13 April 1901
DOCTOR'S
FATAL MISTAKE
An inquest was held at Aston on Tuesday on
Marion Louisa DAVIES, aged 12, who died from the
effects of a dose of tincture of ferride. The
child was attended by Dr SMITH who said she was
suffering from typhoid fever. He sent her some
medicine, but on taking the first dose, she became
black in the face, and died in great agony the
next morning.
Dr SMITH admitted having made a
mistake and sent the wrong bottle. The jury returned
a verdict of "Death from misadventure," and added
that the doctor should have been more careful
in dispensing his medicine.
EASTER MONDAY IN ASHTON
As usual, Ashton was a great centre of attraction
on Easter Monday for the inhabitants of all the
districts round and about within easy distance by
electric car, horse team, railway trains, horse
and cart or shanks pony. It is really amazing what
crowds of people flock into the town during the
afternoon when the weather is fine as it was on
this occasion. It happened to be really the finest,
warmest and most brilliant afternoon there has been
this century, and full advantage was taken of it
for the half-holiday, albeit it was a statutory
bank holiday.
The Black Knight, we presume, was
the chief attraction. Hundreds of people kept
inquiring after that antiquated celebrity. He
was nowhere to be discovered by the most patient
and persevering search in all parts of the town.
We did hear by the by that the old original effigy
that has been trotted out on horseback for any
number of years had been sold to somebody in Oldham
or elsewhere. At all events, with diligent search
we could discover no trace of either of the Black
Knights that have appeared regularly every Easter
Monday for more than thirty years.
They were, of course, getting rather
seedy in their apparel, and fitting them out with
new velvet clothes may have been beyond the means
of the promoters, but there was no reason in that
alone why the custom should have been given up,
if given up it has been. As the old song says,
they could have taken their old cloak about; then
for many more years to come, and the antiquity
of the garments would only have harmonised all
the better with the antiquity of the custom.
ASHTON P.S.A. AMBULANCE
MEN FOR THE FRONT
Three members of the Ashton P.S.A. Ambulance
Class have been accepted for service with the British
troops in South Africa. One of these, named H JONES,
was present at the meeting on Sunday afternoon,
clad in khaki uniform, a red cross badge on his
sleeve. He was presented with a marked Testament.
Rev T HOOPER conducted the service,
there being a crowded attendance. In referring
to the circumstances of Mr JONES shortly embarking
on his arduous duties, Mr HOOPER said it required
a great deal of courage to shoulder a rifle and
go into the heat and peril of battle, but was
he not the braver man who grasped a portion of
a stretcher, going from one to another fallen
soldier whilst the fight was raging, in the thick
of the enemy fire, and brought the wounded into
a place of safety.
The leader of the Ashton P.S.A.,
Mr PARK, wrote from Southport, where he had gone
to recruit his health, his message to members
being received with applause. Miss Annie MORRISON
sang two solos, accompanied on the organ by her
brother, Mr Thos. MORRISON. Mr C B LOWE was leader
of the orchestra and Mrs E H GARSIDE, conductor.
STEALING TIMBER AT HURST
At the Ashton County Police Court on Wednesday,
a youth named James WOOD was charged with larceny.
William GRIMSHAW, 20 Cowper-street, Hurst, said
he owned a shed in a field off Hurst Knowl. The
shed was somewhat dilapidated, and the boards on
the north side had been carried away by somebody.
On Sunday March 24th, the boards
on the south side were intact. On going to the
shed on Thursday, the 4th instant, he found a
number of boards had been removed from the south
side. Witness next saw the missing boards nailed
on a pigeon cote a short distance away, belonging
to the prisoner. The boards were worth about 3s.
Defendant said he found the boards
in a pit and he took them out of the water. He
was dismissed with a caution.
BREAKING INTO OFFICES AT
ASHTON
At the Ashton Borough Police Court on Thursday,
James POTTS, aged 14, was in custody charged with
breaking and entering the Ashton cricket pavilion
and stealing three lacrosse balls, the property
of the committee, on April 2nd; also breaking into
the office of Messrs KELSALL Bros, Lower Wharf-street,
Ashton, with intent to commit a felony between the
6th and 8th instant; and also breaking into the
office of Robert Clayton FISH between the 9th and
10th inst.
