1909

 

A HISTORY OF FEATHERSTONE 

1909

NO LIBRARY BECAUSE OF A PENNY RATE

   Mr Carnegie, the well-known philanthropic millionaire, had offered £3,500 towards the cost of a library for Featherstone. In January the council instructed the clerk to write to various landowners about land for a library. Cr Poppleton said this had been done four or five years earlier but nothing had come of it. Cr Shaw asked if the ratepayers of Snydale and Loscoe would agree to pay rates for a library in Featherstone. Cr Waller asked if the council had actually decided on a library. Cr Sides said we have accepted the gift, whereupon Cr Waller said "I propose we do not consider it; the rates are high enough". In the end nothing was agreed.

  A week later the Featherstone Women's Liberal Association held a meeting in the Salvation Army room. Mr Poppleton presided. He said he supported votes for women and the chance for women to take part in local affairs such as sanitary matters, education, hospitals etc. He said he had stopped going to the education sub-committee meetings because all the matters which came before them had been cut and dried by the county council.
  He took it the women of Featherstone would be more interested in public libraries than all the other questions named. Nearly six years ago he brought the subject before the council but nothing was done - all for the paltry matter of a penny rate, at the outside. As a property owner a penny rate would make a good deal more difference to him in proportion than to the colliery owners in the district who were much better able to afford the extra rate than he was.
   It was nothing but narrow-mindedness to put back the building of a free library because of an extra penny, perhaps only a ha'penny rate. There were too many pubs and clubs in Featherstone (hear hear) and it would be a fine thing for the women of Featherstone if there was a free library. They would then know there was at least one other place for their husbands and others to go besides the pubs and clubs (hear hear). After reading the newspapers the men could, if they wished, take home a book, and the library might make a marked difference in the lives of the people.

  The matter was now again before the council, but he was afraid that again he would be defeated. He hoped it would not be just for the sake of a penny rate, at the most. Both Normanton and Ossett ran their libraries with a halfpenny rate, and Featherstone might be able to do the same. The library would certainly be of great benefit to the district, and he trusted to see it go forward.

   In March the rates went up to 2s 2d and although both John Shaw and Roslyn Holiday offered a free site for a library the council decided they couldn't put another penny on the rates to run a library. At the June meeting it was decided to defer the project indefinitely.

EDUCATION IN 1909

  In February the Express reported "Entertainments by Featherstone's school children are now amongst the most popular of the social season's events. They are invariably successful from every point of view, and that promoted by Miss Roberts (North Featherstone Lane Infants) and her staff in the Assembly Rooms on Tuesday night was well up to the standard obtaining. Not withstanding that the lowest price of admission was 1s there was a crowded room, and many fond parents watched the clever performance of their little tots with pardonable pride. The enthusiastic audience were excellently entertained for three hours".
  Lieut-Col Shaw acted as chairman for the concert and said some people thought these children were too young to be educated. He agreed they were too young for their heads to be stuffed with things impossible for them to grasp, but such subjects as singing and simple drill were quite proper for infants, and were excellent in preparing them to receive higher education in later years. 
  When a candidate for the council some five years ago he advocated school children should be medically examined as to their health generally; their hearing and sight. These suggestions were received with a certain amount of derision by some; some people said it was all nonsense and others said he was a century before his time. But all these suggestions were now being adopted by the county councils and other bodies, and they found the Labour Party amongst the greatest supporters of these proposals. The sensible people of Featherstone would now see nothing better and nothing more important for the future generation had been suggested than little children should have proper medical attention at school.
  In conclusion he said the proceeds of the present effort were for a summer treat for the scholars. If this was to be an outdoor affair he should be very glad to have the children at Purston Park, and would be glad to assist Miss Roberts in the arrangements.
   In May Miss Roberts decided to try her luck for a rise. At the next committee meeting Peter Darlington suggested the salaries of all headteachers should be determined together with how many pupils each of them had. A month later it was decided not to recommend a rise for Miss Roberts.
  The school concerts and other efforts had raised £20 which was used to purchase plants and books for the schools and the surplus to provide treats for the pupils in July. North Featherstone Lane Infants spent a happy afternoon in Purston Park. Tea was served by the teachers and each child received a bag of nuts and sweets. 
  Over 30 Regent Street evening school girls had a separate party in Purston Park but it rained on them and Lieut-Col Shaw allowed tea to be served and the prizes given in one of the outhouses. The day school girls fared better with the weather and 500 of them walked in procession from the school to Purston Park with many proud parents lining the streets. Tea was served picnic style and was followed by separate races for each class.
  The survey of heads of schools turned out as follows.
George Street boys - Mr Simpson (appointed 1883) salary £184.
Regent Street girls - Miss Cockerham (1889) £115.
Regent Street Infants - Miss Tupman (1895) £120.
North Featherstone Lane Senior - Mr Cowey (1899) £160.
North Featherstone Lane Junior - Miss Alexander (1901) £105.
North Featherstone Lane Infants - Miss Roberts (1899) £105.
Purston National Mixed - Mr Cooper (1896) £165.
Purston National Infants - Miss Parry (1901) £100.
North Featherstone National - Miss Maxwell (1906) £90.  
  Miss Cockerham attended the meeting in September and pointed out it was a full year since her last advance. She had worked 19 years in the service of the old board and the present committee, and the school had never had an adverse report. Her present salary was not the maximum for similar schools in the district.
  Mr Higgins said he would propose an increase of £20. If they searched the country round they could not find a headmistress better qualified than Miss Cockerham. Mr Murphy said a serious attempt would have to be made to arrive at a basis in this matter. Until that time there could be continual applications. it was only natural when one got a rise others, having equal qualifications, would want similar treatment. Thus the game would go on.
  Col Shaw said the matter had been considered by the Riding Authority, but they had not yet been able to strike a satisfactory basis. He seconded the resolution as Miss Cockerham had proved she had the interest and the advancement of the children at heart. 
  The resolution was passed unanimously. Mr Higgins said she might only get £10. Col Shaw replied the amount recommended had no effect. They will give what they like.
  On another matter, the committee considered a West Riding Education Authority estimate of alterations at the Provided Boys' School (George Street) which included £300 for a central heating scheme. The committee thought the scheme was too expensive, and the school was already heated (with fireplaces) and the same system should be used in the new classrooms.
  Mrs Nicholls was caretaker of the Boys' School. She was told if she did not do the work herself, or get female assistance, she would be asked to resign. She was too old to do it herself and the education sub-committee would not let her children help her, so she resigned.

THE OLD AGE PENSION

The Old Age Pension Act of 1908 came into force on January 1. It was a complicated affair. The Act required the setting up of local pension committees, and pension officers were appointed by the Treasury. Those persons who would be over 70 on the due date had to get a claim form from the post office and be approved by the committee and pension officer.

 To qualify for the 5s a week or 7s 6d for a couple a person had to be over 70, a British subject for at least 20 years and be living in the United Kingdom. Anyone whose yearly income exceeded £31 10s was disqualified. Also disqualified were those who were receiving poor relief or anyone who had habitually failed to work. Anyone sent to prison without the option of a fine was disqualified for ten years after coming out.
  The Featherstone pension committee consisted of Lieut-Col Shaw the county councillor and eight members of the council. They didn't have many claims to consider because there were very few people over 70 in the area and a lot of those would be getting poor relief.

THE FDAPO

  The Featherstone and District Association for the Prosecution of Offenders held its annual dinner at the Railway Hotel in January to celebrate eight years of existence. The annual report showed the membership had risen to 147 members as against 138 in 1907. During the year 34 cases of damage or trespass on the property of members had been taken up. There had been 26 prosecutions with 20 convictions. Four summonses had been dismissed and two were withdrawn. The annual subscriptions totalled £26 and the secretary's honorarium was £15 15s.

  John Watson proposed a toast to the secretary, Mr W E Clayton-Smith, and spoke in warm tones of the work done by that official. The secretary gave his thanks and said as to the usefulness of the society there had been 130 prosecutions in the first year and only 26 last year. The evening ended with a song concert.

EXPLOSION AT ACKTON HALL COLLIERY

Ackton Hall Colliery was one of the first to install electricity underground. The equipment caused alarm among the inspectors of mines who considered it a new hazard to the miners. The Yorkshire inspector wrote in his annual report for 1908 "Electrical installations are becoming very common in fiery (gassy) mines, and the current is often carried a long way inbye. it is impossible to foresee what will be the ultimate result of this, but it may safely be laid down as an axiom, that electricity has introduced a new potential danger into the mines".

