IOO YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (24th FEB. - 1st MARCH 1920)
This week's stories include the violent one-legged man on a tram, a great demonstration in favour of prohibition, the scandalous flooding in Penny Lane in Haydock, a move to play Sunday golf at Grange Park Golf Club, a big rate rise is on the cards, a boxer's tram obstruction in Thatto Heath and Pilks donate land for a children's playground.
We begin on the 24th when the Liverpool Echo described how St Helens Corporation had overspent by £16,000 during the last financial year. As a result the paper predicted a 2-shilling rise in the St Helens' rates to 16 shillings in the pound and a 50% increase in water charges. During the financial year of 1913-14 the rate had only been 7s 9d. So if the predicted increase went ahead, the amount payable will have doubled since the start of the war. That was broadly in line with the increase in the cost of living with prices in the shops more than twice what they were in 1914.
There was another example of the largesse of Pilkingtons this week. That was when the glass giant offered to donate a piece of land to the town for a children's playground. The council's Education Committee had recently discussed creating playing fields for the use of schoolchildren and young people's clubs. That would be a new departure for St Helens and Pilks said they had 3¼ acres of land near to Taylor Park and the Eccleston Hall Sanatorium that they were prepared to make available. Their donation was conditional on the Corporation fencing the land off and it not being used for any other purpose than as a younger children's playground.
Under the headline 'The Food of Jewish Lunatics', the Manchester Evening News wrote on the 25th that the Lancashire Asylums Board had received an application from the Liverpool and District Jewish Visiting Committee. They had requested that all Jewish lunatic patients be sent to a single asylum for treatment. This was in order that they be given meat killed and prepared according to Jewish rites. The Board had now accepted the application and chosen Rainhill as the dedicated asylum for Jews within the Liverpool area.
There was very little for people to do on Sundays in St Helens. No football or rugby was allowed and all of the places of entertainment were closed. There were few other activities permitted, apart from going to the pub within limited opening hours or taking a walk in the park. However private members clubs had more freedom to open on Sundays and on the 26th Grange Park Golf Club held an extraordinary meeting to discuss allowing their members to play golf on the Sabbath.
Canon Albert Baines, the vicar of St Helens, and Rev Luke Beaumont, the minister at Ormskirk Street Congregational Church, had both signalled their opposition to the move. Canon Baines told the meeting that he was surprised that lady members of the club were not being allowed to vote on the proposal. However I suspect his intervention was less to do with gender equality and more a belief that married women might be more inclined to consider Sunday a family day and vote against the proposition.
The vicar of St Helens felt the suggestion if adopted would be the thin edge of the wedge and would lead to demands for Sunday cricket, football and even racing to take place. Canon Baines said that would be detrimental to juveniles and called for the members to defend the principle in the interests of the young people of St Helens. When the vote was taken after a lengthy debate, the proposal for Sunday golf was defeated by just two votes.
Haydock Urban District Council met on the 26th and heard from a sub-committee about a proposed new road from Haydock to Earlestown. However they decided not to proceed with it due to the cost. Councillor Makinson criticised the flooding of houses in Penny Lane in Haydock, which he called "scandalous". The St Helens Reporter said he drew a "vivid picture of the difficulties with which the inhabitants had to contend." The councillor described residents brushing water out of their front doors that had entered their homes from the rear, with their furniture practically floating and the water a foot deep.
Councillor Makinson called for improvements to be made or else the properties should be condemned and demolished. He was supported in his comments by Councillor Halsall who said he had seen a man who had eight bags of sand behind his back door to keep the water from coming in. The councillor added that the people were getting tired of it and there would be "trouble for somebody" if the nuisance went on any further. It was decided that the council's clerk and surveyor should investigate the matter and make a report.
A letter from the Post Office was read out at the meeting that stated that Blackbrook Post Office was changing its name to West End. That and the New Boston Post Office were also being upgraded in status to sub-offices.
In the St Helens Reporter on the 27th, Arthur Ellerington, the Chief Constable of St Helens, announced that he was resigning his directorship of the Clog and Stocking Fund. Since the scheme had been launched in 1912, more than 6,000 barefooted youngsters in the town had been assisted through the issue of around 17,000 articles of clothing. This comprised more than 5,000 pairs of clogs, 5,000 stockings, as well as jackets, vests, shirts, skirts and underwear. Ellerington was now hoping that some "local gentleman" would volunteer to take over his role.
