| 23
August 2002
WAKES ITEMS
Fun and Adventure
Whilst the centre of attraction during
the wakes time was the Market Ground with its many
allurements and ever-changing kaleidoscope of human
automata, other attractions were provided in the
town, and proprietors of hostelries were not behind
in the matter of providing an attractive musical
bill of fare for the visitors. The theatre, which
had been closed for a week, was re-opened with Messrs
GARTH and OGDEN's Company in the great Irish musical
comedy "McKenna's Flirtation."
The crush and excitement of the Market Ground on
Saturday night did not, as might have been expected,
result in any serious accident taking place, although
several minor mishaps occurred, and in one or two
instances it was more good luck than management
that there was no permanent injury to life and limb.
One man, who seemed as if he had been having an
extra whiff of the beer barrel, fell off the roundabouts
and alighted in a heap on the stone setts on the
ground. Strange to say, he got up apparently none
the worse for his shaking.
Mishaps of this character were frequent, all owing
to the utter recklessness and indifference to danger
shown by some of those going in for a razzle-dazzle.
The same might be said of those wanting to "show
off" by standing up in the swings, and of others
to be seen swing a heavy wooden hammer round, and
who in their feverish desire to ring the bell fixed
aloft, did not seem to care whether man, woman,
or child were passing at the time.
On Tuesday and Wednesday conveyances were chartered
from the Borough Mews (Mr S MILLWARD's) for drives
in the country. On Thursday Mr J W LOWNDES, tourist
agent, organised one of a series of personally conducted
picnics to the Dukeries, which included a drive
round the stately mansions of the nobility. Mr J
CROSSDALE, tourist agent, who has for many years
instituted trips to the Dukeries, once more announced
a trip to this charming district for Wednesday.
Numerous trips were, as usual, organised by the
various railway companies, and these are mentioned
elsewhere.
About 10.30 on Monday night a woman, named Margaret
HILL, of Dukinfield, fell off the steam roundabouts
on the Market Ground, sustaining slight injuries.
She was assisted to a cab and driven home.
About nine o'clock on Wednesday evening a bit of
fun and amusement was provided on the Market Ground.
A man from one of the steam roundabouts had been
filling a water barrel by means of a hose pipe connected
with a hydrant. In trying to stop the water the
man turned the handle in the opposite direction,
with the result that the water rushed out with terrible
force. The man seemed flabbergasted and kept on
turning, which increased the volume of water until
a huge rent occurred in the hose pipe, and the water
spurted out like the Great Geyser, right across
the street. Several people had a dousing, and a
passing electric tramcar received a bit of a washing.
At length, Detective-sergeant TOLSON came to the
rescue, and taking in the situation at a glance,
turned the handle in the opposite direction and
shut off the water.
SUDDEN DEATH AT DENTON
Poison for Headache Powder
A sad case of poisoning by misadventure was reported
to the Denton police on Thursday week. It appears
that Mary Ellen TOWNSEND, wife of Edward TOWNSEND,
an insurance agent, residing at Osborne-road, Denton,
had for a few days previously been suffering from
a severe headache, and she had been compelled to
stay in bed all day on Wednesday. The deceased had
been in the habit of taking headache powders, and
these she kept in a kitchen drawer. About a week
before, we understand, Mrs TOWNSEND purchased a
packet of salts of lemon, a deadly poison, to remove
some stains from a garment, and this packet she
put in the same drawer as the powders.
Mr TOWNSEND went to bed as usual on Wednesday night,
and about 4am the next morning his wife woke him
and informed him that she had taken the salts of
lemon in mistake for the headache powders. She asked
him to get her some milk, but as there was none
in the house the husband gave her some salt and
water. This caused the deceased to vomit, but it
also evidently helped on the death of the unfortunate
lady, the salt and the poison having this tendency.
Dr CAMPBELL was at once summoned, but Mrs TOWNSEND
died before his arrival.
The inquest was held on Friday at the Coach and
Horses Hotel, before the district coroner, Mr J
F PRICE. The only witness called was the husband
of the deceased, who bore out the above statement,
and the jury subsequently returned a verdict of
"Death through misadventure." They also
tendered a vote of condolence to Mr TOWNSEND in
his sad bereavement.