  His words came true on January 19 when at 12.20pm an explosion of firedamp occurred at Ackton Hall Colliery and two miners died. They were James Platts and Herbert Meredith, both of Pontefract.

  The Express commented "Featherstone and Pontefract have been alike shocked this week as a result of a serious accident which occurred in the Haigh Moor Pit of the Ackton Hall Colliery on Tuesday noon. The circumstances are as far removed from the general cause of accidents in mines - falls of roof etc - as to arouse the greatest interest, and the unfortunate occurrence is almost the sole topic of conversation in Featherstone. Whether there was an explosion or not remains to be seen. There was certainly however an ignition of gas. Men working near the two men named were startled to hear a report and loud cries of distress. On investigation both men were found writhing in pain, and they were taken out of the pit with all possible speed, and all the miners in the immediate vicinity, becoming alarmed, left the pit, and a good number ran off wearing only their pit drawers, some even running into the street in this condition. Indeed, more than one Pontefract miner had to borrow clothes at houses near the colliery before they could go to their homes.

  "Meanwhile the two unfortunate ones had been taken to the ambulance room, and there everything was done that was possible to alleviate their sufferings. After being provisionally attended to they were conveyed in the ambulance-car to the Clayton Hospital at Wakefield. When admitted they presented a very sad sight. They were suffering from extensive burns, Platts being the worse case, who, with the exception of his feet, was burned from head to foot. Meredith was also badly burned, and was in a critical condition..

  "Platts succumbed to his injuries in the presence of his wife who had stayed throughout the night. When seen by our representative this morning the wife was in a very distressed condition, and she told us her husband's last words were - the children. The case is a particularly sad one. The deceased was 34, and there is a family of six children, the eldest 11 and the youngest four months only. It is a remarkable coincidence the men live next door to each other in Edna Terrace, Halfpenny Lane, Pontefract. Meredith is also married, his wife being but 22, and their only child is only a fortnight old."  
  An inquest was opened on James Platts while Herbert Meredith was still alive. Charles Wright, the house surgeon, said the case was hopeless from the first, and he took a statement from the deceased which was "I, James Platts, went to switch off the electric fan, and there was an explosion, which knocked me senseless for a moment. So far as I know there was no fire afterwards. The fan and the electrical apparatus were in proper working order. I do not know why the explosion occurred".
  The coroner thought the taking down of the statement was an excellent thing to do, but as the inspectors had not finished their investigations and there was no hope of Meredith giving evidence for at least three weeks he adjourned the inquest. Herbert Meredith lingered on for five days before he finally succumbed to his terrible injuries.  
  It was then decided to have a joint inquest. When it opened Orlando Howarth of Regent Street said he was working in the same part of the pit as Platts and Meredith, and he was about 60 yards from them. Suddenly there was a big shock of wind and he said to his mate "I should think the motor has burst. We had better go and see what is the matter". he went about 30 yards and came to a lot of smoke and he heard Platts shouting for help. He and his mate Lane found Platts standing and writhing in agony. They took him to where there was more air and went for his clothes. A stretcher was brought and Platts was taken out of the pit. Meredith, who had gone forward, was also attended to in the ambulance place at the top.
  Answering questions Howarth said he did not notice any dust before or after the explosion. Both the injured men's lamps were blown out. All the other men rushed away but some were brought back by the deputy. He knew nothing about electric motors, he did not detect any gas, and he was satisfied with the amount of ventilation. The deputy was round about an hour before the incident. It was not usual for the workers to look after an electric fan, but the deceased men did so. Men from the top usually looked after the machines.
  James Lane of Duke Street said he heard a sudden report as if a gun had been fired. His mate Howarth went to see what had happened and then he heard a man shouting for help. He ran past Howarth and met Platts who was badly burned and afraid of being touched. He offered to carry Platts on his back but they waited until a stretcher was brought. Platts said he did not know where Meredith was and they later found him on a pass-by also badly burned. Next day he went to the spot where the incident occurred, but he did not know exactly what took place and he knew nothing about electricity.  
  He also answered questions by saying he was satisfied with the ventilation and seldom found gas, the last time being a month ago. When an explosion occurred in a mine it was usual for the men to run for safety.
  John Redwick of Station Lane was the deputy involved. He said a four horsepower fan was used to ventilate the heading where the deceased were working. It had been there about six months and so far as he was aware had always worked satisfactorily. He visited Platts and Meredith an hour and ten minutes before the accident and everything appeared to be safe. It was proper for the deceased men to regulate the fan, and they had both been taught how to use it by himself and Mr Pollard. it was only necessary for the men to switch it on and off and there was nothing absurd in teaching them how to use the motor. He was about 400 yards away from the heading when he felt a slight concussion. He immediately went to see what had happened and found Platts with Lane and Howarth. He later found Meredith at the lamp station. Afterwards he went down the heading with the undermanager and found it full of smoke and dust. The fan had stopped. He was of the opinion there had been a break in the rock and gas had escaped. There was nothing likely to cause an explosion other than the electrical apparatus or a defective lamp.
  Albert Pollard, underground electrician in the Haigh Moor Seam, said the fan motor was a Phoenix made in Bradford and was about six months old. It had always been satisfactory and he examined it about three or four times a week. There were about 14 other motors in the pit. Even if there had been gas the motor would not have exploded it. The only danger was in putting the switch off when there was sometimes a spark. He could not say if this spark would explode gas. The coroner, Mr P P Maitland, commented, "If you had said yes it would have raised a rather serious question".
  Mr Pollard said he had instructed the men how to turn the fan on and off. It was only necessary to turn it off at the drift end. He demonstrated how the cover of the box had a rubber seal to keep the gas out. When the cover of the box was removed a break was found in the seal. He said he had not passed any examinations in electricity, but Mr Barraclough, the manager, gave him a certificate. Had the rubber band not been broken the box would have been gas-proof.
  William Henry Pickering, the chief inspector of mines for the Yorkshire Division, said the manager had properly left the working place untouched until the visit of an inspector who found the fan was stopped and the heading had gas in it. Another inspection was made when the gas was cleared. The motor and switch were supposed to be gas tight, but the evidence showed the explosion occurred when Platts switched off the current. Both men were naked to the waist and were badly burned. Their lamps were found to be in good order, and he had come to the conclusion the explosion was caused by the switch box. The possibility of failure in getting the rubber seal in the correct position was obvious, and in his opinion the box was unsuitable and calculated to prove unsafe in practical work. He was very critical of the introduction of unsafe electrical equipment into mines, and fans were really not powerful enough for the job they had to do.
  The coroner said the jury had to decide if they thought the unfortunate affair was purely accidental, or whether they thought anyone was to blame - whether the management was in any way loose, or whether some of the witnesses had been careless or indifferent in such a way has might have contributed to the accident. 
  After considering the evidence the jury returned the following verdict. "We have come to the opinion the two deceased men died from the results of extensive burns, accidentally caused while at work at Ackton Hall Colliery by a rush of gas from the workings, owing to an electrical switch box, which was not at the time gas tight."
  In the inspector's annual report for 1909 he included "Electrical engineers are not always good mechanics, and at present few seem to have realised the danger of introducing electrical appliances into parts of mines where explosive gas may appear in dangerous quantities. It would seem, therefore, that if colliery owners and managers take the grave responsibility of installing electricity in the workings of fiery mines, they should not altogether rely upon the opinions of electrical experts, who may have crude ideas concerning mining dangers, and of the rough conditions apparatus must endure in the working face.
  "It is fortunate there was not a large accumulation of gas at the time of the ignition. If there had been sufficient to fill the heading, an explosion might have originated which would, by means of coal dust, have extended to every part of the workings."   

IT COULD HAVE BEEN US

  How close Featherstone came to a mining disaster is shown by what happened a few weeks later at West Stanley Colliery in Durham. There was a similar incident involving damaged electrical equipment and firedamp but in this case the ignited firedamp set off a coal dust explosion and 168 miners died. Featherstone's miners, no doubt thinking but for the grace of God it could have been them, met to decided what they could do to help.