There was a kind offer made in the Reporter to the relatives of St Helens' soldiers from an unnamed man who was travelling to the Ypres district of France. He was offering to make enquiries about known graves, make a report on their condition and supply a photograph. All of this he would do for relatives of the deceased completely free of charge.
Richard Briody of King Street appeared in the Police Court on the 27th charged with obstructing the platform of a tramcar. The man was a well-known professional boxer who fought under the name of Paddy Hackett. The accusation was that the 36-year-old had boarded a tram at the Black Horse Hotel and refused to shift from the platform while he smoked a cigarette.
The driver called Sweeney claimed that at Elephant Lane there were thirty passengers waiting to board the tram. They should have alighted in two minutes but Briody's obstruction meant it took five times as long for them to get on board. Sweeney said there had been a total delay of 27 minutes and the driver also claimed that Briody had threatened to "do" him. The man was fined £1 or 14 days in prison.
What was described as a "great demonstration" was held in the Volunteer Hall on the 28th to hear speeches on the "Truth About Prohibition". This had gone into effect in America on January 17th and some wanted it replicated in Britain. To encourage attendance tickets were free and an orchestra performed some selections. The Strength of Britain Movement hosted the event and a speaker described prohibition as "perfectly glorious".
On St Helens Police Court on March 1st a sailor described how he had been picked up on the street. Thomas Lunt's words would have a somewhat different meaning today! However the man from Albert Street, off North Road, meant he had been challenged to a fight. He told the Bench that he could not resist the civilian and the police found him fighting furiously late on a Saturday night watched by a large crowd. Lunt was bound over to be of good behaviour for six months.
Also in the Police Court were Thomas Jordan from Park Street in Parr and his brother John Jordan. The latter only had one leg and was staying at the Pilkington Special Hospital in Borough Road where he was receiving treatment. PC McHale gave evidence of being on duty in Higher Parr Street at 10pm on the previous Saturday night when he saw John Jordan standing in the street using abusive language. He was threatening to get his own back on the Chief Constable, although for what reason was not explained. John Jordan also made threats against the officer and so he was arrested and taken by tram to the police station at the Town Hall.
His brother Thomas Jordan was also causing trouble and so he too was placed in custody. Both brothers alleged that during the journey PC McHale had struck John Jordan a violent blow in the face, which the tram driver had witnessed. So the hearing was adjourned until the following day when the driver Samuel Walls gave evidence. He described how he had seen a large crowd in Fingerpost gathered round two constables who were struggling with someone.
After they had boarded his tram, Mr Wallis said the prisoner John Jordan tried to throw the constables into the roadway. The one-legged man then threatened to murder PC McHale the first chance he got and had struggled violently during the journey. The driver denied that the officer had struck John Jordan, who was fined forty shillings, plus 5 shillings witness expenses for the tram driver. Thomas Jordan was fined ten shillings.
Next week's stories will include the girl whirled to death at Clock Face Colliery, the wife beating Saints star, the man who called St Helens police liars and hypocrites, the sad story of a young Sutton couple and the Eccleston ex-soldier that hanged himself.
We begin on the 24th when the Liverpool Echo described how St Helens Corporation had overspent by £16,000 during the last financial year. As a result the paper predicted a 2-shilling rise in the St Helens' rates to 16 shillings in the pound and a 50% increase in water charges. During the financial year of 1913-14 the rate had only been 7s 9d. So if the predicted increase went ahead, the amount payable will have doubled since the start of the war. That was broadly in line with the increase in the cost of living with prices in the shops more than twice what they were in 1914.
There was another example of the largesse of Pilkingtons this week. That was when the glass giant offered to donate a piece of land to the town for a children's playground. The council's Education Committee had recently discussed creating playing fields for the use of schoolchildren and young people's clubs. That would be a new departure for St Helens and Pilks said they had 3¼ acres of land near to Taylor Park and the Eccleston Hall Sanatorium that they were prepared to make available. Their donation was conditional on the Corporation fencing the land off and it not being used for any other purpose than as a younger children's playground.
