A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1907
CONFINEMENT ON THE CHEAP
THE DANGER OF FLANNELETTE AND NO FIREGUARD
CONFINEMENT ON THE CHEAP
You could not go into the workhouse unless you were destitute, and even
then the Guardians would try to recover the money from someone else if
they could. They also didn't like admitting a person from another Union
(area). Lillian Baxter, said to be from Featherstone originally (and
thus belonging to the Pontefract Union) broke both these rules.
She
had been admitted to the Wakefield Workhouse Infirmary and when she
left she was summonsed in March charged with making false statements in
order to obtain relief. The case was the first of its kind against a
woman and the Guardians said they brought it as a warning to others.
The evidence at Wakefield Court was she applied on January 7 to be
admitted to the workhouse as she was going to be confined and her father
and mother were both dead. She said she was born in Normanton (part of
the Wakefield Union) and at the age of 15 had gone into service in
Lancashire. At the time of her application she said she had been in
service in Bradford, the father of her child was a Castleford man called
Wilson, and as soon as he found out about her condition he cleared off.
Mr Leeson, for the Guardians, said he had made inquiries about Wilson
and found the allegation was false, also it was her fourth child. Baxter
undoubtedly belonged to Featherstone and she had been living with Percy
Martin in lodgings in Castleford where they stayed as man and wife. The
Guardians had been put to the expense of £3 15s 9d and they had asked
Baxter to stay at the workhouse until Martin was found but she left, and
the Guardians could not sue Martin for the money unless she was an
inmate.
The clerk to the court suggested to Lillian Baxter she should go back
into the workhouse so the Guardians could get the money off Martin. She
refused, and the chairman asked her if she had any other children and
she said no, and she intended putting the baby out (to adoption) and
going back to work in service in Bradford.
The chairman said "I am afraid you don't see this thing in a serious
light at all. There is a responsibility resting upon both you and the
man. People do not pay rates and taxes for the upkeep of the workhouse
for such people as you. There is really too much of it. You must be
taught a lesson. I only wish the young man was here. It is quite evident
you were going to dodge Mr Leeson and the Guardians". Lillian said "I
did not do it for dodging at all and I am not going back into the
workhouse for any man". She was fined 17s or 14 days in prison.
In April Emma Hirst, the two years old daughter of John Hirst of Rose Cottage, Featherstone
Lane, went downstairs in her nightdress at 7am while her mother was
still in bed. Mrs Hirst was woken by screams and went downstairs to find
Emma in flames. She took off her own nightdress to smother the flames
as it was the only material to hand and sent for Dr Steven. There was
little he could do and Emma died the same afternoon. The inquest jury
decided the accident was caused by a spark from the fire onto a
flannelette nightdress. There was no fireguard.
Another inquest was held the same month on Minnie Cuthbert, the
five years old daughter of George Cuthbert who lived in George Street. Mr
Cuthbert told the jury he heard screams at 8.45am and he leapt out of
bed to find Minnie on the stairs with her flannelette nightdress in
flames. He put out the flames and sent for Dr Steven who sent Minnie to
Pontefract Dispensary. There was only a small fire but no fireguard.
Alice Lindsay, matron, and Dr Poole, resident medical officer, said
the case was hopeless because of the extensive burns and shock, and
Minnie died at 1.30am the next morning. The coroner said the two facts
in most of the burning fatalities he inquired into were the wearing of
flannelette and no fireguard. Had there been a guard this fatality would
not have happened.
ACCIDENT OR NATURAL CAUSES
An inquest was held in April in the North Featherstone Gospel Hall on
Sydney Brain aged 40 of Sun Court, North Featherstone. The coroner was
Major Arundel and the cause of death was of interest to James Mellors,
mines inspector, and Mr T Beach, manager of Snydale Colliery, and both
attended.
His mother, Beata Brain, came from Mitchell Down in Gloucestershire to
identify the body and she said she had not seen him for 15 months. She
thought he had married because she received letters from him ending from
her and him. When she found out at the inquest that he was merely
living with a woman she was very upset.
Elizabeth Davis said she was not the deceased's wife but had
lived with him for two years. He came home from work on Tuesday morning,
April 10, and said he had injured his right hand with a pick. The wound
was small but very inflamed and he could not go back to work so he got a
note from the doctor to throw on the club.
On the doctor's advice he bathed the would several times but on
Wednesday night he became very ill and the doctor was sent for at 6am
on Thursday morning. The doctor's assistant arrived at 10am and Mr Brain
died 15 minutes later.
The
coroner asked if there had been anything particularly the matter with
the deceased before the accident. Dr Buncle said he complained of
stomach pains, and Dr Steven said he had seen the deceased several times
after accidents and as far as he knew he was strong.
Dr Steven said Mr Brain came to the surgery on the Wednesday
morning and showed him an abrasion on the right hand. The skin was just
scratched and the wound was a very trivial one. At 7am on Thursday he
received a message, not urgent, to call. The assistant called. After a
post mortem examination he (Dr Steven) found a slight swelling on the
hand, and two scratches which did not go through the skin. There was no
enlargement of the glands of the elbow or armpit and there was no pus on
the wound. He examined the brain, heart etc and in his opinion the
cause of death was heart disease.
The coroner asked him if there was anything found to accelerate
death and Dr Steven replied he had no evidence and he was of the
opinion there was not. At this point Elizabeth Davis handed a
certificate to the coroner. He took the certificate and told her to
leave, which she did, but he did not say why.
The coroner then handed the certificate to Dr Steven and asked him if
it was his signature. Dr Steven said it was a certificate for a sick
club and one of his assistants had signed it. The injury was described
as a lacerated, poisoned hand.
The coroner asked Dr Steven if he could explain why it was given as a
poisoned hand if it was not. The doctor replied he couldn't because he
was only told about the note yesterday. The mines inspector then butted
in to say if there had been any trace of poison the doctor would have
found pus on the wound. The jury then gave their verdict in accordance
with Dr Steven's evidence ie heart disease.
This meant it wasn't a colliery accident and no compensation was due,
and the mines inspector would not have to include it in his annual
report.
A FEATHERSTONE GAMBLING SCHOOL
THE OPENING OF ACKTON HOSPITAL
The official name of the hospital at Ackton was the Normanton and
District Joint Isolation Hospital. That was too much of a mouthful for
the locals so it was always Ackton Hospital or simply the fever
hospital. It was built so those unfortunate enough to catch typhoid
fever, scarlet fever or diphtheria could be isolated from the general
public and thus stop the spread into an epidemic.
The
buildings were officially opened on April 25 by Alderman A Hartley JP,
the chairman of the joint committee. There were representatives there
from all the places the hospital was to cover - Altofts, Castleford,
Featherstone, Normanton and Whitwood.
Those
from Featherstone were Major Shaw JP CC and Mrs Shaw, Mr R Holiday JP,
chairman of Featherstone Council, and Mrs Holiday, Cr and Mrs Darlington, Cr
Beach, Cr and Mrs Maxwell, Cr and Mrs Keith, Cr and Mrs Poppleton, Cr
and Mrs Walker, Cr Edwards, Dr Buncle, medical officer, Mr Rothera,
surveyor, and Mrs and the Misses Rothera, and Mr and Mrs Freeman.
Ald Hartley said they would now have the opportunity of seeing what
they had provided, and after the inspection they would agree the
committee had looked well to the interests of the ratepayers. The
committee were formed under an order of the county council on 11 January
1899 and comprised four representatives from Castleford, three from
Normanton, two from Featherstone and one each from Altofts and Whitwood.
He said the committee had got absolutely the best possible site, both
from pleasantness of situation and easy access. The nine acres of land
were purchased in 1900 for £1,700, an extremely reasonable price. The
site was confirmed in July 1901 after a public inquiry and Mr W H
Fearnley was appointed as the architect.
His plans were approved in 1902 and the estimated cost was £16,000. A loan was obtained from the county council and to date £16,600 had been expended but the cost had been underestimated. The grounds had to be laid out and furnishings bought, and the total cost including the site would be about £19,860. The capital cost would be shared by the districts in the ratio of their populations and would be £1,270 a year. In 30 years the buildings would be paid for. The administration costs would come from the rates and the cost of keeping patients would be borne by the district which sent them.
There would be 40 beds at first and there was room for 80. No provision was made for an epidemic, but it was hoped providing prompt isolation would prevent that happening. The hospital staff was Dr Mackenzie, medical superintendent, Miss O'Brien of Liverpool was the matron, and there were a deputy superintendent, two charge nurses, eight assistant nurses, four probationers, two ward maids, a cook, a housemaid, a kitchen maid, engineer, porter and portress.
The committee had not provided for smallpox and he suggested another hospital be built as near as possible and the same staff could run both. He hoped the committee's efforts to stop the spread of disease, and to comfort and restore patients committed to their charge would be completely successful, and he hoped the committee would earn the approval and appreciation of the ratepayers.
Mr Fearnley then presented Ald Hartley with a gold key as a memento of the occasion. Major Shaw proposed a vote of thanks and said now they only needed the patients. The company then inspected the whole of the buildings and had tea in the administration block.
So Featherstone Council had to find their share of the capital costs, the interest and the administration costs out of the rates. The only item outstanding was the cost of keeping patients in the hospital. The joint committee informed the council in July these cost had been fixed at 1s 6d per day for a scarlet fever patient, and 5s per day for a typhoid or diphtheria patient.
The council considered passing the daily cost on to the relatives of patients, but on learning this was not done by the other authorities they decided not to do so.
The photo below of Ackton Hospital is from the Featherstone Heritage Group.
His plans were approved in 1902 and the estimated cost was £16,000. A loan was obtained from the county council and to date £16,600 had been expended but the cost had been underestimated. The grounds had to be laid out and furnishings bought, and the total cost including the site would be about £19,860. The capital cost would be shared by the districts in the ratio of their populations and would be £1,270 a year. In 30 years the buildings would be paid for. The administration costs would come from the rates and the cost of keeping patients would be borne by the district which sent them.
