8 June 1901
CRUELTY
TO HORSES AT ASHTON
Heavy Fine — Veterinary Surgeons Disagree
At the Ashton Borough Police Court on Monday,
George GREEN, John SMITH, and Charles JOHNSON,
carters, were charged with cruelly working horse
whilst in an unfit state on 18th May. Defendants
did not appear. James DAY, the owner of the horses
was summoned for a similar offence by causing
the same to be worked whilst they were in an unfit
condition.
Inspector POCOCK then opened the
case, the facts of which, he said, were somewhat
peculiar. The defendant DAY was the owner of a
menagerie travelling from town to town with five
caravans drawn by the four horses, the subject
of this charge, and two ponies. The caravans contained
lions and other animals, and it was necessary
to have horse flesh with which to feed the lions.
He did not see He did not see the horses actually
dragging the vans, but they were seen after the
menagerie arrived on the Ashton Market Ground,
and the Bench would have evidence as to their
condition. These poor animals had been made to
travel about from pillar to post, and they did
23 miles the day before he saw them. It was one
of the worst cases that had come under his observation
during the time he had been with the society.
(RSPCA)
Harry James ASPINALL, 40, Hillgate-street,
Hurst, assistant market superintendent, said that
on the 13th April he saw DAY’s menagerie
come upon the market ground He saw the horses
in question and speaking generally they were in
poor condition. He understood they came from Openshaw.
Inspector POCOCK said that at 1.15pm
on Saturday, he was on the Ashton Market Ground
when he saw the defendant SMITH riding a roaned
horse and leading a grey and a bay. He had a dealer’s
whip in his hand, and was incessantly flogging
first one and then the other. Immediately in front
of them was a brown horse, and smith was flogging
it and urging it along. Witness stopped the horses
and observed to SMITH "These horses are in
a fearful state." He replied "Yes, sir,
they are." Witness examined them very carefully.
The roan mare he found to be in a fair condition,
but lame on the near hind leg, due to ringbone
of considerable standing.
DAY and his wife came up, and the
former said, "I hope you won’t make
a bother about this. I have been in trouble, and
if you will say nothing about it, I will have
them all destroyed. We have to get these poor
horses to feed the animals. He pointed out to
the defendant that he was working the horses,
and showed him marks of harness on them. He then
said, "Yes, we came from Openshaw this morning."
Witness told him that anyone could see that the
horses were totally unfit to work, and he replied
"You say the word and I will have them destroyed
in the street." Witness never saw worse horses
in his life.
The same afternoon, Mr HALL, veterinary
surgeon, was called in, and he saw the animals
in a stable behind the Ashton Hotel. He examined
them in the presence of DAY and the defendants
GREEN, SMITH and JOHNSON. GREEN said he drove
the grey from Manchester, and the day before from
Lymm, 23 miles, but would not drive it again.
JOHNSON said he drove the bay gelding. He also
said the grey and the bay had been bought for
killing.
Mr Peter GILLESPIE, MRCVS, practising
at Salford and Strangeways, said he examined the
four horses on the 21st April, an on that date
they were, in his opinion, fit for work. The bay
cart horse was 20 years old, but fit for slow
work. The grey cart horse, 14 or 15 years old,
was in fairly good condition, and there would
not be any cruelty in working it.— Inspector
POCOCK: Was there any enlargement of the pastern?
No.— You swear that? Yes. I saw no abnormal
enlargement.— I did not ask you that. You
have heard Dr HALL say there is? Yes.— And
you say he is wrong? I hold that he is mistaken.—
You are positive there was no ringbone? Yes.—
Do you mean to stake your professional reputation
upon the statement?
After a short consultation between
the magistrates and the clerk, Mr HAMER said they
were satisfied that a case had been made out.
The Chairman told DAY that he would be fined £3
and costs, or one month’s imprisonment. George
GREEN, John SMITH, and Charles JOHNSON 10s and
costs, or one month.
RUSH OF WOMEN TO SOUTH AFRICA
Women of every age and of every trade and profession
have been asking the United British Women’s
Emigration Association to send them out to South
Africa. The rush of applicants has been greatest
since Mr Chamberlain, at the Imperial Institute,
spoke of the need for women to emigrate to South
Africa when the country was blessed with peace.
But much of this rush is attributed to the fact
that the Chartered Company wants to attract female
colonists, and it has recently emphasised this fact
by offering an increase of pay to those of its employees
who become benedicts.
Ready promotion is offered to officials
who forthwith enter into the state of matrimony.