Under the headline 'The Food of Jewish Lunatics', the Manchester Evening News wrote on the 25th that the Lancashire Asylums Board had received an application from the Liverpool and District Jewish Visiting Committee. They had requested that all Jewish lunatic patients be sent to a single asylum for treatment. This was in order that they be given meat killed and prepared according to Jewish rites. The Board had now accepted the application and chosen Rainhill as the dedicated asylum for Jews within the Liverpool area.
There was very little for people to do on Sundays in St Helens. No football or rugby was allowed and all of the places of entertainment were closed. There were few other activities permitted, apart from going to the pub within limited opening hours or taking a walk in the park. However private members clubs had more freedom to open on Sundays and on the 26th Grange Park Golf Club held an extraordinary meeting to discuss allowing their members to play golf on the Sabbath.
Canon Albert Baines, the vicar of St Helens, and Rev Luke Beaumont, the minister at Ormskirk Street Congregational Church, had both signalled their opposition to the move. Canon Baines told the meeting that he was surprised that lady members of the club were not being allowed to vote on the proposal. However I suspect his intervention was less to do with gender equality and more a belief that married women might be more inclined to consider Sunday a family day and vote against the proposition.
The vicar of St Helens felt the suggestion if adopted would be the thin edge of the wedge and would lead to demands for Sunday cricket, football and even racing to take place. Canon Baines said that would be detrimental to juveniles and called for the members to defend the principle in the interests of the young people of St Helens. When the vote was taken after a lengthy debate, the proposal for Sunday golf was defeated by just two votes.
Haydock Urban District Council met on the 26th and heard from a sub-committee about a proposed new road from Haydock to Earlestown. However they decided not to proceed with it due to the cost. Councillor Makinson criticised the flooding of houses in Penny Lane in Haydock, which he called "scandalous". The St Helens Reporter said he drew a "vivid picture of the difficulties with which the inhabitants had to contend." The councillor described residents brushing water out of their front doors that had entered their homes from the rear, with their furniture practically floating and the water a foot deep.
Councillor Makinson called for improvements to be made or else the properties should be condemned and demolished. He was supported in his comments by Councillor Halsall who said he had seen a man who had eight bags of sand behind his back door to keep the water from coming in. The councillor added that the people were getting tired of it and there would be "trouble for somebody" if the nuisance went on any further. It was decided that the council's clerk and surveyor should investigate the matter and make a report.
A letter from the Post Office was read out at the meeting that stated that Blackbrook Post Office was changing its name to West End. That and the New Boston Post Office were also being upgraded in status to sub-offices.
Left: St Helens Chief Constable Arthur Robert Ellerington; Right: HIs funeral procession on March 2nd 1939
Chief Constable Arthur Ellerington and hIs funeral procession in 1939
Chief Constable Arthur Ellerington
There was a kind offer made in the Reporter to the relatives of St Helens' soldiers from an unnamed man who was travelling to the Ypres district of France. He was offering to make enquiries about known graves, make a report on their condition and supply a photograph. All of this he would do for relatives of the deceased completely free of charge.
Richard Briody of King Street appeared in the Police Court on the 27th charged with obstructing the platform of a tramcar. The man was a well-known professional boxer who fought under the name of Paddy Hackett. The accusation was that the 36-year-old had boarded a tram at the Black Horse Hotel and refused to shift from the platform while he smoked a cigarette.
The driver called Sweeney claimed that at Elephant Lane there were thirty passengers waiting to board the tram. They should have alighted in two minutes but Briody's obstruction meant it took five times as long for them to get on board. Sweeney said there had been a total delay of 27 minutes and the driver also claimed that Briody had threatened to "do" him. The man was fined £1 or 14 days in prison.
What was described as a "great demonstration" was held in the Volunteer Hall on the 28th to hear speeches on the "Truth About Prohibition". This had gone into effect in America on January 17th and some wanted it replicated in Britain. To encourage attendance tickets were free and an orchestra performed some selections. The Strength of Britain Movement hosted the event and a speaker described prohibition as "perfectly glorious".