There would be 40 beds at first and there was room for 80. No provision was made for an epidemic, but it was hoped providing prompt isolation would prevent that happening. The hospital staff was Dr Mackenzie, medical superintendent, Miss O'Brien of Liverpool was the matron, and there were a deputy superintendent, two charge nurses, eight assistant nurses, four probationers, two ward maids, a cook, a housemaid, a kitchen maid, engineer, porter and portress.
The committee had not provided for smallpox and he suggested another hospital be built as near as possible and the same staff could run both. He hoped the committee's efforts to stop the spread of disease, and to comfort and restore patients committed to their charge would be completely successful, and he hoped the committee would earn the approval and appreciation of the ratepayers.
Mr Fearnley then presented Ald Hartley with a gold key as a memento of the occasion. Major Shaw proposed a vote of thanks and said now they only needed the patients. The company then inspected the whole of the buildings and had tea in the administration block.
So Featherstone Council had to find their share of the capital costs, the interest and the administration costs out of the rates. The only item outstanding was the cost of keeping patients in the hospital. The joint committee informed the council in July these cost had been fixed at 1s 6d per day for a scarlet fever patient, and 5s per day for a typhoid or diphtheria patient.
The council considered passing the daily cost on to the relatives of patients, but on learning this was not done by the other authorities they decided not to do so.
The photo below of Ackton Hospital is from the Featherstone Heritage Group.
A FEATHERSTONE GAMBLING SCHOOL
Five Featherstone men were charged in May with gambling with coins. PC
Helliwell said he was hidden near Henrietta Street at 12 noon on a
Sunday in plain clothes, and about 20 yards away he saw the defendants
gaming at toss with three tossing and the others betting. He gave chase
along with Sgt Thurlwell and PC Moorhouse but they couldn't catch
anybody.
PC Moorhouse gave similar evidence and he was cross-examined in very
loud tones by William Cuthbert who contradicted everything he said.
After bearing with him for some time the chairman threatened to sent
Cuthbert out of the courtroom if he did not behave himself.
Thomas Day said he had been in the Featherstone Main Athletic Club,
the Featherstone Hotel and the Jubilee Hotel and he didn't know where
Henrietta Street was and he had been in Featherstone over ten years.
James Whalley said he was with Thomas Day the whole time. He said he had
lived in Featherstone 20 years and did not know where Henrietta Street
was.
Richard Edwards called his mother as a witness. She said he did not
get up until 12.30 and some time after he went out to look after some
hens. She knew where Henrietta Street was because she lived only 20
yards away from it. She had been in Featherstone 40 years but did not
know the names of many streets.
The chairman said there was some doubt about the case against Day and
Edwards and they would be dismissed. William Davis (one previous
conviction) was fined 12s 6d, William Cuthbert (26 convictions but the
last for gaming in 1897) was fined 10s, and John Edwards (six
convictions - all gaming) was fined 17s.
A PURSTON GAMBLING SCHOOL
On the same day as the above another 19 Featherstone and Purston
miners were charged with gaming in Purston. William Riley was charged
with aiding and abetting (acting as lookout).
PC Moorhouse said on Sunday at 3pm he was with Sgt Thurlwell
and PC's Helliwell and Outram in Leatham's Plantation. By the aid of
field glasses he saw the defendants gaming at toss. George Foster first
tossed a coin and the others bet on the result. He watched them for
about 50 minutes, during which time they moved up the road, made several
stoppages, and formed rings. Thomas Foster and Sam Hollis tossed in
turns. He followed them until they got into Ackworth Road where he saw
William Riley. He was then spotted and Riley shouted "Heigh up, the
bobbies are coming". He had been about 50 yards from the gamblers and
had shared his glasses with the other two constables. He did not know
any of the defendants by name.
Sgt Thurlwell bore out this statement and said he had never lost sight
of any of the defendants. All the police were in plain clothes. Under
cross-examination he stuck to his evidence that he knew all the
defendants. PC's Helliwell and Outram also gave evidence.
Thomas Baker said he had gone for a walk with two of the others and he
never saw a ha'penny tossed. Four other defendants said they had only
gone for a walk and did no gambling. William Riley denied even being
with the party. The only independent witness was Gertrude Price who said
she saw most of the defendants in Ackworth Road but they were not
gaming.
The Bench decided to convict and the fines were according to previous
convictions and varied from 9s 3d or seven days in jail, to £1 8s 9d or
one month.
EDUCATION IN 1907
In January the inspector's report on North Featherstone Lane School (Gordon
Street) said the teachers were not used to the best advantage, there
should be more opportunities for teaching for the pupil teachers, and
discipline in the senior school standard five was weak. In the infants
unauthorised teachers were in charge of classes of 61 and 72 in rooms
only designed for 50 pupils. The education sub-committee decided to take
action to put these matters right.
The county council had asked for particulars of defective children who
were considered suitable for special treatment. The committee knew of
four and Messrs Higgins and Rogers would interview them and the clerk
would make inquiries about the father's income. Mr Boffy, attendance
officer, asked for a new uniform. It was agreed to supply a suit,
overcoat and cap.
At the May meeting Major Shaw did not attend so Alf Higgins took the
chair. Mr Greenhill of Purston School was granted six months leave of
absence owing to illness. It was stated he was going into a sanatorium.
There was a running dispute between the county council and the
committee about the need for another school in Gordon Street. The county council said there had to be one but the Featherstone sub-committee
objected because of the extra burden on Featherstone ratepayers.
Featherstone Council sent a letter to the sub-committee suggesting if
all the 285 children under five were taken away from the schools there
would be enough room without a new school.
Mr Higgins took extreme umbrage and in effect said the council should
keep their noses out of education matters as this committee was quite
capable of dealing with them. He did not see why their business should
come before the council in any shape or form. He had been connected with
education in the district for 25 years but if it was thought the sub-committee was not capable he would resign his position. He moved
they did not entertain anything on the matter from the council.
He was seconded by Mr Rogers, but Mr Darlington said he hoped the
chairman would not take it the council wished in any way to override
them. They had the sole purpose of strengthening their hand. Mr Beach
said the council resolution had not been passed in any hostile spirit,
but simply to show the county council the urban council intended taking
every possible step to defeat the scheme. If by withdrawing children
under five the necessity for a new infants' school could be obviated the
case against the county council would be all the stronger.
Mr Maxwell supported Mr Beach and said no slight on the sub-committee
was intended, and he had voted for the council resolution because he
thought it would help the committee. He quite agreed the committee
should deal with all education matters. Mr Higgins said he was quite
prepared to accept the explanations offered and he withdrew his
proposal.
At the June meeting Alf Higgins was elected chairman. it was noted attendance at the evening classes was falling off and it was decided not to have a class if there were less than 20 students.
Mr Maxwell said he favoured the council's suggestion to remove the children under five and then there would be enough room in the schools. Mr Holiday agreed. He said they could not compel children under five to attend so he did not see why they should provide free accommodation.
Two weeks later the council and the education sub-committee held a joint meeting at which it was agreed to find out just how many pupils were in Featherstone and how many school places were available, and ask the Board of Education if it was intended to hold an inquiry. Another joint meeting was held in August to consider a reply from the Board of Education which said the county council's requirements for a new school were necessary and would be carried out and no inquiry would be held.
Yet another joint meeting was held in September. Mr Holiday presided and he said they had got no further with all their correspondence. A letter to Mr J C Rickett MP had brought the reply the Board of Education were satisfied about the increase in population. He (Mr Holiday) would like to know where they had got their figures from. The only proper figures were those given by the medical officer in his report for 1906 in which he estimated the population at 14,500, and said the increase since 1900 had not been so great as in the previous ten years. There was not likely to be much increase in Featherstone, and those acquainted with the collieries knew there would be very little increase in output in the next seven or eight years and after that probably no increase at all. They were perfectly justified in asking the Board of Education where they had obtained their figures.
Mr Maxwell said is it not a fact the schools are overcrowded? Major Shaw replied it was simply because they were badly arranged. Mr Maxwell said if we are overcrowded either additional classrooms or something is required. Mr Makin said they were all agreed something should be done but not to the extent of a large school. They all objected to the county council's scheme but he did not think they could do anything further seeing the Board of Education had put their foot down. Mr Holiday said I am afraid it is so; we can talk but it makes no difference.
It was agreed to ask for the population figures used by the Board of Education, but Mr Holiday closed the meeting by saying when they had done all, the school would have to come and they had better make the best of a bad job and take steps to get a local architect appointed.
The education sub-committee held their own meeting in September. The Express report was "After criticising the West Riding Education Authority at nearly every meeting for the past year the Featherstone Education Sub-committee, following the line taken some time ago by their Knottingley neighbours, have come out on strike as a protest against the authority's laying down of the law. The chairman, raising a bundle of papers in the air, observed with some sarcasm, the North Featherstone Lane ashpit, gentlemen. Some time ago the local committee decided the ashpit at the North Featherstone Lane School was in need of repair. They communicated with the authority, and the result was at the last meeting of the local authority a letter from the county authority was read out stating their architect had been instructed to supervise the provision of a new ashpit at a cost not exceeding £12. At this meeting Mr Darlington proposed if the authority insisted on doing the work at the price named the committee should refuse to have anything to do with the repairs, and let the authority attend to them themselves. After the chairman had said the work could be done locally for half the price, and other members had protested, the resolution was unanimously carried".
The reply from the authority was their surveyor would still do the work at a cost not exceeding £12. The surveyor had been prepared to put in an iron bin at a cost of £3 10s but the local authority did not want a bin. After a noisy few minutes in which they still considered the work could be done locally much cheaper Mr Darlington proposed the committee do no further business until a satisfactory reply was received from the authority. Mr Waller seconded. The chairman asked if he meant they do no business of any kind. Mr Darlington said that was his intention. The chairman was a bit dubious about it but Mr Darlington insisted on a vote which was unanimous in favour.
