23 April 1904

A JOKE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
The Alleged Theft by a Gorton Man and Youth
At the County Police Court, on Tuesday, Edgar WADDINGTON, 2 Chatsworth-road, Gorton, and Herbert TRELFER, in his employ, and who lives with him, were jointly charged with stealing from a stable in Barlow-road, Levenshulme, on the 11th instant, a horse body-brush and a surcingle, the property of George Ruston MARRIOTT, of Princess-road.

MARRIOTT and WADDINGTON occupy stables adjoining each other, the partition between being about 12ft high. Evidence was given that the articles named were safe on the 11th. About 5.30 the same afternoon, WADDINGTON and TRELFER were seen in a trap driving along Barlow-road, and (the witness said) TRELFER was examining the body-brush. The witness informed Mr MARRIOTT of what he had seen.

Sergeant BARKER went over to Gorton subsequently, and apprehended the accused on suspicion of having stolen the articles. He afterwards proceeded to search WADDINGTON’s house, when he was informed that the articles were up the chimney in the front bedroom, and from that place they were recovered.

Mrs WADDINGTON told Sergeant BARKER that the boy (TRELFER) had taken them to the house, and they had been concealed to screen him. When charged with theft, TRELFER said he threw them over the partition to WADDINGTON, and he picked them up. WADDINGTON replied, “He threw them over, but I did not pick them up.”

Mr COBBETT, who appeared for the defence, said TRELFER’s account was that a loin cloth had disappeared a few weeks ago from their stable, and a lot of corn had disappeared. In retaliation TRELFER jumped over the partition, and threw the brush and surcingle over. That was a very stupid thing to do, but there was no intention of stealing. TRELFER admitted that he threw the articles over the partition. They had missed things, and he thought he would have “a bit of his own back.” – (Laughter.)

Mr COBBETT also put WADDINGTON into the box. – Mr YATES: The thing against you is that they were found up the chimney. – WADDINGTON: That was done to save all this bother. From what I have been told it was said last week that my wife put them up the chimney. That is not true. It was her friend. – Mr YATES: For what purpose? – WADDINGTON: I expect it was to screen the lad and me, but it has come to this. It has been to me a joke, but it has gone further.

Superintendent KEYS said that WADDINGTON was a respectable man and exceedingly well to do. He had stables at Levenshulme as well as at Gorton. – Mr YATES said whatever the Bench might think as to the story told as to retaliation, both of them had good character, and the bench did not want to put a stain on those characters, and they would let them go. “Be careful and mind you don’t do this sort of thing again,” he concluded, “as it is not every court will do what we are doing.”

A GORTON MAN’S DISCOVERY
A youth named Thomas Cyril COLLIER, who resided at 64 Lonsdale-road, Levenshulme, was found dead the week-end on the footpath near Yew Tree Farm, between Levenshulme and Gorton. The shocking discovery was made by Mr Robert DODGE, of Stowell Avenue, Gorton.

The deceased, who was about 18 years of age, was employed as a goods clerk at the Ardwick station of the Great Central Railway Company, and left home at 5.30 to be at his work at six o’clock. The deceased was lying on his back when he was discovered, and by his side was a five-charge barrel revolver. Two of the cartridges had been discharged. One of the shots had gone through the left side, near the heart, and death must have been instantaneous.

AN OPENSHAW JUMPER FAILS TO BEAT THE RECORD
There was a large attendance at the Ardwick Athletic Grounds on Saturday, when W BARKER, of Openshaw, was down the following couple of records in jumping, viz, five spring jumps, without weights, and four hops and jump, for a stake of £40.

BARKER’s first attempt was at the four hops and jump, and his first efforts were a yard short, but on towing the mark again he beat HIGGINS’ record of 11yds 9in by 10in. The final jump was five springs, but in this he failed to cut the mark made by DERBY, at Dudley, of 61ft 5½ in, in three attempts, although his second jump was the best, and this was just ten short of that made by DERBY.

A fortnight ago, BARKER failed to beat the record of John HIGGINS, of Blackburn, being 16in short of the latter, whose distance was 30yrds 9in.

A DISHONEST GORTON CHARWOMAN
Sent to Gaol for Three Months
At the County Police Court on Tuesday, Margaret BOARDMAN, 91 Reddish-lane, Gorton, was charged on remand with stealing a coat and vest, valued at two guineas, the property of Frederick James WEBB, “Edna Greens,” Hyde-road, Gorton. She was employed as a charwoman at Dr WEBB’s.

