27 April 1901
THE SINGULAR
DEATH OF A CHILD AT DUKINFIELD
Supposed Poisonous Sweets
On Monday afternoon, Deputy Coroner NEWTON
resumed the inquiry at the Court House, Dukinfield,
into the death of the little girl Bertha BAYLEY
who died on March 12th under somewhat sudden and
peculiar circumstances.
William ASHTON said: I live at 11
Foundry-street, Dukinfield, and am a dyer by trade,
but have not followed the occupation for seven
years. The deceased, Bertha BAYLEY, was my granddaughter,
and was five years of age. She lived with me and
my wife from her birth. On Saturday, the 9th March,
she went to a children’s party at the Reform
Club, Town-lane, and I saw her there several times.
Before she went she was in the enjoyment of her
usual health, and as merry as a cricket. She was
naturally a healthy child, with the exception
of measles &c. I saw her in the club during
the evening, but she did not complain of anything.
When I got home at half past nine o’clock,
she was at home and asleep, and nothing was said
about her being ill.
On the Sunday she seemed in her
usual health and went to Ashton with her grandmother.
About three o’clock on Monday morning she
was in bed and called out to her grandmother that
her belly hurt. Grandmother and her aunt got up
and found her vomiting and relaxed. She was very
ill and did not seem to get any better. At ten
o’clock in the forenoon Dr PARK was consulted.
He did not come, but sent some medicine. He, however,
arrived at ten o’clock at night and examined
her, and expressed the opinion that she would
be all right in the morning. At three o’clock
on the Tuesday morning she became worse, and I
went for Dr PARK. He came back with me. The child
was then dying and expired between three and four
o’clock.
The Deputy Coroner: Can you tell
us what she ate at the party? No. — Can you
tell us what they provided for the children to
eat? Well, there was currant bread, sweet bread,
nuts, sweets and oranges. — Could they take
as much as they wanted? No, the nuts, sweets and
oranges were "allowanced" out in bags.
Some had to do without. Bertha was one as someone
said she was not a member’s child. She began
to "skrike" (cry — Ed) and Mr WILLIAMS
said "You shall not go without," and
gave her some. He had given the sweets to all
the children at the party Can you give me any
idea of the exact quantity of nuts and sweets
given to each child? No. Dr PARK said after she
was dead he was afraid she had been poisoned.
Dr J R S PARK said: In the afternoon
of Monday the 11th March, between two and three
o’clock, Mrs ASHTON, of 11 Foundry-street,
came to my surgery. She said her grandchild, Bertha
BAYLEY, was suffering from vomiting. She did not
appear to attach any great importance to the matter.
I gave her medicine I prescribed in the usual
way. About ten o’clock the same night I was
sent for to see the child, the messenger saying
that she was worse. I saw her at 11 o’clock.
I found her vomiting and purged with pains in
her stomach and bowels. I elicited that she had
been to a tea party on the Saturday night, and
I expressed the opinion that she had upset her
stomach. She was then weak and exhausted, but
I attributed it to her relaxed condition. I advised
them to continue the treatment — fomentation
— and did not think the case very serious
at the time.
At three o’clock the following
morning I was again sent for. I went immediately
and saw her. She was then in a convulsed and collapsed
condition. She died in about half an hour. The
cause of death I diagnosed to be inflammation
of the bowels. The symptoms were such as were
due to partaking of indigestible food. After certifying
that death was due to gastro enteritis,
information came to me that several other children
who had also been to the party were more or less
similarly ill. On inquiry, I found that the deceased
had been given a packet of sweets. The fact of
other children being similarly ill pointed to
the sweets as being the possible cause of such
illness. The sanitary inspector got some sweets
from Mrs ASHTON and also some from the shop where
they had been purchased and these were forwarded
to be analysed.
(This was quite a long report, so
I shall summarise — Ed) The analysis did
not reveal the sweets to be poisoned. Dr PARK
carried out a post mortem and found the child’s
stomach was inflamed. It was questioned whether
it was wise for Dr PARK to carry out the examination
since he was also the doctor who had attended
the child, but the coroner said this was the custom.
The child’s condition was a common one and
the cause could not be proved. The coroner was
also satisfied that both the doctor and the child’s
family had done all they could for her. The jury
returned a verdict of death from natural causes.
THE WILD BIRDS PROTECTION
ACT
Prosecution at Ashton - A Peep into the Lark Trade
At the Ashton Borough Police Court on Monday,
Edward TOWNLEY, bird dealer, 25 Bow-street, was
summoned under the Wild Birds Protection Act for
having in his possession on 11th April 20 larks
recently caught. He pleaded not guilty — Inspector
POCOCK, RSPCA, said the case was of a somewhat peculiar
nature, and was taken under the Wild Birds Protection
Act 1880. Under an Act of the following year, certain
exemptions were made, but in no case did the exemption
apply to birds alive. It only applied to birds which
had recently been killed.