Albert BATTY said he was a gardener
residing at 14 Hodgson-street, Ashton, and had
a garden off Raynor-lane. On going to the pavilion
on the date in question, he found it had been
broken into, and the three lacrosse balls (produced)
stolen. They were worth 5s 3d, or 1s 9d each.
Martin FINAN said he was in the
employ of Messrs KELSALL Bros at their office,
Lower Warf-street. He locked up the premises on
Saturday, April 6th, and on returning next morning,
found a window taken clean out. The drawers were
broken open and everything ransacked.
Detective-sergeant TOLSON deposed
to arresting the prisoner, and on charging him,
he admitted each offence. Prisoner had broken
into ten shops and had been before the city and
borough magistrates. Prisoner said "SLATER" was
with him at the time and assisted him, but the
latter statement was denied by George SLATER,
who was present in court.
Prisoner, who was said to be a cripple,
was fined 5s in each case or 15 days imprisonment.
DEATH OF MRS JOHN KEOGH
We regret to announce the death, at Hooley Hill,
on April 3rd, of Mrs John KEOGH, who up to a few
weeks ago lived at the Boar's Head, Stalybridge.
Previously she had been an innkeeper at Ashton,
holding the license of the Red Lion Hotel, Stamford-street.
She came from a family well known in the neighbourhood.
Her brother, Mr David TURNER, kept the Star Inn,
Old-street, Ashton, for many years. Her mortal remains
were interred on Saturday in the family vault at
St Peter's Church, Ashton.
ST PETER'S CONFIRMATION
Letter to the Editor
Sir, - Quite a new feature in the district is
expected at St Peter's Church on Friday night next,
when the confirmation takes place. The vicar (the
Rev PUGHE-MORGAN) has requested all the female candidates
to wear caps alike to be supplied by the vicar at
a cost of 8d each. These caps are not made of the
normal material we are accustomed to see. The light
tulle cap is discarded, and the caps to be worn,
it is stated, are to be made of "nuns veiling" or
a material similar in texture and nature, and were
originally to be adorned with a cross.
No doubt many of the candidates
would very much prefer to suit their own tastes
as to the kind of cap they would prefer to wear.
Any candidate who wishes to be confirmed in the
ordinary cap may be so, notwithstanding the alleged
refusal of the vicar to present them to the Bishop.
In the case of an actual refusal, the candidate
may be presented for confirmation by her God-parents
or other responsible relatives.
I believe no law or precedent can
be found where the vicar has the right to interfere
with the liberty of the people as to how or how
they shall not be dressed. Hoping the new clerical-millinery
business will not flourish in this town. —
Yours etc.
Every Man to His Own Trade
Ashton, April 9th 1901
THE BESWICK BETTING RAID
A number of people were summoned at the Manchester
City Police Court on Wednesday for allowing their
premises to be used for the purpose of betting.
Defendant in the first case was a barber named Ernest
BAILEY, plying his profession in Blackthorn-street,
Beswick. On raiding the shop, Inspector BARBER found
close upon fifty betting slips and a ledger having
reference to 342 bets on the Grand National amounting
to £36 9s 9d and £8 2s 6d respectively. Defendant
was fined £10 and costs.
INTERESTING MARRIAGE AT
ASHTON
On Tuesday afternoon, an interesting wedding
was celebrated at the Parish Church, Ashton-under-Lyne.
The contracting parties were Mr Reginald BOARDMAN
of Oldham-road, Ashton and Miss Florrie LEES, youngest
daughter of Mr Henry LEES of Old-square, Ashton.
The, who was attired in a very pretty
dress of white China silk, trimmed with chiffon
and Brussels lace, was given away by her brother,
Mr S LEES (owing to the temporary indisposition
of her father). Miss Hettie LEES and Miss BOARDMAN,
each of whom wore white muslin dresses over turquoise
with lace fichus, and black bats, and carried
shower bouquets, the gift of the bridegroom. Mr
Richard ARDERN, of Mossley-road, Ashton, acted
as best man.