  The Express commented "There is perhaps no class of local society more ready to assist a good cause than miners. They evidently believe in the trite saying "An ounce of help is worth a ton of pity". This worthy friend (the old Quaker) has many followers among the miners of Featherstone, who respond most freely to appeals on behalf of sufferers by colliery accidents. Saturday saw the culmination of a very successful effort in aid of the West Stanley Relief Fund. The committees of the Ackton Hall and Featherstone Main Collieries' branches of the YMA, with Mr E Hough at their head, had previously collected amongst their members, and a demonstration was organised to appeal to the general public".

  This was to have been a procession by the miners of all three collieries led by Featherstone Brass Band, but unfortunately there was a thunderstorm, and instead instead of going to the football ground they had to make a mad dash for the Assembly Rooms. Col Shaw presided and said he was sorry the weather had spoiled what was going to be a successful demonstration, but thanks to Mr Hough and his workers financial success was already assured. They already had £100 and the street collections were to be added to this. Of the disaster he said it was one of those unfortunate occurrences which left the train of death behind it, and brought suffering to men, women and children. The wives and orphans of the deceased would receive compensation, but this was not an adequate balm for their suffering. It was chiefly for those who were thrown out of work and their dependents that contributions were needed. He was glad there had been a generous response.

  Mr Hough thanked the committee for their share in the work. Ackton Hall workmen had contributed £20 and the company had doubled that. Featherstone Main had collected £18 13s and John Shaw and Col Shaw had given ten guineas each. Other contributors were: the Coronation Club £5 5s, Mr Hussey MP, Sir Compton-Ricket MP and Mr Walton MP £5 each, Cr Waller, Mr Priestley, Mr Andrews, Cr Sides and the Green Lane Club one guinea each, Mr Umpleby £1, Walter Hemmingway 10s 6d, Mr Whelen 5s and there were other small sums. The total was £107 8s 10d. 
  Mr Hussey said it was particularly fitting the miners of Featherstone should show their sympathy to their fellow workers in the north. No-one knew better than a miner the serious loss sustained by this disaster, and the loss of the bread-winner from the home. He could always reckon on a friendly word from the miners, and he would have been lacking in common gratitude had he not attended to show his practical sympathy with the mining community.

  Herbert Smith, president of the Yorkshire Miners' Association, expressed his delight at the efforts of the local miners and said they were a credit to the Riding. After studying all the aspects of the disaster he was inclined to think it would perhaps be better if electricity were kept out of the mines (hear, hear from the audience). Mr J Dixon, financial secretary of the YMA, said the disaster would cost their Permanent Relief Fund some £50,000. Mr Hough then announced the total was now £113 1s 8d, and Tommy Sides said he would make it up to £114. It was later said it was hoped to forward a final total of £120.   

BANKRUPTCIES

Two local businesses went bust early in the year. The first was Mr J G Maxwell who lived in Ackworth Road, Purston, and carried on business at 39 and 41 Station Lane and at 41 Green Lane. He owed about £1,380 to 73 people and blamed his situation on losses in shares, bad debts, and because of ill health leaving the business to others. His estimated profit over the last 12 months was about £40, and his household expenses for himself, wife and six children for the same period was £156.

  The official receiver said Mr Maxwell had been in partnership with Mr A Jaques from 1879 until about five years ago when the partnership was dissolved. Mr Jaques paid Mr Maxwell £400 for his share of the grocery business, and Mr Maxwell used the money to set up in his present premises. He rented his Station Lane shops for £40 a year and the Green Lane shop from his brother for 10s a week.

  The receiver said he had taken over and carried on the business and trading was satisfactory because he had stopped the credit system. The photo of Maxwell's shop in Green Lane is from the Featherstone Library Collection.

   The other bankruptcy was that of William Henry Bullock, a photographer. He owed £170 to 24 creditors and said his failure was due to lack of capital and losses on contracts. He rented his studio in Station Lane from his brother at 5s a week but had never paid the rent. His net profit for the past 12 months was £26 and his household expenses £52.

  He had tried his hand at a contract to do the outside painting of 134 colliery houses at South Kirkby but he had failed to complete the work. He said he had frequently been without work and had not kept any accounts.    

  Mr Bullock's notice in the Express which proved advertising didn't always pay. He also couldn't get his address right.

THE PHOTOGRAPHER'S LENS

Willie Senior, a grocer's assistant who lived in Purston, was charged with theft in January. Frank Greasley of Leeds was a photographer and was in Featherstone with his van. He left a Rosse lens valued at £2 on a shelf in the van and he found it was missing.

  In court Greasley said Senior was a regular visitor to his van, bringing negatives to be enlarged, so he asked him about the lens. Senior denied taking it, but when pressed said don't you remember loaning it to me. Greasley denied this and sent for the police. PC D'Arcy arrested Senior and took him home where the lens was found.

  Mr Clayton-Smith said Senior had an exemplary character and Mr Jaques (where he worked) and the Vicar of Purston would speak up for him. Mr Senior said he had lived in Featherstone all his life and he was an amateur photographer, which was why he saw Mr Greasley a lot. He said Mr Greasley had loaned him the lens, but he had it longer than intended because the weather was poor. He took it back to the van but it was locked up. He had no felonious intent. Two other witnesses told the court Senior told them he had borrowed the lens.

  The Bench decided that there was felonious intent but binding over would be sufficient punishment. 

ANOTHER SMALLPOX HOSPITAL?

  Featherstone had its own smallpox hospital up Little Lane in Purston. It was only a small prefabricated building but it was big enough for the few cases that occurred locally. The county council decided there should be a district smallpox hospital on the lines of the district isolation hospital at Ackton, which would make Featherstone's hospital redundant, so the council offered to sell their building to the district committee.

  Lieut-Col Shaw brought this up at the council meeting in February. He said the question was one of some urgency. The council's offer to sell their hospital for the district hospital was a shock to him. He said the proposal was illegal, and until another smallpox hospital was in full working order the district committee could not interfere with any existing hospital.

  The council were clearly proposing to do away with their smallpox hospital illegally. Supposing there was an epidemic directly after the hospital was dismantled - the council would be in a very dangerous position; and he was not sure whether there would be criminal liability. 

  The clerk said Cr Shaw was out of order because he hadn't given notice of his motion, but he went on regardless and handed his resolution in writing to the clerk. It was to the effect Featherstone Council objected to being forced into a district scheme when they already had their own smallpox hospital. He said things were advancing faster than the council were aware of and he considered it was time the affair was bottomed.

  He recalled how they obtained their own hospital. The Local Government Board were very particular about the access road, the drainage, lighting and water supply, and all these things were provided. He protested at the proposed waste of money. It was suggested the district hospital should be at Glass Houghton, which was five miles from Featherstone. It had been used for fever cases which made it quite impossible to use for smallpox patients. He had an idea Normanton was behind the whole thing because their smallpox hospital was on a main road between a library and a church, so they had to do something because the Local Government Board had told them to get rid of it, and they wanted the other districts to pay for a replacement.

  At this point Cr Holiday rose to ask if Cr Shaw was in order. Cr Sides (the chairman) said yes so Cr Shaw continued by saying "I am talking to the members of this council not a member of the joint hospital committee (Mr Holiday)". Cr Waller backed up Cr Holiday about it being out of order and notice should have been given for the next council meeting, but Cr Shaw would not be denied.

  He continued at length to put his case and said Featherstone's hospital was the only one sanctioned by the LGB for smallpox, and the hospital at Glass Houghton which it was proposed to use had only as many beds as Featherstone's, and therefore their own hospital would serve the district equally well. The Glass Houghton hospital was built in a quarry, only had oil lamps, and the water was brought in barrels from Castleford. He said this waste of money should not be allowed and he strongly protested. 

  Cr Maxwell supported the resolution but pointed out the council had been in agreement on this for some time. None of them wished to sell their hospital unless it was absolutely necessary, but they had been told they would have to help to pay for another whether they kept their own or not.