The Act of 1881 was the outcome
of a little difficulty which arose whether birds
caught in France or in other countries came within
the meaning of the Act. Some justices held that
they did, and others that they didn't, and in
order that there might be no doubt, an amendment
was passed to the original Act to this effect
— "No person between 1st March and 1st of
August, after the passing of this Act, shall knowingly,
wilfully shoot, trap or ensnare any wild bird,
or shall expose or offer for sale, or shall have
in his control or possession on 15th March, any
wild bird recently seized or taken, shall on conviction
be liable to a penalty."
The defendant was charged with having
in his possession after the 15th March twenty
larks which had been recently caught. On the day
in question, the 11th April, in company with Sergeant
TOLSON, in consequence of a number of complaints
received, he went to the defendant’s shop,
which was on the opposite side of the Market Ground.
He asked defendant if he had any fresh larks for
sale. He replied: "Yes, I have a great lot
if you want them," and pointed out twenty
in the shop, adding: "I have a lot more upstairs,
and some more in the back room."
He asked to be allowed to look at
them, and he was permitted to do so. He saw the
larks were in cages, and that they had been recently
caught was evident from their activity in flying
about the cages. A lark that had been in captivity
any length of time did not do so. He asked defendant
where he had got them from. He replied: "I
don’t see why I should tell you my business."
He refused at first, but afterwards said: "Three
of us brought them from Ludlow," and afterwards
said: "I did not buy them, they were brought
from Ludlow within the last fortnight in February,
and I went to Manchester to receive my share of
them." He subsequently said he got them in
Salford.
He asked defendant if he would show
him any invoice from the place he purchased the
larks, and he replied in the negative. Mrs TOWNLEY
then spoke, and said "Larks are very dear
just now. We have to give 14s a dozen for them.
Defendant also remarked that he got birds from
all over the country, but he refused to give any
names.
(Again, quite a lengthy report,
but basically, the RSPCA was trying to prove that
the birds were caught out of season. "At
the close of the case, the Bench expressed their
opinion that there was a doubt in it and gave
defendant the benefit of it." What people
did with the larks is illustrated from the following
separate item in this week’s paper:)
LARK SINGING — The Easter
lark singing contest was concluded at the house
of Mr John WARBURTON, the Sportsman Inn, Hall-street,
on Saturday. There was an entry of 44 members.
The birds were hung half an hour and they sang
very well. The timers were Messrs W RIDER, REDDISH
and J WILLIAMS of Gorton. Over £23 were awarded
in prizes, which took the form of eight-day clocks,
blankets, crockery ware, shawls, hearthrugs, bed
quilts, kettles, sheets and other useful articles.
The "sing" was a great
success and among the winners were: J WARBURTON
of Gorton, T KAY of Gorton, F CRABTREE of Denton,
R ANDERSON of Ashton, J WILLIAMS of Gorton, G
HARRISON of Dukinfield, W ARTINGSTALL of Reddish,
J SIDEBOTTOM of Reddish, S REDFERN of Gorton,
W BIRCH of Reddish, R KITCHEN of Droylsden and
W HYDE of Denton
CHARGE OF BIGAMY AGAINST
A WOMAN
Sarah DODD, committed from Ashton, was charged
at the Manchester Assizes, on Friday, with bigamously
marrying John YOUNG at Great Marsden on the 14th
January 1896. It appeared that the accused and YOUNG
had lived together before going through the form
of marriage, and there were two children. YOUNG
gave evidence and in answer to the Judge said he
set the prosecution in motion. He did so because
he wanted to get the children, and as the prisoner
was living with someone else and there were more
children, he did not want his own brought up with
them.
The Judge said he supposed the witness
was a reformed character and was shocked at his
former life. YOUNG, who treated the matter very
lightly, said this was so. — The Judge left
it to the jury to say on the evidence given by
several witnesses who were called whether the
prisoner had reasonable ground for believing that
her husband was dead at the time when she went
through the form of marriage with YOUNG, who,
it was stated, had himself told her that her husband
was dead, and there was no reason why they should
not marry.
The woman was found not guilty and
discharged, the jury expressing the opinion that
YOUNG ought to be reprimanded. The Judge agreed,
but said he doubted whether any thing he could
say would have any effect upon YOUNG from what
they had seen of him.
A RECORD OF FIRES AT ASHTON
The Ashton fire brigade were fairly on "active
service" on Monday evening, their services being
in great demand to quell the numerous fires which
occurred in the town. At 7.24 p.m., Constable CORBETT
received information from Robert HAINS, 24, Albion-street,
that the shop of Messrs GOODSONS' Limited, mantel
manufacturers, 150, Stamford-street, Ashton, was
on fire.
The fire alarm bells at the Town
Hall were rung and the float dispatched along
with a contingent of firemen to the spot. On the
arrival of the brigade the fire was extinguished.
The fire was supposed to have originated through
a mantle coming in contact with a gaslight in
the shop window. The damage done was slight.
