29 August 1903

A BRUTAL SON-IN-LAW AT STALYBRIDGE
Unprovoked Assault With a Fender — Not Sober in Court
On Monday morning, at Stalybridge Police Court, Peter MOSELEY, a builder’s labourer, was summoned for having assaulted Sarah Ann GRIMSHAW on the 8th inst. He pleaded guilty.

Complainant, who appeared in court with her head swathed in bandages, said that a fortnight last Saturday night she called at her daughter’s house in Grasscroft-street, and had not been there above a few minutes when defendant came in drunk. At the time his child was eating some “pobbies,” (bread, milk and sugar — Ed) and defendant said, “Give me a bit, love.” The child replied, “No,” and he then said, “Won’t you give dada some?” and began to be wranglesome.

He went toward the fireplace, and she (complainant) thought he was going to reach a match to light his pipe, but instead he picked up the fender and “let fly,” the ugly instrument catching her head and face, and rendering her unconscious. She was afterwards taken to the Infirmary.

The Mayor: How long were you in the Infirmary? — Complainant: I went in on the Saturday, and came out the following Monday week. — Is the sight of your eye injured? I do not think so, sir, but I am very weak, as I lost a lot of blood. — Do you suggest he intended to strike you with the fender? I cannot say, but this is not a thing to lift up to strike anybody with. Had it not hit me it would have caught the child, and what an awful thing that would have been

Mr R INNES: Is he often drunk? — Complainant: Oh yes; he is never sober; he knows that! He has never been to see me since I came out of the Infirmary. If he had only come and said something, but he has not. — Mr INNES: Is he in work? — Defendant: I work at Storrs’. I am very sorry this has happened, I am sure. — Complainant (much affected): So am I. It has made me into an old woman. I could always keep myself, but I cannot now. I never thought he was going to throw the fender. — The Mayor: What is your position in this man’s household? — Complainant: Nothing. I am a reeler at the Alma Mills, Ashton, and have kept myself.

Mary Alice BOLTON, a daughter of complainant, was called, and she said she saw her mother immediately after the assault. She was bleeding profusely, and defendant ran at witness to kick her as she was leading her mother away. — Mr INNES: Has he ever assaulted her before? — Witness: No, sir. — Defendant: I would sooner give her 10s! It was done through drink. — The Mayor: That is no excuse, you know. — Defendant: That is all right.

Have you something to offer now? No, but I will look after her. — Complainant: You have said so, but will you? I shall be a great while before I can work again. — Defendant: I have a good shop, gentlemen, and I would not like to lose it. I have a wife and children to keep. — Complainant: It is a bad job for me. — Defendant: Beer, beer, beer!

The Mayor: I would suggest you have had some this morning? — Defendant: I have had two pints, but I do not intend to have any more. — The Mayor: Do you think it would do you good if you were away from it a month or so? — Defendant: Yes, I think it would; I will go back to my work at dinner time. — The Mayor: You will not go to your work if you are sent away. You have no right to come here in that state on a serious charge of this description. — The Magistrates’ Clerk: It might have been a more serious charge. — Defendant: I am very sorry it has happened.

The Mayor: You will be fined £5, including costs, or one month’s hard labour in default. — Defendant: Will you give me time to pay? — The Mayor: The magistrates do not see their way to give you time. It will have to be paid at once. — MOSELEY was subsequently removed to Strangeways Gaol for a month.

THE WAKES HARVEST FOR THE ASHTON POLICE
At the Ashton Borough Court, on Monday, there were nearly thirty cases down for trial by Messrs KELSALL and John WILSON. The majority of these had occurred since the advent of the Wakes holidays, on the 15th inst, and may fairly be traced to the festive occasion.

James BRADBURY pleaded guilty to an offence of a disorderly character in Scotland-street, on the 17th inst. Constable FURNESS said defendant had had some drink, but was not drunk. — In fining defendant 5s 6d for costs, or seven days, Mr KELSALL told him that a man of his age ought to be ashamed of himself.

Daniel MORAN was charged with a breach of the peace in Warrington-street. He pleaded guilty. No evidence tendered, and the magistrates, upon his plea, bound him over to keep the peace for three months in his own recognisance of 40s, and pay the costs, in default seven days.

John PRESTON pleaded guilty to using bad language in Gerrard-street. As it was his first offence he was fined 5s 6d for costs.

Margaret MATTIMORE and Margaret PARTLAND were charged with a similar offence, in Pitt-street, on the 14th inst. MATTIMORE pleaded guilty to “falling out,” and PARTLAND did not appear. — Edith MOODY, residing in Pitt-street, said the defendants threatened her for coming to court.