  Crs Sides and Keith supported Cr Shaw, but Cr Holiday said the resolution was not necessary. They had already passed a resolution to instruct the clerk to write to the LGB saying they did not want a district smallpox hospital, and they only wanted to sell their own building and fittings if they were compelled to join a joint scheme.
  They were all as anxious as Cr Shaw to keep their own hospital. If some people would attend the council's committee meetings more regularly, and not read the evening paper when they were there, but give the committee the benefit of their advice, the council would not have needless speeches and long meetings.  
  Cr Shaw replied the matter had gone much further than Featherstone knew and if they did not make a protest they would have no right of appeal. The protest would enable them to bring evidence against the scheme if they were joined to it. He did not like making replies to personal matters, but as to his reading the evening paper he might give the opinion of the chairman of the West Riding County Council that those who attend the most meetings were not always the most useful members. He urged the council to do their best to make out a very strong case against joining the joint smallpox hospital scheme, and thus saving the ratepayers money.
  Cr Holiday said Cr Shaw should give further particulars as to the matter being a great deal further than Featherstone had any idea of. They had two representatives on the joint hospital committee and if anything was being done behind their backs it was time they knew of it. Cr Shaw replied "You should insist all the the letters received by, and written by your clerk, should be put on the table". Featherstone's clerk said "I hope you don't mean this council". Cr Shaw, "No, I mean the joint hospital committee".
 Cr Shaw's resolution protesting at Featherstone being compelled to join a joint smallpox hospital scheme was then passed. The Local Government Board replied whatever happened Featherstone Council would have to pay their share towards a district smallpox hospital, but there was nothing against them selling their own hospital for that purpose.
  Normanton, Castleford and Altofts all declined to back Featherstone, and Whitwood were non-committal. The clerk to the joint hospital committee wrote pointing out Featherstone were bound to pay their share and they had no power to object to the joint scheme.
  Cr Sides said he was sorry Featherstone were not to be allowed to keep their hospital, and he now thought they should let bygones be bygones and see they got an efficient hospital as economical as possible. Cr Shaw said he still wasn't happy about the situation and said Featherstone's hospital was good enough for the whole district. He repeated his opinion that the Featherstone hospital was the only one approved for smallpox cases. The proposed hospital had been used for other diseases and could not be used now for smallpox patients. The district hospital would only be the same size as theirs and Featherstone's quota of beds would be two and a half which was absurd.
  Cr Beach said the joint committee wanted the isolation hospital and the smallpox hospital to be close together so they could be worked by one staff. Would the council agree to their hospital being moved to Snydale? Nobody took him up on that.
  It was eventually proposed to offer the Featherstone smallpox hospital to the joint committee for re-erection near to Ackton Hospital. Cr Maxwell, who lived in Purston, strongly objected to the idea of bringing smallpox patients from other areas to the hospital up Little Lane.
  At the July meeting the council recommended the joint smallpox hospital should be built at Ackton, but would allow the present hospital to be used by the joint committee for two years at £10 per annum. In November they offered the hospital for £200 in the hope of getting rid of it. 

A WIFE, A LODGER AND A FIGHT

  In July Thomas Graham, Samuel Appleyard, Dennis Timlin and James King were in Pontefract Court charged with causing an obstruction by fighting. PC D'Arcy said the fight was just an ordinary scrap such as the Bench often had to deal with. He said at 11.45pm on a Monday night he saw the defendants fighting in Girnhill Lane. There was a crowd of people round, and for a time there was uproar.  
  James King said Thomas Graham had married his half-sister, and on Sunday night Graham struck his wife in his (King's) mother's house. He turned Graham out and locked the door on him, but he came back and caused a disturbance shouting he would get in somehow. A constable was sent for but he refused to arrest Graham and said they should summons him. The next day Graham came to the house again, created a disturbance and attempted to strike his mother. He had brought two knives with him and talked about killing them. He was turned out again and the police sent for, but once again they would not arrest him. Graham and Timlin then began to struggle outside the house and he was watching them when PC D'Arcy arrived. Cross examined by Graham he would not admit the cause of the trouble was Graham objected to his wife staying under the same roof as Timlin, who lodged with King's mother. 
  Samuel Appleyard said when Graham came to the house on the Monday he was completely mad. He said he wanted his wife out. He shoved Graham outside and Graham and Timlin began fighting. All he did was try and separate them. Dennis Timlin pleaded guilt under provocation and said the fighting was strictly between him and Graham.
  Thomas Graham said jealousy was the cause of all the trouble. His wife had taunted him for years about being friendly with a girl, but there was no ground for her jealousy. What he objected to was his wife going to her mother's house so long as Timlin lived there. He was not jealous of his wife only in so far as he wished her to keep away from a man who tested women. He did not wish her to go under the test. After Sunday night's difference, as he went home, he remembered Timlin and his wife were under the same roof. He went back to the house three times and asked that his wife should be allowed to come out. He was determined she should not stay there if he could prevent it. He admitted fighting, but he did not start the bother.
  The charge against King and Appleyard was dismissed. Graham and Timlin were bound over in £5 to keep the peace for six months.

A TALE ABOUT CONCRETE

  The council changed the building byelaws so that concrete had to be put under the footings. Frederick Rothera, the council surveyor, went to inspect some new buildings in North Featherstone being erected by Arthur Sutton, a Featherstone builder. Expecting trouble he took Albert Cooke, his assistant, and Stephen Rawson, the road foreman, with him with him as witnesses. Mr Rothera complained to Mr Sutton he wasn't following the new rules and Mr Sutton replied "I wish I had your job for six months and you had mine", and then as Mr Rothera was leaving he called after him "You **** old hypocrite". Mr Rothera then took out a summons for violent and abusive language.

  Mr Sutton told Pontefract Court he did not use the words quoted but did admit to saying he would like a hole dug, Mr Rothera put in it, and a yard of concrete put over him. The Bench found him guilty and fined him 10s. 

EXIT MR ROTHERA - ENTER MR CHESNEY

  Frederick Brice Rothera was appointed as surveyor to the council in July 1899. Just short of ten years later in June the council held a special meeting to consider Mr Rothera's conduct and what to do about it. The upshot was he was asked to resign. This caused a great deal of debate in the town about the whys and wherefores.

  At a full meeting of the council the next week, the acting clerk, Mr Taylor, read the minutes of the special meeting. These showed it was called to discuss the action of the surveyor regarding private street works - Fearnley Street and three others. A proposal for Mr Rothera to be interviewed and warned as to his conduct was voted down, as was one for him to be asked to give three months notice. In the end he was simply asked to resign.

  Cr Shaw said he supposed he was right in discussing the conduct of the surveyor as arising out of these minutes. He would like to know how the result of the special meeting got into the Press before the full council meeting. If he had been a private individual he would have at once jumped to the conclusion the surveyor had committed a very serious crime. 

  Nothing was known by the public as to what crime the surveyor was to be charged with. In common fairness this ought to be known; but nothing as to the charges made was recorded in the minutes. He (Cr Shaw) was unable to be present, but he presumed the surveyor was called into the room and told of the offences with which he was charged; he also presumed he was asked to give an explanation as to his conduct. The matter ought certainly to have been gone into in public in a proper manner. it looked to him as if the days of the Spanish Inquisition were not dead. Charges had been made and the criminal or victim had been dealt with in his absence.

  The chairman, Cr Holiday, tried to get Cr Shaw to shut up but he refused. He asked the chairman to contradict him if he was wrong in stating the surveyor was not called in and charged with the crimes. If he was called in then he (Cr Shaw) would apologise.

  After more of the same between Crs Shaw and Holiday, Cr Edwards asked if Mr Rothera had resigned. The chairman replied there was a letter from him. Cr Shaw, "You have not answered my question. If the surveyor was called in to give an explanation, and if so what was his explanation?" Cr Holiday, "It is not necessary if it is wished to dispense with the services of anybody that they shall definitely be charged with anything. If a servant has not done his duty as a whole, to the satisfaction of a private employer, or a public company, or a council, they have a perfect right to ask that person to resign. If he has not carried out his duties to their satisfaction they can get someone who will carry out their wishes without bringing distinct charges against him. This is as near as I can put it".

  Cr Shaw then said the minutes referred specifically to Crossley Street and three other streets. There was talk in the town there was conjuction (backhanders) with the employers as to these works. Therefore for the chairman to get up and say there were no charges was a farce.