The strike didn't last and at the November meeting a long discussion took place on the unsatisfactory attendance returns. Mr Maxwell said it was ridiculous to expect children of three years to attend school in the recent miserable weather. The clerk said some girls between 10 and 13 years were constantly absenting themselves saying they were ill. The committee decided to recommend to the authority they appoint a doctor to periodically examine the children.
At the June meeting Alf Higgins was elected chairman. it was noted attendance at the evening classes was falling off and it was decided not to have a class if there were less than 20 students.
Mr Maxwell said he favoured the council's suggestion to remove the children under five and then there would be enough room in the schools. Mr Holiday agreed. He said they could not compel children under five to attend so he did not see why they should provide free accommodation.
Two weeks later the council and the education sub-committee held a joint meeting at which it was agreed to find out just how many pupils were in Featherstone and how many school places were available, and ask the Board of Education if it was intended to hold an inquiry. Another joint meeting was held in August to consider a reply from the Board of Education which said the county council's requirements for a new school were necessary and would be carried out and no inquiry would be held.
Yet another joint meeting was held in September. Mr Holiday presided and he said they had got no further with all their correspondence. A letter to Mr J C Rickett MP had brought the reply the Board of Education were satisfied about the increase in population. He (Mr Holiday) would like to know where they had got their figures from. The only proper figures were those given by the medical officer in his report for 1906 in which he estimated the population at 14,500, and said the increase since 1900 had not been so great as in the previous ten years. There was not likely to be much increase in Featherstone, and those acquainted with the collieries knew there would be very little increase in output in the next seven or eight years and after that probably no increase at all. They were perfectly justified in asking the Board of Education where they had obtained their figures.
Mr Maxwell said is it not a fact the schools are overcrowded? Major Shaw replied it was simply because they were badly arranged. Mr Maxwell said if we are overcrowded either additional classrooms or something is required. Mr Makin said they were all agreed something should be done but not to the extent of a large school. They all objected to the county council's scheme but he did not think they could do anything further seeing the Board of Education had put their foot down. Mr Holiday said I am afraid it is so; we can talk but it makes no difference.
It was agreed to ask for the population figures used by the Board of Education, but Mr Holiday closed the meeting by saying when they had done all, the school would have to come and they had better make the best of a bad job and take steps to get a local architect appointed.
The education sub-committee held their own meeting in September. The Express report was "After criticising the West Riding Education Authority at nearly every meeting for the past year the Featherstone Education Sub-committee, following the line taken some time ago by their Knottingley neighbours, have come out on strike as a protest against the authority's laying down of the law. The chairman, raising a bundle of papers in the air, observed with some sarcasm, the North Featherstone Lane ashpit, gentlemen. Some time ago the local committee decided the ashpit at the North Featherstone Lane School was in need of repair. They communicated with the authority, and the result was at the last meeting of the local authority a letter from the county authority was read out stating their architect had been instructed to supervise the provision of a new ashpit at a cost not exceeding £12. At this meeting Mr Darlington proposed if the authority insisted on doing the work at the price named the committee should refuse to have anything to do with the repairs, and let the authority attend to them themselves. After the chairman had said the work could be done locally for half the price, and other members had protested, the resolution was unanimously carried".
The reply from the authority was their surveyor would still do the work at a cost not exceeding £12. The surveyor had been prepared to put in an iron bin at a cost of £3 10s but the local authority did not want a bin. After a noisy few minutes in which they still considered the work could be done locally much cheaper Mr Darlington proposed the committee do no further business until a satisfactory reply was received from the authority. Mr Waller seconded. The chairman asked if he meant they do no business of any kind. Mr Darlington said that was his intention. The chairman was a bit dubious about it but Mr Darlington insisted on a vote which was unanimous in favour.
The strike didn't last and at the November meeting a long discussion took place on the unsatisfactory attendance returns. Mr Maxwell said it was ridiculous to expect children of three years to attend school in the recent miserable weather. The clerk said some girls between 10 and 13 years were constantly absenting themselves saying they were ill. The committee decided to recommend to the authority they appoint a doctor to periodically examine the children.
The authority had sent a circular suggesting meetings of managers,
parents and teachers, and the sending of reports to parents. Mr Murphy
said it was time something was done to create more interest between
parents and scholars. A good many parents had no idea of the work their
children did. If they could only visit the schools they would have some
sympathy with the children at home. In a colliery district the majority
of people regretted the children could not go to work earlier. If when a
child was about 12 years old the parents could visit the school and see
the possibilities of the child's learning, then they might become less
selfish and resolve to give the child a better opportunity than working
in a mine.
A BETTING DISPUTE
In July Arthur Cook of Mount Pleasant Street sued John Banks of
Aberdeen Terrace for £3 2s 6d. Arthur Cook conducted his own case and
John Banks was assisted by Mr Clayton-Smith, solicitor. Arthur Cook said
on May 4 he was in the Green Lane Club. A discussion arose about the
strike at Ackton Hall Colliery a few years ago. He bet three men (Eli
Adamson, Samuel Pearce and John Sharp) that during the strike the men
did not receive strike pay. His Honour said "And am I to try that?"
Arthur Cook said yes which caused much hilarity in court.
Mr Cook went on to say he had given the money to John Banks to hold and
pay it over to the other parties if he was proved to be wrong. He had
bet John Sharp £1 to 10s, Eli Adamson £1 to 10s, and Sam Pearce 2s 6d to
2s 6d and £1 to 5s. He had been a member of the miners' union for many
years and had tried to get the matter settled, but he had failed.
Mr Clayton-Smith admitted John Banks still had the money but it was
burning a hole in his pocket. He did not want to keep it, he just wanted
to pay it to whom it belonged. Judge Dodd said he could not decide
bets, and the best course would have been for the defendant to have paid
the money into court.
John Banks said as soon as Arthur Cook found out he had lost the bets
he asked for his money back and the three others also asked for it. The
judge raised the point whether a man who regretted his bet could get the
money back from the stakeholder before the bet had been determined. Mr
Clayton-Smith said the bets had been determined when Arthur Cook asked
for his money back, and he also contended it was a gaming transaction,
and under the Gaming Act Arthur Cook could not recover the money.
Arthur Cook said the bets had not been decided. It was understood they
should get information from the late secretary of the miners' branch at
Featherstone (Mr S Earnshaw), and this information should settle the
bet. Mr Earnshaw had written to Barnsley but nothing satisfactory had
been obtained although Mr Earnshaw had told him in his opinion he had
won the bet. He was not a bookmaker nor was he an all-round sporting
man. He disputed it was agreed John Banks should settle the matter nor
was it agreed John Bank's decision after making inquiries should settle
the bet. He claimed nothing was mentioned about anyone making inquiries,
but it was certainly understood Mr Earnshaw should decide. John Banks
was not to receive any of the money.
At this point John Banks said he had told Arthur Cook many times he was wrong about the strike pay. His Honour, "Has he told you that?" Cook, "Yes". His Honour, "It would be then you wanted your money back?" That caused more laughter. Cook, "As the bets had not been decided I understood it was off". His Honour said what he had to decide was not who had won the bets, but if the person who had to settle the bets had given his decision before Arthur Cook asked for his money back.
John Banks then gave his version of the conversation in the Green Lane Club. He said there were 30 or 40 men present and he was chosen to hold the money. His Honour, "You were the most trusted person". Mr Clayton-Smith, "And he has got the money yet". More laughter in court. John Banks said he was told to make inquiries and all the parties said they would stand by his decision. Arthur Cook had told him anything he decided would be alright by him. He had asked many people at the colliery and they all said Arthur Cook was wrong. He did not want the money and he would be glad to get rid of it. He would have paid it over long ago to the winners if Arthur Cook had not told him he would sue him for the money if he did.
Eli Adamson gave evidence about John Banks being chosen to settle the bets. He said Arthur Cook would have no one else. His Honour, "He was the only honest man?" Adamson, "Yes". At this point the whole court including the judge fell about laughing.
His Honour said he was now satisfied that Banks was appointed to make the inquiries, and whether he was right or wrong he had made the inquiries and given his decision. The point he was now considering was whether Cook could ask for his money back seeing it had not been paid over. This was a point of law and he would adjourn his decision until the following morning.
The next day the judge said there was no doubt Banks had been chosen to inquire, and he had inquired, and had decided Cook had lost. Cook disputed this decision and claimed to have his stake back. The question was whether the law allowed him, now the event had been determined against him, to repudiate the bet and get his stake back. Cook could have repudiated the transaction and recovered his stake if there had been no determination of the bet. After consideration of the authorities he (the judge) found a repudiation made at any time before the money was actually paid away by the stakeholder was in time. This was clear from the case of Hastelow v Jackson and others. There would therefore be judgement for the plaintiff for £3 2s 6d and his costs of 5s. The facts were as stated by the witnesses for the defence - so far as there was a dispute of facts - and therefore he awarded no costs beyond the 5s to Cook who succeeded solely on the point of law raised. With regard to the morality of getting the bet back he had nothing to say. The law allowed it and the plaintiff claimed it.
What the Green Lane Cub members had to say on Arthur Cook not paying out on a lost bet is not recorded.
At this point John Banks said he had told Arthur Cook many times he was wrong about the strike pay. His Honour, "Has he told you that?" Cook, "Yes". His Honour, "It would be then you wanted your money back?" That caused more laughter. Cook, "As the bets had not been decided I understood it was off". His Honour said what he had to decide was not who had won the bets, but if the person who had to settle the bets had given his decision before Arthur Cook asked for his money back.
