A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE
1908
THE LISTER BATHS
The council had formed a committee to consider how and where to provide
public baths. In June they still hadn't come up with the answer and the
only suggestion was to ask Mr Carnegie if he would allow the promised
grant of £3,500 towards a free library to be used for public baths,
which it was thought would be more serviceable for Featherstone.
Then the Hon John Cunliffe Lister stepped in and offered to fund the
building of public baths at a cost up to £6,000. A grateful council met
Mr Holiday, the agent, and it was agreed to appoint Mr Hamilton Fearnley
as architect. A free site in Masham's Square was offered, but the council were not sure about that and said they were open to other offers
of land, but a week later Masham's Square was agreed.
A baths committee was formed whose first duty was to thank the Hon
Lister for his magnificent offer. He replied he was very pleased to be
able to benefit the district of Featherstone; the opportunity was one he
had been looking for for some time.
There were still doubts in some minds about the suitability of Masham's
Square for the baths, and the council wrote asking the Hon Lister if he
would provide somewhere else because some council members thought a
more prominent and suitable site should be obtained. Perhaps the Hon
Lister thought the best place for his baths was in the middle of his
father's housing estate and he replied the baths should be on the site
originally selected.
A GREEN LANE FRACAS
In January Arthur Cook and Herbert
Jordan were in Pontefract Court accusing each other of assault. Mr
Clayton-Smith, for Jordan, described the assault as serious and asked
for compensation because his client was still off work.
Herbert Jordan said he went into the Green Lane Club at about 11.45pm
and after about five minutes he came out to go home together with Arthur
Burgess and James Goodwin. Arthur Cook was on the road and shouted he
would fight Jordan for a sovereign. Jordan said he did not want to fight
and went up Green Lane with about a dozen others.
Cook passed them and and at Mount Pleasant Street he waited and then
took a flying kick at Jordan catching him on the leg. Cook ran down
the street and Jordan chased him. When they neared Cook's house Cook
grabbed Jordan and pushed him through a neighbour's window. Cook then
ran home and locked the door. When Jordan got home he found his left hand and wrist were badly cut. He was treated by Dr Steven and was still off work. He knew of no reason for the assault and said Cook had had a lot to drink.
When cross-examined Jordan said Albert Short, the club's treasurer, had had trouble with Cook about the club's finances but he (Jordan) was not a particular friend of Short's and that had nothing to do with the assault. He also denied saying to Cook he could put him through it in two rounds and he would have to go through it sooner or later. He had promised to pay for the window if Cook didn't.
Both Arthur Burgess and James Goodwin backed up Herbert Jordan's version of what happened, but they admitted Jordan had left them to follow Cook up the Lane, and Cook had got himself in disfavour on his stand on the club's finances. Thomas Wilson gave evidence about Jordan refusing to fight Cook and about Cook taking a flying kick.
Mr Lowden,
for Arthur Cook, said the trouble arose because of the stand taken some
time ago about the way the finances were conducted by Albert Short. At
that time Short was treasurer, trustee, a brewer's traveller, and for all practical purposes he ran the club. Cook demanded an investigation and since that time Short's friends had done all they could to make his life unbearable.
Arthur Cook told the court Albert Short had heard
him talking to the secretary about the club's finances. When he went out
of the club there were 14 men outside and Joe Chilton shouted he would
back Burgess to fight Cook for £1. All the men were Short's friends but
he would not mind fighting if he had a chance. Herbert
Jordan also challenged him but he refused. He then went home with
Jordan following and the others a little way behind. At the end of Mount
Pleasant Street Jordan came for him and he pushed him away but did not
kick him. When he was near his house he faced Jordan who again had a go
for him, missed him, overbalanced and fell through the window. He
admitted he had once resigned his membership of the club because of
trouble with other members.
His wife Annie bore out his story as to how the window was broken. She was waiting up for her husband and heard Short shout to Jordan "Down with him, kick him". Henry Barker said it was his window that was broken. Herbert Jordan had promised to pay him for the damage but he hadn't done so. The Bench decided it was six of one and half a dozen of the other and they dismissed both charges.
The photo below from the Featherstone Library Collection shows the club and Green Lane where much of the action took place.
The photo below from the Featherstone Library Collection shows the club and Green Lane where much of the action took place.
EDUCATION IN 1908
In January the education sub-committee spent an hour interviewing parents of absent children.
The most frequent excuse was the child was ill but the doctor would not
give a note unless the parents paid for it. Mr Maxwell said the
husbands paid into a club and could not afford the extra for sick notes.
He said the county council should pay for them but he got no backing. Mr Makin said the doctors should issue them without charge.
Miss Alexander
had asked for a stuffed owl. Mr Makin asked what with - sage and
onions? Mr Higgins explained it was for object lessons and the committee
granted it. For the purpose of interesting the parents in the work done
at school an exhibition was held in the Girls' School. It was divided
into five sections - needlework, writing, composition, hygiene and drawing and painting. The pupils also put on entertainment for the visitors. It was all judged a great success.
In May it was decided to inform the county council of the poor quality of asphalt in the George Street School playground. Tenders were being accepted by the authority at which it was impossible to get the work done properly. In an attempt to improve attendance the authority suggested a banner or a shield should be provided for each school to be held by the class with the highest attendance each week.
Miss Alexander wrote to the education sub-committee about press reports that a little girl at North Featherstone Lane School had had her hand
tied behind her back by the teacher. She wrote it was not with any
intention of frightening her or causing any pain, but simply to try and
cure her of her bad habit (not specified). The committee accepted the explanation as satisfactory.
In December the clerk told the committee average attendances were
falling, no doubt because the attendance officer was off ill and the
children were taking advantage of it.
Alice Maxwell, the headmistress of Featherstone National School in North Featherstone, asked for a rise. The education sub-committee recommended £15 to the county council but they turned her down. After further representations she was granted £5. She said if she had been a certified assistant she would have received two yearly advances of £5. The committee said such treatment was poor encouragement to teachers to study and enter college.
THE SORRY TALE OF LEVI WHITEHEAD
A WELSH CONCERT
The Express for March 8 contained
the following report. "Amongst Featherstone's distinctions is that of
being one of the three places in Yorkshire to have a Welsh Mission.
(The others were Leeds and Bradford.) The gallant little country has an enthusiastic representation in Featherstone, and in October 1907 the leading spirits formed a Welsh church. Here all the services have been conducted, and the sermons preached, in the Welsh tongue,
and there are now over 20 members. With a view of enrolling further
members, and also of increasing the funds, a concert was given in the
Assembly Rooms. The programme was wholly sustained by Welsh talent, and rarely if ever has a Featherstone audience had the privilege of listening
to so brilliant a quintet of performers on one occasion. Welsh people
are famed for their gift of song, and its national reputation did not suffer in the least at Featherstone."
The singers were not Featherstone folk but had been brought from Cardiff and London with a lady harpist from Liverpool who had played before the King and Queen in Bangor. A crowded gathering was presided over by Roslyn Holiday and the concert ended with the singing of the English and Welsh National Anthems.
COMPENSATION DISPUTE
The collieries had only recently agreed to pay compensation to victims
of colliery accidents and there were claims they were less than honest
in their dealings with the dependents. One such case was in April.
Samuel Westbrook claimed £120 compensation for his son who died from injuries received at Featherstone Main Colliery. The company objected to the court case because they claimed Westbrook has signed an agreement for £53 in full settlement.
Bernard Westbrook was 14 years old when he was killed and his average earnings were 13s 10d. Herbert Brooking, assistant manager of the Coal Owners' Indemnity Association, went to see Mr Westbrook. They worked out the profit
on the son's earnings as 7s 2d per week (over his keep) and Mr
Westbrook accepted £53 in full settlement and after thinking it over for
20 minutes signed an agreement which was produced in court. Mr Westbrook said something had been added after he signed.
Mr Westbrook told the court he estimated the profit per week from his son at 10s. Mr Brooking had told him the agreement was not final and the judge would settle it. He thought he was signing a form agreeing the profit was 7s 2d. He never accepted £53,
but he admitted he had never read the agreement. The judge asked him
how he knew the form had been altered if he never read it. He said he
thought the form was so that Brooking could show his employer he had
been seen personally. He would not have signed his name if Brooking had told the truth.
The judge said he had to decide if the agreement had been signed owing to misrepresentation and under influence. There was no evidence of it. The amount in the agreement and the sum he would have given judgement for were practically the same. It was not an unreasonable sum and so an order would be made to have the agreement registered.
DID HE FALL OR WAS HE PUSHED?
An inquest was held on Samuel Scoltock aged 12 who died after an incident at school which happened on May 21. Harold Salmon, a teacher who lived at Knottingley, said at 11.30am Samuel was seized with illness. He looked drowsy so he told him he could go into the yard. As
he went out Samuel staggered against a blackboard, knocking his left
eye. He assisted him to the lavatory where he was sick twice. After
drinking some water Samuel appeared to recover, and although he said "Oh
daddy" two or three times he seemed a little better. After walking him about the playground he sent Samuel home with Richard Morris Winn. He did not think Samuel was hurt by falling against the blackboard. There was no one else near.
Richard Morris Winn, son of Thomas Winn, a colliery byeworker, said while Mr Salmon was hurrying Samuel out of the school he ran him into the blackboard. Samuel shouted "Oh my poor head". He was there all the time and Mr Salmon did not walk Samuel up and down. About a quarter of an hour after they went into the yard Mr Salmon
asked him to take Samuel home. Samuel could not walk properly so he
took him into Mrs Clay's near the school. Samuel had a blue mark on the
right side of his head. Mr Salmon was hurrying Samuel because he was sick, and he tried to prevent deceased running into the blackboard.
Samuel Scoltock (the father) said he arrived home at 2.05pm and found Samuel lying on his bed, and he complained of pain in his head. He sent for Dr Steven and he attended the boy but he died six days later.