At 7.20 p.m., Inspector KNEALE received
information from Thomas ROAKE, 50, Tatton-street,
that the dwelling house of Ellen HEGINBOTTOM,
5, Robinson-street, Ashton was on fire. The fire
alarm bells at the Town Hall were again rung,
and the float, along with a contingent of firemen,
despatched to the scene of the fire. On the arrival
of the fire brigade, it was found that the fire
had been extinguished by throwing buckets of water
on it. The fire was caused by the explosion of
a paraffin lamp which had been left lighted on
the table, and which set fire to the furniture.
A 9.05 p.m., Constable STEELE received
information from Thomas BRACEGIRDLE, 46 Delamere-street
North, that the stable of Jesse CARTER, Back Pitt-street,
Ashton, was on fire. The fire brigade, which had
only just returned, again turned out, and was
quickly on the scene. A quantity of rugs, owned
by James BANKS, Carter's lodging house, Pitt-street,
which were stored in the stable, were found to
be ablaze. A few buckets of water sufficed to
put out the flames. The origin of the fire is
at present unknown.
DAWDLER’S CYCLE CLUB
The inaugural run of the season took place last
Tuesday afternoon in beautifully fine weather. The
whole of the members, including the president, put
in an appearance, and a start was made from headquarters
soon after two o’clock. The route taken was
via Dukinfield Hall, Hooley Hill, Denton, Brinnington,
and on to Cheadle, where the president called a
halt for rest, refreshment and repairs.
Some time was spent at the hostelry
of Harry LEES, formerly of Ashton, whose stone-pop
can be recommended as "grateful and comforting"
on a hot and dusty day. It was intended to make
for Knutsford, but on account of the president
showing symptoms of fatigue, this idea was abandoned,
and the return journey was made via Cheadle Hulme
and Adswood. The president again called a halt
in order to view the interior of the "Greyhound"
and to renew, at the latter place, his acquaintance
with the landlady. After a somewhat lengthy stay,
the journey was resumed just as the sun was setting.
The whole party arrived safely in Dukinfield at
7.30, having spent a most enjoyable afternoon.
DRUNK AND DISORDERLY —
At the Ashton County Police Court on Wednesday,
Mary BRODERICK and James CONNELLY were each fined
5s for being drunk and disorderly.
PERMISSION TO SELL —
On Monday, at the Borough Court, John Edward LINNEY
was granted permission to sell at a beer off shop
in Mossley-road, formerly held by Elizabeth SCHOFIELD.
Councillor OLDHAM was called to speak to the applicant’s
character.
CYCLING ACCIDENT — On
Saturday night, a man named Joseph HAZELHURST
was riding down Cavendish-street on a bicycle
when he came into contact with a foot passenger,
the force of the collision throwing him to the
ground. He was carried into the Wellington Inn,
and from there conveyed to the Ashton Infirmary.
His injuries were found to be of a serious character.
A DESERTER — At the
Ashton County Police Court on Wednesday, Harry
WOOD was in custody charged with deserting from
the 5th Battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers
Militia in Bury in July 1900. — Defendant
pleaded guilty and was remanded for seven days
to await an escort. — Constable MOLYNEUX,
who appeared to have been at much trouble in making
enquiries and effecting the capture, was awarded
10s.
ALBION SUNDAY SCHOOL BAND OF
HOPE SOCIETY — In connection with this
society, a meeting of exceptional interest was
held in the large room on Monday evening last
which took the form of a social character. A very
good programme was gone through, including selections
on the concertina by Mr Thomas WROE, for which
he was greatly applauded; Minnie KAYE for her
elocutionary powers in the poem entitled "Condemned
to be Shot", and Ernest HEIGHWAY. Mr A OWEN
occupied the chair and made a few remarks in regard
to the temperance cause, urging the children to
keep by their pledge.
NOT HOLD OF THE REINS —
John Arthur BUCKLEY was before the Ashton County
Justices on Wednesday, charged with riding a lorry
without having hold of the reins of the horses
at Hurst on April 2nd. — Defendant pleaded
guilty and was fined 5s.
WIFE DESERTION — At
the Ashton County Police Court on Wednesday, William
NEVITT was summoned by his wife, Rachel NEVITT,
for desertion. — Complainant stated that
her husband returned home a fortnight ago and
turned her out of the house. He afterwards deserted
her, leaving her with six children. — Ann
Emma ASHTON of Hurst deposed to the defendant
running complainant out of the house. — Defendant
denied the charge and said it was his wife who
had deserted him. — The Bench granted a separation
order and defendant to pay 10s 6d a week towards
his wife’s maintenance.
ACCIDENT TO A COLLIER —
On Monday midnight, a serious accident occurred
at Astley Deep Pit to a miner named BRADLEY, of
3 Vale Cottages, Flowery Field. Whilst at work,
a fall of roof took place which struck him behind
the head and felled him. A severe scalp wound
was inflicted on his head, and a wound on the
forehead. He was stunned, and was conveyed up
the shaft as quickly as possible. He was taken
to Dr BOOTH’s surgery where the injuries
were dressed. BRADLEY was afterwards taken home
and is under the care of the doctor, doing very
nicely.
