19 September 1903
ANOTHER COLLIER INJURED
AT ASHTON MOSS PIT
About half-past six on Thursday night a further accident
took place, a portion of the roof falling in one of the
mines, and one of the miners named Joseph HAYES, working
there at the time, sustained slight injuries. It was difficult
to get the injured man to the surface, but it was accomplished,
and he was conveyed in an ambulance with all possible
speed to the surgery of Dr CRAWSHAW, in Trafalgar Square,
where his injuries were attended to.
TRAGIC DEATH OF A HYDE
MAN
Death from Excessive Drinking — “Drinking
by Bucketful”
On Monday forenoon, at the Norfolk Arms Hotel, Hyde, before
Mr Francis NEWTON, the district coroner, an inquest was
held to ascertain the cause of death of Thomas FROST,
a foundry labourer, against whom a separation order had
been recently obtained by his wife and who died in a lodging-house
at Hyde. Councillor GARSIDE was elected foreman of the
jury.
Emma FROST said: I live at 49 Riddling-lane,
and Thomas FROST was my husband. He was 40 last November,
and was a labourer in a foundry. I have seen him one since
six weeks last Thursday. — The Coroner: I believe
you got a separation at that time? — Mrs FROST:
Yes, sir. He was of drunken habits, and partly on that
account I got the separation order. He was not sober when
I saw him since the granting of the order. Since we separated
he lived for a short time with my sister, but has been
living up and down. He was a strong, healthy man, but
was plagued for his breath when he had been drinking.
I know nothing about his death.
Henry HYDE said: I live at 13 Thomas-street,
and am a lodging house proprietor. The deceased, FROST,
came to my house for lodgings last night (Sunday) about
half-past ten. I asked him what was the matter with him,
as he was out of breath, and he said he was running out
of the road of a man. I could not see any man. He appeared
to have been drinking heavily. He did not complain of
any pain in his chest, and went up to bed about 20 minutes
to eleven.
About half-past eight, when the others got
up, deceased stayed in bed, and they said “Heigh.
It’s time to get up,” and he said, “All
right; I’m coming.! They then went on with their
work, but as he did not appear, they said he would not
get up, and so I said, “I must go and get him up.”
So I went up and saw him, and he looked very ill, and
the police sent for a doctor, but the man died before
a doctor could appear.
Detective-Sergeant ATKINSON said he was
up Charles-street at 9.30 on Sunday morning, when he saw
deceased leaning on a window sill, and very short of breath.
He said: “You will have to give over drinking, or
you’ll soon be gone,” and deceased said “Yes.”
There was no doubt that he had been drinking very bad
for the last seven or eight weeks. He had been drinking
it by the bucketful. — A Juror: And more.
The Coroner: It seems to me that he was
not in his right mind last night when he said someone
was chasing him. There would be no one after him. (Several
voices: “No.”) It seems as if he had been
drinking heavily, so heavily indeed that his wife had
had enough of it, and had had to get a separation order,
and he had gone on drinking ever since, with the object
it seemed of drinking himself to death. Whether that was
so or not he had succeeded in doing so. He got to bed
and died. If you think his death has been caused by drinking
you can say so. It seems as if there has been some heart
trouble here, perhaps caused by excessive drinking.
The jury returned a verdict of “Found
dead, from excessive drinking and neglecting himself.”
— A Juror: he had been neglecting his food, and
not taking care of himself. — The Coroner: There
is no doubt that he has died from heart failure, brought
on by excessive drinking and want of food.
CAR AND CAB COLLIDE
AT ASHTON
At noon on Wednesday whilst a hansom cab, owned by Mr
Samuel MILLWARD, coach proprietor, driven by Geo. TAPLEY,
13 Globe-street, Ashton, was turning out of Gas-street
into Katherine-street, it collided with an electric tramcar
coming from the direction of the Market Ground, driven
by Jos. LANCASHIRE.
The driver of the hansom was thrown off
his box, and the hansom was knocked over, and both wheels
and windows were broken. There were two occupants, Mr
H J HORROCKS, art printer, Gas-street, and Mr Philip ASHLEY,
artist, of Marple. Mr ASHLEY escaped unhurt. Mr HORROCKS
received slight injuries, but was able to walk to the
office in Gas-street. He was found to have sustained a
slight cut on the right side of the head, and a bruise
on the right leg, which were attended to by Dr COOKE.
ASHTON AND DISTRICT
ENGINEERS’ SOCIETY
Visit to Atlas Works, Stalybridge
On Saturday about 70 members of the Ashton-under-Lyne
and District Society of Engineers visited Messrs James
CARTER and Sons’ Atlas Works, Stalybridge. The following
were amongst those present: Messrs James ROBINSON (secretary),
Josiah WARHURST (president), N CARR, Wm. INGHAM, Thomas
HAZLEHURST, Thomas BELFIELD, John WOOD, John BEECH, George
POTTER, John WIDDOWSON, Geo. HAZLEHURST, James POTTER
etc.