Dr Finch said he performed a post mortem and formed the opinion Samuel died from a coma consequent on cerebral hemorrhage due to violence, which might have been caused by striking a hard substance.
William Hollis, son of Sam Hollis of Earle Street, said when Samuel fell against the blackboard Mr Salmon was at his desk. Samuel did not shout "Oh my poor head" and he saw no black mark. Harry Hoyland of West View said Mr Salmon went to Samuel in the class and assisted him out. Mr Salmon ran him into the blackboard unintentionally. He seemed kind to the boy.
The jury had to sort out the conflicting evidence and returned a
verdict of "Death from coma subsequent of cerebral hemorrhage due to
striking his head against a blackboard - misadventure".
The Gordon Street School teachers are shown below, but which one is Mr
Salmon? A photo from the Featherstone Library Collection.
Levi Whitehead was injured on June 20 and died in Clayton Hospital on July 27 and an inquest was held in the hospital. George Henry Whitehead said Levi was his father, he was 67 years old and he had worked at Snydale Colliery as a labourer. About seven years ago Levi slipped on some ice and hit the back of his head. He was brought home by two young men and was in bed for a week attended by Dr Brierley and he made a complete recovery.
Two years ago he fell into the sump at Snydale Colliery and hurt his
back. He was off work for two weeks and was treated by Dr Steven. Since
then he had worked regularly.
Levi left home at 12.45pm on June 20 (a Saturday) to fetch his wages.
At about 9.30 the same night he (George) was told his father was lying behind the free church. He went there and found his father, who was unconscious,
being supported by a man known as "Waffler". There was also a policeman
and a small crowd. The constable asked him if his father was drunk and he said no. Waffler said no one had given him anything, but George Knapper had struck him in the Jubilee Hotel.
A cab had been ordered and when this arrived Levi, quite helpless, was taken home and put to bed. George could find no bruises and thinking his father would be alright he did not send for a doctor until the next morning. Dr Macfarlane arrived and said he thought he would sleep it off. The doctor came again on Monday morning and evening and said he did not think there was any immediate danger. On Tuesday he came with Dr Finch who advised Levi's removal to hospital. He was taken to Clayton Hospital in
the Snydale ambulance. George visited him several times but he did not
say anything apart from managing "Good afternoon" once.
Job Parkes of Victoria Street said he was in the Jubilee Hotel at 3pm with about ten others. He saw Levi Whitehead and George Knapper have a game of darts, and sometime after 4 o'clock
he heard Knapper say to Whitehead "Come on old man and pay for these
two pints". Whitehead at first said he would and then said he would not.
He (Job) went out and when he returned Knapper was still trying to get
Whitehead to pay for the
beer which had been pulled. Eventually they commenced sparring up but no
blows were struck. Knapper said "Come on old man, pay up, you are too
old for that game". Knapper pushed Whitehead who fell backwards and hit
his head on a bench and he lay
quite still. He picked him up with the help of another man, and Miss
Johnson, daughter of the licensee, came and put water to Whitehead's
lips but he could not say if he drank any. Then Joseph Johnson and John Price came up and took charge so he did not have anything further to do with it. Both men had been drinking but neither of them was drunk.
John Thomas Ferns of Short Street said he did not see the two men playing darts but he did see them playing dominoes. He noticed them get up and go to the bar window. He threw a few darts at the board and when he looked round he saw Whitehead fall backwards and strike his head on the bench. He helped to lift Whitehead and carry him outside. He stayed with him while Parkes tried to get a conveyance then two other men came up and took charge. He then went back into the hotel and Knapper was still there. He heard someone say Knapper had pushed Whitehead and no one contradicted the statement. Both men were sober.
Agnes Hand said she went into the hotel with her husband Arthur. She saw Whitehead and Knapper in the tap room and she saw them come to the window and commence arguing about who was to pay for two pints of porter that had been ordered. Knapper said "Are you going to pay for it" and without further ado knocked Whitehead down. Knapper struck Whitehead in the head with his fist. She saw no sparring whatever.
Whiehead fell clean onto the floor and he lay perfectly still. She called Miss Johnson's attention to Whitehead who was carried out by two men. The same evening between 8.30 and 9 o'clock she saw Whitehead at the back of the chapel. The coroner, "Do you say this poor man was lying about for four hours". Agnes, "Yes sir, but I had been given to understand they had taken him home. I would have taken him to our place if I had known, rather than he should have been allowed to lay about like that. I went to have a look at him and I said he is just the same as when he was taken out of the Jubilee. The men said they had no idea where he lived and I had no idea myself". The coroner, "It does not sound right that a man should lay unconscious in the street for four hours". Agnes said when Whitehead was knocked down she shouted "Miss Johnson, do come into the tap room. Knapper has knocked a man sick". Miss Johnson came at once and did everything she could. Knapper used very insulting language towards Miss Johnson, and refused to leave the premises when ordered to do so.
PC Helliwell said at 9.30pm a man came and told him someone was lying drunk in England's Buildings. Upon going to the place he found Whitehead in an empty coalhouse quite unconscious. Whitehead's son came shortly afterwards and took his father home in a cab.
The coroner said the evidence was contradictory in some particulars. It was a dreadful thing that Whitehead had been allowed to lay about the streets for such a length of time. He would like some evidence as to what happened to Whitehead between 5 and 10 o'clock. It sounded to him very disgraceful. The jury foreman, "It is most disgraceful. I don't know where the police were". The coroner, "They knew nothing about it. The piece of ground is out of sight and the police were not informed until late at night". A juror, "It is a very long time for the police not to get to know anything about it". The coroner, "The police are not witches, and if you want police at every corner you will have some more rates to pay". The inquest was then adjourned for two days.
At the resumed inquest Joseph Johnson, a Featherstone miner, said he was going out of the Jubilee Hotel when he was told there was a man round the corner in a fit. He found Whitehead against a wall with his head down. He and others got him to his feet and walked him for about 40 yards. Whitehead then slipped down again and as he (Johnson) thought he was drunk he left because he wanted to go to Pontefract. It was untrue he told Parkes he would take the man home. John Price, another Featherstone miner, gave similar evidence. He said he left because he had some business to do. The coroner, "Your business seemed to be more important than this man's life. Did you drop him on the back of his head?" Price said no.
Elizabeth Westwood said she saw Whitehead coming from the direction of the public house about 3 o'clock. She saw him stagger and fall backwards. She saw Price get hold of him roughly by the collar, and she saw him put against a wall. His head struck the wall. She went away, but she saw the man several times until 7 o'clock when a man named Howarth appeared on the scene.
Jane Elizabeth Johnson, who had previously confirmed her part in the affair, said she was confident Whitehead did not leave the public house until after 4.30pm.
Orlando Howarth of Regent Street said about 6 o'clock he was going to the Jubilee Hotel when he saw the old man on the road, with a crowd of people round. As he thought the old man was drunk he went about his business. He returned about 8 o'clock and found Whitehead lying on the road about 20 yards further away. He tried to get him towards home but after struggling with him for half an hour he left him.
Joseph Jones said about 7.30 he saw the old man standing against a wall. He saw him again in the same position at 8 o'clock and 9.30, and at somebody's suggestion he took him into a disused coal house. He did not throw him in. The police were then informed and the man was taken home in a cab.
Dr McRobb, house surgeon at Clayton Hospital, said a post mortem examination showed the cause of death was an injury to the head which caused compression of the brain due to a blow or fall.
Inspector Horton of Pontefract was present on behalf of the police, and when he questioned the witnesses as to their reasons for taking Whitehead the way they did one of them candidly admitted it was to keep him away from the police because they thought he was drunk.
The coroner went through the evidence and said he had never heard such a mixed-up tale in his life, especially with regard to the time Whitehead was seen on the road. There was a very strong presumption the injury which caused his death was sustained in the public house. He was evidently very roughly handled after leaving the public house, but he did not think this was the cause of his death. It was a very disgraceful thing that a man should be allowed to be lying about the road for so many hours. Some of the people who saw him appeared to think the man was drunk, but he did not think so. He thought he was suffering from the effects of the injury to his head, and he was trailed about in turn by several persons, whose object no doubt was to keep him out of the hands of the police. He thought the original fall was the fatal one, but it was for the jury to decide whether they considered it accidental or otherwise. The jury then retired but after half an hour had not reached a verdict. The coroner had to leave to attend another inquest so he adjourned until the evening.
On resuming, Sergeant Thurlwell of Purston was called. He said two days after the event he took Knapper into custody and charged him with the manslaughter of Levi Whitehead by striking him. Knapper replied "I did not do it. I never touched him".
the coroner said in cases where the evidence was clear that the deceased person had been mortally wounded by another person it was not generally advisable to take the evidence of the accused for their own protection. In cases where the evidence was not absolutely clear it was often advisable to allow the accused to give evidence if he desired. He thought the present one was one of those cases. No one could say the evidence had been absolutely clear. In fact a lot of it had been contradictory.
George Knapper said he went into the public house at about 12.45 and he saw Whitehead, who he had never spoken to before. Whitehead was playing tip-it with three other men and Whitehead said "I will bet you threepence I fetch it" and he (Knapper) said "I will bet you don't". He put the threepence on the table and when Whitehead lost he said "Fetch a pint of beer with it". The beer was brought and put on the table. Then about 2.45 he brought another two pints of beer from the bar window. As he was returning he caught Whitehead with his shoulder. He walked to the table with the beer, and while seated with the object of continuing his game he turned round and saw Whitehead on the floor, and Miss Johnson and one or two men trying to lift him up. They got him to his feet but he did not see him any more. He did not see him carried or taken out of the house. "I was never more surprised in my life when the officer charged me."
The jury then only needed a few minutes to return the following verdict. "We find that deceased died from compression of the brain, caused by being pushed by George Knapper and falling against a seat in the Jubilee Hotel, Featherstone, on the 20th June last, and further, that the injury was through misadventure, as George Knapper was only trying to keep deceased from troubling him."