The wedding breakfast was afterwards
served at the George and Dragon Hotel and after
the usual toasts had been duly honoured, the happy
couple left for London and Bournemouth, where
the honeymoon is being spent. The bride and bridegroom
have been the recipients of numerous and costly
presents.
VOLUNTEER CYCLISTS IN CHESHIRE
Some interesting manoeuvres arranged for the
instruction of volunteer cyclists attached to battalions
on the north-western military district took place
on Saturday. Between 400 and 500 men were engaged.
They were divided into an attacking and a defending
force, the rendezvous of the former being Chester
and of the latter Ashton-under-Lyne. The southern
or attacking body were understood to be the scouts
of an invading army landed on the Welsh coast to
occupy the manufacturing cities of the North of
England. The northern or defending force were under
orders to impede the advance of the attacking body,
and afford time for the main army of defence to
come up.
To fall in with the plan of campaign,
the attacking force left Chester on Good Friday
morning. Their object was to occupy the bridges
over the Ship Canal west of Partington and there
protect the detraining of a brigade of infantry
and a battery of artillery at Northwich. The orders
of the northern force directed them to prevent
the passage of the enemy over the canal.
The weather on Friday was all that
could be desired, and an instructive day’s
work was carried out. The defenders were the first
to reach the canal and they occupied a line of
defence between Latchford and Auton Grange. They
are said, however, to have overlooked the importance,
from a strategical point of view, of the railway
embankment which commanded the canal. The invaders
seized the advantage thus left open. They were
declared by the umpires to have captured the bridges
over the canal and they also made a number of
prisoners. The honours of the day therefore rested
with the invading force.
ALLEGED STEALING CASES AT
STALYBRIDGE
A Local Tradesman in the Dock
Yesterday morning at Stalybridge Police Court,
Alfred FERNYHOUGH, an employee at Messrs Thomas
MILLS and Son’s corn mill, Old-street, Stalybridge,
and William HOLT, carter for Thomas KELLY, hay and
straw dealer, were placed in the dock on the following
charges:— Stealing one sack of split corn,
three sacks of oats and two sacks of broad bran
on the 11th inst; two sacks of oats, two sacks of
split corn on 1st April; two sacks of oats, two
sacks of split corn and one sack of bran on 4th
April; two sacks of split corn and one sack of broad
bran on 6th April, all the propoerty of Messrs MILLS
and Son.
Thomas KELLY, hay and straw dealer,
Stalybridge and Ashton, was placed alongside the
above prisoners and charged (with receiving the
above) well knowing the same to have been stolen.
They were remanded until the following Friday.
THE SIZE OF QUEENS
Queen Victoria was the shortest adult sovereign
in the world, measuring only four feet eleven inches
in height, but weighing 171 pounds. Her bust and
hips measured forty-four inches and fifty inches
respectively, while her waist was thirty-five inches.
The tallest queen in Europe is the
young Wilhelmina of Holland. She is five feet
five and a half inches. She is lightly built,
weighing only 130 pounds, but has the bust measurement
of a Juno, thirty-two inches. Her waist measures
only twenty-one and a half inches, and her hips
thirty inches.
The heaviest queen in Europe is
Margherita of Italy, "the Pearl of Savoy." She
turns the scales at 176 pounds, but is commensurably
tall — five feet five inches. Her waist measurement
of twenty— eight inches and her bust measure
of forty inches show that, despite her advanced
years, she still retains a queenly figure.
One of the most superb figures among
European royalties is that of Natalie, the romantic
queen of Servia. She is five feet four and threequarter
inches high, with a bust measure of thirty-eight
inches and a waist measure of twenty-two inches.
Her hips are forty inches round and she weighs
130 pounds.
The Queen of Portugal and the Czarina
of Russia are closely paired in the matter of
size. Queen Amelia is older, and has a fuller
and more matronly figure. The Czarina is only
thirty-two inches around the bust and twenty-two
inches around the waist. Their hip measures are,
or were the same — thirty-eight inches. The
Czarina is five feet two and half inches in height
and weighs 120 pounds. According to sculptors'
ideals, which differ from those of dressmakers,
there is not in the entire group a beautiful figure.