  Cr Holiday, "Excuse me, you are wrong. There has been no implication of dishonesty whatever the common talk may be. That would be a crime, and that was not so. The whole matter as to his conduct in the private streets was brought up". Cr Shaw, "Has he made the streets too handsomely?"  
  Cr Holiday, "I am not going into details of that meeting. The surveyor's conduct has been the subject of other meetings, and all those present at the last meeting were agreed the surveyor had done wrong. The only difference between the members was as to the extent to which he should be penalised or reprimanded". 
  By this time the other councillors were getting fed up of Cr Shaw. Cr Maxwell said Cr Shaw was out of order, and Cr Poppleton said if Cr Shaw could not attend the special meeting he must take what was done. Cr Shaw refused to give way and repeated his question five times about whether or not Mr Rothera was called into the special meeting. After four evasive answers Cr Holiday finally replied "Then I will tell you now; he was not called in at this last meeting with reference to this matter".  Cr Shaw, "At last I have got it".
  A letter written by Mr H Plews, a Wakefield solicitor, was then read out. This stated the council's decision came as a great surprise to Mr Rothera. As far as he knew he had fulfilled his duties to the satisfaction of the council. He asked to know how the council had arrived at their decision, and he be given an opportunity to refute any charges and give an explanation. Until this was done he declined to send in his resignation.
  Cr Edwards then said , "As he won't resign I move three months notice be given him from tonight". Cr Waller, "I shall certainly second that". Cr Poppleton supported the motion. He said Cr Shaw knew as well as any other member what the surveyor's conduct had been and why the council had come to their decision. It was not just in connection with the private streets. He had not carried out the wishes of the council on many occasions. If Cr Shaw had attended better he would have known more.
  Cr Shaw then proposed an amendment to refer the matter back, and said the surveyor be given an opportunity of meeting the charges. What he wanted was the matter be discussed in a perfectly open manner. They had condemned a man behind his back. Nothing would be gained by trying to hide things. If the surveyor had not done his duty as to the private street works the council's money was being wasted. This should be investigated up to the hilt. If things were wrong he would favour taking proceedings against all concerned. He accused Cr Waller of saying things behind Mr Rothera's back that he would not dare say to his face. Cr Keith seconded the amendment. 
  The chairman said it was not a question of finding fault with Mr Rothera on one particular thing, although the private street works question brought the matter before the council in a most acute form, and they were obliged to go into it. The whole council felt he had been extremely lax in other things. Not one member attempted to minimise the gravity of his conduct, although a few were against taking extreme measures.
  Cr Shaw said the motion was too mild. He should be prosecuted if it was true. Alderman Hartley had inspected the streets and he had told them the specifications were so lax it was practically impossible to find if there had been any faulty or dishonest work.
  Only four voted for the amendment and eight against, so Mr Rothera was given three months notice. It was decided to advertise the post at a commencing salary of £160 a year plus house, gas and coal, and it was for a surveyor only. (Mr Rothera received £40 as engineer to the council.)  
  There were 150 applications for the job and in July Samuel Chesney of Tamworth was chosen subject to evidence of his age. He wrote to say all the proof he could get was a publication in 1899 which said he was 25. The council refused to put their seal to his agreement until he produced a birth certificate. This arrived in September and showed Mr Chesney was 35 and not 37 as on his job application. He said this was the first time he had needed to obtain a certificate and as the job specification said between 20 and 45 he had nothing to gain by misrepresenting his age. The council agreed and Mr Chesney became the council's surveyor. 

A STRIKE OVER TEN MINUTES A DAY

  In July the pony drivers at Ackton Hall Colliery came out on strike and as a result 2,000 miners were locked out. Their grievance was the men had won a national eight hour agreement and as a result the management said the lads must go down before the men. In other words those on the day shift had to be ready with their lamps at 5.40am. At both Featherstone Main Colliery and Snydale Colliery the time fixed was 5.50am and the Ackton Hall lads wanted the same. They had given the new time a fortnight's notice on union advice but had now had enough and they refused to go down. (Note: the word lads is used in the colliery sense. Many of the pony drivers were grown men.)

  Edward Hough was secretary of the Ackton Hall branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association - a very courteous level-headed man according to the Express - and he expressed his great regret that the pony drivers had taken the law into their own hands by refusing to work. Many of them were members of the Association, and now they had done the deed the local committee would do their best for them. The committee were in sympathy with the lads in principle but did not agree with them taking such an extreme step, although they only wanted the same as the lads at other collieries.

  An Express reporter suggested to Mr Hough clause two of the new agreement gave the management full right to send the lads down before the men. Mr Hough replied if the lads went down first they should come out first, but the management expected them to take their turn with the men when coming out. Under the Act the lads should be away from the pit a clear 16 hours. It was quite possible under the present arrangements for lads to be on the premises about ten hours.

  Roslyn Holiday, the colliery agent, expressed his surprise at the action taken by the lads. He said he thought the matter was settled, and he had not had any communication from them or the union. He was sorry for the men who had been thrown out of work, but the whole colliery would have to stand idle until the lads were prepared to come back. The grievance would not be discussed until they returned to work.

  Mr Hough said the lads would not receive strike pay, but the men would get 9s a week and one shilling for each child. The loss of pay was affecting the shops, and the local tradesmen were becoming alarmed at the loss of trade.

  Two weeks into the strike Mr Protheroe, the colliery manager, offered to let bygones be bygones if there was a return to work, and there would be no victimisation. Cr Edwards arranged a meeting at which Mr Protheroe repeated his offer. The lads voted to return to work, but as soon has Mr Protheroe left they reversed the decision. Mr Holiday tried after another week but the lads still refused to go back.

  The strike came to an end when union representatives from Barnsley met Mr Holiday and agreed terms which altered the time the lads went down, so they agreed to return to work. In the end the men only received one week's strike pay so although the lads won their case the men lost a lot of money.         

WHERE DID THE MONEY GO?

  Walter Doughty, a young man from Featherstone, was charged with stealing £5 12s belonging to Aaron Vaughan, a colliery deputy who lived in West View. It was said Walter Doughty and his wife Alice had lodged for the last three weeks with Aaron Vaughan who was a widower. The arrangement was Alice would keep house and they would pay 14s a week rent. Walter worked at Ackton Hall Colliery but the pit was at a standstill and the rent had not been paid for two weeks.

  On August 1 Aaron Vaughan went to work at 9.30pm. Before he left the house he took his holiday trousers upstairs and the key to his money box was in one of the pockets. The box was in a drawer and contained £5 15s 6d plus 9d in coppers. he arrived home at 6am the next morning and went to bed. He got up at 9am with the intention of going to Castleford Show, but when he went to his money box he found £5 12s was missing.

  He called Alice Doughty and she denied knowing anything about it, and said her husband had left at 4am to go to Wheldale Colliery seeking work. Aaron then took out a warrant for Walter Doughty's arrest.

  Alice Doughty told the court she was in bed when Aaron Vaughan came home. She answered his call at 9.30 and when he asked her if she knew anything about the £5 12s she said she did not, and she did not know what time her husband had got up. They knew where Aaron kept his money but they did not know where he kept his key. She was not surprised when her husband did not return because he had gone away several times for a week. Her husband returned on August 7 and gave himself up the next day.

  PC Moorhouse said he was first informed of the theft on August 3. He made inquiries at Wheldale and Fryston Collieries and at Castleford, but he could not find Doughty who later gave himself up. When charged he replied "I am not guilty of that".

  Walter Doughty gave a detailed account of his movements from the time he left home to giving himself up to the police. He said he walked 50 miles to Grassmore, Derbyshire, in search of work. He had not a penny and he begged on the way. He was unsuccessful and returned home at about 10.50 on Saturday night. After hearing of the charge against him he gave himself up on Sunday morning.

  After deliberating the Bench decided there was some doubt in the matter and Walter Doughty was discharged.