The coroner agreed with the verdict and he also agreed with the jury's opinion the management of the hotel were quite free from blame and Miss Johnson's evidence was most satisfactory.
Inspector Horton said on the first day several of the jurors appeared to think the police ought to have found the man earlier, but he thought they would not be surprised after hearing the evidence.
The jury said there was no reflection on the police, and one remarked it was evident the persons who had anything to do with Whitehead tried to hide him all they could. They thought information should have been given to the police.
The coroner closed the proceedings by thanking the jury for their attendance at what had been a very protracted and difficult inquiry, and he stated throughout the proceedings they had displayed exceptional intelligence.
While all this was going on the police were proceeding with the manslaughter case against George Knapper. On the first day of the inquest they put him up at Pontefract Court. He was asked if he had cause to show why he should not be remanded in custody until Saturday. Knapper seemed puzzled and said he knew nothing about it. He was about to say more, but he was told not to say anything about the charge, only why he should not be remanded. He then replied he had nothing to say.
Supt Hollis said it appeared at 10.10pm on the 20th July Knapper and a man called Levi Whitehead were in the Jubilee Hotel, Featherstone, and after some argument, or talk, it ended in Knapper either striking or pushing the other man, who fell and was picked up in an unconscious state. He was taken part way home and then left. PC Helliwell, whose station was near, found the man in a semi-unconscious state and took him home. There he remained in that state, and was attended by Dr Macfarlane, assistant to Dr Steven, but was eventually taken to Clayton Hospital at Wakefield where he remained unconscious until yesterday (Monday July 27) when he died. Knapper was charged with manslaughter and he (the superintendent) asked for a remand until Saturday. An inquest was to be held at Wakefield that day at the hospital, and the verdict of the jury would no doubt have a great bearing on the case. The Bench then remanded Knapper in custody. (Note: some of these facts did not agree with the inquest version.)
On the Friday after the inquest George Knapper was again put up in court, and his father Joe asked for his son to be allowed out on bail. Supt Hollis said the inquest jury had brought in a verdict of misadventure but the case would have to be presented to the magistrates in some form, and the question was whether Knapper should remain in custody until then or be released on bail now.
The chairman said he thought the jury were justified in their decision, but the superintendent pointed out the magistrates were not bound by anything that took place at the inquest, and he did not yet know on what lines the charge would be proceeded with. He had intended asking for another week's remand so they could prepare their case. The chairman asked if he was in Wakefield Jail. The superintendent said he was here because he had been twice required at the inquest, and once a man gets into prison it is difficult to get him out. He added on the face of it they could only come to one conclusion, and under the circumstances it perhaps appeared hard the prisoner should remain in custody if it was not really necessary. George Knapper was then brought up from the cells and he agreed to be bound over in the sum of £5, his father agreeing to be bound for a similar sum. Supt Hollis said he had no objection to this saying the father had lived in Featherstone for 30 years. The prisoner was then released.
Two weeks later this sorry episode was brought to a close when the charge of manslaughter was withdrawn on the advice of the West Riding solicitor.
John Thomas Ferns of Short Street said he did not see the two men playing darts but he did see them playing dominoes. He noticed them get up and go to the bar window. He threw a few darts at the board and when he looked round he saw Whitehead fall backwards and strike his head on the bench. He helped to lift Whitehead and carry him outside. He stayed with him while Parkes tried to get a conveyance then two other men came up and took charge. He then went back into the hotel and Knapper was still there. He heard someone say Knapper had pushed Whitehead and no one contradicted the statement. Both men were sober.
Agnes Hand said she went into the hotel with her husband Arthur. She saw Whitehead and Knapper in the tap room and she saw them come to the window and commence arguing about who was to pay for two pints of porter that had been ordered. Knapper said "Are you going to pay for it" and without further ado knocked Whitehead down. Knapper struck Whitehead in the head with his fist. She saw no sparring whatever.
Whiehead fell clean onto the floor and he lay perfectly still. She called Miss Johnson's attention to Whitehead who was carried out by two men. The same evening between 8.30 and 9 o'clock she saw Whitehead at the back of the chapel. The coroner, "Do you say this poor man was lying about for four hours". Agnes, "Yes sir, but I had been given to understand they had taken him home. I would have taken him to our place if I had known, rather than he should have been allowed to lay about like that. I went to have a look at him and I said he is just the same as when he was taken out of the Jubilee. The men said they had no idea where he lived and I had no idea myself". The coroner, "It does not sound right that a man should lay unconscious in the street for four hours". Agnes said when Whitehead was knocked down she shouted "Miss Johnson, do come into the tap room. Knapper has knocked a man sick". Miss Johnson came at once and did everything she could. Knapper used very insulting language towards Miss Johnson, and refused to leave the premises when ordered to do so.
PC Helliwell said at 9.30pm a man came and told him someone was lying drunk in England's Buildings. Upon going to the place he found Whitehead in an empty coalhouse quite unconscious. Whitehead's son came shortly afterwards and took his father home in a cab.
The coroner said the evidence was contradictory in some particulars. It was a dreadful thing that Whitehead had been allowed to lay about the streets for such a length of time. He would like some evidence as to what happened to Whitehead between 5 and 10 o'clock. It sounded to him very disgraceful. The jury foreman, "It is most disgraceful. I don't know where the police were". The coroner, "They knew nothing about it. The piece of ground is out of sight and the police were not informed until late at night". A juror, "It is a very long time for the police not to get to know anything about it". The coroner, "The police are not witches, and if you want police at every corner you will have some more rates to pay". The inquest was then adjourned for two days.
At the resumed inquest Joseph Johnson, a Featherstone miner, said he was going out of the Jubilee Hotel when he was told there was a man round the corner in a fit. He found Whitehead against a wall with his head down. He and others got him to his feet and walked him for about 40 yards. Whitehead then slipped down again and as he (Johnson) thought he was drunk he left because he wanted to go to Pontefract. It was untrue he told Parkes he would take the man home. John Price, another Featherstone miner, gave similar evidence. He said he left because he had some business to do. The coroner, "Your business seemed to be more important than this man's life. Did you drop him on the back of his head?" Price said no.
Elizabeth Westwood said she saw Whitehead coming from the direction of the public house about 3 o'clock. She saw him stagger and fall backwards. She saw Price get hold of him roughly by the collar, and she saw him put against a wall. His head struck the wall. She went away, but she saw the man several times until 7 o'clock when a man named Howarth appeared on the scene.
Jane Elizabeth Johnson, who had previously confirmed her part in the affair, said she was confident Whitehead did not leave the public house until after 4.30pm.
Orlando Howarth of Regent Street said about 6 o'clock he was going to the Jubilee Hotel when he saw the old man on the road, with a crowd of people round. As he thought the old man was drunk he went about his business. He returned about 8 o'clock and found Whitehead lying on the road about 20 yards further away. He tried to get him towards home but after struggling with him for half an hour he left him.
Joseph Jones said about 7.30 he saw the old man standing against a wall. He saw him again in the same position at 8 o'clock and 9.30, and at somebody's suggestion he took him into a disused coal house. He did not throw him in. The police were then informed and the man was taken home in a cab.
Dr McRobb, house surgeon at Clayton Hospital, said a post mortem examination showed the cause of death was an injury to the head which caused compression of the brain due to a blow or fall.
Inspector Horton of Pontefract was present on behalf of the police, and when he questioned the witnesses as to their reasons for taking Whitehead the way they did one of them candidly admitted it was to keep him away from the police because they thought he was drunk.
The coroner went through the evidence and said he had never heard such a mixed-up tale in his life, especially with regard to the time Whitehead was seen on the road. There was a very strong presumption the injury which caused his death was sustained in the public house. He was evidently very roughly handled after leaving the public house, but he did not think this was the cause of his death. It was a very disgraceful thing that a man should be allowed to be lying about the road for so many hours. Some of the people who saw him appeared to think the man was drunk, but he did not think so. He thought he was suffering from the effects of the injury to his head, and he was trailed about in turn by several persons, whose object no doubt was to keep him out of the hands of the police. He thought the original fall was the fatal one, but it was for the jury to decide whether they considered it accidental or otherwise. The jury then retired but after half an hour had not reached a verdict. The coroner had to leave to attend another inquest so he adjourned until the evening.
On resuming, Sergeant Thurlwell of Purston was called. He said two days after the event he took Knapper into custody and charged him with the manslaughter of Levi Whitehead by striking him. Knapper replied "I did not do it. I never touched him".
the coroner said in cases where the evidence was clear that the deceased person had been mortally wounded by another person it was not generally advisable to take the evidence of the accused for their own protection. In cases where the evidence was not absolutely clear it was often advisable to allow the accused to give evidence if he desired. He thought the present one was one of those cases. No one could say the evidence had been absolutely clear. In fact a lot of it had been contradictory.
George Knapper said he went into the public house at about 12.45 and he saw Whitehead, who he had never spoken to before. Whitehead was playing tip-it with three other men and Whitehead said "I will bet you threepence I fetch it" and he (Knapper) said "I will bet you don't". He put the threepence on the table and when Whitehead lost he said "Fetch a pint of beer with it". The beer was brought and put on the table. Then about 2.45 he brought another two pints of beer from the bar window. As he was returning he caught Whitehead with his shoulder. He walked to the table with the beer, and while seated with the object of continuing his game he turned round and saw Whitehead on the floor, and Miss Johnson and one or two men trying to lift him up. They got him to his feet but he did not see him any more. He did not see him carried or taken out of the house. "I was never more surprised in my life when the officer charged me."
The jury then only needed a few minutes to return the following verdict. "We find that deceased died from compression of the brain, caused by being pushed by George Knapper and falling against a seat in the Jubilee Hotel, Featherstone, on the 20th June last, and further, that the injury was through misadventure, as George Knapper was only trying to keep deceased from troubling him."