On St Helens Police Court on March 1st a sailor described how he had been picked up on the street. Thomas Lunt's words would have a somewhat different meaning today! However the man from Albert Street, off North Road, meant he had been challenged to a fight. He told the Bench that he could not resist the civilian and the police found him fighting furiously late on a Saturday night watched by a large crowd. Lunt was bound over to be of good behaviour for six months.
Also in the Police Court were Thomas Jordan from Park Street in Parr and his brother John Jordan. The latter only had one leg and was staying at the Pilkington Special Hospital in Borough Road where he was receiving treatment. PC McHale gave evidence of being on duty in Higher Parr Street at 10pm on the previous Saturday night when he saw John Jordan standing in the street using abusive language. He was threatening to get his own back on the Chief Constable, although for what reason was not explained. John Jordan also made threats against the officer and so he was arrested and taken by tram to the police station at the Town Hall.
His brother Thomas Jordan was also causing trouble and so he too was placed in custody. Both brothers alleged that during the journey PC McHale had struck John Jordan a violent blow in the face, which the tram driver had witnessed. So the hearing was adjourned until the following day when the driver Samuel Walls gave evidence. He described how he had seen a large crowd in Fingerpost gathered round two constables who were struggling with someone.
After they had boarded his tram, Mr Wallis said the prisoner John Jordan tried to throw the constables into the roadway. The one-legged man then threatened to murder PC McHale the first chance he got and had struggled violently during the journey. The driver denied that the officer had struck John Jordan, who was fined forty shillings, plus 5 shillings witness expenses for the tram driver. Thomas Jordan was fined ten shillings.
Next week's stories will include the girl whirled to death at Clock Face Colliery, the wife beating Saints star, the man who called St Helens police liars and hypocrites, the sad story of a young Sutton couple and the Eccleston ex-soldier that hanged himself.
This week's stories include the violent one-legged man on a tram, a great demonstration in favour of prohibition, the scandalous flooding in Penny Lane in Haydock, a move to play Sunday golf at Grange Park Golf Club, a big rate rise is on the cards, a boxer's tram obstruction in Thatto Heath and Pilks donate land for a children's playground.
We begin on the 24th when the Liverpool Echo described how St Helens Corporation had overspent by £16,000 during the last financial year.
As a result the paper predicted a 2-shilling rise in the St Helens' rates to 16 shillings in the pound and a 50% increase in water charges.
During the financial year of 1913-14 the rate had only been 7s 9d. So if the predicted increase went ahead, the amount payable will have doubled since the start of the war.
That was broadly in line with the increase in the cost of living with prices in the shops more than twice what they were in 1914.
There was another example of the largesse of Pilkingtons this week. That was when the glass giant offered to donate a piece of land to the town for a children's playground.
The council's Education Committee had recently discussed creating playing fields for the use of schoolchildren and young people's clubs.
That would be a new departure for St Helens and Pilks said they had 3¼ acres of land near to Taylor Park and the Eccleston Hall Sanatorium that they were prepared to make available.
Their donation was conditional on the Corporation fencing the land off and it not being used for any other purpose than as a younger children's playground.
Under the headline 'The Food of Jewish Lunatics', the Manchester Evening News wrote on the 25th that the Lancashire Asylums Board had received an application from the Liverpool and District Jewish Visiting Committee.
They had requested that all Jewish lunatic patients be sent to a single asylum for treatment.
This was in order that they be given meat killed and prepared according to Jewish rites.
The Board had now accepted the application and chosen Rainhill as the dedicated asylum for Jews within the Liverpool area.
There was very little for people to do on Sundays in St Helens. No football or rugby was allowed and all of the places of entertainment were closed.
There were few other activities permitted, apart from going to the pub within limited opening hours or taking a walk in the park.
However private members clubs had more freedom to open on Sundays and on the 26th Grange Park Golf Club held an extraordinary meeting to discuss allowing their members to play golf on the Sabbath.
Canon Albert Baines, the vicar of St Helens, and Rev Luke Beaumont, the minister at Ormskirk Street Congregational Church, had both signalled their opposition to the move.
Canon Baines told the meeting that he was surprised that lady members of the club were not being allowed to vote on the proposal.