A  FALL FROM A MAIL CART

  An inquest was held at Clayton Hospital in August on Joe Tonge aged one year and 11 months, the son of Joseph Tonge of Nostell View.  Eliza Tonge, the child's mother, said Joe's grandfather had taken him out in a four-wheeled mail cart but he then left him in charge of a little girl age six while he went into the house. A few minutes later a boy told her the carriage and child had fallen into the road. She went and picked him up and found he was unconscious. Dr Vaughan came and advised sending the child to hospital, so he was taken to Clayton Hospital in a cab.
  Herbert Jaques of Hartley Terrace, a council steam roller driver, said he was repairing the road where the accident occurred. The grandfather had been wheeling the carriage up and down the causeway, but then he left it and went into the house. The causeway was seven inches above the road. Bullock's furniture van came by, and when it had passed he saw the bassinette overturned and the child on the ground. He did not think either the van or the horses touched the carriage. The van driver did not stop but he did not think he had seen the mishap.
  George Burton of Wilson Street said he was on the van, pulled by three horses, going from Pontefract to Birkinshaw. The driver was sitting on the seat and he was on the van. He noticed the carriage and three girls on the causeway near the railings. After they had gone passed about 100 yards he looked back and saw the bassinet upset on the road, and the mother picking up the child. He said there was a slope on the causeway and it was possible for the carriage to have gone down the causeway by itself and tippled over on the road.
  Dr Charles Wilfred Coghlan said the child was admitted to hospital at 7.30pm in a condition of collapse, but there were no bones broken. The child never rallied and died the next day. The cause of death was hemorrhage of a ruptured kidney. He said if the carriage was a heavy one, the force of a blow from it on the child might have been sufficient to have caused the rupture.
  The coroner said the weight of evidence showed the furniture van did not touch the mail- cart. It had been an accident. The old gentleman was not at the inquest. If he had been he might have explained why he left the carriage with the children. It was a foolish thing to do. He had left the carriage against the railings and told the children not to touch it, but according to his (the coroner's) experience that was the only thing they would do after being told not to do it. The jury then returned a verdict of accidental death.
  As the conveyance was variously described as a mail cart, carriage and bassinet just what it was is impossible to determine.  

 

  A child's two-wheeled mail cart. A photo from the internet. One like this could not have run away, but a four-wheeled version could. The photo below, also from the internet, is described as a mail cart carriage. It was more likely one similar to this.

WAS FEATHERSTONE INSANITARY?

  At the council's May meeting the sanitary inspector's annual report was up for discussion. Cr Shaw said at the county council meeting that very day the medical officer had made severe criticisms in his report on the state of Featherstone. He (Cr Shaw) defended Featherstone to a considerable extent. He pointed out it was not proper for the county council to send their inspector in March to inspect at the worst time during the snow, frost and storms.

  The report was their back streets were extremely muddy and almost impossible for walking on; the backyards were full of vegetable refuse; and fowls were running about the streets and backyards. Everything in fact, including milk shops and cow houses was described as being unsatisfactory. Emphasis was laid on the fact there was one ashpit to six houses.

  All this was published to the whole of Yorkshire, and the members of the county council would think that was the state of Featherstone, and there had been no improvement since 1902. The report now submitted by the sanitary inspector Mr Sagar showed extraordinary energy in sanitary matters.

  Cr Maxwell suggested a copy of their inspector's report should be sent to the county council. The chairman, Cr Holiday, said the county council's inspector told him he had come from Westminster and he had never seen a privy and thought they were most astonishing things. That showed how competent he was to judge.

  Cr Poppleton began to criticise the back streets of Wakefield but Cr Holiday said Wakefield was nothing to do with the county council. Cr Shaw said on behalf of Featherstone Council he had invited the Ridings medical officer to make a personal inspection so the matter was dropped.

 WHEN CHICKEN POX WAS SCARLET FEVER

The Council told the sanitary inspector, Mr J Sagar, to find out what was causing the spread of scarlet fever, so he got a list of all the children off ill from school and visited their homes. He found in every case a doctor had visited the child. In one particular house where the child was skinning he asked the mother, who said she thought it was chicken pox and the other children had been allowed to go to school. 

He had the house disinfected and told the woman she was liable to a fine of £20 for not notifying the case to a doctor. She replied a doctor had been attending the child for three weeks, and he said it was chicken pox. She afterwards called in Dr Steven who said it was scarlet fever. Mr Sagar said the doctor who certified the case as one of chicken pox was Dr Steven's assistant, but Dr Steven said it was very easy for a doctor to make a mistake.

  Mr Sagar's report to the council for June showed 13 infectious cases had been sent to the hospital and the premises had been disinfected. He had received complaints of children having received infection from playing with other children recently discharged from hospital. He also knew of children who had ringworm when they were discharged.
 

BACKYARD HENS

  Edwin Jones fell foul of the council's decision to clean up the backyards. He declined to take notice of a nuisance order telling him to get rid of his hens and he was taken to court. The Bench allowed him three days after which a fine of £1 a day would be imposed. Mr Woodhead, for the council, said "Some of the fowls will probably be consigned to the stewpot tomorrow".

DEATH BY SALTS OF LEMON

 In August in Carlton Street Emily Morritt had words with her 19 years old daughter May Blanche because she did not get out of bed before 8.45am and told her if she did not get up earlier there would be trouble. When she eventually got up she said she was going to her grandmother's house at Pontefract. Emily and her husband set off for Pontefract at 3.30pm and passed May who was going home on the other side of the road. May turned her head and did not speak. When they returned home at 5pm May was dead.

  At the inquest Martha Morritt, May's sister-in-law, said May came in and smiled and went into the kitchen and closed the door. In about half an hour she shouted "Martha, look what I've taken - salts of lemon". She (Martha) ran for assistance. Zipha Fitton, a neighbour, said she was sent for and she found May lying on the sofa gasping. She found some white powder on the top of a chest of drawers.

  Dr Macfarlane said he attended the deceased many time for anaemia. At 4.40pm he received a message to say she was very ill but nothing was said about poisoning. He arrived at 5.20 and found a cup containing a substance, and some white powder on the drawers, but no paper showing where it had been obtained. A post mortem showed evidence of poisoning by taking salts of lemon.

  The coroner asked the jury if they needed more information, and the foreman, Mr J S Woodruff, said they would like to know where the poison was obtained. The coroner said there was no evidence about that. PC Wright said he was informed a girl purchased three pennyworth of salts of lemon at a chemists at 2pm on Saturday, but he could not say if it was the deceased.

  The foreman said there should be restrictions on the sale of salts of lemon and the facts of the inquest should be brought before the Pharmaceutical Society. Their verdict was the deceased committed suicide whilst of unsound mind.

  The coroner said he would write to the Pharmaceutical Society asking for the poison to be put on schedule one so anyone purchasing it would have to say why they wanted it.
 

NO OLD AGE PENSION

  There were strict rules about getting the old age pension. One was anyone on Poor Law relief couldn't get the pension. This resulted in an appeal in October by a Featherstone widow (not named) age about 80 who was refused a pension when her husband died. She applied first on the death of her husband (aged 67 so he didn't qualify anyway for the pension) in July 1908. She was refused but appealed and the pension was granted.

  Then the pension officer refused to allow it because she had received Poor Law relief, and the matter was sent to the Local Government Board as a test case. The main question was whether the relief (7s a week from October 1907 to July 1908) was joint relief ie for both husband and wife. That Board wrote to the Pontefract Board of Guardians to see what view they took.

  Relieving officer Wood told the Guardians in his opinion the relief was joint relief, but he was undecided how it should be regarded concerning the application for a pension, so he told the widow to manage without relief for a time after her husband's death so she would not lose any chance there was of obtaining a pension. 

  She had had to stay at home to nurse her sick husband and had been unable to earn her own living for a few years. The case was considered a hard one and the pension committee had thought it best to grant the pension and let the case go forward.

  Some Guardians said in the circumstances the relief could not have been intended for the widow, but the clerk said it could not in any case be termed medical relief. Another Guardian said there was an even harder case in Pontefract where the relief had been repaid, but the pension was still not allowed.

  In the end the Board of Guardians decided although they were entirely in sympathy with the Featherstone widow they could not say the relief was any other than joint relief for husband and wife. In other words she did not qualify for the old age pension. 

HAIRDRESSERS FALL OUT

  In October His Honour Judge Benson had to decide a damages case between two hairdressers, Thomas Amison and Frederick Bairstow. It seems Thomas Amison had three shops in Featherstone, and in September 1908 he made an agreement for Frederick Bairstow to manage one of them situated at 68 Station Lane at 26s a week wages. In return Mr Bairstow signed an agreement he would not, within five years, start a hairdresser, barber or tobacconist business within two miles of Featherstone. There would be two weeks notice either side.

  Mr Amison claimed Mr Bairstow left without a moments notice and he had to close for two days. Also Mr Bairstow had commenced another business in Featherstone, and had taken business away from his shop, and he (Mr Amison) now claimed £46 4s 2d damages for breach of the agreement.