John Banks then gave his version of the conversation in the Green Lane Club. He said there were 30 or 40 men present and he was chosen to hold the money. His Honour, "You were the most trusted person". Mr Clayton-Smith, "And he has got the money yet". More laughter in court. John Banks said he was told to make inquiries and all the parties said they would stand by his decision. Arthur Cook had told him anything he decided would be alright by him. He had asked many people at the colliery and they all said Arthur Cook was wrong. He did not want the money and he would be glad to get rid of it. He would have paid it over long ago to the winners if Arthur Cook had not told him he would sue him for the money if he did.
Eli Adamson gave evidence about John Banks being chosen to settle the bets. He said Arthur Cook would have no one else. His Honour, "He was the only honest man?" Adamson, "Yes". At this point the whole court including the judge fell about laughing.
His Honour said he was now satisfied that Banks was appointed to make the inquiries, and whether he was right or wrong he had made the inquiries and given his decision. The point he was now considering was whether Cook could ask for his money back seeing it had not been paid over. This was a point of law and he would adjourn his decision until the following morning.
The next day the judge said there was no doubt Banks had been chosen to inquire, and he had inquired, and had decided Cook had lost. Cook disputed this decision and claimed to have his stake back. The question was whether the law allowed him, now the event had been determined against him, to repudiate the bet and get his stake back. Cook could have repudiated the transaction and recovered his stake if there had been no determination of the bet. After consideration of the authorities he (the judge) found a repudiation made at any time before the money was actually paid away by the stakeholder was in time. This was clear from the case of Hastelow v Jackson and others. There would therefore be judgement for the plaintiff for £3 2s 6d and his costs of 5s. The facts were as stated by the witnesses for the defence - so far as there was a dispute of facts - and therefore he awarded no costs beyond the 5s to Cook who succeeded solely on the point of law raised. With regard to the morality of getting the bet back he had nothing to say. The law allowed it and the plaintiff claimed it.
What the Green Lane Cub members had to say on Arthur Cook not paying out on a lost bet is not recorded.
A GERMAN ACROBAT AND THE POLICE
The spectators at the Featherstone Main Colliery Athletic Club Sports
held in August had an unscheduled treat at the end of the flat races
when a man walked into the arena pushing his bicycle and carrying two
chairs. It was later found out he was a German acrobat and it seemed he
intended putting on an act before the cycle races got under way. He was not part of the official proceedings but for about an hour he became the star turn.
Mr Darlington went into the arena and told the interloper he must get
out because the cycle races were about to start, but maybe Mr
Darlington's German wasn't all that good because he took no notice and
went on with his act. PC D'Arcy tried to remove him but he was
overpowered. The spectators though it was all good fun and egged the
German on, but when he saw two more policemen approaching he mounted his
cycle and rode round the arena with a local bobby chasing him.
The trick cyclist found it difficult riding over the lines strung out
for the racing lanes so he got off his cycle and began pulling up the
stakes the lines were attached to. When the policemen got near him he
jumped on his cycle and dodged in and out among the crowd who had by now
spilled into the arena and were preventing the police from capturing
him.
But one police sympathiser pushed a stake in the front wheel of the
cycle and brought the German off. The police grabbed him and thought
they now had their man, but with help from the crowd he was off again
and for about 20 minutes he managed to evade capture cheered by the
spectators who booed the police.
Eventually he ran into the competitors' dressing tent and was cornered.
Some spectators still tried to obstruct the police and were warned
about their conduct. A minute or two later the German entertainer
appeared in handcuffs with two constables. Once they were clear of the
field and most of the crowd, the police thought it was the end of the
trouble, but the German broke open the handcuffs and handed them to
Sergeant Thurlwell and ran off followed by many spectators.
At last he admitted defeat and pulled up saying he was willing to go
with the police and he was taken to Purston Police Station where he gave
his name as Weldeck Pierpont. He was charged with damaging the stakes
and chords and with assaulting PC D'Arcy.
In court he said he had served in the Dutch navy but was now out of
work so he did as other acrobats did and tried to earn some money at
sports and football matches. He admitted he had also caused disturbances
at Wibsey and Goole.
He was fined £1 and costs on each charge and the chairman spoke of the
abominable attitude adopted by the spectators in upholding a stranger
against their own police. He said if any of the ringleaders were brought
before him he would certainly be prepared to commit them without the
option of a fine.
The Featherstone police probably thought it wouldn't do much for their
future relations locally if anyone was sent to jail for what everyone
there considered a bit of fun, so although they had warned some people
no further charges were brought.
THE FIRE BRIGADE
In February the council went out for quotes for 12 firemen's tunics
and helmets, and agreed to buy overalls at 5s 6d a pair, and 300 yards
of hose. Nothing had been done about extending the fire station
and by April the estimated cost had gone up to £200. But good news was J
Bullock and Sons had said they would accept one shilling a week as a
retaining fee for horses for the fire engine. In July the Local
Government Board agreed to the council borrowing £286 for the fire
station extensions.
The first real test for the new fire brigade came in August when a 70
tons haystack in the fields at Purston Hall was found to be smouldering.
Both Featherstone and Pontefract Fire Brigades were called and they had
to cut away much of the stack to get to the seat of the trouble, and in
the end practically all the stack was dismantled. The Pontefract
Brigade left after four hours but the Featherstone team stayed for 25
hours. They had only been gone for four hours when the police called
them back again for another long stint. In the end the stack was mostly
useless but was insured for £300.
This one fire cost the council a lot of money in wages and a special
meeting was called. Cr Waller said there had been two serious haystack
fires and the council had been told they could recover nothing from the
insurance companies or the owners. He was opposed to spending money on
which there was no return and the money spent on extending the fire
station and fire service would be a constant drain on the council's
finances. He suggested they should come to some arrangement about using
the Ackton Hall Colliery Brigade. Cr Maxwell said they never knew where
their men were and they would be better off with the colliery firemen.
Cr Holiday said there were problems in the way of such an agreement.
The Ackton Hall Brigade was not now on offer and there was the
difficulty of insurance. However, the meeting voted in favour of not
extending the fire station. Cr Darlington said this did not mean that
the fire brigade was disbanded.
A photo from the original Featherstone Local History Group. The cost
of Major Shaw's haystack fire is shown by the account below, provided by
Ian Dransfield.
THE CONVALESCENT FUND
A meeting of those concerned with the Convalescent Fund was held in August. Major Shaw said he would
travel down from Barnard Castle but he did not arrive so Dr Steven took
his place. He said the fund was an entirely charitable one. The object
was to assist those who could not help themselves, and they could
scarcely estimate the blessing of it to those who were enabled to make a
short stay at the seaside.
He was sorry to say since January only £16 had been received and
nearly £25 spent. He thought they might reasonably appeal to the working
men's clubs to do more. Surely if Brotherton with a population of 1,100
could raise £40 in boxes on behalf of Pontefract Dispensary,
Featherstone with a population of 11,000 could raise more that £10 in
that time. He would also ask churchmen to give one collection a year to
the fund; this he begged in the name of charity. He noticed one of the
27 persons who had benefited from the fund had then contributed 11s. He
asked the other 26 to try and contribute 2s 6d each, with a view to
helping other poor persons to benefit as they had done.
Then there were the miners who had been working well for two years.
Featherstone Colliery provided for its own workmen when sick and did
handsomely. Would representatives of the Ackton and Snydale Collieries
make one collection a year for the fund on behalf of the women and
children? There could be no better object and none of them knew when
their turn might come to need the help of the fund.
Mr H V Chapman, Captain Ruel of the Salvation Army, Mr J Watson and Mr J
Waller also made pleas for more giving. Mr Waller regretted the absence
of Major Shaw and the vicars of both Featherstone and Purston. He said
if Lord Masham's workmen would contribute 6d each, which meant giving up
a pint of ale and an ounce of tobacco only, he would give £5. If they
would give 1s each he would give £10. he was very sorry the mining
population did not take the matter seriously.
DISPUTE OVER AN OLD PIANO
A piano was the cause of a court case at Pontefract held by Judge
Benson in November. The plaintiffs were Hilton & Co, pianoforte
merchants, and the defendant was Fred Shaw, auctioneer, furniture broker
and certified bailiff at Featherstone. The claim was for £10 10s.
William Sullivan, a traveller for Hilton & Co, said on March 7 a miner named Walter Garner, then of Earle Street, purchased a second-hand piano for £10 10s on the hire purchase system with a monthly payment of 5s. On subsequent occasions he had visited Earle Street and the piano was still there but his firm had not received a penny in payment. In August he heard the piano had been sold under a distress warrant for rent. Mr C Lowden, for Shaw, then asked if the piano was anything more then a bundle of strings with some old wood round. Mr Sullivan said yes, but when asked the age of the piano he could not say. Mr Lowden said "It would be before your birth; could you tell us". Mr Sullivan said he would rather not, but then admitted it could be. He said he did not expect the piano to sell for £10 10s at an auction sale, but 32s 6d (the price realised) was a very low price for it.
William Ribbons, a cashier for Hilton & Co, said Mr Shaw visited their offices after receiving a letter from them asking him to give a full account of the sale and the reason for it. Mr Ribbons accused Mr Shaw of taking the piano in preference to some of his own goods which he had let Mr Garner have on hire-purchase. He said Mr Shaw replied he would have been a fool to distrain on his own goods.
He then took Mr Shaw to Mr Scrivens' office and there Mr Shaw offered to pay 9s 6d, the amount left over after the rent (11s) and the expenses of the sale had been paid, if Hilton & Co would give him a full discharge of the matter of the piano in writing. Mr Scrivens refused to do this.
Mr Lowden said Hilton & Co had failed to make out conversion of goods, and had not proved excessive distraint. They had no evidence as to the value of the piano, only what it was sold for to Garner. Mr Shaw did everything openly, advertising the sale in the Express, a paper with a very large circulation, and had been very frank with Hilton & Co about the matter.