The coroner agreed with the verdict and he also agreed with the jury's opinion the management of the hotel were quite free from blame and Miss Johnson's evidence was most satisfactory.
Inspector Horton said on the first day several of the jurors appeared to think the police ought to have found the man earlier, but he thought they would not be surprised after hearing the evidence.
The jury said there was no reflection on the police, and one remarked it was evident the persons who had anything to do with Whitehead tried to hide him all they could. They thought information should have been given to the police.
The coroner closed the proceedings by thanking the jury for their attendance at what had been a very protracted and difficult inquiry, and he stated throughout the proceedings they had displayed exceptional intelligence.
While all this was going on the police were proceeding with the manslaughter case against George Knapper. On the first day of the inquest they put him up at Pontefract Court. He was asked if he had cause to show why he should not be remanded in custody until Saturday. Knapper seemed puzzled and said he knew nothing about it. He was about to say more, but he was told not to say anything about the charge, only why he should not be remanded. He then replied he had nothing to say.
Supt Hollis said it appeared at 10.10pm on the 20th July Knapper and a man called Levi Whitehead were in the Jubilee Hotel, Featherstone, and after some argument, or talk, it ended in Knapper either striking or pushing the other man, who fell and was picked up in an unconscious state. He was taken part way home and then left. PC Helliwell, whose station was near, found the man in a semi-unconscious state and took him home. There he remained in that state, and was attended by Dr Macfarlane, assistant to Dr Steven, but was eventually taken to Clayton Hospital at Wakefield where he remained unconscious until yesterday (Monday July 27) when he died. Knapper was charged with manslaughter and he (the superintendent) asked for a remand until Saturday. An inquest was to be held at Wakefield that day at the hospital, and the verdict of the jury would no doubt have a great bearing on the case. The Bench then remanded Knapper in custody. (Note: some of these facts did not agree with the inquest version.)
On the Friday after the inquest George Knapper was again put up in court, and his father Joe asked for his son to be allowed out on bail. Supt Hollis said the inquest jury had brought in a verdict of misadventure but the case would have to be presented to the magistrates in some form, and the question was whether Knapper should remain in custody until then or be released on bail now.
The chairman said he thought the jury were justified in their decision, but the superintendent pointed out the magistrates were not bound by anything that took place at the inquest, and he did not yet know on what lines the charge would be proceeded with. He had intended asking for another week's remand so they could prepare their case. The chairman asked if he was in Wakefield Jail. The superintendent said he was here because he had been twice required at the inquest, and once a man gets into prison it is difficult to get him out. He added on the face of it they could only come to one conclusion, and under the circumstances it perhaps appeared hard the prisoner should remain in custody if it was not really necessary. George Knapper was then brought up from the cells and he agreed to be bound over in the sum of £5, his father agreeing to be bound for a similar sum. Supt Hollis said he had no objection to this saying the father had lived in Featherstone for 30 years. The prisoner was then released.
Two weeks later this sorry episode was brought to a close when the charge of manslaughter was withdrawn on the advice of the West Riding solicitor.
WHEN IS A STREET NOT A STREET?
In June there was a case in Pontefract Court to consider an application by the council to have six streets brought up to the standard required by the Private Street Works Act 1892, and the cost to be apportioned between the landowners. Plans
were handed in and the council contended there were six streets in the
application whereas those who would have to pay said there were only two
and the others were yards.
For the council it was said the streets in question were part of
a large scheme of street improvements necessary partly because the
properties were built before there was a Local Board of Health, and
partly because of a serious problem of ashes and dust getting into the
sewage system. Most of the houses were back to back and it was necessary
to make the streets as clean as possible. George Street, Crossley
Street and Fearnley Street were examples of the first class type of
street against which no one could object. Scarboro Terrace and Newport
Terrace, taken as one street or two (this was in dispute) were of the second class.
The owners of the houses (Messrs Walmsley and Brooks and Mrs Shields) could not agree with the council as to who owned what land between Fearnley Street and Wilson Street. It was admitted on behalf of Mr Walmsley he was liable for Newport Terrace, but he disputed how much he should be apportioned between the north side of Newport Terrace and the south side of Scarboro Terrace. It was also argued the other streets for the back to back houses were really back yards and the Act did not apply. The council did not agree with this.
The council surveyor said the streets had never been properly made but there were flags and curbs in place. About four or five tons a day of ashes etc found its way into the sewers from these streets, and practically new sewage pumps had had to be repaired at a cost of between £30 and £40. Tradesmen said it was useless to water Station Lane while all this refuse came into it from the side streets. He called Scarboro
Terrace a street even though there was a wall between that street and
Newport Terrace. When pressed he refused to admit some of the streets
were really yards.
Mr Scholefield, for the owners, said if these yards were designated as streets then "Mrs Jones" would be unable to hang
clothes out or shake a mat within certain hours. The surveyor said they
would face that problem if it arose. It was intended to spend about
£600 on these four backyards and the owners and public would have better
streets to use.
After hearing the rent of houses in the yards was 4s a week the
magistrates decided to adjourn and view the properties. They then gave
their opinion that under the Act Wilson Street was a street, Leeds Street was a yard, Newport Terrace
was a street and Scarboro Terrace was a yard. They said it was a
difficult decision because the privies served both sets of houses. Because there was only a distance of 40 feet between
the terraces they suggested moving the privies and making one street
and one set of yards, but the council said they could not compel this.
The magistrates then suggested the council and the owners should get
together and decide how to proceed, and if there was no agreement they would settle it by calling the whole area a street.
This Ordnance Survey map shows the area in dispute. Newport Terrace has been made into a street but Scarboro Terrace and Leeds Street are still yards.
THE FEATHERSTONE SHOW
The Express described the Featherstone Show as follows: The popularity of the Featherstone and District Agricultural and Horticultural Show increases from year to year, and the fourth effort in August in the Athletic Grounds, kindly lent by Mr G W Umpleby, was a huge success. For this an admirable president and committee are deserving of everybody's thanks. Should the show maintain the same rate of progress in the next few years it will equal that of Castleford, which is the greatest exhibition of the kind in the district.
The attendance on Saturday was a record. The opening was performed by Lieut-Col Shaw who, with the chairman of the committee (Cr Poppleton), read some interesting statistics. Cr Poppleton stated in 1905 the receipts were £107 and the expenses £78, and this year the figures were £236 and £200. He specially mentioned the
Hon Mr Lister's contribution last year of £21 10s. The committee were
thankful to the public for their great support, and if the people
continued to encourage them the committee would do their best to work
the show in such a manner as to ensure its success as economically as
possible.
Credit was also due to Lieut-Col Shaw's firm
for the large sale of tickets and for having provided the benching
which was a great thing. Ackton Hall Colliery had also done their part
as well, and the president (Mr Holiday) had kindly undertaken to defray the cost of the fireworks.
Lieut-Col Shaw said he was particularly proud to open the show because
it was a Featherstone show run by Featherstone men, and most of the
exhibits were from Featherstone. That was what the officials wanted, to encourage local men. The show was the
result of the numerous allotments in Featherstone and he knew there was
a great interest in horticulture, pigeons, fowls etc. It was said
interest in agriculture was waning, and this to a certain extent was true. Old fashioned farmers would have to introduce new methods if
the country intended to hold its own with other nations. Farm labourers
were also drifting into the towns, anxious for a more exciting life,
although in doing so they had harder work to do and left their health
behind them, whereas they might have stayed and been happy.
The entries for this year were: dogs 104, against 64 last year; poultry 103-91; pigeons 62-46; rabbits 84-50; cats 11-13; horses 42-39; and horticulture 29-35. In total there were 435 entries against 338.
Lieut-Col Shaw was cordially thanked for his presence and services and
in reply he expressed his great pleasure in declaring the show open.
COMMITTED TO CATTAL
In August at Castleford Court, Charlotte Dodson, married, of no fixed abode, was charged with being a habitual drunkard.
PC Wright said he saw the prisoner drunk and disorderly in Station
Lane, Featherstone, with a crowd of children round her. The Bench found
her guilty. Then Mr Farmer of the West Riding solicitor's office dealt
with the charge of Charlotte being a habitual drunkard. He said she had been convicted of drunkenness in May, June and July. Henry Lakin, her brother, said
she spent all the money she could get on drink, and she was at times
dangerous to herself and others. PC Wright and Herbert Dobson (of the
lodging house in Phipps Street) also said she was a habitual drunkard.
The Bench then committed her to Cattal Inhebriates' Home for three years. Charlotte said "That is just what I wanted".
TWO MORE SAD ENDS
Two
inquests were held in the same week in September. The first was at the
Salvation Army Barracks and concerned the death of Arthur Burrows aged
27 of John Street who was found drowned in the Featherstone Main Colliery reservoir one morning.
Emma Burrows, his widowed mother, said they lived alone and he was her
sole support. He worked at Ackton Hall Colliery but had been off work
ill for three weeks. He went for a long walk on Sunday evening and when
he came in at ten he only stayed for a few minutes and said he was going
out again. She tried to persuade him to stay but he went and said don't wait up for me. He was very quiet and appeared depressed. He had been low-spirited for some time "Same as if he had not got his memory right". He had never threatened to take his life and she knew of no reason why he would do so, but the fact he was not working seemed to trouble him. He was not used to going out or staying out late at night, and she was out until 1am looking for him.
Abraham Butterworth of Post Office Road said he saw Burrows at 11.20pm going in the direction of Featherstone pit lane, and he said goodnight Abe to him. There did not seem to be anything strange in his manner.
Joseph Bradbury of Robbins Terrace, a blacksmith at the colliery, said he saw the body in the reservoir at 7am on the Monday morning.
The water was 3ft 6ins deep and had a fence of palings seven feet high.