Dressmakers, housekeepers, cooks, music teachers,
type-writers, shorthand writers, governesses,
secretaries, lady helps, nurses, clerks by the
score, a bookbinder, a boys’ matron, a boarding-house
keeper, and last, but certainly not least, "two
lady barbers" — all have applied for
particulars as to how and when they can leave
their homes and settle in South Africa. The Women’s
Emigration Association has a system of granting
loans to women emigrants, but an extensive scheme
would require far more females than the association
possesses.
ASHTON BOROUGH POLICE COURTS
BAD LANGUAGE — Emma SWANN was fined 5s
6d, costs, for using bad language in Henry Square
on the 19th ult.
NO LIGHTS — John RIGBY
was fined 1s and costs for using a vehicle without
having any lights attached, and Cuthbert P GLAZEBROOK
was fined 2s 6d and costs for using a bicycle
after dark without lights.
OBTAINING MONEY BY FALSE PRETENCES
— Samuel BLOOMER was in the dock charged
on remand with attempting to obtain money by false
pretences.— The Chief Constable said he was
not yet prepared to go on with the case. The manager
of the colliery (Moss) was away from home and
he asked for a further remand until next Monday.—
Granted.
BREAKING A BOTTLE IN THE STREET
— William Henry BOND was summoned for breaking
a bottle in St Michael's Square. He did not appear:—
Constable HAWCOURT stated that at ten past ten
o'clock at night, he saw defendant deliberately
smash a bottle in the square.— The Clerk
said people were not permitted to break bottles
in public thoroughfares. It was a dangerous practice.—
Fined 5s 6d and costs.
BEGGING — John KING
was charged with begging in Hilton-street, Crowthorn,
on the 1st inst. He said he was only singing in
the street.— An officer said defendant was
singing and another man was going from door to
door. On seeing witness they ran away at full
speed. Defendant had 30 pennies and 25 halfpennies
upon him.— Defendant told a story about being
unable to get work. He was making his way to Rochdale,
where he had relatives.— Discharged on promising
to leave the town.
ALLEGED UNLAWFUL WOUNDING —
Joseph ALLCOCK was charged with unlawfully wounding
Joseph HARROP on 22nd May. Dr HAMILTON junr. was
called and said the man HARROP was under his care.
He was not in a fit condition to appear, and would
not be for another week.— The Chief Constable
said upon that evidence he asked for a remand.
The defendant had not been out on bail.—
The Bench agreed to grant the same bail, defendant
in £20, and one surety of £20, the latter was
provided by Mr Ralph BOOTH, New Junction Inn,
Victoria-street.
BENJAMIN'S MESS — Benjamin
KING was in the dock charged with being drunk
and disorderly in Lower Wharf-street on the 30th
ult. He was also charged with assaulting Constable
WILSON whilst in the execution of his duty.—
Defendant said he did not remember anything. He
had some port wine and someone must have put something
in it.— Constable FURNESS stated that at
2pm, he saw the defendant drunk and creating a
disturbance. He requested him to go away, but
he refused. He the took him into custody. He became
very violent. Constable WILSON came to his assistance,
and whilst on the floor defendant kicked WILSIN
in the head several times.— Constable WILSON
gave corroborative evidence.— The Chief Constable
said defendant had been up 27 times.— Fined
5s 6d and costs for being drunk and disorderly,
and for the assault 20s and costs, or one month.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY —
Julia CONNELLY, who had been up six times, was
fined 5s 6d, and costs for being drunk and disorderly
in Wellington-street on the 20th.— Andrew
Edward ANDREW, drunk in Bedford-street, on the
27th, was fined 5s 6d for costs. — Elizabeth
CASSIDY made her first appearance for drunkenness
in Blandford-street, and was discharged with a
caution.
John NAREY, who had been up 20 times,
was charged with being drunk and disorderly in
Stamford-street on 1st June. — Defendant
said he had been in hospital suffering from two
incurable diseases. The Clerk: One is drunkenness
I suppose.— Defendant said he had no money,
and the drink was given him.— Mr HAMER: Is
there more virtue in it when it is given?—
Defendant: No, but there are people who would
sooner give drink than money.— The Clerk:
You can refuse it.— On promising to go to
the workhouse, he was discharged.
James Samuel SIMCOCK, deaf and dumb
mute, was before the magistrates charged with
being drunk and disorderly in Brook-street on
June 3rd. Constable MILLINGTON stated the case.—
Fined 5s 6d and costs, or seven days.
SHAKING GOULD — Elizabeth
BAILEY was brought up on remand charged with committing
an assault on Ann GOULD on May 22nd.— Evidence
was given by Mrs BENTLEY to the effect that BAILEY
was shaking GOULD, and had hold of her by the
shoulders.— Defendant said the complainant
called her a "little black cow."— The Chairman
said it was the opinion of the Bench that there
was six of one and half a dozen of the other.—
Dismissed.