Mr Shaw said he was the agent for the Featherstone Main Colliery Co and he received a warrant from Mr Bell of the company to distrain on Garner's goods for rent owed. He had let Garner have some household furniture for his son and an employee removed these the day before he executed the warrant. This was on August 7 and Garner had left the house the previous Saturday leaving the key in the lock. When he got into the house there was nothing there but the piano. He valued it at £1 and thought he had got a very good price when he sold it for 32s 6d. He did not know it belonged to Hilton & Co until he received their letter. He offered to give them the balance if they would indemnify him from any action on Garner's part (ie if Garner also claimed the balance), and he was quite willing to pay it now.
After legal arguments His Honour said he was not convinced there had been any illegal distraint. Mr Shaw had removed his goods first, and he could not say this was illegal, as to whether it was morally right he would not say. He (the judge) thought 32s 6d was a reasonable price for the piano and this was the only article left in the house. There was however the question of the balance and he found there had been excessive distraint and he would give judgement for 9s 6d with costs.
William Sullivan, a traveller for Hilton & Co, said on March 7 a miner named Walter Garner, then of Earle Street, purchased a second-hand piano for £10 10s on the hire purchase system with a monthly payment of 5s. On subsequent occasions he had visited Earle Street and the piano was still there but his firm had not received a penny in payment. In August he heard the piano had been sold under a distress warrant for rent. Mr C Lowden, for Shaw, then asked if the piano was anything more then a bundle of strings with some old wood round. Mr Sullivan said yes, but when asked the age of the piano he could not say. Mr Lowden said "It would be before your birth; could you tell us". Mr Sullivan said he would rather not, but then admitted it could be. He said he did not expect the piano to sell for £10 10s at an auction sale, but 32s 6d (the price realised) was a very low price for it.
William Ribbons, a cashier for Hilton & Co, said Mr Shaw visited their offices after receiving a letter from them asking him to give a full account of the sale and the reason for it. Mr Ribbons accused Mr Shaw of taking the piano in preference to some of his own goods which he had let Mr Garner have on hire-purchase. He said Mr Shaw replied he would have been a fool to distrain on his own goods.
He then took Mr Shaw to Mr Scrivens' office and there Mr Shaw offered to pay 9s 6d, the amount left over after the rent (11s) and the expenses of the sale had been paid, if Hilton & Co would give him a full discharge of the matter of the piano in writing. Mr Scrivens refused to do this.
Mr Lowden said Hilton & Co had failed to make out conversion of goods, and had not proved excessive distraint. They had no evidence as to the value of the piano, only what it was sold for to Garner. Mr Shaw did everything openly, advertising the sale in the Express, a paper with a very large circulation, and had been very frank with Hilton & Co about the matter.
Mr Shaw said he was the agent for the Featherstone Main Colliery Co and he received a warrant from Mr Bell of the company to distrain on Garner's goods for rent owed. He had let Garner have some household furniture for his son and an employee removed these the day before he executed the warrant. This was on August 7 and Garner had left the house the previous Saturday leaving the key in the lock. When he got into the house there was nothing there but the piano. He valued it at £1 and thought he had got a very good price when he sold it for 32s 6d. He did not know it belonged to Hilton & Co until he received their letter. He offered to give them the balance if they would indemnify him from any action on Garner's part (ie if Garner also claimed the balance), and he was quite willing to pay it now.
After legal arguments His Honour said he was not convinced there had been any illegal distraint. Mr Shaw had removed his goods first, and he could not say this was illegal, as to whether it was morally right he would not say. He (the judge) thought 32s 6d was a reasonable price for the piano and this was the only article left in the house. There was however the question of the balance and he found there had been excessive distraint and he would give judgement for 9s 6d with costs.
THE BOND BROTHERS AND THE POLICE
Brothers Joshua and Seneca Bond were in court in November. Joshua was
charged with being drunk and disorderly and Seneca had five charges -
using obscene language, assaulting PC D'Arcy, assaulting PC Moorhouse,
and damaging the uniform of both constables.
PC Helliwell told the court that at about 6pm he saw Joshua Bond standing on the footpath near the Railway Hotel drunk. From a few yards away he could hear him say "I am not ---- well going until I have had another ---- drink, you ----". PC Helliwell asked him for his name and address but he refused to give it so he arrested him. When they had gone about 20 yards Seneca tried to pull his brother away. He also refused to give his name. He eventually got Joshua to the Police Station.
Charles Walshaw Umpleby, landlord of the Railway Hotel, said Joshua was in the hotel from four o'clock, and at six o'clock he asked him to leave because he thought he had had enough to drink, in fact at 6pm on Friday he asked all men in their pit clothes to leave.
PC D'Arcy confirmed PC Helliwell's evidence and said when he tried to get Seneca away he knocked his helmet off and trod on it. He closed with Seneca but was thrown to the ground. His trousers were torn and a piece of skin was knocked off his right knee. After another struggle he got the handcuffs on but Seneca wrapped his legs round him and threw him to the ground again. He estimated the damage to his uniform at 17s. When cross-examined he denied he had pushed Seneca away violently but he admitted the damage to his helmet could have been accidental.
Joseph Wood, a billiard marker, said he saw Seneca with his legs wrapped round the policeman and he went to the policeman's aid and knelt on Seneca's legs, but he was also kicked by Seneca. PC Moorhouse eventually came and he was thrown to the ground by Seneca. Mr Lowden said "Amongst you Seneca had a good time?" Mr Wood replied "I don't know, I didn't ask him, but I did".
PC Moorhouse confirmed what the previous witnesses had said and told the court they eventually overcame Seneca and had to take him to the Police Station in a milk float.
Joshua Bond said when he came out of the Railway Hotel he was not drunk, he had used no bad language when PC Helliwell came up to him and said "What do they call thee lad?" He replied "What dus tha want ta know for?", whereupon the policeman handcuffed him and took him to the Police Station.
Seneca Bond said he had never been charged with any offence before. He went to the hotel to fetch his brother and take him home. He (Seneca) was only five feet three inches in height and was not a fighting man. He confirmed Joshua's evidence as to his (Joshua's) arrest, and said when he remonstrated with PC D'Arcy the constable knocked him down. He admitted refusing to give Joshua's name and address. He said D'Arcy handcuffed him and all he did was resist being locked up. He did not assault either D'Arcy or Moorhouse and he did not damage their uniforms.
Fred Shaw, a Featherstone auctioneer, said he knew the brothers, more particularly Seneca, as respectable men. He saw all that took place and was of the opinion the police were entirely unjustified in making the arrest. Joshua was not drunk and no foul language was used. Seneca was pushed down by D'Arcy and then handcuffed. Seneca was violent, but only in trying to avoid being locked up. He did not assault D'Arcy or Moorhouse, or damage their uniforms.
His evidence was confirmed by William Patrick of Featherstone, but the Bench believed the police version and Joshua Bond was fined 12s 6d and his brother Seneca's five charges cost him £4 16s.
The council were told by the county council the tarmac experiment would be 100 yards each of tarred macadam, tarred limestone, and tarred granite from the bottom of Station Lane towards Wakefield. Cr Poppleton raised the emptying of privies. He said they were only emptied when full and he thought they should be emptied on a regular basis. The surveyor said subsidence at the Mill Hill reservoir between Streethouse and Snydale was now so great it could only hold 7ft 6ins of water instead of the original 15 feet. Roslyn Holiday was appointed chairman.
Non-union men at Ackton Hall Colliery had long been a source of irritation to those men who had joined the union. The union men voted by 799 to 70 in favour of giving 14 days notice in an attempt to resolve the issue.
MAY Three schoolchildren were in court for stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery. The parents were ordered to appear and the chairman said they were quite satisfied the mothers ordered the children to steal the coal. The children were let off with a caution, but two mothers were fined 5s. The other tried to brazen it out and was fined 10s.
The telephone company said they would accept £15 15s a year instead of £25 for the same facilities. The council agreed to send particulars of Featherstone's notifiable diseases to Ackton Hospital so they could apportion the accommodation. Major Shaw said he hoped Featherstone would have nothing to do with a joint smallpox hospital as they had already spent a large sum on their own.
John Jones was in court for bookmaking. PC Helliwell said he saw him in Green Lane taking money off men and writing on slips of paper. Mr Jones ran into a house in Pretoria Street and the constable was refused entry. Mr Jones denies the charge and when asked why he had run off he said I can run if I like. He had two previous convictions and was fined 5s.
Joe Armitage brought his number of fines up to 22 by refusing to quit the Jubilee Hotel and using obscene language.
Robert Johnson Shaw was presented with a gold watch by officials and workmen in the Ackton Hall Colliery Haigh Moor Seam when he left as their undermanager to be manager at Snydale Colliery.
JUNE Tinley Simpson was presented with an illuminated address and a gold guard on his retirement as Purston Church choirmaster after 30 years.
An inquest was held on Alfred Wrigg aged 24 of Gladstone Terrace, a byeworker at Featherstone Main Colliery, who was fatally injured by a large stone which fell from the roof. He died the next day in Clayton Hospital. The jury decided it was accidental death.
Wakefield Corporation sent a letter to the council saying the water had been analysed and it was of exceptional purity, and few towns in the United Kingdom had so fine a supply. Cr Darlington said the residents went by the smell and in the mornings it had a bad smell.
George Henry Paul was fined 16s for Sunday trading. He was a travelling photographer and was caught taking photographs in a shop in Station Lane and taking money for them, and also causing obstruction by standing in the doorway inviting people to go inside.
Farmer Thomas Holliday was charged with having unjust weights. It was said all his weights were a few ounces light. He said they were only used for holding sacks down and propping the door open but he was fined 5s.
During a quarrel Isaac Baxter of Featherstone Square hit his grown-up son with a poker and a saucepan. In court Isaac said his son was 24 and would not work. When asked by the Bench why he did not turn him out he said "I can't. He is nearly six foot and weighs 14 stones". The chairman said it was a serious matter and sent Isaac to prison for one month.