The visitors arrived at the works at 3 o’clock,
where they were met by Mr James CARTER, head of the firm,
Mr Arthur CARTER, and several members of staff. Mr CARTER
having given the visitors a hearty reception, the party
then proceeded to inspect the works. The first place visited
was the engine room, which contained a first-class set
of high-speed engines, which when driving are used for
the purpose of generating electricity for driving the
numerous motors about the works, the machinery, cranes,
etc, being driven by these motors.
The visitors were then conducted to the
turning department, and here a feat was performed by facing
four flanges up in 29 minutes. The moulding shop was also
visited, and the electric cranes were set in motion. The
party then made a thorough examination of one of Messrs
CARTER’s improved economisers, whilst the store
rooms were in turn inspected, likewise the model room.
The party then adjourned to another room, where refreshments
were partaken.
Ample justice having been done to the good
things provided, Mr ROBINSON called upon Mr Thomas HAZLEHURST
to move a vote of thanks to the firm. This was seconded
by Mr Thomas BELFIELD. Mr CARTER replied in an interesting
speech, concluding by giving the visitors a sketch of
his progress through life. This concluded the visit, the
members returning to Ashton after a most enjoyable outing.
MILLBROOK LADS IN TROUBLE
Fred STAFFORD, Wm. RICHARDSON, Fred BATTY, and Walter
VARE, all apparently about 15 or 16 years old, were brought
up at the Police Court, on Monday, on a charge of being
disorderly in Huddersfield-road, Millbrook, on Wednesday,
the 9th.
Constable STUBBS said he was on duty about
8.30 on the night in question, along with Sergeant EYRE,
when they saw the defendants round a shop window. They
were shouting and bawling and making a great noise. When
the boys saw the officers they ran away. BATTY was caught.
The Chief Constable said there had been a great many complaints
about this rowdyism, and , and these same boys had been
warned by him last March.
STAFFORD said they were looking in a shop
window at a football team sheet, and “it wer writ
so comical” they started laughing at it. Some bigger
lads began pushing them about, and it was that what caused
the bother. — Parents and other relatives of the
lads appeared, and said they were good lads at home. —
In answer to the Mayor the father of one of the lads said
he gave him “the belt” on the occasion of
the Chief Constable’s warning. — The defendants
were discharged after being admonished.
HURST
Breach of the Peace. — At the Ashton
County Police Court, on Wednesday, before Messrs Ralph
BATES, John WOOD, and J BEARDOE-GRUNDY, Sophia HEPWORTH
was charged with committing a breach of the peace at Hurst
on the 29th of August. Defendant pleaded not guilty. —
An officer said that at a quarter to 12 on Saturday night
she was shouting and swearing in Hope-street. He ordered
her to go inside, and by all accounts she went in, but
kept the neighbours awake all night by her noise. —
Defendant said that a young man came in, and she ordered
him out. — She was bound over for three months.
Farewell Party and Presentation.
— A pleasant gathering took place at the
Seven Stars, Hurst, on Tuesday night, to bid farewell
to Mr Harry J HOWARD, a native of Hurst, on his departure
for Providence, Rhodes Island, USA. Mr HOWARD has been
over on a three months’ visit to the old country,
nine years having elapsed since he left his native shores
for the land of his adoption, during which many changes
have taken place, though time has in nowise diminished
the cordial relations with his numerous friends in Hurst,
and as evidence of the warmth of feeling he was presented
by Mr Jos. HURST, licensee of the Seven Stars, with a
beautiful silk muffler as a token of esteem and regard.
This he accepted in the same kindly spirit as it was given.
A repast was partaken off by the assembled company, and
the subsequent proceedings were of a harmonious character,
interspersed with vocal and instrumental music.
A JUVENILE THIEF
On Wednesday, at the Stalybridge Police Court, before
Messrs H KNOTT, H JACKSON, and J CARTER, a girl of 12,
named Lucilla BEELEY, was charged with stealing 1lb of
tomatoes, value 7d, the property of Mrs SHACKLETON, of
68 Walmersley-street.
Evidence was given by Agnes SHACKLETON,
daughter of the prosecutor, to the effect that accused,
along with other children, went into the shop on Monday
evening, asking for a drink of water. After they had left
the shop witness missed the tomatoes. Information was
given to the police.
Thos. GRAY, 9 years of age, said he went
into the shop with the accused. She took the tomatoes
off the counter and put them under her jacket. When they
got outside she gave him two bites. — Asked if she
wished to question him, the little girl said, “He
says he only had one bite. He took half a tomato in one
bite, and he wanted me to steal a big apple as well.”
Constable LAWTON gave evidence as to the
arrest. When charged prisoner replied, “I stole
them and divided them with my brother and Thos. GRAY outside
the shop.” She was brought to the office, but was
afterwards allowed to go home with her father. There had
been several complaints as to small thefts committed by
the girl.
