Saturday, 6 April 2013

Echoes of our Past NEWS ............ 5th April 1879



Read all about it……. Echoes of our past NEWS
What was in the local news this weekend in 1879?

MAIN NEWS –

*Juvenile offender –

A young lad of 14 ½ years of age found himself being taught the true meaning of fatherly love after he was caught stealing his own mothers jacket.

Joseph E Barker of Marsden Street had taken the jacket and pawned it for 6s at Mrs Wilcockson’s pawn shop the day earlier.

His father, John Henry Barker had guessed that Joseph had stolen the said jacket and confronted him.  Joseph had denied all knowledge of the whereabouts of the jacket, even after his father had severely beaten him.  Later however, he admitted that he had pawned the jacket but he had disposed of the pawn ticket.

The manager of Mrs Wilcockson’s shop was called and questioned and the jacket produced.  He stated that he had indeed received the jacket from Joseph with the story that his mother had sent him to pawn it and that she lived at Stonegravels.  He went on to tell that the law forbade him from receiving goods from children under 12 years of age and those persons under the influence of drink – as Joseph was neither of these he had taken the jacket in good faith.

The court ordered that in the circumstances the jacket be returned to Mrs Barker. 

Joseph was to be sent to Derby gaol for 10 days and afterwards to a reformatory school for 4 years.  He had requested that he be sent to a training ship, which the court said they would try to secure but could not however guarantee this would be the case.

OTHER ITEMS –

*Apprentice difficulties –

John Draycott had been apprenticed as a farm servant to Mr Robert Johnson of Duckmanton in February 1879. 

It appears that the master / apprentice relationship was not a happy one and on 15th March John left his position and contravened the terms of his apprenticeship.  John did not return until 21st March after having being advised by someone it would be in his best interests to do so.  He did only manage to stay a few hours though and left the same day.

In his defence John said that Mr Johnson had “struck him with a stick” and had not given him enough food to eat.

Mr Johnson admitted to hitting John once with a stick, but stated that he gave him 5 meals a day with “a pint of ale to two of them”.  He said that John was abusive towards him and other members of the farm staff and that he used “filthy language”.

The Bench decided that John should return to his apprenticeship with Mr Johnson and that he should fulfil his contract which was until “matrinmus” (St Martin’s Day, 11th November – the day when the hiring fairs would be held in the UK)[1].  He was also ordered to pay 25s and costs compensation which would be deducted from his wages.

*Obstructing the highway –

A farmer from Inkersall named Joseph Turner was charged with leaving his horse and cart “an unreasonable length of time”  after he was spotted by P.C Ryan on 19th March in Staveley.

Joseph had left the horse and cart for 50 minutes, whilst he was drinking in a local public house.  P.C Ryan had entered the inn and asked Joseph to move the obstruction, but he had been defiant and refused to move it until he was ready.

Joseph was fined 5s and costs.

*Telling lies –

A little boy named Charles Thompson was in trouble after he had been caught by P.C Soloman throwing stones on Willow Row in Derby on Saturday night.

When the police officer had asked Charles his name he had told him that it was George Wood.  A witness came and said that his mother was drinking in the public house and so the P.C and Charles went to see her.  Once with his mother Charles asked her to confirm that his name was George Wood to which she replied “of course it is”. 

She later admitted that the name and address that Charles had given were both incorrect.

Young Charles was kept in remand until the next day and afterwards the Bench promised to find him “a better home than he had”.

*Lesson to boys –

More juveniles were in trouble this week; William Swift and some of his friends were in trouble with P.C Hambley because they were hanging about on the corner of St James’ Street in Derby.  They were causing a nuisance of themselves and blocking the way for many passers-by.

William was ordered to pay the court costs of 4s.

*Drunken women –

Ann Lynch was drunk in Beetwell Street on 29th March.  She was fined 5s and costs.  Ann lived at Silkmill Yard in Chesterfield.

Catherine Marney was drunk in St Mary’s Gate on 30th March.  Whilst she was intoxicated she broke 7 panes of glass which belonged to Catherine McDermott.  She was fined 5s and costs and also ordered to pay the costs of repairing the damage she had caused.

MARRIAGES –

*Mr James Clarke foundry labourer of Ironville to Miss Elizabeth Hall daughter of Mr Henry Hall of Alfreton, on 28th March at the Baptist Church, Swanwich

DEATHS –

*Florence Mycock 8 months, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Mycock at Buxton on 31st March

*Ellen Stringer aged 23 years at Whittington on 26th March

*John Taylor aged 55 years at East View, Whittington on 29th March

*Isaac Roe aged 6 years at Barker Lane, Brampton on 29th March

*John Turnell aged 73 years at Hipper Street, Brampton on 1st April

*Mr Humphrey Goodwin aged 73 years at Brook House, Wessington on 21st March

*Frances Beatrice Sandys aged 38 years, wife of Captain Stair Sandys at Duffield, Derby on 1st April

*Margaret Bouskill aged 63 years, wife of George Bouskill at Broad Walk Terrace, Barlborough on 27th March

SPORT –

*Football –

Spital V Nottingham Forest

The weather was better this week and a good crowd turned out to watch this game played at the Spital ground.

During the first half the Spital team had an advantage as the wind was blowing their way.  They made many attempts at the goal and eventually Evans scored for the local team.  The goal keeper for Nottingham Forest was however reported to have been an excellent goal keeper which could not be denied by the home team. 

Soon into the second half and Spital scored once more.  Nottingham Forest did manage one goal and the game, the last in the season for Spital ended 2-1 to the home team.

Spital’s team –

Teesdale (Captain), Evans, Bishop, Houseley, Norman, Walker, H Wilkinson,

Hindle, Gregory, Woodcock and Green (goal)

Nottingham Forest’s team –

Goodyear (Captain), Turner, Johnson, W Luntley, Maddocks, J. Luntley, Jardine

Rothern, E. Luntley, Cabron and Sands (goal)

AND FINALLY…

Lorenzo Gothard ran his business from Low Pavement, Chesterfield.  He had several departments including; Gas fitting, glazing, rain water goods, zinc, plumbing, India rubber and even a licensed victuallers department.  Lorenzo really did have the market covered.

At the end of his advertisement in the Derbyshire Times 5th April 1879 page7 he gave the following words of wisdom to his patrons –

“During frosty weather it is advisable for persons

using Hot Water Baths to rake the fire and keep the

water in circulation to prevent explosion”






[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Martin's_Day

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