Defendant MATTIMORE denied using bad language. The bother arose over a blanket. She called Mrs GLYNN as a witness. Mrs GLYNN said there was no bad language (“b______ and the like”) used. (Laughter.) — The Chief Constable said MATTIMORE had been up five times. He knew nothing about PARTLAND. — The Bench fined MATTIMORE 10s and costs, or 14 days; and PARTLAND 5s 6d for costs, or seven days.

John KELLY was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Cavendish-street. — Defendant’s father appeared, and said his son had not received the summons. — Adjourned.

James SIMCOCK, who was said to be deaf and dumb, and who was accompanied by a friend as interpreter, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Warrington-street on the 17th inst. On the charge being explained, defendant pleaded guilty. — Constable ROLLINSON said the man was drunk, and swearing. — The Clerk: He can swear then, whether deaf or dumb. — Constable ROLLINSON: He was swearing hard when I saw him. — (Laughter.) — The Chief Constable said defendant had been up six times for drunkenness and breach of the peace. — Fined 5s 6d and costs.

Emma HIGGINBOTTOM appeared to answer a charge of being drunk and disorderly in Fleet-street on the 19th inst. She pleaded guilty, and was fined 5s 6d for costs.

Mary Ann ROBERTS was charged with being drunk in Adelphi Court, an the 13th inst. — A person who came forward said her name was Sarah Jane. — The Clerk: Are you her mother? No; I am her herself. — (Laughter.) — Oh, I see, you are charged with being drunk. — Sarah Jane: Well, I had a drop. — You were not blind drunk? No. — The Chief Constable: There is nothing known against her. — Fined 5s 6d and costs, or 14 days.

James MILLS pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Katherine-street, on the 14th inst, and was fined 5s 6d costs.

William Thomas LEE was summoned for being drunk and disorderly in Wellington-street, on the 15th inst. He pleaded not guilty, and said he only got home from work at 9.30 on the 14th inst. — Constable SUDMAN said the offence was committed at a quarter to one o’clock in the morning. — The Clerk: Plenty of time to get drunk between 9.30 and 12.45.

Inspector McFEELEY gave evidence as to being in the office when defendant was brought in. He was in a state of madness, and rough with it. — Defendant said there were five or six other brothers and sisters in the bother. — The Clerk: Well, you must divide the fine amongst you. — (Laughter.) — Fined 5s for costs.

Thomas SUTTON pleaded guilty to being drunk on the licensed premises of the Angel Inn, Old Cross, on the 15th. — Constable WILD stated that he found defendant drunk on the premises. He had been turned out before that. He had not been served. — The Chief Constable informed the Bench that defendant had been up five times. — Fined 5s 6d and costs.

Sarah Ann PARKINSON, who did not appear, was charged with disorderly conduct in Fletcher-street on Saturday night. Thomas DUCKWORTH was summoned for aiding and abetting her. He pleaded guilty. — Constable WILD stated that at 20 past 11 o’clock he saw the defendants behaving in a disorderly manner. The woman was locked up at the time, but bailed out, and the man had been summoned.

The Chief Constable said PARKINSON had been ten times convicted for similar conduct. — Mr WILSON: Where does the man come from? — Defendant: Hooley Hill. — The Chief Constable said there was nothing known against him. — The Bench committed PARKINSON to prison for three months, and fined DUCKWORTH 10s and costs, or 14 days.

William WALKER was drunk and pugilistically inclined on the Market Ground on Saturday night. — Constable HAWCOURT saw him, and escorted him to the Town Hall. William had not the courage to face the court and sent his sister. — Fined 5s 6d and costs.

William Henry POTTER is an inmate of the Ashton Union Workhouse. On Wakes Monday he obtained leave of absence, and at 6.15pm Constable ROWBOTTOM found him helplessly drunk in Albion-street. Defendant did not appear. — The Chief Constable informed the Bench that defendant was an inmate of the Workhouse, and the master promised to send him down. In fact, he telegraphed that he was on his way. — The Clerk: Perhaps he is on his way yet. — Mr KELSALL: If this is the harvest of Wakes time it is a terrible list. — The Chief Constable said the Workhouse Master had nothing against the man. He was very useful in the house. — Discharged.

Jane MURRAY, who did not appear in answer to her name, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Mill-lane. She had been up 21 times, and was now fined 20s and costs or one month. — Later on she turned up with a child in her arms and under the influence of drink. When told by the Clerk what she had been fined, she in thick speech described it as very hard. She wanted to argue the justice of the decision, but she was immediately removed shouting at the top of her voice.

Frederick TAYLOR and Jas. CARR were summoned for committing a breach of the peace on the Market Ground on the 17th. — They pleaded guilty, and were bound over on their own recognisances of 40s to keep the peace for three months and pay the costs, in default seven days in each case.