Burrows was trespassing and had either climbed the fence or got under
some wire roping at the dirt stack side.
Mary Elizabeth Jefferson of Green Lane gave evidence as to laying out
the body. She said there were no marks of violence. The jury then found Arthur Burrows had drowned himself while of unsound mind.
The other inquest was held at the Gospel Hall with the same coroner, Major Arundel. It concerned the death of Robert Tate aged 51 of Station Lane who died after a week's illness.
The widow, Sarah Alice Tate, said her husband left home shortly after
one o'clock on Saturday afternoon saying he was going to a match at
Streethouse. She next saw him at 2.30 the next morning. He was on the
hearth rug moaning and appeared to be drunk. She turned him on his side
and put a pillow under his head and then went back to bed. He was in the
habit of getting drunk at weekends. He came upstairs at about 7 o'clock
saying he was bad. He went to bed but came down at 9.30 still like a drunken man. He
said he was not drunk but had had a blow on the back of his head but he
did not know how he had received it. He was ill all Sunday so on Monday
she sent for Dr Finch.
Maurice Vincent of Streethouse said he saw Tate lying on a grate
outside the Station Hotel at about 8.30pm. He was drunk so he and his
brother carried him into the hotel entrance and laid him down alongside
the wall. Tate said he would stop there because he had no use in his legs. He had seen Tate several times before in the same condition.
PC Lindsay of Streethouse said he saw Tate at 10.30pm staggering
down Whinney Lane, drunk. He advised him to go home and he went in the
direction of Featherstone. He did not see him again.
William Whiteman, Tate's son-in-law, said Tate came home at 12.45am. He
appeared to be drunk and refused to go to bed, so he put him in a chair
by the fire and left him. He said somebody had given him something, and
two policemen had hold of him near the Jubilee Hotel.
Dr Finch said Tate had some bruises when he first saw him but all he
could remember was he had had too much beer. A post mortem showed the
bruises were superficial and there was no evidence of injury to the
head. Death was due to tubercular meningitis and not accelerated by any injury. The jury returned a verdict of natural causes.
FEATHERSTONE MAIN COLLIERY ATHLETIC CLUB
DISTRICT NURSES
At the October council meeting Cr Shaw asked if the council had any power to assist any recognised body in the town to enable a couple of nurses to be employed for the sick poor. He had heard of a miner whose wife and daughter were in the isolation hospital who, on coming home, found a young child suffering from pneumonia and fever. At the most such cases could have a doctor's attention for a quarter of an hour a day, so that for more than 23 hours she was left to the care of neighbours.
There was the Featherstone and Purston Convalescent Fund, which of course was really nothing at all. There was abundant work for two nurses, and he thought they would receive plenty of support once the scheme was started on a proper basis.
Cr Beach expressed agreement with the suggestion, and Cr Keith
suggested the nurses should be under the control of a nursing
association. Cr Waller said if the Convalescent Fund would only take
this question up instead of sending persons to convalescent homes they
would receive far more support than they did.
Cr Scholes mentioned there had been nurses in North Featherstone paid by public subscription. The miners subscribed but the first time a working man wanted a nurse he could not have one, and the scheme fell through.
Cr Shaw said
if a scheme was started it must be properly worked, and there must be
no repetition of the North Featherstone case. The nurses should not be
at the beck and call of everybody; they should know what their duties
were, be properly treated, and not be required to do 48 hours work in 24 hours. It was agreed to find out if the council had any powers in this matter. FEATHERSTONE MAIN COLLIERY ATHLETIC CLUB
A few years ago some members of the Featherstone Main Colliery Athletic
Club fell out and left to build their own club (Featherstone Working Men's Club) a short distance away in
Green Lane. The reason was not reported by the Express but it may have been they wanted a different type of working men's club as the following report suggests.
The annual meeting of the Featherstone Main Colliery Athletic Club was held in the Assembly Rooms in November. The club used the bottom floor of the building as well as the sports ground over the railway line near Halfpenny Lane. On the chairman's table were the shields and cups won by the ambulance team, and the Osgoldcross Cup won by the cricket team.
The chairman, Lieut-Col Shaw, reviewed the work of the club and congratulated the members on the satisfactory balance sheet. He said during the past 18 months £500 had been spent on the sports grounds, and they now had splendid cricket and football fields and excellent teams.
Next year they would increase the comfort of the club rooms and the
promotion of games, competitions etc. He was proud to belong to such a
club because he considered it a model miners' club, which could not
possibly be classed as a drinking club. During the year the drinks bill had gone down, and there had been an increase in the sale of teetotal drinks. The reading rooms were well patronised, as was also the well-stocked library. There was strict
supervision to prevent non-members entering unless properly introduced.
Then again, gambling and bookmaking were strictly prohibited - a
pleasing feature. He knew of clubs, so called, where persons were
admitted at any hour, and so long as they purchased drinks no inquiries were made whether they were bona fide visitors
or members or not. Bookmakers had a free run of such places, and on
Sundays women were admitted in large numbers, and a sing-song was held
throughout the day.
The club might be further congratulated on the stand they took on such questions, and the fact that under no circumstances would they be afraid of a policeman's or a plain clothes detective's visit. He wished the club a very successful future and promised to continue his active interest in its affairs.
He then presented the ambulance certificates and said he need scarcely touch on the importance of ambulance work, particularly in connection with collieries. Many fatal results in accident cases had been avoided by the rendering of first aid, and he would like to see a greater interest taken in the work by the men of Featherstone Main. The class had been very successful and great credit was due to their instructor, Dr W S Finch. The ambulance team had taken part in 14 competitions and had never been placed lower than fourth, winning five times. He presented Dr Finch with a silver medal for his work as instructor for the Yorkshire Mines Inspection Competition. The team presented him with an expanding bookcase. Dr Finch spoke of the marked advance made in ambulance work, and the importance of more miners taking it up.
The chairman announced the cricket team had won eight out of 24 Yorkshire Council fixtures, and 18 out of 20 Pontefract and District League matches and won the Osgoldcross Cup there before them. They would have a team in the newly formed Pit Lads' League, which would give the lads a chance to learn the game without having to break their necks playing with men. All the lads must work at the colliery for which they played.
The evening was concluded with entertainment by the Wakefield Cathedral Quartette Party who sang glees, duets etc.
The club might be further congratulated on the stand they took on such questions, and the fact that under no circumstances would they be afraid of a policeman's or a plain clothes detective's visit. He wished the club a very successful future and promised to continue his active interest in its affairs.
He then presented the ambulance certificates and said he need scarcely touch on the importance of ambulance work, particularly in connection with collieries. Many fatal results in accident cases had been avoided by the rendering of first aid, and he would like to see a greater interest taken in the work by the men of Featherstone Main. The class had been very successful and great credit was due to their instructor, Dr W S Finch. The ambulance team had taken part in 14 competitions and had never been placed lower than fourth, winning five times. He presented Dr Finch with a silver medal for his work as instructor for the Yorkshire Mines Inspection Competition. The team presented him with an expanding bookcase. Dr Finch spoke of the marked advance made in ambulance work, and the importance of more miners taking it up.
The chairman announced the cricket team had won eight out of 24 Yorkshire Council fixtures, and 18 out of 20 Pontefract and District League matches and won the Osgoldcross Cup there before them. They would have a team in the newly formed Pit Lads' League, which would give the lads a chance to learn the game without having to break their necks playing with men. All the lads must work at the colliery for which they played.
The evening was concluded with entertainment by the Wakefield Cathedral Quartette Party who sang glees, duets etc.
CONFLICT WITH ACKTON HOSPITAL
At the November council meeting concern was expressed at the death of all five Featherstone patients recently sent to Ackton Hospital. The hospital had refused to allow Dr Buncle to make inquiries and said four of the five were hopeless cases and the other had typhoid. It was agreed to write to the hospital saying the matter required urgent investigations and the council's medical officer should be allowed to make them.
At the next council meeting a letter was read from Mr Fernandez,
clerk to the hospital committee, which said "I was delayed replying to
your letter until the matter referred to had received the attention of
the committee and the doctor's report thereon. I now enclose copy of Dr
Sandiford's report from which your council
will see that the patients received every possible attention at the
hospital, and their cases were hopeless from the first. It would be well
for your council and Dr Buncle to inquire
how it happens that the sending of patients from Featherstone to the
hospital is delayed until they are positively in extremis when they
arrive. There seems to be something wrong at Featherstone, or there
would not be so much typhoid. This matter is deserving of the attention
of your council and of Dr Buncle. The committee have always inquired most
carefully into every case when death took place, and they satisfy
themselves that everything has been done for the patient's welfare. The
committee are of the opinion that there is no necessity for Dr Buncle or
any other medical man to hold an inquiry into the high death rate in
the circumstances".
Dr Buncle then read another letter from Mr Fernandez which said "The
committee request me to inform you that they will be pleased if the
medical officers within the district will inspect the hospital along
with the hospital doctor, who will no doubt arrange for the inspection".
The council were divided as to whether or not the letter was a satisfactory reply. Cr
Beach, who was the representative on the hospital committee, said the
reply was not quite what they intended. The hospital doctor welcomed any
medical man visiting his own patients, or meeting him in consultation. Also the man named Foster,
who it was alleged had been allowed to go into the grounds before he
was in a fit condition was regarded as a very serious case from the
first, and he had not even been allowed to go outside the ward. The
committee wanted everything to be above board, and they would be glad to
have a visit, not only from the medical officers, but also from the other medical men in the district. It was not considered advisable however for one medical officer to make an inspection.
Cr Darlington said he was pleased the hospital committee had come to a decision to allow an inspection. There had been an improvement in Featherstone as to infectious cases and he pointed out the committee did not consider there was a necessity for an inspection earlier and now they were inviting one.
Cr Beach again said the feelings of the committee were not correctly stated in the letter. The council accepted this and decided to write to the committee accepting the invitation on behalf of their medical officer.