STEALING A SKIRT — Sarah
JONES, an elderly woman, was in custody charged
with stealing a skirt, the property of John Thomas
ASHWORTH, Cavendish-street, Ashton, on the 4th
inst.— Matthew BAGULEY, assistant to Mr ASHWORTH,
spoke to missing the skirt from the shop, and
Constable WALMSLEY deposed to searching the prisoner,
and finding the missing skirt in her possession.—
Prisoner said that she was sorry.— There
was one previous conviction recorded against her,
and she was fined 10s, or seven days imprisonment.
ARE WOMEN GROWING WISER?
DEAR SIR,— Your correspondent "Amelia"
flies too high altogether in her estimate of wisdom.
In my estimation, a woman's home, her husband, and
her children should be her pride and care. The comfort
of the home and the wants of her husband and little
ones should be her study. Not only should she meet
their requirements when in health, but also when
"out of sorts." To so this successfully requires
some knowledge of homely and effective medicines.
Yet how little real knowledge many women possess
on such subjects may be gauged by the amount of
money spent on worthless and expensive medicines.
Fortunately, one is glad to note
the rapidly increasing use of a remedy like Charles
FORDE's Bile Beans for Biliousness in this connection.
The wisdom of housewives who always keep a box
of this wonderful vegetable preparation on their
shelves is to be commended. Attacks of "the blues"
brought on by indigestion, headache, sleeplessness
or some other ailment, are fruitful sources of
family unhappiness, and the woman who by judicious
use of the natural vegetable remedy brings an
end to those ailments occurring, either in herself,
husband, or children, to my mind show more wisdom.
."Amelia" may talk about the "bad
temper and boorishness" of modern men as she chooses,
but she should not forget that health often governs
temper. A little money spent on Bile Beans is
a preventative of, or cure for indigestion —
and incidentally, bad temper — would show
more practical wisdom than much philosophising.
— Yours, CONSTANT READER
SAD MACHINERY ACCIDENT
Death at Ashton Infirmary
Information was received at the Ashton Police
Station on Friday afternoon of the death of Hiram
ROBINSON, aged 40 years, of 69 Mottram-road, Hyde,
which took place at the District Infirmary at 8.15am
the same day, as the result of injuries received
on May 27th. Deceased was a labourer at Messrs ASHTON’s
Newton Bank Printworks, and on that day about six
am, he and three others were in the soap dye engine-house.
One of the men was putting a strap
on a pulley, and deceased and the other workmen
were turning the wheel with an iron bar which
had a leverage from the wall close by. Whilst
the men had hold of the bar the engine started,
and the wheel commenced to revolve. The bar struck
deceased on the forehead and knock him on to the
engine, from which he fell on to the floor. He
was picked up unconscious and taken into the mill
lodge, and was subsequently removed to the Infirmary,
where he died as aforementioned.
The body was formally identified
by John BENSON, brother-in-law of the deceased,
who said the deceased lived with him at 69 Mottram-road,
Hyde. — Deceased left home to get to his
work at six o’clock on Monday morning, and
was brought home about 6.30 the same morning in
a cab suffering from injuries to his head, back
and leg. Dr SMITH was sent for and ordered his
removal to the Infirmary. Witness had a little
conversation with the deceased, who said he was
barring the fly-wheel, and that someone had put
steam on, and the bar flew out and caught him
on the forehead and knocked him on to the engine.
Deceased did not blame anyone for what happened.
Benjamin GODDARD, labourer, of 68
Mottram-street, Mottram, said he was working along
with the deceased when the accident happened.
He and deceased and two others were barring the
driving-wheel round to put a pulley strap on.
The wheel had stopped in such a position that
it had to be barred before it would go. A piece
of iron piping about four or five feet long was
used for barring purposes. Deceased put it under
one of the arms of the fly-wheel to lift it over.
Witness and a man named Levi BOOTH also had hold
of the bar, ROBINSON being nearest the wheel.
They moved the wheel round, and suddenly it commenced
to revolve. Witness and BOOTH ran out of the way
of the bar, but ROBINSON appeared as if glued
to the bar, which lifted him up and carried him
round and threw him over on to the engine. He
dropped full length on his stomach on the engine,
and was then carried down by the fly-wheel into
the "race" and again thrown out on to
the floor.