However I suspect his intervention was less to do with gender equality and more a belief that married women might be more inclined to consider Sunday a family day and vote against the proposition.
The vicar of St Helens felt the suggestion if adopted would be the thin edge of the wedge and would lead to demands for Sunday cricket, football and even racing to take place.
Canon Baines said that would be detrimental to juveniles and called for the members to defend the principle in the interests of the young people of St Helens.
When the vote was taken after a lengthy debate, the proposal for Sunday golf was defeated by just two votes.
Haydock Urban District Council met on the 26th and heard from a sub-committee about a proposed new road from Haydock to Earlestown. However they decided not to proceed with it due to the cost.
Councillor Makinson criticised the flooding of houses in Penny Lane in Haydock, which he called "scandalous".
The St Helens Reporter said he drew a "vivid picture of the difficulties with which the inhabitants had to contend."
The councillor described residents brushing water out of their front doors that had entered their homes from the rear, with their furniture practically floating and the water a foot deep.
Councillor Makinson called for improvements to be made or else the properties should be condemned and demolished.
He was supported in his comments by Councillor Halsall who said he had seen a man who had eight bags of sand behind his back door to keep the water from coming in.
The councillor added that the people were getting tired of it and there would be "trouble for somebody" if the nuisance went on any further.
It was decided that the council's clerk and surveyor should investigate the matter and make a report.
A letter from the Post Office was read out at the meeting that stated that Blackbrook Post Office was changing its name to West End.
That and the New Boston Post Office were also being upgraded in status to sub-offices.
In the St Helens Reporter on the 27th, Arthur Ellerington, the Chief Constable of St Helens, announced that he was resigning his directorship of the Clog and Stocking Fund.
Since the scheme had been launched in 1912, more than 6,000 barefooted youngsters in the town had been assisted through the issue of around 17,000 articles of clothing.
This comprised more than 5,000 pairs of clogs, 5,000 stockings, as well as jackets, vests, shirts, skirts and underwear.
Ellerington was now hoping that some "local gentleman" would volunteer to take over his role.
There was a kind offer made in the Reporter to the relatives of St Helens' soldiers from an unnamed man who was travelling to the Ypres district of France.
He was offering to make enquiries about known graves, make a report on their condition and supply a photograph.
All of this he would do for relatives of the deceased completely free of charge.
Richard Briody of King Street appeared in the Police Court on the 27th charged with obstructing the platform of a tramcar.
The man was a well-known professional boxer who fought under the name of Paddy Hackett.
The accusation was that the 36-year-old had boarded a tram at the Black Horse Hotel and refused to shift from the platform while he smoked a cigarette.
The driver called Sweeney claimed that at Elephant Lane there were thirty passengers waiting to board the tram.
They should have alighted in two minutes but Briody's obstruction meant it took five times as long for them to get on board.
Sweeney said there had been a total delay of 27 minutes and the driver also claimed that Briody had threatened to "do" him. The man was fined £1 or 14 days in prison.
What was described as a "great demonstration" was held in the Volunteer Hall on the 28th to hear speeches on the "Truth About Prohibition".
This had gone into effect in America on January 17th and some wanted it replicated in Britain.
To encourage attendance tickets were free and an orchestra performed some selections.
The Strength of Britain Movement hosted the event and a speaker described prohibition as "perfectly glorious".
On St Helens Police Court on March 1st a sailor described how he had been picked up on the street.
Thomas Lunt's words would have a somewhat different meaning today! However the man from Albert Street, off North Road, meant he had been challenged to a fight.
He told the Bench that he could not resist the civilian and the police found him fighting furiously late on a Saturday night watched by a large crowd.
Lunt was bound over to be of good behaviour for six months.
Also in the Police Court were Thomas Jordan from Park Street in Parr and his brother John Jordan.
The latter only had one leg and was staying at the Pilkington Special Hospital in Borough Road where he was receiving treatment.
PC McHale gave evidence of being on duty in Higher Parr Street at 10pm on the previous Saturday night when he saw John Jordan standing in the street using abusive language.
He was threatening to get his own back on the Chief Constable, although for what reason was not explained.