  Mr Bairstow told the judge on the morning in question Mr Amison asked him when he was going to stop pilfering and he replied "Never, because I have not started". Mr Amison then brought packets of shaving paper from the cellar and asked Mr Bairstow to count them. He refused and said "I will finish" and he left the shop. He returned and asked Mr Amison if he was to cease work or carry on, and Mr Amison said he could finish then.

 The judge decided the agreement was no good because there was no consideration in it, and the claim for damages also failed. So Mr Amison lost his case as well as his customers. 

  Note: A dictionary definition of "consideration" is in a contractual agreement anything given or promised or forborne by one party in exchange for the promise or undertaking of another.

A CHILD IN A GARDEN

  In Pontefract Court in October Helena Edwards was accused of wilfully abandoning a child in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health. Polly Morgan, a domestic servant employed by Edward and Helena Edwards of Station Lane, said she was instructed to go to 94 Fenton Street, Leeds, and bring back a female child for adoption. There she saw William Needler and his wife and they gave her the baby which was about three weeks old. She brought the child to Featherstone and gave it to Mrs Edwards.

  The next day she was told to take the child back so she left Featherstone at 7.25am. She arrived at Needler's house at about 9 o'clock and told him her mistress was unable to keep the child because of business. He told her he couldn't take the child back but he would find a place in Leeds where it could be put out to nurse. They went into Woodhouse Lane where Needler left her. She waited until 2.30pm and then returned to Featherstone, bringing the baby with her. When she arrived Mrs Edwards said the child would have to be taken to Pontefract Workhouse.

  They both left Featherstone with the child at 5.57pm and on getting to the workhouse asked a male inmate if he thought the child would be admitted. He said no so they did not go inside the gate and went instead past the old church and into Box Lane. They walked up the lane until they came to two houses with gardens in front. Mrs Edwards then said she was going to put the child in one of the gardens, and she put the child on the ground just inside the gate with a parcel of clothes and a feeding bottle. The child was well clothed and had a big shawl on. 

  She told Polly she would wait in the lane to see if anyone picked the baby up and she would meet Polly by the church. It was now about 7.20pm. Polly went to the church the long way round and when she got there Mrs Edwards had just arrived and she said she had seen someone pick the baby up and take it into a house.

  Ernest Lister, who lived in Box Lane, said at about 7.45pm while coming down the lane he heard a child's cry coming from the garden of Mrs Asquith's house. Jonathan Atkinson was with him but he did not know where he lived (so he couldn't be called as a witness). He found the baby, the clothes and the feeding bottle and he took them home. Then he took the child to PC Ridley's house. He did not see anyone in the lane but it was a dark night and it was possible for someone to be there without him seeing.

  PC Ridley said the baby was brought to his house at about 7.50pm by Ernest Lister. He took the child, the parcel and the feeding bottle to the police station, and later the child was taken to the workhouse. He said Box Lane was well lit and he could see from one end to the other at night time.

  Jane Nicholson, a portress at the workhouse, said the baby was received at about 9pm. It was well clothed and nourished but the outer clothes were rather damp. The baby's mother took it away a week later.

  Mr Clayton-Smith had commenced the defence when the Bench were informed Jonathan Atkinson was coming up Horsefair. The mayor suggested he should be called to give evidence, but the matter rested with the defence as the prosecution case had closed. Mr Clayton-Smith said he did not wish to keep any evidence back, and he would consent to the man being called.  

  Mr Atkinson corroborated Lister's evidence and said after he saw Lister take the child home he walked towards Baileygate but he did not see a woman in the lane. He admitted a person might have been on the opposite side higher up without him seeing her.

  Mr Clayton-Smith, defending Mrs Edwards, said his client had no intention of abandoning the child. They read in the Old Testament the mother of Moses placed him in the bullrushes and the sister stood afar off to see what would be done to it, and then the Pharaoh's daughter came along. He said the case of Moses and the present case were almost parallel. Mrs Edwards had three boys but no girl. There was no accounting for taste, and Mrs Edwards wanted a girl.
  She made a mistake in not telling her husband about the adoption of the child. He said they could not do with it and she must take it away. As to the alleged abandonment, she stood in the lane "afar off", and in five minutes time at the most she saw the child picked up. She did not tell her husband she had not taken the child to the workhouse, but on Sunday morning he heard casually from a Featherstone constable a child had been found in Pontefract and he put two and two together. On returning home his wife admitted what had happened. Mr Edwards, who was a member of the Board of Guardians and of Featherstone Urban Council, and a much respected man, at once went to the police station at Pontefract and told them all about the case. Mrs Edwards was too kind a mother to recklessly abandon a poor child to a cruel world. She had been foolish and indiscreet, and she had already suffered enough punishment morally to last a lifetime. From a legal point of view he considered her not guilty. 
  Mrs Edwards said she was the mother of three boys but wanted a girl. She saw an advertisement in a Leeds evening paper and answered it. She saw the mother and father and on her return told her husband about the child and he said "Don't bother about it". The next day however she sent her servant for the child, but her husband said he wouldn't have it and it must go back. When Polly returned with it he said it must be taken to the workhouse. After the male inmate had said he did not think it would be admitted she did not wait to see anyone else. On getting into Box Lane she said she would put the baby where it would be discovered and she told her servant she would stay in the lane until someone picked the child up. After leaving the child she stood on the opposite side of the road about 40 yards higher up the lane in the shade. In a few minutes she saw two men stop by the garden and then she saw one of them had picked the child up and was taking it to a house up some steps. She could hear the men talking but was too far away to hear what they said. She then left the lane quickly. She had no intention of deserting the child and she would not have left it in the garden altogether. Her only intention was someone should pick the child up, as she dare not take it home. The Bench retired and on their return Mrs Edwards was fined 20s and costs or one month. 
  William Needler was then charged with unlawfully aiding and abetting the offence. Mr R C Jones, prosecuting, said the defendant's action in refusing to take the child back was the indirect, if not the direct, cause of the child's abandonment. He had proved himself to be a despicable inhuman creature by refusing to take his own child back. Mrs Edwards was naturally at her wits end when she abandoned the child and it was the defendant's conduct that had caused her to commit the act.
  Polly Morgan repeated her evidence about what happened when she took the child back to Leeds, but this was disputed by Needler who said he told her to take the child back to Featherstone and his wife would come for it when she returned in four days. He said he had advertised for a comfortable home, no premium, complete surrender. Mrs Edwards was the only reply he received. He admitted he had three other children, one with his mother-in-law in Newcastle, one with a woman in Hull, and the other at another home in Leeds.
  The Bench retired again and on their return said he would be fined 40s and costs or one month. They thought his conduct throughout had been scandalous. None of his children were at home, and in that sense he was not a father to them. A person of his age ought to look after his own children.
 

RICHARD EVANS v THE L & R

  The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company took Richard Evans to court in November claiming he had travelled in effect without a ticket. They claimed he had travelled with a ticket which had been transferred and was not valid for the train he travelled on.

  Harry Dixon, a booking clerk at Featherstone, said he issued a workman's return ticket from Featherstone to Tanshelf at 5.50am. Because it was a Saturday the holder could return after 12 noon. On other days the time was after 4pm. When the 6.25am from Tanshelf arrived Richard Evans gave up the half produced in court and said a friend had given it to him. Mr Dixon said he had no right to use that ticket on that train and asked him for his name and address.

  Richard Evans told the court he was going to walk to Featherstone but a man called Corkerham gave him a ticket and said he did not want it so Richard might as well ride as walk. When challenged he told the ticket collector he would bring the twopence if they wanted it, but he had never been asked for it. He did not know he had done anything wrong in accepting the ticket.

  The chairman pointed out to the L & R the return ticket had not been used by anyone else. Mr Armstrong replied "But this man never paid a fare". The chairman asked "What would be the position if a man bought six tickets for a party and gave the other five persons a ticket each?". Mr Armstrong said strictly speaking the five persons would be liable to a penalty - at which point the court fell about laughing.

 That was the end of any chance the L & R had of winning and the case was dismissed. Mr Armstrong said there could be an appeal and was the dismissal on a point of law. The chairman replied "No, on a point of fact". 

DEATH BY AMMONIA

  One Saturday morning in November Thomas Rowley was in bed when his wife ran into the bedroom screaming "I hardly know what I have done. I have taken some stuff". Her son found an empty ammonia bottle in the kitchen so a doctor was sent for. She was given brandy and milk and was taken in a cab to Clayton Hospital but she died before it got there.