AN ECHO OF MOTTRAM
WAKES AT DUKINFIELD
A Brutal and Cowardly Attack
At the Dukinfield Police Court on Thursday, James
BRADLEY, labourer, was in the dock charged with
assaulting Rebecca STEWART, Spring-street, Hollingworth,
on the 18th instant. Mr H BOSTOCK, solicitor, of
Hyde, defended and pleaded not guilty.
Complainant, who had two black eyes, stated that
she lived at Spring-street, Hollingworth. On Monday
last at noon the prisoner leathered her boy severely.
She went to his assistance, and he said he would
——— well give her the same. He
then struck her in the eye once with his fist. Then
he struck her on the back of her head several times
and kicked her. She reeled against a wall and fell,
and he kicked her whilst she was down. She had black
flesh all over her. On the Tuesday after she had
been for the warrant, Mrs BRADLEY said: "Have
you been for the ——— summons?
Mr BOSTOCK here interposed, and objected to anything
being said as to what took place on the Tuesday.
— Complainant said that remark was made because
she had taken out a warrant for the arrest of the
prisoner. — Mr BOSTOCK: Did you issue a warrant
for common assault, and has he not been in gaol
since Tuesday? Yes. — Have you not had unpleasantness
respecting children before this? Yes. — When
this alleged assault was committed, was Mrs BRADLEY
there? Yes. She said, "Give it to her, Jim."
— Wasn't it Mrs BRADLEY, and not her husband
who assaulted you? No. — Did she strike you?
Yes, on the Tuesday, but not on the Monday. —
Didn't you fall against a wall? Yes, through a blow
he gave me.
Were you in drink on the Monday? No. — Not
even on Wakes Monday? No. — Are you a quiet,
inoffensive woman? Yes, unlest they meddle with
me. — What do you do then; let them have right
and left? No. — (Laughter.) — With your
feet? No. — Do you get them by the hair? No.
— Have you fought Mrs LOMAS? No, she fought
me. — Did you black her eyes? I decline to
answer.
Sarah HANDFORTH, Maria BOOTH, and Nellie LAKE, of
Spring-street, testified to the assault by the prisoner.
Mrs HANDFORTH said she called the prisoner a coward,
and told him it was a man he wanted against him,
and not a woman, whereupon he turned upon her and
said he would give her the same. — In reply
to Mr BOSTOCK, witness said Mrs BRADLEY did not
touch the complainant on the Monday. She said to
her husband, "Give it her, Jim." He was
sober.
Mr BOSTOCK asked the Bench not to attach too much
importance to the appearance of the complainant
that morning. The defendant was only charged with
committing a common assault on Monday, and the evidence
of the complainant herself was that she only had
one black eye as a result of that assault. What
occurred on the Tuesday did not concern the magistrates.
A most unusual course had been taken in obtaining
a warrant for the man's apprehension. He was arrested
on Tuesday, and from that time to this he had been
in gaol — two days and two nights. His instructions
were that it was not the prisoner who committed
this assault, but his wife. The women had words
about their children. Complainant struck Mrs BRADLEY
first. She struck her back, and let her have it
right and left, making her the black eye.
The complainant would have the court believe that
she was a quiet, inoffensive woman. On the contrary,
she was very quarrelsome with her neighbours, and
had had several fights with them. Having regard
to the fact that the prisoner had already been in
custody two days, he asked the Bench to say he was
entitled to his discharge.
Mrs BRADLEY was called, and said the dispute arose
between herself and Mrs STEWART. She struck the
latter and fell, then complainant said to her husband,
"I will do thee for this, BRADLEY." Her
husband did not touch her. — Mr UNDERWOOD:
Your husband is not a very peaceable man, is he?
Yes. — Mr UNDERWOOD: You have been up here
with him? Yes, but there is nothing else against
him. — Mr BOSTOCK: She may have deserved it.
— The Clerk: You have argued that she has
not on many occasions. — (Laughter.)
Harriet BRADLEY, daughter of the prisoner, said
her father did not do anything at Mrs STEWART. It
was her mother who assaulted her and gave her the
black eyes. — Mary TOWNLEY said Mrs STEWART
struck Mrs BRADLEY the first, and then the latter
struck her back. She was justified in doing so,
and witness would have given her more had it been
her. — The Clerk: You have heard the evidence
of the complainant and her witnesses? Yes. —
Do you say they have committed perjury? Yes. Mrs
BRADLEY did it. The prisoner was not there. —
Alderman KERFOOT: You have all sworn to tell the
truth, but someone is telling lies. — (Laughter.)
