magistrates
said they could not do anything in the matter,
and the police officers might make further inquiries
into the case.
William WRIGLEY, who had appeared
in a previous case, and who had been taken into
custody on appearing in the court room, was charged
with being an absentee from the 4th Royal Regiment
of Militia stationed at Lancaster. Inspector HUMPHREYS
stated that the prisoner had been away from his
regiment ever since the 10th of August 1900.Ì
Mr WADDINGTON inquired if the consent of the commanding
officer of the regiment had been obtained for
this prosecution.Ì Inspector HUMPHREYS said that
there had been no time for that to be done since
the prisoner was arrested.Ì In that case, Mr WADDINGTON
said, nothing could be done with the charge, and
the Magistrates" Clerk coinciding with that
view, the prisoner was discharged.
SAD DROWNING CASE AT BLACKPOOL
Father Succumbs in Attempting to Save His Son
Rescue by a Hyde Man
On Wednesday afternoon a sad drowning fatality
occurred at Blackpool. It appears that a little
boy, four years of age, was on the hulking at North
Shore, when he fell into the water, the tide being
in at the time. His father, who was with him, entered
the water in the hope of saving his son, but the
back wash carried him out, and he was drowned. The
body had not been recovered at Three o"clock.
About the only witnesses of the
accident were two brothers named HORSEFIELD of
Hyde, who were stopping 35 Cookson-street. One
of them, immediately he saw what had happened,
took off his coat, and, going into the water,
succeeded in getting the boy out, but he was unable
to render any assistance to the father. The boy
was taken to No 4 Swarbrick-road, and the only
thing he could say was "Pudsey." This,
together with the name in the man"s hat,
leads to the supposition that the drowned man
belongs to Pudsey. Upon a handkerchief which he
left are the initials "L A." The deceased
left an umbrella, but this leaves no inscription
which throws any light on his identity.
The police report is to the effect
that Charles HORSEFIELD, of Buxton-street, Hyde,
was with his brother on the lower walk, opposite
the Imperial Hydro, when he saw a little boy sitting
on the steps and paddling in the water, the boy"s
father sitting at the top of the steps. The little
boy fell into the water, and his father immediately
jumped in, but was carried out ten yards. Someone
threw the lifebuoy to him, but he failed to grasp
it and sank. HORSEFIELD jumped into the water,
and caught hold of the boy, both being pulled
ashore by the life line.
The little boy was taken to 4 Swarbrick-street,
and after having a hot bath was put to bed, apparently
none the worse for his immersion. The only thing
the little boy could say was that his "dadda"
was sat on the steps when he fell in. Who the
man is was not known at five o"clock, nor
had the body been recovered. It is thought that
the outgoing tide would carry it south.
DUKINFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
The Dukinfield Town Council meeting on Monday
evening passed off less lively than has been the
case at recent meetings. The principal theme of
debate was the high infantile mortality. There is
no gainsaying the fact that the infantile mortality
has been very high for the past month, and there
may be some cause for Alderman BANCROFT"s fear
that if it got noised abroad the County Council
authorities would be down upon the borough.
Councillor CLARKE cleared the air
somewhat by explaining that the reason of the
mortality being so high was not so much due to
sickness as on account of the wakes and the holidays.
The explanation seemed odd at first, but it was
quite feasible. The infant mortality is estimated
by the number of deaths in proportion to the births,
and as the doctor pointed out, the birth rate
was very low for the past moth, there being a
natural decrease of population of 11. That probably
does not mean that to say that there have been
less children born during the month. In Wakes
week mothers do not usually register their children
to the same extent as they do at other times.
They have a limit of six weeks given them by Act
of Parliament. No doubt next month the birth rate
will be higher again.
The rate of infant mortality, measured
by the proportion of deaths under one year to
births, was equal to 607 per 1,000. The birth
rate shows a considerable decrease, being 17.7,
as compared with 31.09 for the corresponding period
last year.
The question of an isolation hospital
for the borough raised at the Council meeting
was simply a recrudescence (meaning Âto break
out again Ì was the pun intended? Ì Ed) of previous
attempts towards the foundation of a local institution
of this character. As pointed out by Councillor
GRIME, the Council came to the same conclusion
about isolation hospitals six years ago, as tabulated
by Dr MALLARD recently in his report to the Eastborne
Health Congress at which Councillor CLARKE was
present as delegate for the Dukinfield Council.
The dangers of aggregation were
clearly shown in the prevalence of scarlet fever
cases in those great towns which have attempted
hospital isolation as in those which have neglected
it, and so far from there being any evidence of
a decrease in scarlet fever in certain towns which
have practised the measure thoroughly, on the
contrary they show a marked increase, besides
entailing a great and over-growing expenditure
on the public purse.
Warrington heads the list as regards
the extent to which hospital isolation has been
pushed, and during the decade 1890-99 it also
heads the list as regards mortality from disease.
During the last 20 years 77 per cent of cases
notified have been removed from their homes, and
passed through the hospital. The adjoining borough
(Ashton) without hospital isolation showed for
the 10 years 1890-99 an attack-rate of 3.6, mortality
.2 and fatality 5.6, whilst Oldham, with hospital
isolation, for the same period showed an attack-rate
of 3.1, mortality .2, and fatality 6.5.
Failure of isolation might be attributable
not to isolation properly applied, but to imperfection
of the system. According to Councillor GRIME,
isolation hospitals have received their death
blow. Isolation, it is pointed out, can best be
secured in one"s own home, which is an Englishman"s
castle. The medical profession, of course, have
their own views on the subject.
DUKINFIELD
DOG AT LARGE.— At the Dukinfield Police
Court on Thursday, Nancy ROBINSON was charged with
having a dog at large unmuzzled in Old-road on the
27th August. Constable Cross proved the case. Defendant
pleaded guilty, and said that the dog was only six
months old. Fined 2s.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY.—
At the Dukinfield Police Court on Thursday, William
ANDERTON was charged with being drunk and disorderly
in Vicarage-street on the 31st August at twenty
minutes to twelve at midnight. He was also using
filthy language. Fined 5s.Ì Ellen McKILROY, for
a like offence, was fined 2s 6d.