Ben Ward, a screener who lived in Purston, threw his cap in front of a bicycle ridden by Edward Raynor, a schoolteacher, who was thrown over the handlebars and he sprained both wrists. Ward was fined 5s and had to pay 10s for the damage to the bicycle.
JULY Willie Greaves age 34 was employed at Ackton Hall Colliery coke ovens until March. He was married to Eliza Ellen, the daughter of Ephram Shenton of Duke Street, and she died in January 1906 leaving him with three children, one of whom died. He left Featherstone to go to Sheffield with his son Sidney age four and his daughter Hilda age two.
He was put up at the assizes in Leeds for the murder of his daughter and the jury found him guilty of wilful murder under great provocation (not explained). The judge sentenced him to death and said he would convey the view of the jury to the proper quarter. The Home Secretary decided the provocation justified changing the sentence to life imprisonment.
Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance team were first out of ten teams at the annual competition of the St John Ambulance Brigade Ravensthorpe Division. As well as the silver cup each member received a gold mounted umbrella.
The Council agreed to lay water on at the fairground at 5d per van and 5s per engine.
Inquests were held on Joe Lindley aged 54 of North Featherstone, who was killed by a fall of coal at Ackton Hall Colliery, and on John Hill of Pretoria Street, who was killed by a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery. The juries decided both deaths were from misadventure.
When the signal lamps at the station had been lit one exploded and set fire to the others. The blaze was put out by the station's own fire brigade before it could spread to other station buildings.
Samuel Church of Hall Street, Purston, was out of work. His landlady found him in the kitchen with his throat cut. Fortunately Dr Finch was next door and was able to attend to him. The wound was not too serious and he was taken by PC Bonner to Pontefract Workhouse Infirmary. At a later court hearing he was discharged and handed over to the care of friends.
About 500 people went on the Featherstone Main Colliery trip to Liverpool, and about another 2,000 went on the Ackton Hall Colliery trip to Blackpool. The last train arrived back at Featherstone Station at 4.30am the next morning.
AUGUST The Council gave permission for the old Purston Wesleyan Chapel in Hall Street to be converted to dwelling houses although some councillors pointed out the air space between the buildings at the back was six inches less than required by the building regulations. The photos of the converted chapel and its plaque are personal ones.
The medical officer reported Purston Infants' School had been closed because of chicken pox. Cr Maxwell objected to the site of the new allotments in Purston because they would be near his house. He said he had spent £1,000 on the property.
An inquest was held on Harry Bolton, the 22 months old child of William Bolton the curator at the cemetery. He had a convulsion and died before Dr Thomas arrived. The doctor said the convulsion was caused by acute gastritis which might have been caused by dentition or eating plums. The verdict was natural causes.
The Featherstone Main Athletic Club cricket team had won the Pontefract and District League, and at the annual dinner it was announced they would play in the Yorkshire Council next season. Major Shaw said no effort would be spared to make the ground equal to any in Yorkshire for club cricket. A soccer club was to be formed and there were also a miniature rifle range and a library.
Thomas Carter had asked for his daughter to be sent by the court to an industrial school because he could not control her. She was sent to a home in Leeds for five years and he was to pay the maximum cost of 5s a week. He offered to pay 3s but Supt Hollis said his average wage for six weeks was £2 9s 4d. Thomas Carter said some weeks he only took home 15s but he was ordered to pay the full amount.
An inquest was held on Emma, daughter of Matthew and Harriet Wright of Sun Court. The mother said the child became ill and she took her into her bed but she died. The baby had been breast fed and also given watered down milk and a bread crust and biscuit. She had eight other living children and four who had died. Some of the children had given the baby chips and half a plum. Dr Steven said a post mortem showed pieces of chips and plum skin in the stomach which were impossible to be digested in so young a child. Death was due to convulsions consequent on indigestible food, and the verdict was according to the medical evidence.
OCTOBER Phoebe Smith, of no fixed abode, was arrested for bring drunk and disorderly and was locked up in Purston Police Station overnight. In court the next day she was found to be in a filthy state and her hair was "wick". She was sent to the workhouse where her hair was cut off.
William Yates was sent to prison for one month for punching and kicking PC Outram who was attempting to quieten him down as he was causing a disturbance outside the Jubilee Hotel. The constable had to blow his whistle for assistance and PC's Wright and Bonner arrived to arrest Yates.
At the council meeting Cr Sides said parents sometimes came to the offices to inquire about their children in the hospital but it could take a long time to get through on the phone. It was suggested the matron should phone the offices each morning and a list could be posted on the door of the offices.
Hugh Leonard Kersey was cycling along North Featherstone Lane when he was thrown off by stones spread by the council but not yet rolled. He sued for £2 10s damage to his clothes and bicycle. Mr Lowden for the council admitted the stones were there but said it was an ordinary repair to the road. The judge asked Mr Bentley, for the plaintiff, where the negligence was. Mr Bentley said in leaving the stones unrolled. The judge said it was only in the last 20 years the roads had been rolled at all and stopped the case. At the next council meeting it was agreed to fix red lights at road works.
There was more flooding in Wakefield Road. The council agreed to fit check valves on the sewers to prevent the water backing up into the homes.
John Waller entertained 40 of his tenants to tea at the Junction Hotel to celebrate his 79th birthday.
James Ashlin Garner was secretary of the Pride of Featherstone Lodge of the National Equalised Druids Friendly Society. He forged a receipt with Dr Steven's signature for £5 6s, and two weeks later went to the offices in Leeds to say eight Featherstone members had been seriously injured in a pit accident and as the local funds were low he needed some money. He was given £5. His books were examined and he was found to be short by nearly £60. He had left the district but was arrested at Tyldesley in Lancashire. At Leeds Assizes he was sentenced to nine months in jail.
The third annual dinner of the Featherstone Flower, Vegetable and Athletic Society was held in the Railway Hotel. Alf Higgins said if half the money earned in Featherstone was spent there, the shopkeepers would be in a much better position than they were. They could sell things quite as cheaply as Pontefract tradesmen. Mr A G Bell said all they wanted was plenty of money earned and wet Saturdays. Mr Bailey the stationmaster, said the station trade in 1889 was 41,845 tons. Last year it was 1,019,663 tons. Passengers for the same years were 69,833 and 148,433.
DECEMBER The council had a letter from the coroner suggesting a mortuary be provided in Featherstone. Cr Darlington said it would not be used once in six months, and it was agreed to let the letter lie on the table.
The building of public baths cropped up again. Cr Edwards proposed the surveyor should prepare plans saying most people had to go to Pontefract for a bath. (Hardly any house had a bathroom and the emphasis was on cleanliness rather than swimming). he said council baths would pay for themselves and he did not think they would cost more than £2,000. Cr Sides said the cost would be more like £10,000. It was agreed to refer the matter to a committee.
An inquest was held on Leonard Poppleton age 35 of Featherstone Lane who was found dead in bed. Dr Steven said the deceased's heart was the largest he had seen and the valves were diseased which meant death could be sudden. The verdict was natural causes.
Mr S Batten's son was lighting the gas jets in the window of his shop and the taper caught the Christmas trimmings. In a few moments the window was ablaze but the fire was quickly put out by Mr Batten and neighbours.
PC Helliwell told the court that at about 6pm he saw Joshua Bond standing on the footpath near the Railway Hotel drunk. From a few yards away he could hear him say "I am not ---- well going until I have had another ---- drink, you ----". PC Helliwell asked him for his name and address but he refused to give it so he arrested him. When they had gone about 20 yards Seneca tried to pull his brother away. He also refused to give his name. He eventually got Joshua to the Police Station.
Charles Walshaw Umpleby, landlord of the Railway Hotel, said Joshua was in the hotel from four o'clock, and at six o'clock he asked him to leave because he thought he had had enough to drink, in fact at 6pm on Friday he asked all men in their pit clothes to leave.
PC D'Arcy confirmed PC Helliwell's evidence and said when he tried to get Seneca away he knocked his helmet off and trod on it. He closed with Seneca but was thrown to the ground. His trousers were torn and a piece of skin was knocked off his right knee. After another struggle he got the handcuffs on but Seneca wrapped his legs round him and threw him to the ground again. He estimated the damage to his uniform at 17s. When cross-examined he denied he had pushed Seneca away violently but he admitted the damage to his helmet could have been accidental.
Joseph Wood, a billiard marker, said he saw Seneca with his legs wrapped round the policeman and he went to the policeman's aid and knelt on Seneca's legs, but he was also kicked by Seneca. PC Moorhouse eventually came and he was thrown to the ground by Seneca. Mr Lowden said "Amongst you Seneca had a good time?" Mr Wood replied "I don't know, I didn't ask him, but I did".
PC Moorhouse confirmed what the previous witnesses had said and told the court they eventually overcame Seneca and had to take him to the Police Station in a milk float.
Joshua Bond said when he came out of the Railway Hotel he was not drunk, he had used no bad language when PC Helliwell came up to him and said "What do they call thee lad?" He replied "What dus tha want ta know for?", whereupon the policeman handcuffed him and took him to the Police Station.
Seneca Bond said he had never been charged with any offence before. He went to the hotel to fetch his brother and take him home. He (Seneca) was only five feet three inches in height and was not a fighting man. He confirmed Joshua's evidence as to his (Joshua's) arrest, and said when he remonstrated with PC D'Arcy the constable knocked him down. He admitted refusing to give Joshua's name and address. He said D'Arcy handcuffed him and all he did was resist being locked up. He did not assault either D'Arcy or Moorhouse and he did not damage their uniforms.
Fred Shaw, a Featherstone auctioneer, said he knew the brothers, more particularly Seneca, as respectable men. He saw all that took place and was of the opinion the police were entirely unjustified in making the arrest. Joshua was not drunk and no foul language was used. Seneca was pushed down by D'Arcy and then handcuffed. Seneca was violent, but only in trying to avoid being locked up. He did not assault D'Arcy or Moorhouse, or damage their uniforms.