The coat and vest were hanging up in January, and were missed this month, and were pledged by the prisoner on the 20th February with Sabina MOORE, in Reddish-lane. She said they were her husband’s property. In defence, prisoner said she only asked for mercy for the sake of her husband and children. – Mr John CROFTON, solicitor (who prosecuted for the police): She has been in custody since the 14th April.

Mr YATES: She did the same thing in July last, and we are obliged to look at that. If you come here again you will most certainly be sent to the sessions, and you will get twelve months. – Prisoner: I shall never take anything again. – Mr YATES: I have no doubt you told the city magistrates that. You must go to prison for three months with hard labour.

SUDDEN DEATH OF A LANDLADY AT WOODHOUSES
Mrs Jackson, the popular landlady of the Dog and Partridge Inn, died very suddenly on Sunday evening last. She had been actively engaged in her business during the day and evening, and was seized with a severe illness about 8.30, and died in the presence of some of her customers in the house in about three quarters of an hour.

Her death is very much regretted by a large circle of friends and acquaintances both in Woodhouses and Failsworth. She was the daughter of the late Mr Samuel GREENHALGH, of Failsworth, a well-known resident, and had held licenses in Woodhouses for about a quarter of a century without having a single conviction recorded against her.

Owing to the suddenness of her death, in the opinion of the coroner, Mr PRICE, it was deemed advisable to hold an inquest, which was duly held at the inn on Wednesday morning, resulting in a verdict by the jury that the lady had died from natural causes, attributed chiefly to a weak heart.

She was interred at the Failsworth Cemetery on Thursday in the presence of relatives and a large number of neighbours and friends resident in the surrounding district.

MR WINSTON CHURCHILL
Free Trade Candidate for North West Manchester
Mr Winston CHURCHILL, we are informed, will at the next Parliamentary election, contest the North-west Manchester division. Mr CHURCHILL, at the public meeting in Oldham on Friday night, organised by the Free Trade League, announced that he had decided to stand aside from the representation of Oldham at the next election, seeing that Mr Alfred BENNETT and Mr Thomas ASHTON there were already two strong supporters of Free Trade before the electors of the borough. He added that probably he would be found not far from Oldham.

Mr CHURCHILL described Free Trade as the question of supreme political interest, and as the north-west division contains the greatest part of the commercial centre of the city, whose prosperity is bound up in the maintenance of Free Trade, it is considered particularly fitting that he should become the progressive candidate.

The leaders of the Free Trade League, together with Mr CHURCHILL, have had an interview with those of the North-west Manchester Liberal Association, and discussed with them the situation. The Liberal Association are fully cognisant of the importance of the Free Trade issue, and the discussion also ranged into other political issues.

A PAINFUL CASE FROM ASHTON
Charge of False Pretences at Oldham
It was a pathetic to see Edith SHARPLES, of Ashton, a prepossessing and respectably-attired young lady of 19, in the dock at the Oldham Police Court on Monday morning. The charge against her was that of having obtained underclothing to the value of 6s 4d by false pretences from Clara TAYLOR, of 203 Ashton-road. The Chief Constable, in his opening statement, said the girl was wanted at Ashton to answer similar charges.

Clara TAYLOR, daughter of Mary TAYLOR, of 230 Ashton-road, stated that on the 13th inst, prisoner came to the shop and asked for an underskirt. When this was shown to her she asked if she might take it home in order to let her mother, whom she described as an invalid, look at it. She gave the address of Villa-road, which was not far from the shop.

Encouraged by receiving consent to her expressed wish, she asked for two more articles of underclothing, and these she was allowed to take “home” on the promise of returning herself in five minutes, or sending her sister. She had not returned to the shop, nor sent anybody. Prisoner had visited the shop on the previous Monday, and bought a pocket handkerchief.

The Chief Constable stated that the girl’s mother was in court, and she was the only one who could depose of the false pretences. But, as the offence was admitted, he did not wish to put the mother to the painful necessity of appearing in the dock.

The girl’s brother, who also attended court, was then called. He stated that she had been going wrong for two years. They had done their utmost to try and draw her back, and had received her back home five times. How she had gone wrong he could not say, except that she must have got into bad company.

She had been living away from home for some time, and told them that she was in service. But, so far as they could ascertain, she had only been in service six or seven weeks, at Denton. In reply to the bench, the girl stated that if discharged, she would “be different,” and would go back home, if permitted. The brother shook his head to indicate a negative.