HURST NEWS
BREACH OF THE PEACE — At County Police
Court on Wednesday, Elizabeth NEARY and Catherine
YOUNG were summoned for committing a breach of the
peace at Hurst, on the 11th May.— An officer
stated that he found the defendants standing at
their respective doors shouting and swearing and
causing a disturbance.— Bound over to keep
the peace for three months in their own recognisance
of 40s each.
PLAYING "BANKER" —
On Wednesday, at the Ashton County Police Court,
seven youths named John STONES, William HARRISON,
John THORP, William COFFEY, William CROPPER, Henry
DAWSON and James MARLAND were summoned for gaming
on Sunday afternoon, the 19th inst.— Constable
875 said he saw all the defendants playing banker
on a public footpath leading from Broadoak-road
to Smallshaw-lane. He watched them for ten minutes.—
Fined 5s each.
DRUNK ON LICENSED PREMISES —
An old man from the Emerald Isle named Thomas
BURKE was summoned for being drunk on licensed
premises on the 11th May. He said he was not drunk.—
Constable 81 stated that at a quarter past seven
o’clock on the night in question, he was
in King-street and saw the defendant staggering
up the street. He entered the Oddfellows public
house. Witness followed him as quickly as he could
and found him sat in the taproom, and the landlord
trying to get him out. He was very drunk.—
Defendant: I was not, but I had a tidy sup.—
The officer: The landlord took you home. I saw
you and a half afterwards, and you were drunk.—
Defendant: Oh Lor.— The Chairman: Anything
known of him?— Defendant: Never in my life.—
Fined 10s, including costs.
THE OWNERSHIP OF A DOG
A Dog’s Memory
An interesting case was before the Ashton County
Court on Thursday, in which the point at issue was
the ownership of a dog. The plaintiff was John FISHER
and the defendant, Sergeant-major PEAGRAM. Mr J
S EATON was for the plaintiff and the defendant
was represented by Mr J B POWNALL. Mr EATON briefly
stated that the case had reference to a dog. In
June of last year, plaintiff had lost a dog. About
that time defendant found one which he claimed to
be his, but which the plaintiff also said belonged
to him.
The plaintiff, John FISHER, stated
that he was the manager for Messrs STEAD and SIMPSON,
shoemakers, Stamford-street, Ashton. About three
years ago, he became possessed of a dog. "It
was a small collie sable bitch, marked with a
white collar round the neck, having a white breast
and small feet for this kind of dog, and had many
peculiarities. One peculiarity was a small lump
on the iris of the eye which gave one the impression
of a squint. He lost the dog in January 1900.
The next time he saw it, it was in Stamford-street
with a lady (Mrs PEAGRAM). He called the dog by
its name and it recognised him instantly. Mrs
PEAGRAM called her husband who said it was his
dog.
Mrs FISHER, wife of the plaintiff,
was called, and said the dog belonged to her brother
twelve months before she had it, and it had been
in her possession about one and a half years before
being lost. It was known by the name of "Glen."
The dog was brought into court, and on the last
named witness being asked if it was the same dog,
she said she would swear to it. At the request
of the Judge she called out: "Glen, Glen,"
and the dog immediately came to her, wagged its
tail, fawned upon her, and was evidently pleased.
Mr POWNALL, in defence, stated that
in December 1899, the dog in court followed defendant’s
little girl home. His client, who was a sergeant-major
in connection with the Ashton volunteers, did
what a prudent man ought to do under the circumstances,
communicated with the police so that if the owner
turned up the dog might be claimed. After a time
the plaintiff turned up and claimed the dog. He
stated it was 41/2 years old, and the defendant
said he would submit the dog for inspection by
a veterinary surgeon, and if the statement as
to age tallied, plaintiff should have the dog.
Dr NEW, veterinary surgeon, said
that the dog was brought to him. He examined it
and found it had a full set of teeth. The dog
in court was the same dog. In his opinion, the
dog was not two years old. Asked by the Judge
if there was any peculiarity connected with the
eye, witness examined it and said there was a
slight speck on the iris of the left eye. His
Honour gave judgement for plaintiff, and made
an order that the dog be delivered up, and the
defendant pay the costs of the action.
GRAVE HUMOUR
A friend of a certain Bishop lost a dearly-beloved
wife, and in the deep sorrow of his bereavement
he caused these words to be inserted on her tombstone:
— "The light of mine eyes has gone out."
The bereaved husband was married again within a
year. Shortly afterwards the Bishop was walking
through the graveyard with another gentleman. When
they arrived at the tomb the latter asked the Bishop
what he would say now to the present state of affairs
in view of the words on the tombstone. "I think,"
said the Bishop, "the words ‘I have struck
another match’ should be added." 