The Bench retired with the Clerk to consider their
decision. After a short absence they returned. —
Alderman KERFOOT said they would like to hear what
the police had against the prisoner. — Superintendent
CROGHAN said prisoner had been six times convicted
for assaults upon his wife, the last occasion being
on the 14th November, 1900, when a separation order
was granted with an allowance of 3s per week. He
had served as much as three months.
Mr BOSTOCK said the convictions against him extended
over a period of 10 years, and in every instance
it was between man and wife. He had never been before
the court for anything which had happened to any
other person. — Alderman KERFOOT told the
prisoner they had come to the conclusion that he
had committed a brutal assault upon the complainant.
— Prisoner: I never touched her. — Alderman
KERFOOT: We sentence you to two months' imprisonment
with hard labour.
TOY PISTOL CASE
Sad Occurrence at West Gorton
A boy named Harold CLAYTON (14), of Willesden-street,
West Gorton, was at the Manchester City Police Court
on Tuesday, charged with inflicting grievous bodily
harm upon Frank GOODWIN (10), of Shrewbridge-street,
West Gorton. GOODWIN's story was that while he was
playing in the street on Saturday CLAYTON, producing
a toy pistol, said "Hold up your hands."
Thinking the weapon was not charged witness did
so, and, the pistol being fired, he was shot in
the hand with a pin.
PC TRIPPIER informed the court that GOODWIN's condition
was serious, for the doctor had stated that blood
poisoning having set in, the lad's hand would probably
have to be amputated. CLAYTON's father said he did
not know until Monday that his boy possessed a pistol.
Questioned as to the weapon, the accused boy said
he bought it for 2s 6d, receiving also a box of
cartridges. He expressed regret for what had occurred.
The magistrates ordered a fortnight's remand on
bail.
GORTON HAWKER'S WINDFALL
The Story of a Legacy
Mr SMELT, the city coroner, conducted an inquiry
at Manchester on Monday into the circumstances attending
the death of Elizabeth Ann FINDLOW, the 14 months'
old child of Samuel FINDLOW, a hawker, living at
51 Gardner-street, West Gorton.
The mother said that she began to feed the baby
on boiled bread and milk when it was three weeks
old. After it reached six months she gave it such
food as potatoes. She had had eleven children, and
had brought them all up in the same manner. Deceased
seemed well until the 8th inst. She then became
ill with diarrhœa, and witness took her to
a doctor, who gave her a prescription, but she was
unable to get the medicine as she had no money and
could not borrow any.
Mr SMELT questioned her as to a legacy which had
been left to her husband, and Mrs FINDLOW said the
amount was about £1,000, and was left to him
about 13 months ago. Mr SMELT: How much is there
left? — Witness: I can't say.
Oh yes you can. Haven't you already stated that
it's nearly all gone? — Oh, no. It's nearly
all to come. He has not got it. He has drawn on
account, but he has not got it.
He has drawn money on account, and that has gone.
Well that's the same thing. How much had he borrowed?
— I can't tell you; a few pounds. He would
not tell me. He has had the handling of it, not
me.
Continuing, witness said deceased became worse,
and was seized with convulsions on Wednesday, the
day on which she died. Witness went on to say that
nearly all the bedclothes she had were in pawn,
but they had not been short of food. Her husband
had been drinking a good deal since the money was
left him. "He looked after himself, not after
me," said Mrs FINDLOW.
The Coroner: He has hardly ever been sober, has
he, since the money was left him? I don't think
so. — Did you drink with him? No; he likes
himself better than his wife. — Supposing
this child has died of neglect, then who is to blame?
He is not and I am not. — How many children
have you lost altogether? This is the fifth, but
the first on which an inquest has been held.
Dr HESLOP, police surgeon, who had examined the
body, said it weighed eleven pounds. The full weight
of a child of that age should be over twenty pounds.
The child has suffered from bronchitis and pneumonia.
The latter, probably accelerated by diarrhœa,
had caused death.
Inspector KILMINSTER, of the NSPCC, said that when
he saw the child on June 21st it was very poorly,
filthy dirty, raggedly clothed, and very poorly
nourished. The mother was beastly drunk, and the
child was sitting on the bare boards. The rooms
were indescribably filthy. There was no clothing
on the beds. On a subsequent visit he found deceased
wrapped in a dirty piece of sacking. He again drew
the woman's attention to the child, but she only
laughed.