The Chairman: If we deal leniently with her, will you take her back? The Brother: No. – Mr HARDERN: Are you going to throw this girl on the world, though she has done this? – The Brother: I have instructions from my father to say that he will not take her back until she has been in a home.

The Chairman: We are disposed to deal leniently with you. Will you give us a promise not to do anything of the kind in the future. – Prisoner, who had been sobbing all the while, replied faintly in the affirmative.

The Chairman: Then so far as this Bench is concerned, you will be bound over to come up for judgment if called upon. The girl was then taken below to be conveyed by a detective to the Ashton police.

DROYLSDEN WOMAN FOUND DROWNED AT ASHTON
About 11 o’clock on Sunday forenoon a boy named Alfred WHITEFIELD, residing in King-street, Droylsden, was walking along the canal towing path near Alma Bridge, Ashton, when he saw a body floating in the water. He drew the body out, and discovered it to be that of a woman. Life was extinct.

He gave information to the police, and the body was removed on the ambulance to the mortuary at the Town Hall, where it was identified as Elizabeth Hannah BROWN, aged 44 years, wife of Francis BROWN, carter, 14 St Peter’s-street, Ashton.

She had always enjoyed good health, and made no complaint. On Sunday morning she put her shawl on her head, and told her husband she would go and buy some pepper. She went out, and her husband did not again see her alive again.

SINGULAR DEATH AT STALYBRIDGE
The Stalybridge police were on Tuesday apprised of the death, under singular circumstances, of Clara SHAW, aged 20 years, daughter of Mr James SHAW, Nags Head beerhouse, corner of Trinity-street, Market-street.

Deceased had been known to be troubled with heart disease for some years, for which some time ago she was under treatment by Dr HOWE. The symptoms were very pronounced at times, but latterly the doctor had not been in attendance, the last visit being about Christmas.

She retired to bed as usual on Monday night, and not getting up a visit was paid to her bedroom, where she was found in bed in a state of coma. She expired shortly afterwards. The doctor being in a position to certify as to the cause of death, an inquest has been obviated.

FAILING TO REPAIR PROPERTY AT STALYBRIDGE
In the Nick of Time
Benjamin WELLOCK appeared at the Stalybridge Police Court on Monday morning, charged with failing to repair certain closets on his property.

Mr F THOMPSON, representing the Town Clerk, who appeared to prosecute, explained that the case was one in which the Stalybridge Corporation were concerned. WELLOCK was the owner of certain property situated in Spring Bank-street and Holmes’-yard. On the 24th October last year, a nuisance on his property was reported, and the summons was issued in January for him to attend that court.

By arrangement it was then adjourned until the 21st of March, then to the 18th of April, and Mr WELLOCK, he had been informed, had commenced the work that morning. He asked that an order should be made compelling him to continue the alterations. The necessary order was issued.

THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT STALYBRIDGE
The Rescuer Complimented
Before the ordinary routine of the court commenced on Monday morning, the Chief Constable (Captain John BATES) made reference to the most gallant rescue offered by a man named MURPHY on Friday morning by diving into the canal and bringing to the shore a man who had fallen in. He (Mr BATES) has arranged with the Mayor, as first citizen of the town, to publicly recognise the act.

The circumstances of the occurrence were that on Friday morning a man fell into the canal. Without a moment’s hesitation MURPHY, who was in the vicinity, dived in, swam to him, and hauled him out. With the assistance of Constables BEEVER and LENNON, the man was restored to consciousness and conveyed to the Workhouse Hospital.

From investigations they had learned that MURPHY had been in the navy and served on many ships. The Mayor had agreed with him that the case deserved recognition, and that was why he was before them that morning. The Chairman (to MURPHY): I understand you don’t want to receive the Humane Society’s certificate? – MURPHY: No, sir. I don’t care as long as I get work.

The Chairman: Your conduct is highly commendable in every sense of the word, and reflects great credit on you. It is everyone’s duty to save the life of a fellow creature. You had the opportunity, and availed yourself of it. You deserve the certificate, and I trust you will accept it if the Chief Constable secures it for you.

If one could be gained it would serve as an incentive to others to do likewise, and it might be the means of saving other people’s lives if it were known there would be a reward, even of this small kind. You have our sincere thanks, and I am sure the thanks of the whole community. – (Hear, hear.) – The Chief Constable: Since this morning, your worships, I have been able to secure work for him. – (Hear, hear.)