James FLANNAGAN was charged with a like offence in Warrington-street on the 17th. — Defendant’s wife appeared, and said he was working. — She was told the case could not be dealt with in his absence.

Annie LEE and Winifred LOGAN were charged with being drunk and disorderly in Wellington-street on the 18th. — LEE did not appear, and LOGAN admitted having had some drink. — Constable FURNESS said defendants were fighting with one another and using bad language. — Another officer said the women had their hands locked in each other’s hair, and they had great difficulty in parting them.

The Chief Constable said LOGAN had been up 24 times for various offences. Nothing was known against LEE. — Mr KELSALL: We have got over £10 in fines and they say times are bad. — The Clerk: They keep paying, some of them. — LOGAN was fined 20s and costs or one month, and LEE 5s and costs.

Charles JONES, who had been up once before, pleaded guilty to being drunk and disorderly in Catherine-street on the 18th, and was fined 5s 6d and costs or 14 days.

Leah WILLIAMS and Bridget YOUNG were charged with being drunk in Henrietta-street on the 22nd, and pleaded guilty. They said they had not much drink, but it took hold of them. — The Chief Constable said they were found in a hapless state during the storm on Saturday night.

Mr KELSALL: It was not the only case. Another woman was in a helpless state, and had to be turned into a hovel. — YOUNG said when she had any drink it flew to her head. — The Clerk advised her not to take any then. — Under the circumstances, and as there was nothing known against them, they were discharged.

George ATKINSON was fined 5s 6d for costs for being drunk and disorderly on the Market Ground. — Nothing was known against him, and he was told that if he had not been disorderly the magistrates would have discharged him.

DEATH OF A STALYBRIDGE MAN IN AUSTRALIA
A communication has been received that the death took place at Sidney (sic), New South Wales, on June 10th, of Mr Ralph BEECH, late of Stalybridge. Deceased was 5 years of age, and was formerly in business as an ironworker at premises in Caroline-street, which business he disposed of and emigrated to Australia over 20 years ago.

Being a well-learned man and a phrenologist of some repute, he put his knowledge to practical use in the land of his adoption, and opened a drug store and made up prescriptions for the treatment of various ailments. In this way he worked up a very lucrative business. For some time he had been in delicate health, which developed into consumption, and he lay on a bed of sickness for a considerable period. Specialists were consulted, but in spite of medical skill and attention he gradually weakened, and died as aforestated.

SENSATIONAL HIGHWAY ROBBERY AT NEWTON
A Stalybridge Publican Waylaid and Robbed
A serious outrage was committed at Newton on Thursday night week, which has caused a great sensation in the neighbourhood. A well-known Stalybridge publican had been on a visit to Newton, and had been staying with some friends. He left them late at night to return home, and when in Linedge-road he was attacked by a man whom he could not recognise.

There were few people about or within accessible distance of the scene of the assault. A desperate struggle ensued, in which the publican was very severely handled and mistreated. He was badly cut, and bled profusely, and when found later was in a semi-conscious state. He was robbed of a valuable gold watch and chain. The police have been informed of the outrage, but at the time of writing the miscreant had not been caught. It is to be hoped that he will soon be captured, and that he will receive full desserts for his nefarious work,

NEGLECT OF CHILDREN AT DUKINFIELD
At the Police Court, on Thursday, Elizabeth GLISTER was charged with neglecting her children, William GLISTER (5), Florence (3), and Frank PURCELL (11). — Superintendent CROGAN asked for a week’s remand, and explained that prisoner lived in St Mark’s street. Last Thursday night Inspector SKITT visited the house and found one of the children, aged three, lying upstairs on a bedstead, without mattress and devoid of bedclothes, with the exception of a single sheet. The child was in a very poor state, suffering from acute pneumonia. The boy William was downstairs, equally bad and lying on his face on a very old bed.

Before the inspector had completed his inspection, the prisoner entered the house in a helpless state of intoxication. The. The floor was covered with empty and broken bottles, some cups containing liquor were on the table, and upstairs the inspector found a sum of money, amounting to £1 6s 3d, strewn about the bedroom.

During the night the police fed the children on soda and milk, and in the morning they were removed to the Union Hospital at Ashton. The prisoner was arrested. The superintendent added that prior to the police visit, the prisoner took the children to Dr BOOTH’s surgery, and the doctor prescribed for them. He urged upon the mother the necessity of keeping them warm, and told her they were suffering from pneumonia and whooping cough.

After the police inspector’s visit, Dr BOOTH again saw the children, and advised their removal to the hospital. They were now progressing favourably, and were out of danger. — Inspector SKITT said the only food in the house was an unboiled ham shank and a piece of red herring. — Prisoner was remanded until next Thursday.