A BUTTY DISPUTE
The butty system was used for many years at all the local collieries, and it was a constant source of trouble. One
man in charge of a number of workers was paid a lump sum for the wages
and he shared it out. Sometimes the men did not know what that lump sum
was and there were always complaints it was not a fair share out. One
such incident ended in a court case in December.
Nelson Malpass, a contractor at Ackton Hall Colliery, was charged with assaulting Arthur White, a byeworker. White told the court he had a dispute with Malpass
over wages. Malpass had paid him 6s 3d and he considered he should get
the full amount for an experienced man ie 7s 9d. When they were down the
pit there was further argument and Malpass struck him with his right
hand and discoloured his eye. They were both holding oil lamps at the time. Later in the pit yard Malpass knocked him down and a bottle in his pocket broke, and a piece of glass entered his neck. He had to see a doctor and he was still off work.
Malpass agreed White received 6s 3d and a more competent workman got 7s 9d. He said White was cut up about it, even though he (Malpass) considered him well paid, and bad language was used. White repeated this conduct down the pit so he stood in his
way and White pushed him aside so he could get to his tub. White then
threatened him and asked another workman to hold his lamp while he went
for him. He (Malpass) then lost his temper, but said he was greatly provoked.
For the first assault Nelson Malpass was fined 12s 6d, and for the second assault the fine was 33s, both including costs.
ARMY PENSIONER IN TROUBLE
Another court case on the same day as the above concerned Albert Marshall, a labourer of no fixed abode, who was charged with stealing sweets valued at 4s the property of Hezekiah Windmill, a confectioner in Station Lane. It was said Marshall had a pension of 9d a day and had served in India and South Africa.
Hezekiah Windmill said after he received some information from his granddaughter he found a bottle of sweets was missing from the shop. He followed Marshall and saw him in a back street with the sweets in his possession. He could not swear the person was Marshall because it was dark and he never saw his face. The man said "Ere, take your sweets", which of course he did. PC Cook afterwards brought the man into the shop and charged him.
Florence Ridgewick age 11, the granddaughter, said she saw Marshall put
a bottle of sweets under his coat. He then want to the back of the
houses where there was no light. PC Cook said he arrested Marshall 300
yards from the shop. He said "I only went into the shop to beg some tobacco; I did not steal anything". He was identified by the granddaughter.
Albert Marshall then made a lengthy statement and denied the charge.
Sobbing, he said he was an Army life-pensioner and had been in South
Africa and all over the shop, and he would not lower himself to do such a thing. He admitted he had had a drop to drink at the time. The Bench, on his promising to leave the district, gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Cr Tommy Sides took St Peter's Church choir and the curate, Revd William Evans, to dinner, pantomime and tea. The Express commented the boys much to their satisfaction had permission to order what they liked for dinner and some rather strange dishes were brought in.
Bostock and Wombwell's show arrived in the feast ground for its first visit in 20 years. It was described as a world famous show and a veritable Noah's ark on wheels. It played to packed houses during its stay.
An inquest was held in Pontefract on Hilda Lorriman aged seven of Nostell View. She went downstairs with her younger brother early on Sunday morning and was trying to light an acetylene bicycle lamp with a piece of lighted paper when her flannelette nightdress caught fire. Dr Finch sent her to Pontefract Dispensary where she died the same afternoon. The verdict was misadventure.
DECEMBER Mr J R Jaques, his son Tom and driver Allen Hewitt were in a trap when the horse took fright at a door mat being shook near the Junction Hotel. It bolted and the Jaques were thrown out at the back. The driver stuck to the reigns but they broke when he was near Purston Lodge and he also was thrown out. All three were badly shook up. The horse was finally stopped by a Mr Allatt at the "Dog on the wall" in Wragby Road.
Sergeant Thurlwell was looking round the Phipps Street lodging house when he spotted Bartholomew Hewitt, wanted for deserting from the West Yorkshire Regiment. The magistrates at Pontefract allowed the policeman a 15s reward.
The council increased the salary of the sanitary inspector (Mr Sagar) from £104 to £117 a year.
An inquest was held on James Hamar aged 21 of Albert Street. A fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery on December 9 fractured his spine and he was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died on December 18. The verdict was he died from a fractured spine caused accidentally by a fall of stone in Featherstone Main pit, while at work.
Mrs Stebbing, the vicar's wife, went to Pontefract and at Holmes's shop in Gillygate she fell down a cellar door opening. She suffered a broken arm and was taken home in a cab.
1908 NEWS ITEMS
JANUARY John Waller JP gave half a crown each to 25 persons in Purston who were in receipt of poor law relief, and beef to 20 others.
An inquest was held on Bernard Maurice Westbrook age 14 of Cowards Buildings. He
was a pony driver at Featherstone Main Colliery and was found dead
after being run over by a full tub. The verdict was misadventure. The
coroner, Major Arundel, gave 17s 6d to William Johnson, the jury foreman, for the jurors' and witnesses' fees. Mr Johnson complained the coins (a half-sovereign, half crown etc) were of too large a value to distribute and he said if he were to be foreman again he would test the legality of this.
Bartholomew Bartlett aged 73 of Featherstone Green collapsed and died in the street. At his funeral Fred George Greed aged 54 of Rose Avenue collapsed and died at the graveside. A post mortem by Dr Steven showed a fatty heart and miner's lungs. Dr
Steven said hurrying from work, eating a hearty dinner and hurrying to
the cemetery would have a serious affect on the heart. At the inquest
the verdict was natural causes.
FEBRUARY Minnie Hand of Featherstone was in domestic service in Bradford. She died after standing too near a bedroom fire and her nightdress caught alight. The inquest verdict was accidental death.
A horse pulling an empty coal cart bolted and ran down Station Lane. At the bottom it ran into a pony and light cart loaded with hay. The pony, cart and hay were overturned, but there were no injuries to the driver or animal.
An inquest was held on William Wheat aged 27, a miner living in Arundel Street. Thomas Dacey said the deceased had been drinking for three days. Alice Knapper of Leeds Street said she went into William Wheat's
house and found him with his head in a bucket trying to be sick so she
left. Dr Finch said when he was called the deceased had been dead about
30 minutes. A post mortem showed the skull was fractured but Dr Finch
said it did not contribute to the death which was due to excessive drinking. The verdict was according to the medical evidence.
The Assembly Rooms were again packed for a North Featherstone Lane
School concert which raised more than £15 for the school library and
recreation apparatus. The concert was repeated two weeks later. In Pontefract Court Jessie Cranswick and John Graham, teachers at the school, said they had to turn William Stringer and Thomas Nash out of the concert for disorderly conduct. The next afternoon they both lay in wait and threw stones at the teachers when they left
school. Nash, age 15, was said to have previous convictions including
throwing rotten eggs at teachers and he was fined 29s 6d or one month in
prison. Stringer did not turn up and at a later hearing he was fined
10s.
An inquest was held on Sarah Ann White who collapsed in Post Office Road. Dr Steven said a post mortem showed she died from Bright's disease and the verdict was natural causes.
MARCH
There was a row at the council meeting about a recommendation from the
gas and water committee that a loan be sought to lay a ten inch water main from North Featherstone. Some considered it was mainly for Featherstone Main Colliery's benefit and the colliery should pay for it. Others argued it should be the council's responsibility. Cr Darlington said there had been many complaints about the water supply.
The Councillors
agreed to support a protest by the West Riding District Councils'
Association at the proposal of the county council to appoint ten medical officers at a salary of £300 each to inspect school children instead of using local doctors.
At a meeting in Purston School a presentation was made to Joseph Watson who retired last year as postmaster of Featherstone. He received an inscribed gold watch and his wife was presented with a gold bracelet. They were also given an album containing the names of subscribers.
APRIL Huddersfield Technical College and North Featherstone Lane evening mining classes arranged visits to Featherstone Main Colliery to see recently installed coalcutters and chain and canvas belt conveyors.
The band of the Port of Hull Society's Sailors' Orphans Home paid another visit to Featherstone. Their agent, Mr R B Oliver, said Featherstone was by far the best country place they visited and was second only to Manchester in all the towns they went to. They arrived in Featherstone at 12 noon and played in Ackton Hall Colliery yard and then went to the Assembly Rooms for dinner. They then played in the Green Lane Club, North Featherstone Lane School playground and Featherstone Hall (for Roslyn Holiday). After that they went to Purston Hall (for Lieut-Col Shaw), paraded the streets and ended up in the Assembly Rooms at 8pm for a concert. The Assembly Rooms were so packed some people had to sit on the stage. A record £40 was raised.
At the council meeting a letter was read out offering the old quarry at North Featherstone as a wash out for the water tank at 5s a year.
The voting in the council elections was as follows.
Purston Ward James Maxwell 323 Ambrose Makin 274.
South Ward William Henry Scholes 205 S Earnshaw 141 Sam Mason 2.
Sam Mason withdrew from the election too late to have his name removed from the ballot paper. Peter Darlington was unopposed for the North Ward and Joe Walker also had a walkover for the Ackton and Snydale Ward. It was rumoured some voters had given the names of dead men for illegal votes in both wards.
The new council elected Cr Tommy Sides as chairman. Cr Shaw suggested the chairmanship should be for two years and then the vice-chairman should take over. Cr Waller agreed but no vote was taken.
MAY Beatrice Lamb, a Featherstone widow, claimed in court that as she was coming from Tanshelf to Featherstone by train she was held down by four men and indecently assaulted by Richard Atkinson. She refused to be cross-examined and could produce no witnesses so the Bench stopped the case.
John William Idle, a Nostell View grocer, was charged with selling adulterated butter and unlabelled margarine. An inspector of food and drinks purchased butter at 1s 1d a pound from Mrs Idle and had declined best butter at 1s 4d a pound. He sent it to the public analyst who said it was all margarine. Mrs Idle told the court she had told him she was supplying him with butter substitute and it was not in a margarine wrapper because there were none in the shop and as she was alone she was unable to go upstairs to get any. Mr Idle was fined 5s on each charge.