Captain BATES said the child’s mother
was dead. Both her parents had been convicted there, and
her brother, Ernest BEELEY, was the worst lad in town.
— In answer to the bench the child’s father
said his wife had been dead three years, and he did what
he could to make them do right. He was away all day at
work, and a married daughter looked after the younger
children but they ran away from school.
Mr KNOTT said he was afraid BEELEY had not
given them much instruction as to what was right and wrong.
The law held him responsible for the conduct of his children,
and if they had another case of that sort they would have
to deal with him. — The bench were disposed to be
lenient, but felt bound to enter a conviction. The girl
would be sentenced to one day’s imprisonment, which
meant that she would at once be released. Mr KNOTT addressed
a few words of kindly admonition to the girl, who was
then taken away by her father.
FUNERAL OF THE MURDERED
GAMEKEEPER AT HURST CEMETERY
An Enormous Crowd
The beautiful and picturesquely-situated cemetery at Hurst,
with its breezy heights overlooking a wide expanse of
undulating country, was the scene of a huge concourse
of people on Tuesday afternoon, bent on witnessing the
funeral of the murdered gamekeeper, Robert KENYON, whose
sad end, as well as that of UTTLEY, another gamekeeper,
sent a thrill of horror throughout the whole district.
The day was fine and bracing, the sun shining
with dazzling brightness from an azure sky, and this,
coupled with the fact that many of the local cotton mills
were stopped owing to the state of the cotton trade, caused
thousands of people to assemble at the cemetery and along
the approaches thereto.
With such a huge crowd, it was only natural
to expect a considerable amount of damage at the beautifully
laid out cemetery, but the cemetery superintendent (Mr
GREEN) in consideration of the time of the year, and the
fact that flowers and vegetation were on the wane, allowed
the public free access to the grounds. The result was
that the beautiful tree-lined avenues, footpaths, and
byeways were a sort of dumping ground for a large crowd
which, however sympathetic, was in a great measure attracted
by morbid curiosity.
Many wondered and speculated as to the desirability
of conveying the body such a long distance as that from
Buckstones to the Hurst Cemetery, something like 14 miles,
but the KENYONs were natives of Hurst, both father and
son being born there, and in the village churchyard lie
the remains of the first wife and four children of the
bereaved father, Mr Jas. KENYON.
This grave was full, hence it was that a
new one was purchased in the new cemetery. The grave was
vaulted and bricked, and the depth was nine and a half
feet. It was in a beautiful sequestered spot in the Church
of England portion of the cemetery, and in that part consecrated
about eighteen months ago. Prospect-road leading from
Higher King-street to the Barracks and Mossley-road is
but a few yards away, and from it the grave can easily
be seen. There are but few graves in the cemetery as yet,
and the spot where the murdered man was buried has a degree
of isolation characteristic of his home in Buckstones.
Shortly before 3pm, a large number of relatives
of the deceased, from Hurst and the surrounding districts,
numbering about 60, assembled at Hurst Cross to await
the arrival of the funeral cortege, which left Buckstones
at ten o’clock in the morning, travelling via Delph,
Mossley, and along Mossley-road past the Barracks and
Queen-street, Hurst.
A large crowd of people lined Queen-street,
Hurst Cross and Higher King-street, and on all hands one
heard frequent expressions of sympathy, or had perforce,
whilst hemmed in by the crowd, to give ear to a recountation
of the terrible tragedy, the mysterious circumstances
concerning which have so far baffled the police in their
investigations.
As the cortege reached the square at Hurst
Cross a respectful silence pervaded the crowd as they
made way for it to pass, and few onlookers gazed on the
solemn spectacle unmoved. A number of cyclists, evidently
from the Marsden district, passed along some distance
in front of the closed hearse containing the coffin, and
directed the way. Owing to some misapprehension the cortege
turned the wrong way on reaching Hurst Cross, and had
proceeded some little distance along King-street in the
direction of St John’s Church before the mistake
was discovered.
The hearse being closed at the sides the
coffin could not be seen as it passed along at a well-measured
pace, drawn by a couple of well-groomed coal-black steeds,
the undertaker, Mr Joe CROWTHER, of Golcar, and two drivers
occupying the front seat. There was only one coach containing
mourners, the occupants of which were Mr and Mrs Jas.
KENYON, father and mother of the deceased, Mrs UTTLEY,
widow of the murdered gamekeeper, Miss Mary MOORES, of
Oldham, deceased’s sweetheart, Mrs NASH, Miss MARSDEN
(aunt) and a friend of the deceased’s, Mr Seth PLATT,
of Denshaw.
A number of floral tributes were sent by
relatives and friends, and these were placed on the coffin
inside the closed hearse. The body was enclosed in a leaden
shell encased in polished oak, with heavy brass mountings,
and inscription on brass plate:-
ROBERT KENYON
Died September 10th, 1903,
Aged 26 years