His evidence was confirmed by William Patrick of Featherstone, but the Bench believed the police version and Joshua Bond was fined 12s 6d and his brother Seneca's five charges cost him £4 16s.
1907 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY The council wanted to take a water main through the station
subway. The railway company said they would lay it in 12 inches of
concrete under the lines if the council would drop its proposal for a
bridge at the Middle Lane crossing. The council decided to accept this
offer.
The council agreed to ask Wakefield Corporation to alter the water
agreement to a minimum of 100,000 gallons a day and the maximum to
300,000 and to reduce the price by a half-penny per 1,000 gallons. Cr
Sides said the water was too hard. Cr Major said it was because of the
chemicals added to counteract the lead pipes in Wakefield.
In a discussion about the salary of the rates collector Cr Makin said
of Cr Shaw, he ruled the roost, the church, the pubs, the clubs, and he
wanted to rule the council. Cr Shaw was greatly amused by this
statement.
Mrs Barber, wife of John Barber, a blacksmith in North Featherstone Lane, put her washing on the clothes horse round the fire before going to bed. They were woken up at 5am to find the house full of smoke and the clothes horse on fire. Three children were lowered through the window to safety. The flames were confined to the kitchen where considerable damage was done.
PC Moorhouse told Pontefract Court he saw James Turner walking away from the Railway Hotel trying to get a pint pot into his pocket. He took him back into the hotel and Charles Umpleby, the landlord, identified it as his property. The constable said the pot had not been used. James Turner claimed he was going to see friends off at the station and he had taken the pot with him. He was fined 30s after the constable said there were many complaints from public houses regarding the theft of glasses and other small items.
Albert Humphrey aged 17, son of James Humphrey who was a checkweighman at Ackton Hall Colliery and lived in Masham's Square, had left Featherstone to be a blacksmith's apprentice in Ardsley. He was knocked down by a train and killed.
Henry Isherwood, a pony driver, was fined 10s for chalking on the shop front of Henry Wardman's in Station Lane. He said he was only showing another lad how to do a sum.
Herbert Mellor, Simpson Hepworth and Tom Nash were fined £3 8s 8d including costs and damage for throwing rotten eggs at girls leaving the evening classes at Regent Street School.
FEBRUARY An inquest was held on Mary Ann Godber aged 46 who was papering a staircase and fell off a plank. She was taken to Leeds Infirmary where she died. The verdict was death due to inflammation of the spinal chord.
The police notified the officials of the Coronation Club that the club was not registered. The maximum penalty was £100 a day so the club decided to close until it was sorted out.
Farmer Thomas Holliday sued the South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth Colliery Company for £4 10s 6d damage caused to his wheat growing next to Featherstone Main Colliery because of fumes from the tip and water overflowing from the reservoir. Mr Bentley, for Mr Holliday, said Featherstone Main Colliery had been taken over by the new company. Mr Perks, for the company, said there was no legal amalgamation of the colliery with the South Kirkby Company and they were not liable. The case was adjourned to allow Mr Holliday to include John Shaw in his claim.
The council decided to write to the National Telephone Company to ask the lowest price at which they would continue the service. It was discussed if it was to be a public phone and if so should it be on the council premises and should it be a slot system. The matter was left with the clerk.
Sam Johnson of no fixed abode was in court summonsed for begging in Ivy Street. PC Moorhouse said he had great difficulty in getting him to the police station and a large crowd gathered. Johnson was sent to prison for 14 days for vagrancy and one month for assaulting the constable. He was fined 6s 6d for damage to a police helmet which he had jumped on, and 10s for obscene language. There would be another 14 days in prison if the fines were not paid.
Major Shaw was unopposed for the election of Featherstone's representative on the West Riding County Council.
Residents in parts of Purston were woken up at midnight by the house shaking and furniture rattling. It was thought a minor earthquake was the cause.
MARCH Dennis Bullock was fined 2s 6d for allowing his cart, laden with coal, to remain in Station Lane from 11.45am to 4.15pm. He said he had lent his cart to someone else to remove some coal.
The council agreed to write to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company about them leaving wagons containing horse manure or decomposing material in the station yard, because there had been complaints about the bad smell. The company agreed not to leave more than one wagon at any one time.
Joshua Dickinson was sent to prison for one month for stealing a hen and three chickens valued at 5s from Edwin Pashley, a Purston farmer, He admitted the offence and said he was drunk at the time. There were 21 previous convictions including 16 for drunk and disorderly.
The results of the Council elections were:
Purston Ward - Tom Waller 207, A Makin 203, Mr Hough 148.
South Ward - Mr Poppleton 167, F G Green 141.
Snydale and Ackton Ward - Mr Keith 231, Mr Murphy 115.
North Ward - Tommy Sides unopposed.
APRIL Charles Griffiths lived in Short Street and was employed by the council as a labourer. One afternoon while he was working with three men at the sewage works he tried to suffocate himself by stuffing a handkerchief into his throat. When they tried to grab him he jumped into a tank which normally contained four feet of water but at this time only had 18 inches and he was pulled out. The police were sent for and he was taken to Pontefract to be examined by a doctor who certified him as of unsound mind so he was taken to the asylum.
Mrs Barber, wife of John Barber, a blacksmith in North Featherstone Lane, put her washing on the clothes horse round the fire before going to bed. They were woken up at 5am to find the house full of smoke and the clothes horse on fire. Three children were lowered through the window to safety. The flames were confined to the kitchen where considerable damage was done.
PC Moorhouse told Pontefract Court he saw James Turner walking away from the Railway Hotel trying to get a pint pot into his pocket. He took him back into the hotel and Charles Umpleby, the landlord, identified it as his property. The constable said the pot had not been used. James Turner claimed he was going to see friends off at the station and he had taken the pot with him. He was fined 30s after the constable said there were many complaints from public houses regarding the theft of glasses and other small items.
Albert Humphrey aged 17, son of James Humphrey who was a checkweighman at Ackton Hall Colliery and lived in Masham's Square, had left Featherstone to be a blacksmith's apprentice in Ardsley. He was knocked down by a train and killed.
Henry Isherwood, a pony driver, was fined 10s for chalking on the shop front of Henry Wardman's in Station Lane. He said he was only showing another lad how to do a sum.
Herbert Mellor, Simpson Hepworth and Tom Nash were fined £3 8s 8d including costs and damage for throwing rotten eggs at girls leaving the evening classes at Regent Street School.
FEBRUARY An inquest was held on Mary Ann Godber aged 46 who was papering a staircase and fell off a plank. She was taken to Leeds Infirmary where she died. The verdict was death due to inflammation of the spinal chord.
The police notified the officials of the Coronation Club that the club was not registered. The maximum penalty was £100 a day so the club decided to close until it was sorted out.
Farmer Thomas Holliday sued the South Kirkby, Featherstone and Hemsworth Colliery Company for £4 10s 6d damage caused to his wheat growing next to Featherstone Main Colliery because of fumes from the tip and water overflowing from the reservoir. Mr Bentley, for Mr Holliday, said Featherstone Main Colliery had been taken over by the new company. Mr Perks, for the company, said there was no legal amalgamation of the colliery with the South Kirkby Company and they were not liable. The case was adjourned to allow Mr Holliday to include John Shaw in his claim.
The council decided to write to the National Telephone Company to ask the lowest price at which they would continue the service. It was discussed if it was to be a public phone and if so should it be on the council premises and should it be a slot system. The matter was left with the clerk.
Sam Johnson of no fixed abode was in court summonsed for begging in Ivy Street. PC Moorhouse said he had great difficulty in getting him to the police station and a large crowd gathered. Johnson was sent to prison for 14 days for vagrancy and one month for assaulting the constable. He was fined 6s 6d for damage to a police helmet which he had jumped on, and 10s for obscene language. There would be another 14 days in prison if the fines were not paid.
Major Shaw was unopposed for the election of Featherstone's representative on the West Riding County Council.
Residents in parts of Purston were woken up at midnight by the house shaking and furniture rattling. It was thought a minor earthquake was the cause.
MARCH Dennis Bullock was fined 2s 6d for allowing his cart, laden with coal, to remain in Station Lane from 11.45am to 4.15pm. He said he had lent his cart to someone else to remove some coal.
The council agreed to write to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company about them leaving wagons containing horse manure or decomposing material in the station yard, because there had been complaints about the bad smell. The company agreed not to leave more than one wagon at any one time.
Joshua Dickinson was sent to prison for one month for stealing a hen and three chickens valued at 5s from Edwin Pashley, a Purston farmer, He admitted the offence and said he was drunk at the time. There were 21 previous convictions including 16 for drunk and disorderly.
The results of the Council elections were:
Purston Ward - Tom Waller 207, A Makin 203, Mr Hough 148.
South Ward - Mr Poppleton 167, F G Green 141.
Snydale and Ackton Ward - Mr Keith 231, Mr Murphy 115.
North Ward - Tommy Sides unopposed.
APRIL Charles Griffiths lived in Short Street and was employed by the council as a labourer. One afternoon while he was working with three men at the sewage works he tried to suffocate himself by stuffing a handkerchief into his throat. When they tried to grab him he jumped into a tank which normally contained four feet of water but at this time only had 18 inches and he was pulled out. The police were sent for and he was taken to Pontefract to be examined by a doctor who certified him as of unsound mind so he was taken to the asylum.
The council were told by the county council the tarmac experiment would be 100 yards each of tarred macadam, tarred limestone, and tarred granite from the bottom of Station Lane towards Wakefield. Cr Poppleton raised the emptying of privies. He said they were only emptied when full and he thought they should be emptied on a regular basis. The surveyor said subsidence at the Mill Hill reservoir between Streethouse and Snydale was now so great it could only hold 7ft 6ins of water instead of the original 15 feet. Roslyn Holiday was appointed chairman.