John Jordan also made threats against the officer and so he was arrested and taken by tram to the police station at the Town Hall.
His brother Thomas Jordan was also causing trouble and so he too was placed in custody.
Both brothers alleged that during the journey PC McHale had struck John Jordan a violent blow in the face, which the tram driver had witnessed.
So the hearing was adjourned until the following day when the driver Samuel Walls gave evidence.
He described how he had seen a large crowd in Fingerpost gathered round two constables who were struggling with someone.
After they had boarded his tram, Mr Wallis said the prisoner John Jordan tried to throw the constables into the roadway.
The one-legged man then threatened to murder PC McHale the first chance he got and had struggled violently during the journey.
The driver denied that the officer had struck John Jordan, who was fined 40 shillings, plus 5 shillings witness expenses for the tram driver. Thomas Jordan was fined 10 shillings.
Next week's stories will include the girl whirled to death at Clock Face Colliery, the wife beating Saints star, the man who called St Helens police liars and hypocrites, the sad story of a young Sutton couple and the Eccleston ex-soldier that hanged himself.
We begin on the 24th when the Liverpool Echo described how St Helens Corporation had overspent by £16,000 during the last financial year.
As a result the paper predicted a 2-shilling rise in the St Helens' rates to 16 shillings in the pound and a 50% increase in water charges.
During the financial year of 1913-14 the rate had only been 7s 9d. So if the predicted increase went ahead, the amount payable will have doubled since the start of the war.
That was broadly in line with the increase in the cost of living with prices in the shops more than twice what they were in 1914.
There was another example of the largesse of Pilkingtons this week. That was when the glass giant offered to donate a piece of land to the town for a children's playground.
The council's Education Committee had recently discussed creating playing fields for the use of schoolchildren and young people's clubs.
That would be a new departure for St Helens and Pilks said they had 3¼ acres of land near to Taylor Park and the Eccleston Hall Sanatorium that they were prepared to make available.
Their donation was conditional on the Corporation fencing the land off and it not being used for any other purpose than as a younger children's playground.
Under the headline 'The Food of Jewish Lunatics', the Manchester Evening News wrote on the 25th that the Lancashire Asylums Board had received an application from the Liverpool and District Jewish Visiting Committee.
They had requested that all Jewish lunatic patients be sent to a single asylum for treatment.
This was in order that they be given meat killed and prepared according to Jewish rites.
The Board had now accepted the application and chosen Rainhill as the dedicated asylum for Jews within the Liverpool area.
There was very little for people to do on Sundays in St Helens. No football or rugby was allowed and all of the places of entertainment were closed.
There were few other activities permitted, apart from going to the pub within limited opening hours or taking a walk in the park.
However private members clubs had more freedom to open on Sundays and on the 26th Grange Park Golf Club held an extraordinary meeting to discuss allowing their members to play golf on the Sabbath.
Canon Albert Baines, the vicar of St Helens, and Rev Luke Beaumont, the minister at Ormskirk Street Congregational Church, had both signalled their opposition to the move.
Canon Baines told the meeting that he was surprised that lady members of the club were not being allowed to vote on the proposal.
However I suspect his intervention was less to do with gender equality and more a belief that married women might be more inclined to consider Sunday a family day and vote against the proposition.
The vicar of St Helens felt the suggestion if adopted would be the thin edge of the wedge and would lead to demands for Sunday cricket, football and even racing to take place.
Canon Baines said that would be detrimental to juveniles and called for the members to defend the principle in the interests of the young people of St Helens.
When the vote was taken after a lengthy debate, the proposal for Sunday golf was defeated by just two votes.
Haydock Urban District Council met on the 26th and heard from a sub-committee about a proposed new road from Haydock to Earlestown. However they decided not to proceed with it due to the cost.
Councillor Makinson criticised the flooding of houses in Penny Lane in Haydock, which he called "scandalous".
The St Helens Reporter said he drew a "vivid picture of the difficulties with which the inhabitants had to contend."
The councillor described residents brushing water out of their front doors that had entered their homes from the rear, with their furniture practically floating and the water a foot deep.
Councillor Makinson called for improvements to be made or else the properties should be condemned and demolished.