Samuel FINDLOW, the father, said he was away from
the house all day, but kept the house as respectable
as he could when he was there. After inspector's
first visit he bought five blankets, but they were
now in pawn. Questioned by the Coroner, the witness
there was £4,650 as well as some rents, to
be divided among ten persons, and he was entitled,
he thought, to at least £500. On the strength
of that he had borrowed £20. He asserted that
he had done the best he could for the child.
The jury retired a verdict in accordance with the
medical evidence that the parents should be censured
for neglect.
THE BOOKMAKING PRACTICE
AT HYDE
Raid by the Police
At Hyde Borough Court on Thursday a case of great
interest to the betting fraternity came on for hearing.
The parties to the charge were Thomas MOORE, 37
Union-street, and Joseph KING, 36a John Shepley-street.
They were both charged in three instances —
MOORE with unlawfully frequenting a public place,
to wit, the Hyde Market ground, for the purpose
of book-making and settling bets contrary to the
Borough Bye Laws on the 29th July and KING with
aiding and abetting Thomas MOORE in receiving certain
bets on the Hyde Market ground on the same date.
Mr WESTBROOK conducted the case for the prosecution,
and Mr F KNOWLES defended.
Mr WESTBROOK, in opening the case, remarked that
this was the first case that had been brought into
that court under the Corporation Bye Laws, which
were made in June last year. No. 1 bye-law read:
"No person shall permit to be used any street
or public within the borough either on behalf of
himself or any other person for the purpose of book-making,
or betting, or wagering, or agree to wager with
any person or persons by receiving, betting, and
settling bets. The penalty shall be a sum not exceeding
£5."
The facts in this case were shortly these: The defendant
MOORE was, he believed, a bookmaker, and had carried
on business for some time in the borough, and the
defendant KING was his assistant. The police for
some time had been on watch for MOORE, and on the
date in question, July 29th, he was seen to make
certain bets, and KING was seen to assist him on
different parts of the market ground. They did good
business, and the same thing occurred on the 30th
and 31st July. The Chief Constable had determined
to put betting down, and had his men watching on
different occasions. If the bench were of the opinion
he had made out his case he asked that such a penalty
be inflicted as would prevent the defendants from
betting, and deter other men from doing the same.
The police did not want Hyde to attain the notoriety
that other towns had attained in betting.
Chief Constable DANBY said he had the authority
of the Watch Committee to take these proceedings
and also the Corporation Bye-Laws, which were sealed
with the corporation seal. Mr KNOWLES: I admit the
bye-laws and the Watch Committee's authority.
Detective-Serg. ATKINSON said that on the 31st July,
in company with Constable GARRETT, between 12.25
and 1.50pm, he was in the vicinity of the market
ground, when he saw defendant MOORE take several
slips from different men and pass on to KING. He
did not see any money pass. He took KING to the
police station and KING handed to him eleven, the
writing on which tallied with the names of horses
mentioned in the newspapers. He told KING he could
go, but he would be reported. MOORE was brought
to the police station by Constable GARRETT, and
in his pockets were found £2 7s 6d in silver.
In a coat at MOORE's house were found £4 in
gold and 18s 1d in other monies.
Cross-examined, witness said that when he saw MOORE
he would be in some instances 20 or 30 yards away.
He was concealed. Mr KNOWLES: Where were you concealed?
Witness: I do not care to answer that question.
The Magistrates' Clerk: Were you in a position to
see clearly what you have described? Witness: Yes.
Mr KNOWLES: Do you refuse to say where you were
concealed? Witness: Yes, I do. Mr KNOWLES: Do you
know cases that have been dismissed in other towns
on account of a constable refusing to say he has
been concealed? Witness: No, I do not. The Magistrates'
Clerk: There was a case some time ago. Mr KNOWLES:
There have been several cases.
Cross-examination continued, witness said he had
never warned the defendants about betting because
he did not think it was his duty. He found a draw
book on MOORE relating to "draws" in connection
with a bazaar, and it was possible that the slips
of paper found upon him related to this draw. Constable
GARRETT gave corroborative evidence, and was submitted
to the same as the previous witness.
In his address to the bench Mr KNOWLES submitted
that the evidence of the police was mere conjecture.
They saw, they said, certain individuals pass slips
of paper, but yet they had not brought a single
person to court that day to say that they made a
bet with MOORE. The Magistrates' Clerk: That is
not the charge.