Non-union men at Ackton Hall Colliery had long been a source of irritation to those men who had joined the union. The union men voted by 799 to 70 in favour of giving 14 days notice in an attempt to resolve the issue.
MAY Three schoolchildren were in court for stealing coal from Ackton Hall Colliery. The parents were ordered to appear and the chairman said they were quite satisfied the mothers ordered the children to steal the coal. The children were let off with a caution, but two mothers were fined 5s. The other tried to brazen it out and was fined 10s.
The telephone company said they would accept £15 15s a year instead of £25 for the same facilities. The council agreed to send particulars of Featherstone's notifiable diseases to Ackton Hospital so they could apportion the accommodation. Major Shaw said he hoped Featherstone would have nothing to do with a joint smallpox hospital as they had already spent a large sum on their own.
John Jones was in court for bookmaking. PC Helliwell said he saw him in Green Lane taking money off men and writing on slips of paper. Mr Jones ran into a house in Pretoria Street and the constable was refused entry. Mr Jones denies the charge and when asked why he had run off he said I can run if I like. He had two previous convictions and was fined 5s.
Joe Armitage brought his number of fines up to 22 by refusing to quit the Jubilee Hotel and using obscene language.
Robert Johnson Shaw was presented with a gold watch by officials and workmen in the Ackton Hall Colliery Haigh Moor Seam when he left as their undermanager to be manager at Snydale Colliery.
JUNE Tinley Simpson was presented with an illuminated address and a gold guard on his retirement as Purston Church choirmaster after 30 years.
An inquest was held on Alfred Wrigg aged 24 of Gladstone Terrace, a byeworker at Featherstone Main Colliery, who was fatally injured by a large stone which fell from the roof. He died the next day in Clayton Hospital. The jury decided it was accidental death.
Wakefield Corporation sent a letter to the council saying the water had been analysed and it was of exceptional purity, and few towns in the United Kingdom had so fine a supply. Cr Darlington said the residents went by the smell and in the mornings it had a bad smell.
George Henry Paul was fined 16s for Sunday trading. He was a travelling photographer and was caught taking photographs in a shop in Station Lane and taking money for them, and also causing obstruction by standing in the doorway inviting people to go inside.
Farmer Thomas Holliday was charged with having unjust weights. It was said all his weights were a few ounces light. He said they were only used for holding sacks down and propping the door open but he was fined 5s.
During a quarrel Isaac Baxter of Featherstone Square hit his grown-up son with a poker and a saucepan. In court Isaac said his son was 24 and would not work. When asked by the Bench why he did not turn him out he said "I can't. He is nearly six foot and weighs 14 stones". The chairman said it was a serious matter and sent Isaac to prison for one month.
Ben Ward, a screener who lived in Purston, threw his cap in front of a bicycle ridden by Edward Raynor, a schoolteacher, who was thrown over the handlebars and he sprained both wrists. Ward was fined 5s and had to pay 10s for the damage to the bicycle.
JULY Willie Greaves age 34 was employed at Ackton Hall Colliery coke ovens until March. He was married to Eliza Ellen, the daughter of Ephram Shenton of Duke Street, and she died in January 1906 leaving him with three children, one of whom died. He left Featherstone to go to Sheffield with his son Sidney age four and his daughter Hilda age two.
He was put up at the assizes in Leeds for the murder of his daughter and the jury found him guilty of wilful murder under great provocation (not explained). The judge sentenced him to death and said he would convey the view of the jury to the proper quarter. The Home Secretary decided the provocation justified changing the sentence to life imprisonment.
Ackton Hall Colliery ambulance team were first out of ten teams at the annual competition of the St John Ambulance Brigade Ravensthorpe Division. As well as the silver cup each member received a gold mounted umbrella.
The Council agreed to lay water on at the fairground at 5d per van and 5s per engine.
Inquests were held on Joe Lindley aged 54 of North Featherstone, who was killed by a fall of coal at Ackton Hall Colliery, and on John Hill of Pretoria Street, who was killed by a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery. The juries decided both deaths were from misadventure.
When the signal lamps at the station had been lit one exploded and set fire to the others. The blaze was put out by the station's own fire brigade before it could spread to other station buildings.
Samuel Church of Hall Street, Purston, was out of work. His landlady found him in the kitchen with his throat cut. Fortunately Dr Finch was next door and was able to attend to him. The wound was not too serious and he was taken by PC Bonner to Pontefract Workhouse Infirmary. At a later court hearing he was discharged and handed over to the care of friends.
About 500 people went on the Featherstone Main Colliery trip to Liverpool, and about another 2,000 went on the Ackton Hall Colliery trip to Blackpool. The last train arrived back at Featherstone Station at 4.30am the next morning.
AUGUST The Council gave permission for the old Purston Wesleyan Chapel in Hall Street to be converted to dwelling houses although some councillors pointed out the air space between the buildings at the back was six inches less than required by the building regulations. The photos of the converted chapel and its plaque are personal ones.
 |
James Cartwright was sent to prison for one month for assaulting PC
D'Arcy who had attempted to arrest him in Featherstone Square for being
drunk and disorderly and using bad language.
An inquest was held on Harry Bolton, the 22 months old child of William Bolton the curator at the cemetery. He had a convulsion and died before Dr Thomas arrived. The doctor said the convulsion was caused by acute gastritis which might have been caused by dentition or eating plums. The verdict was natural causes.
The Featherstone Main Athletic Club cricket team had won the Pontefract and District League, and at the annual dinner it was announced they would play in the Yorkshire Council next season. Major Shaw said no effort would be spared to make the ground equal to any in Yorkshire for club cricket. A soccer club was to be formed and there were also a miniature rifle range and a library.
Thomas Carter had asked for his daughter to be sent by the court to an industrial school because he could not control her. She was sent to a home in Leeds for five years and he was to pay the maximum cost of 5s a week. He offered to pay 3s but Supt Hollis said his average wage for six weeks was £2 9s 4d. Thomas Carter said some weeks he only took home 15s but he was ordered to pay the full amount.
An inquest was held on Emma, daughter of Matthew and Harriet Wright of Sun Court. The mother said the child became ill and she took her into her bed but she died. The baby had been breast fed and also given watered down milk and a bread crust and biscuit. She had eight other living children and four who had died. Some of the children had given the baby chips and half a plum. Dr Steven said a post mortem showed pieces of chips and plum skin in the stomach which were impossible to be digested in so young a child. Death was due to convulsions consequent on indigestible food, and the verdict was according to the medical evidence.
OCTOBER Phoebe Smith, of no fixed abode, was arrested for bring drunk and disorderly and was locked up in Purston Police Station overnight. In court the next day she was found to be in a filthy state and her hair was "wick". She was sent to the workhouse where her hair was cut off.
William Yates was sent to prison for one month for punching and kicking PC Outram who was attempting to quieten him down as he was causing a disturbance outside the Jubilee Hotel. The constable had to blow his whistle for assistance and PC's Wright and Bonner arrived to arrest Yates.
At the council meeting Cr Sides said parents sometimes came to the offices to inquire about their children in the hospital but it could take a long time to get through on the phone. It was suggested the matron should phone the offices each morning and a list could be posted on the door of the offices.
Hugh Leonard Kersey was cycling along North Featherstone Lane when he was thrown off by stones spread by the council but not yet rolled. He sued for £2 10s damage to his clothes and bicycle. Mr Lowden for the council admitted the stones were there but said it was an ordinary repair to the road. The judge asked Mr Bentley, for the plaintiff, where the negligence was. Mr Bentley said in leaving the stones unrolled. The judge said it was only in the last 20 years the roads had been rolled at all and stopped the case. At the next council meeting it was agreed to fix red lights at road works.
There was more flooding in Wakefield Road. The council agreed to fit check valves on the sewers to prevent the water backing up into the homes.
John Waller entertained 40 of his tenants to tea at the Junction Hotel to celebrate his 79th birthday.
James Ashlin Garner was secretary of the Pride of Featherstone Lodge of the National Equalised Druids Friendly Society. He forged a receipt with Dr Steven's signature for £5 6s, and two weeks later went to the offices in Leeds to say eight Featherstone members had been seriously injured in a pit accident and as the local funds were low he needed some money. He was given £5. His books were examined and he was found to be short by nearly £60. He had left the district but was arrested at Tyldesley in Lancashire. At Leeds Assizes he was sentenced to nine months in jail.
The third annual dinner of the Featherstone Flower, Vegetable and Athletic Society was held in the Railway Hotel. Alf Higgins said if half the money earned in Featherstone was spent there, the shopkeepers would be in a much better position than they were. They could sell things quite as cheaply as Pontefract tradesmen. Mr A G Bell said all they wanted was plenty of money earned and wet Saturdays. Mr Bailey the stationmaster, said the station trade in 1889 was 41,845 tons. Last year it was 1,019,663 tons. Passengers for the same years were 69,833 and 148,433.
DECEMBER The council had a letter from the coroner suggesting a mortuary be provided in Featherstone. Cr Darlington said it would not be used once in six months, and it was agreed to let the letter lie on the table.
The building of public baths cropped up again. Cr Edwards proposed the surveyor should prepare plans saying most people had to go to Pontefract for a bath. (Hardly any house had a bathroom and the emphasis was on cleanliness rather than swimming). he said council baths would pay for themselves and he did not think they would cost more than £2,000. Cr Sides said the cost would be more like £10,000. It was agreed to refer the matter to a committee.
An inquest was held on Leonard Poppleton age 35 of Featherstone Lane who was found dead in bed. Dr Steven said the deceased's heart was the largest he had seen and the valves were diseased which meant death could be sudden. The verdict was natural causes.
Mr S Batten's son was lighting the gas jets in the window of his shop and the taper caught the Christmas trimmings. In a few moments the window was ablaze but the fire was quickly put out by Mr Batten and neighbours.