He was supported in his comments by Councillor Halsall who said he had seen a man who had eight bags of sand behind his back door to keep the water from coming in.
The councillor added that the people were getting tired of it and there would be "trouble for somebody" if the nuisance went on any further.
It was decided that the council's clerk and surveyor should investigate the matter and make a report.
A letter from the Post Office was read out at the meeting that stated that Blackbrook Post Office was changing its name to West End.
That and the New Boston Post Office were also being upgraded in status to sub-offices.
Left: St Helens Chief Constable Arthur Robert Ellerington; Right: HIs funeral procession on March 2nd 1939
Chief Constable Arthur Ellerington and hIs funeral procession in 1939
Chief Constable Arthur Ellerington
Since the scheme had been launched in 1912, more than 6,000 barefooted youngsters in the town had been assisted through the issue of around 17,000 articles of clothing.
This comprised more than 5,000 pairs of clogs, 5,000 stockings, as well as jackets, vests, shirts, skirts and underwear.
Ellerington was now hoping that some "local gentleman" would volunteer to take over his role.
There was a kind offer made in the Reporter to the relatives of St Helens' soldiers from an unnamed man who was travelling to the Ypres district of France.
He was offering to make enquiries about known graves, make a report on their condition and supply a photograph.
All of this he would do for relatives of the deceased completely free of charge.
Richard Briody of King Street appeared in the Police Court on the 27th charged with obstructing the platform of a tramcar.
The man was a well-known professional boxer who fought under the name of Paddy Hackett.
The accusation was that the 36-year-old had boarded a tram at the Black Horse Hotel and refused to shift from the platform while he smoked a cigarette.
The driver called Sweeney claimed that at Elephant Lane there were thirty passengers waiting to board the tram.
They should have alighted in two minutes but Briody's obstruction meant it took five times as long for them to get on board.
Sweeney said there had been a total delay of 27 minutes and the driver also claimed that Briody had threatened to "do" him. The man was fined £1 or 14 days in prison.
What was described as a "great demonstration" was held in the Volunteer Hall on the 28th to hear speeches on the "Truth About Prohibition".
This had gone into effect in America on January 17th and some wanted it replicated in Britain.
To encourage attendance tickets were free and an orchestra performed some selections.
The Strength of Britain Movement hosted the event and a speaker described prohibition as "perfectly glorious".
On St Helens Police Court on March 1st a sailor described how he had been picked up on the street.
Thomas Lunt's words would have a somewhat different meaning today! However the man from Albert Street, off North Road, meant he had been challenged to a fight.
He told the Bench that he could not resist the civilian and the police found him fighting furiously late on a Saturday night watched by a large crowd.
Lunt was bound over to be of good behaviour for six months.
Also in the Police Court were Thomas Jordan from Park Street in Parr and his brother John Jordan.
The latter only had one leg and was staying at the Pilkington Special Hospital in Borough Road where he was receiving treatment.
PC McHale gave evidence of being on duty in Higher Parr Street at 10pm on the previous Saturday night when he saw John Jordan standing in the street using abusive language.
He was threatening to get his own back on the Chief Constable, although for what reason was not explained.
John Jordan also made threats against the officer and so he was arrested and taken by tram to the police station at the Town Hall.
His brother Thomas Jordan was also causing trouble and so he too was placed in custody.
Both brothers alleged that during the journey PC McHale had struck John Jordan a violent blow in the face, which the tram driver had witnessed.
So the hearing was adjourned until the following day when the driver Samuel Walls gave evidence.
He described how he had seen a large crowd in Fingerpost gathered round two constables who were struggling with someone.
After they had boarded his tram, Mr Wallis said the prisoner John Jordan tried to throw the constables into the roadway.
The one-legged man then threatened to murder PC McHale the first chance he got and had struggled violently during the journey.
The driver denied that the officer had struck John Jordan, who was fined 40 shillings, plus 5 shillings witness expenses for the tram driver. Thomas Jordan was fined 10 shillings.
Next week's stories will include the girl whirled to death at Clock Face Colliery, the wife beating Saints star, the man who called St Helens police liars and hypocrites, the sad story of a young Sutton couple and the Eccleston ex-soldier that hanged himself.