An inquest was held on Benjamin Parker aged 49 of Purston who was killed by a fall of coal and roof at Featherstone Main Colliery. The verdict was accidental death.
Percy Wake age seven of Featherstone Square was knocked down by a car near Nostell View. He was taken to Dr Finch's surgery and found to be suffering from concussion. He was taken home where he made a good recovery.
JUNE At the council meeting the medical officer reported a measles epidemic and said all the infants' schools were closed. A conference on smallpox hospitals had recommended one for 12 beds to be run by the Joint Hospital Committee (Ackton Hospital). Their secretary, Mr Fernandez wrote to the council asking if their smallpox hospital could be used. The council offered to sell the hospital for £300.
Mr Foster of Bradford (formerly a Featherstone tradesman) was a well-known Socialist speaker and propagandist. He spoke to a series of meetings arranged by the Featherstone Labour Party. Among his subjects was "Was Jesus a Socialist".
The underground men at Ackton Hall Colliery voted on an offer of them paying 6d per ticket if the company arranged an excursion. They voted in favour by 1,100 to 134 against.
The council had agreed to try an experiment with tar in Station Lane to see if it would help with the dust problem. First the existing dust had to be removed without it being watered. This caused clouds of dust and there were many complaints. One butcher whose premised had just been painted intended sending in a claim for damages.
JULY Isaiah Hill was fined 12s 6d for being in possession of wild birds (five thrushes and one lark) and James Chilton was fined 7s 6d for being in possession of one lark.
Three policemen hid themselves near England's Buildings one Sunday afternoon to watch eleven men playing banker for money. They endeavoured to get round the men but a woman gave the alarm and they decamped. The police told the court they knew all those involved and the eleven were fined from 9s to 20s for gaming with cards.
The pits closed for a day for the annual miners' demonstration held this year at Wakefield. The schools and shops also closed and 420 people went to Wakefield by train.
James Wheldon, a labourer of no fixed abode, asked a man in Purston for a copper towards his night's lodgings. Unfortunately he asked PC Wright who was in plain clothes. James was arrested and sent to prison for seven days for begging alms. Elizabeth Price of no fixed abode also received a seven day sentence for begging in Purston on a Sunday morning. She said she was only singing and leaving people to give her what they liked.
The Featherstone Main Colliery excursion went to Southport. There were 894 people on two trains and they did not get back until 2am Sunday morning.
AUGUST An inquest was held on the two months old son of George Rushton of Featherstone Crescent. The husband, wife, two years old daughter and baby all slept in the same bed. Dr Finch said death was due to suffocation and the jury returned a verdict of misadventure.
An inquest was held on Herbert Knight, a 36 years old miner of West View, North Featherstone. He was hit by a prop which became dislodged at Ackton Hall Colliery. He was assisted home and attended by Dr Thomas who did not consider his injuries to be serious, but five days later he gradually sank and died. The medical evidence was death could have been due to internal strangulation caused by a blow to the abdomen, and the jury decided it was misadventure.
At the council meeting the nuisance inspector said there was a serious nuisance in Featherstone Square and Nostell View through keeping fowls in back yards. It was reported there were six pounds less pressure on the water main since Normanton had made a connection in the Market Place, and there was a shortage at times in Purston. It was agreed to write to Wakefield Corporation.
Dr Buncle wrote to say he had been medical officer for 31 years at a salary of £40 a year and the population had increased four fold. He was reappointed at £50. George Clements tender of £1,250 was accepted for the making up of Crossley Street, George Street, Fearnley Street and Phipps Street. it was found when added up correctly his tender was £1,252, but the council decided not to disqualify it.
The Express reported "Great crowds have visited the feast this year. There were roundabouts, swings and shooting galleries in the feast ground, and the fun was fast and furious. This annual event brings together the relatives of many families, and the feast is eagerly anticipated by numbers on that account".
Herbert Gledhill, pawnbroker, died aged 29 after an operation on his throat in Leeds Infirmary. He was the second son of the late Henry Gledhill.
An inquest was held at Clayton Hospital on Sam Morton aged 50 of Robbins Terrace. He was buried by a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery and was taken to Dr Steele's surgery and then to Clayton Hospital where he was found to have serious internal injuries and a fractured spine. He died in the hospital and the jury decided he was accidentally killed by a fall of roof while at work in the pit.
George Davis described as a tall unkempt, patriarchal man in long loose garb, was sent to prison for seven days for begging alms in Featherstone.
Five pony drivers were fined from 9s to 12s 6d for playing pitch and toss in Sun Court. They were spotted by PCs Whittaker and Townend.
SEPTEMBER John Wilson and Edwin Robinson were sent to prison for begging alms in Featherstone. As seven days had not been a deterrent they received 14 days with hard labour. George Hancock on a similar charge in Purston said it was his first time and he only did it for his wife and four children. The family were in court and the children were clean and evidently well cared for. The Bench took pity on him and he was discharged and advised to enter the workhouse at Sheffield where he had lived. This he promised to do.
Six pony drivers were fined for playing banker in Engine Lane, and two of their mates were fined for aiding and abetting by acting as lookout.
Purston Wesleyan Church started a fund for a pipe organ. Mr Carnegie was to be asked for a donation.
OCTOBER Ernest Clayton, Christopher Elliot and Thomas Evans were in court for obstructing the footpath in Station Lane, refusing to move on and refusing to give their names to the police. The first was fined 5s and the other two 2s 6d.
Thomas Speight was carrying a cabbage and a cauliflower down Station Lane on a Sunday night and was alleged by the police to have said "These **** cabbages have won the first **** prize today, and I'm taking them home, and tell the landlady to boil them, **** leaves and all". He denied the charge, but a witness in his defence had to admit Speight had used at least one "b". The Bench fined Speight 18s.
An inquest was held on Walter Cawood aged 41 of Featherstone Lane. He left home to cycle to Leeds and was brought home two hours later partly unconscious. he was seen by Dr Thomas who said he was suffering from shock. His face was badly marked and his skull was fractured. Meningitis set in and he died five days later. George Wigglesworth of Normanton Common said he was walking down the hill on Castleford Road when Cawood ran into him on his bicycle. Tom Wagstaffe of Stanley Street said he was cycling that way and Cawood passed him at about 12 miles per hour. He helped to take him home. The Jury's verdict was misadventure.
Harriet Harrison was charged with wondering abroad. She was stopped by the police in Purston at 1.30am. Her mother had left home some time ago and her father left her and two young children a few days ago. They now had no support. She was discharged on promising to go to the workhouse.
The council were told two schools were closed because of a measles epidemic. Cr Shaw said a circular from the county council that brothers and sisters of a child with measles could attend school was most extraordinary. A proposal was passed for the schools to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
The confectioner's shop of Misses Banks in Station Lane had a side window slightly cracked. A number of youths took advantage of this and broke out a piece of glass big enough to get a hand in and 10s worth of sweets and chocolate were stolen.
NOVEMBER Seven boys and youths were summonsed for the sweet shop raid. One did not appear in court. It was said they used a button hook to pull out a piece of the cracked window. Two were found guilty and the other four were bound over. The remaining boy appeared the next week and he was bound over.
A petition was being organised to have Peter Darlington appointed as a JP. Purston had two (Lieut-Col Shaw and John Waller) but there were none in Featherstone although the chairman of the council was a JP for his period of office.
A new crackdown on gambling resulted in 29 Featherstone and Purston men being summonsed for playing toss in Green Lane and Girnhill Lane.
John Waller celebrated his 80th birthday by holding a party at the Junction Hotel. He gave 110 half-crowns to the relieving officer to be given to the poor. For one day at the hotel all the customers were given a pint of beer and a sandwich. John Waller's Hotel is shown below. A photo from the Featherstone Library Collection.
At a meeting in Purston School a presentation was made to Joseph Watson who retired last year as postmaster of Featherstone. He received an inscribed gold watch and his wife was presented with a gold bracelet. They were also given an album containing the names of subscribers.
APRIL Huddersfield Technical College and North Featherstone Lane evening mining classes arranged visits to Featherstone Main Colliery to see recently installed coalcutters and chain and canvas belt conveyors.
The band of the Port of Hull Society's Sailors' Orphans Home paid another visit to Featherstone. Their agent, Mr R B Oliver, said Featherstone was by far the best country place they visited and was second only to Manchester in all the towns they went to. They arrived in Featherstone at 12 noon and played in Ackton Hall Colliery yard and then went to the Assembly Rooms for dinner. They then played in the Green Lane Club, North Featherstone Lane School playground and Featherstone Hall (for Roslyn Holiday). After that they went to Purston Hall (for Lieut-Col Shaw), paraded the streets and ended up in the Assembly Rooms at 8pm for a concert. The Assembly Rooms were so packed some people had to sit on the stage. A record £40 was raised.
At the council meeting a letter was read out offering the old quarry at North Featherstone as a wash out for the water tank at 5s a year.
The voting in the council elections was as follows.
Purston Ward James Maxwell 323 Ambrose Makin 274.
South Ward William Henry Scholes 205 S Earnshaw 141 Sam Mason 2.
Sam Mason withdrew from the election too late to have his name removed from the ballot paper. Peter Darlington was unopposed for the North Ward and Joe Walker also had a walkover for the Ackton and Snydale Ward. It was rumoured some voters had given the names of dead men for illegal votes in both wards.
The new council elected Cr Tommy Sides as chairman. Cr Shaw suggested the chairmanship should be for two years and then the vice-chairman should take over. Cr Waller agreed but no vote was taken.