Mr KNOWLES (continuing) said he thought if they
had it would have established the case better. They
had not done so despite the fact that the police
had been watching for three days. The police came
to the court and said in effect that they had been
peeping through some window, and that the nearest
point they were from the defendants was about 20
yards. The police had admitted also that the defendant
MOORE had a draw book on him and that he might have
been selling draw tickets. MOORE would tell them
he did not take a single bet on the date in question,
and that all he was doing was simply trying to push
the bazaar "draw" on. Concluding, Mr KNOWLES
said that if the bench thought there was a case,
he would ask them to deal leniently with it. The
defendants were only two lads, and he thought there
were other betting men in the town who might have
been got at before them.
COLLAPSE OF
THE CASE
Defendant MOORE on going into the box denied that
he received any slips or that he made any bets.
He was authorised he said on behalf of St Paul's
Bazaar Fund Committee to sell tickets for the draw,
and he believed that he sold one to a person named
KERFOOT, of Thornley-street, Hyde. Cross-examined:
He was 20 years of age, and was a machine-man, but
had not worked for about seven weeks. His father
and mother had been keeping him. He got nothing
from selling draw tickets, and had to send the money
in. KING worked at Romiley, but on the date in question
he was taking bets for him. In a sense he was a
bookmaker; KING took the money, and gave it to him
afterwards.
By Mr KNOWLES: The bets only related to small sums
— 6d or a 1s. This concluded the evidence
in this particular case, and Mr WESTBROOK suggested
that if they found the defendants guilty, that probably
Mr KNOWLES would plead guilty with regard to the
other two cases. Mr KNOWLES said he thought it would
meet the justice of the case if the bench convicted
in this case to drop the other two. He would, however,
leave it with the bench. Mr WESTBROOK: Perhaps your
worships will take that into account in dealing
with this case. With regard to defendant KING we
do not think his case is as grave as MOORE's. We
consider MOORE is the ring-leader, and KING has
simply acted on his instructions.
THE RESULT
The bench fined MOORE £3 and costs, and KING
£1 and costs, and they were ordered to pay
the costs in the other cases. Advocate's fee of
two guineas was also allowed.
STREET ACCIDENT AT
ASHTON
About 6.55 on Saturday evening, a farmer named Jos.
TAYLOR. Luzley Hall Farm, Luzley, was driving a
horse attached to a milk float along Katherine-street,
Ashton, and when near the Bowling Green, a man named
John BOYLE, labourer, of 32 City-road, Manchester,
was crossing the street, and the shaft of the milk
float caught his shoulder, knocking him down on
the ground. Fortunately the horse was pulled up
in time to prevent any further damage, and the man
was able to get up and walk away.
THE DISPUTE AT CURZON
MILL, ASHTON
Notice was tendered last week by the operatives
employed in the spinning and carding departments
at the Curzon Mill Company, Hurst, but as these
would have expired during the current week, which
is the Wakes holiday, objection was taken by the
employers. It was therefore arranged that fresh
notices to strike work should be tendered next week,
and we understand this will be done in due course.
The dispute, as previously explained, is in connection
with the carrying of weft in the spinning department
and the providing of a weft carrier. The cardroom
workers also state that they have grievances which
need rectification.
WORKHOUSE INMATES AT
THE WAKES
On Wednesday afternoon, about 120 workhouse inmates
were treated to the "fun of the fair"
on Ashton Market Ground. They were received by Mr
J SNELL (Chief Constable), who had kindly arranged
an extensive programme for them, which they carried
out under the direction of Detective Sergeant TOLSON.
There were also present Messrs T PLATT and A ADAMS
(guardians) and Mr SHORE (workhouse master).
A visit was paid to Col CLARKE's cinematographic
show, and whilst there Mrs Thos WOOD (Town Hall
Inn) gave each of them a threepenny bit. Capt PAYNE's
cinematographic show was afterwards visited, also
P COLLIN's gondolas, John COLLIN's horses and switchback,
John GREEN's switchback, and to the fish market
where, as in past years, they were entertained to
all kinds of savoury edibles by Councillor WHITEHEAD.
Messrs HOWSON and Son also gave them brandy snaps
and nuts. Before returning to the Union Workhouse,
the visitors gave three cheers for Councillor WHITEHEAD,
and expressed their gratitude to the others who
had kindly entertained them. |