MAY Beatrice Lamb, a Featherstone widow, claimed in court that as she was coming from Tanshelf to Featherstone by train she was held down by four men and indecently assaulted by Richard Atkinson. She refused to be cross-examined and could produce no witnesses so the Bench stopped the case.
John William Idle, a Nostell View grocer, was charged with selling adulterated butter and unlabelled margarine. An inspector of food and drinks purchased butter at 1s 1d a pound from Mrs Idle and had declined best butter at 1s 4d a pound. He sent it to the public analyst who said it was all margarine. Mrs Idle told the court she had told him she was supplying him with butter substitute and it was not in a margarine wrapper because there were none in the shop and as she was alone she was unable to go upstairs to get any. Mr Idle was fined 5s on each charge.
An inquest was held on Benjamin Parker aged 49 of Purston who was killed by a fall of coal and roof at Featherstone Main Colliery. The verdict was accidental death.
Percy Wake age seven of Featherstone Square was knocked down by a car near Nostell View. He was taken to Dr Finch's surgery and found to be suffering from concussion. He was taken home where he made a good recovery.
JUNE At the council meeting the medical officer reported a measles epidemic and said all the infants' schools were closed. A conference on smallpox hospitals had recommended one for 12 beds to be run by the Joint Hospital Committee (Ackton Hospital). Their secretary, Mr Fernandez wrote to the council asking if their smallpox hospital could be used. The council offered to sell the hospital for £300.
Mr Foster of Bradford (formerly a Featherstone tradesman) was a well-known Socialist speaker and propagandist. He spoke to a series of meetings arranged by the Featherstone Labour Party. Among his subjects was "Was Jesus a Socialist".
The underground men at Ackton Hall Colliery voted on an offer of them paying 6d per ticket if the company arranged an excursion. They voted in favour by 1,100 to 134 against.
The council had agreed to try an experiment with tar in Station Lane to see if it would help with the dust problem. First the existing dust had to be removed without it being watered. This caused clouds of dust and there were many complaints. One butcher whose premised had just been painted intended sending in a claim for damages.
JULY Isaiah Hill was fined 12s 6d for being in possession of wild birds (five thrushes and one lark) and James Chilton was fined 7s 6d for being in possession of one lark.
Three policemen hid themselves near England's Buildings one Sunday afternoon to watch eleven men playing banker for money. They endeavoured to get round the men but a woman gave the alarm and they decamped. The police told the court they knew all those involved and the eleven were fined from 9s to 20s for gaming with cards.
The pits closed for a day for the annual miners' demonstration held this year at Wakefield. The schools and shops also closed and 420 people went to Wakefield by train.
James Wheldon, a labourer of no fixed abode, asked a man in Purston for a copper towards his night's lodgings. Unfortunately he asked PC Wright who was in plain clothes. James was arrested and sent to prison for seven days for begging alms. Elizabeth Price of no fixed abode also received a seven day sentence for begging in Purston on a Sunday morning. She said she was only singing and leaving people to give her what they liked.
The Featherstone Main Colliery excursion went to Southport. There were 894 people on two trains and they did not get back until 2am Sunday morning.
AUGUST An inquest was held on the two months old son of George Rushton of Featherstone Crescent. The husband, wife, two years old daughter and baby all slept in the same bed. Dr Finch said death was due to suffocation and the jury returned a verdict of misadventure.
An inquest was held on Herbert Knight, a 36 years old miner of West View, North Featherstone. He was hit by a prop which became dislodged at Ackton Hall Colliery. He was assisted home and attended by Dr Thomas who did not consider his injuries to be serious, but five days later he gradually sank and died. The medical evidence was death could have been due to internal strangulation caused by a blow to the abdomen, and the jury decided it was misadventure.
At the council meeting the nuisance inspector said there was a serious nuisance in Featherstone Square and Nostell View through keeping fowls in back yards. It was reported there were six pounds less pressure on the water main since Normanton had made a connection in the Market Place, and there was a shortage at times in Purston. It was agreed to write to Wakefield Corporation.
Dr Buncle wrote to say he had been medical officer for 31 years at a salary of £40 a year and the population had increased four fold. He was reappointed at £50. George Clements tender of £1,250 was accepted for the making up of Crossley Street, George Street, Fearnley Street and Phipps Street. it was found when added up correctly his tender was £1,252, but the council decided not to disqualify it.
The Express reported "Great crowds have visited the feast this year. There were roundabouts, swings and shooting galleries in the feast ground, and the fun was fast and furious. This annual event brings together the relatives of many families, and the feast is eagerly anticipated by numbers on that account".
Herbert Gledhill, pawnbroker, died aged 29 after an operation on his throat in Leeds Infirmary. He was the second son of the late Henry Gledhill.
An inquest was held at Clayton Hospital on Sam Morton aged 50 of Robbins Terrace. He was buried by a fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery and was taken to Dr Steele's surgery and then to Clayton Hospital where he was found to have serious internal injuries and a fractured spine. He died in the hospital and the jury decided he was accidentally killed by a fall of roof while at work in the pit.
George Davis described as a tall unkempt, patriarchal man in long loose garb, was sent to prison for seven days for begging alms in Featherstone.
Five pony drivers were fined from 9s to 12s 6d for playing pitch and toss in Sun Court. They were spotted by PCs Whittaker and Townend.
SEPTEMBER John Wilson and Edwin Robinson were sent to prison for begging alms in Featherstone. As seven days had not been a deterrent they received 14 days with hard labour. George Hancock on a similar charge in Purston said it was his first time and he only did it for his wife and four children. The family were in court and the children were clean and evidently well cared for. The Bench took pity on him and he was discharged and advised to enter the workhouse at Sheffield where he had lived. This he promised to do.
Six pony drivers were fined for playing banker in Engine Lane, and two of their mates were fined for aiding and abetting by acting as lookout.
Purston Wesleyan Church started a fund for a pipe organ. Mr Carnegie was to be asked for a donation.
OCTOBER Ernest Clayton, Christopher Elliot and Thomas Evans were in court for obstructing the footpath in Station Lane, refusing to move on and refusing to give their names to the police. The first was fined 5s and the other two 2s 6d.
Thomas Speight was carrying a cabbage and a cauliflower down Station Lane on a Sunday night and was alleged by the police to have said "These **** cabbages have won the first **** prize today, and I'm taking them home, and tell the landlady to boil them, **** leaves and all". He denied the charge, but a witness in his defence had to admit Speight had used at least one "b". The Bench fined Speight 18s.
An inquest was held on Walter Cawood aged 41 of Featherstone Lane. He left home to cycle to Leeds and was brought home two hours later partly unconscious. he was seen by Dr Thomas who said he was suffering from shock. His face was badly marked and his skull was fractured. Meningitis set in and he died five days later. George Wigglesworth of Normanton Common said he was walking down the hill on Castleford Road when Cawood ran into him on his bicycle. Tom Wagstaffe of Stanley Street said he was cycling that way and Cawood passed him at about 12 miles per hour. He helped to take him home. The Jury's verdict was misadventure.
Harriet Harrison was charged with wondering abroad. She was stopped by the police in Purston at 1.30am. Her mother had left home some time ago and her father left her and two young children a few days ago. They now had no support. She was discharged on promising to go to the workhouse.
The council were told two schools were closed because of a measles epidemic. Cr Shaw said a circular from the county council that brothers and sisters of a child with measles could attend school was most extraordinary. A proposal was passed for the schools to be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
The confectioner's shop of Misses Banks in Station Lane had a side window slightly cracked. A number of youths took advantage of this and broke out a piece of glass big enough to get a hand in and 10s worth of sweets and chocolate were stolen.
NOVEMBER Seven boys and youths were summonsed for the sweet shop raid. One did not appear in court. It was said they used a button hook to pull out a piece of the cracked window. Two were found guilty and the other four were bound over. The remaining boy appeared the next week and he was bound over.
A petition was being organised to have Peter Darlington appointed as a JP. Purston had two (Lieut-Col Shaw and John Waller) but there were none in Featherstone although the chairman of the council was a JP for his period of office.
A new crackdown on gambling resulted in 29 Featherstone and Purston men being summonsed for playing toss in Green Lane and Girnhill Lane.
John Waller celebrated his 80th birthday by holding a party at the Junction Hotel. He gave 110 half-crowns to the relieving officer to be given to the poor. For one day at the hotel all the customers were given a pint of beer and a sandwich. John Waller's Hotel is shown below. A photo from the Featherstone Library Collection.
An inquest was held in Pontefract on Hilda Lorriman aged seven of Nostell View. She went downstairs with her younger brother early on Sunday morning and was trying to light an acetylene bicycle lamp with a piece of lighted paper when her flannelette nightdress caught fire. Dr Finch sent her to Pontefract Dispensary where she died the same afternoon. The verdict was misadventure.
DECEMBER Mr J R Jaques, his son Tom and driver Allen Hewitt were in a trap when the horse took fright at a door mat being shook near the Junction Hotel. It bolted and the Jaques were thrown out at the back. The driver stuck to the reigns but they broke when he was near Purston Lodge and he also was thrown out. All three were badly shook up. The horse was finally stopped by a Mr Allatt at the "Dog on the wall" in Wragby Road.
Sergeant Thurlwell was looking round the Phipps Street lodging house when he spotted Bartholomew Hewitt, wanted for deserting from the West Yorkshire Regiment. The magistrates at Pontefract allowed the policeman a 15s reward.
The council increased the salary of the sanitary inspector (Mr Sagar) from £104 to £117 a year.
An inquest was held on James Hamar aged 21 of Albert Street. A fall of roof at Featherstone Main Colliery on December 9 fractured his spine and he was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died on December 18. The verdict was he died from a fractured spine caused accidentally by a fall of stone in Featherstone Main pit, while at work.
Mrs Stebbing, the vicar's wife, went to Pontefract and at Holmes's shop in Gillygate she fell down a cellar door opening. She suffered a broken arm and was taken home in a cab.