  At the inquest her husband said his wife was aged 61 and they were married in 1870. She had never been well since the birth of their youngest son about 16 years ago, and she often complained of internal pains and pains in her head. Her son, Thomas, said his mother bought a pennyworth of ammonia every week and she admitted she had drunk it this time. Mrs Millyard, who kept a mixed shop in Purston, said the deceased had purchased one and a half ounces of ammonia from her.
  Thomas Lister, house surgeon at Clayton Hospital, said the woman was dead on arrival. A post mortem examination showed she had died from asphyxia, the result of having swallowed ammonia.
  The jury decided she had committee suicide by swallowing ammonia whilst of unsound mind, brought on by want of health. 

A STOLEN PURSE

  In December an eleven years old schoolgirl was charged with stealing a purse, containing 4s, the property of Alice Emily Maxwell who was headmistress at North Featherstone National School. The teacher said it was a cold day and she told the children to come round the fire. She missed the purse from her dress after the children went home at dinner time. After dinner she gave the culprit the chance to return it and all the children had to turn out their pockets. 
  It wasn't found so PC Whittaker was sent for. One child owned up and took the constable to a well where the purse was found. The schoolgirl said she had spent 1s 6d on a pound of chocolate for Miss Maxwell. In court PC Whittaker said the girl came from a respectable family. She was placed on probation and her father had to pay 13s 6d costs. The girl was weeping profusely and Miss Maxwell also broke down and offered to pay the costs but she was refused. 

1909 NEWS ITEMS

JANUARY  Elizabeth Oakley was in Station Lane at 1.40am on Christmas Day when she was spotted by PC Wright who told her she would be reported for wearing a cap, jacket and trousers of the Second Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. She told him she was going to her father-in-law's house in them for a lark. The joke was on her because she was fined 11s for wearing a soldier's uniform in a ridiculous way.

  An inquest was held on Harold Marsh aged 13 of Albert Street. He worked on Ackton Hall Colliery screens raking slack into a chute. He dropped his rake and went through a fence under the screens to get it back and his arm was caught in the machinery. He was released and was taken to Clayton Hospital where he died of heart failure after an operation to remove his arm. The verdict was accidental death.

  The council decided to apply for a loan of £1,770 to lay a nine inch water main from the North Featherstone water tower to the top of Station Lane via Featherstone Main Colliery and Green Lane.

  A meeting was held at the Green Lane Club by the Ackton Hall Colliery Agency of the West Riding Miners' Permanent Relief Fund. For a few pence a week a miner received after an accident at work 6s a week for 26 weeks and then 3s.

  A gale blew down an elm tree at Ackton which fell on White Cottage and caused considerable damage.  This White Cottage photo is from the Featherstone Library Collection.

 

  Florence Yates aged 12 of George Street went into the backyard half-dressed one morning. When she came back she put her back to the fire and her flannelette underskirts caught fire. She was taken to Pontefract Dispensary where she died the next day. At the inquest the coroner said there was a new Act, not yet in force, by which adults could be punished for allowing children alone in a room with an unguarded fire, and for any accident which occurred. Mrs Lily Blanchard (the mother who had re-married) said there was a £10 insurance but it was nothing with the loss of her bairn. The verdict was death by misadventure.

FEBRUARY  Harry Bower aged four was walking up the Lane when a gust of wind blew him into the path of a dray being backed outside Jaques shop. A wheel wen over his head killing him instantly. The inquest verdict was death from misadventure.

  The council were told the infants' section of North Featherstone School was closed because of measles. It was agreed to back the move for Featherstone JP's and put forward Messrs Holiday, Darlison and Sides.

 MARCH  An Adult School was formed at a wooden building near to the railway station. The building was rented from John Walmsley and had accommodation for 100 people. It was intended to divide it into rooms. 

  At the annual meeting of the Convalescent Fund it was reported ten patients had been sent to health resorts. The Sunday musical festival had brought in £4 and the five clubs and Featherstone Hotel had collecting boxes. 

  The third annual concert of the Featherstone Welsh Church was held in he Assembly Rooms in front of a very large audience.

  Mr and Mrs Daniel Littlewood both 74 celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. They had eight surviving children out of ten and 20 grandchildren. One son was Arthur who started the aerated water manufacturing business.

   The council said the rates had to go up because the last time they were fixed not enough allowance had been made for past expenditure and a deficit at the bank. There was also an increase in payments to Ackton Hospital plus loans which had to be paid off. Because of the increase in traffic using the road it was agreed to use granite for repairs from the bottom of Station Lane to the cemetery.

  Hedges boot and shoe shop in Station Lane had been taken over by Mr Barker. He tried to put a bit of humour into his adverts such as "Worried by a dog. There was admitted on Wednesday to Barker's Boot Hospital a boot severely bitten by a pup. It was detained a while and successfully operated upon", and "Bring your children to be leathered with boots like dad's".

  Tommy Sides arranged a cinematograph entertainment at the Assembly Rooms on behalf of the Salvation Army, but so few people turned up he cancelled it and gave three guineas to the Army instead.

  Ann Jenkins, a widow, was sent to prison for three months for stealing a pair of shoes from Sarah Jane Witton's shop in Station Lane. Ann said she had seen a woman hurrying from the shop who dropped the shoes, so she took them home and wore them. She had a long list of previous convictions.

  Joe Corrigan of Leeds erected a cake-walk about 30 feet from the footpath. There was such a crowd the footpath was blocked and people had to go into the road to get by. He was fined 7s 6d  He offered to pay for a policeman to keep the footpath clear but Supt Ackroyd refused.

  A late snowfall resulted in five youths being fined for snowballing and larking about. Eight gas lamps were broken during the weekend.

  Priscilla Asquith was made bankrupt. She had carried on her husband's butcher's shop after his death. At the bankruptcy hearing it was decided her husband was already insolvent at his death. The business was now run by a nephew.

  An inquest was held on the death of Arthur Schofield of Tanshelf who was found dead in Ackton Hall Colliery crushed between a tub and the side of the roadway. The verdict was accidental death.

APRIL  Many people could not get into a packed Assembly Rooms for the visit of the Port of Hull Sailors' Orphans' Homes boys band. The admission money plus street collections raised £41 10s. Another concert by the Girls' Council School raised £30 for the evening school's prize fund.

  Shops owned by the late Henry Gledhill were auctioned. Sarah Jane Haikings paid £870 for one shop and house. George Priestley of the Jubilee Hotel paid £560 for Gledhill's pawnshop, clothiers and adjacent houses. The Central Working Men's Club (rent £80 a year) and a cottage in Whiteley Street were bought by Mrs Edwards for £780.

  The council election results were:
North Ward  R Holiday unopposed
Purston Ward  J R Shaw 368  E Hough 252
South Ward  E Edwards 238  S Batten 107
Ackton and Snydale Ward  A Evans 206  W Coombes 107
Mr Evans replaced Mr Beach on the council and Roslyn Holiday was elected chairman.

  William Ashley was sent to prison for two months after being found asleep in the sewage works by PC Lewis. He had only just finished a 14 days sentence for a similar offence.

  Fred Asquith had a butcher's shop in Market Street. He couldn't fasten his shop window and it took the strength of two men to open it. One morning it was found open and about 10 stones of beef was missing. The meat was found by council workers in an ash pit in Earle Street. None was missing and it was covered by oilcloth.

MAY  Lem Smith of Featherstone Main Cricket Club played for Derbyshire against Yorkshire but he only managed to score two and five in the two innings.

  Christopher Elliott of Allison Street was fined for having a chimney on fire. He was seen near midnight by PC's Lewis and Thurlwell. They said when they spoke to him he continued to heap chair backs, straw hats and a mail cart on the fire. He was fined 13s 6d for the chimney fire and 17s 6d for using obscene language.      

  A large gondola worked by steam was erected in Maxwell's feast ground. It overturned and threw the occupants out, but apart from shock nobody was hurt.

  JUNE  Messrs Driver and Co had the shop window in their Station Lane premises broken in two consecutive weeks. The first time nothing was taken, but on the second occasion silver watches and chains were stolen. A week later John Hindley of no fixed abode was caught peddling watches in Huddersfield. He admitted the robbery at Featherstone so he was sent to Pontefract Court. He was committed for trial at the Bradford Quarter Sessions  where he was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment.

  An inquest was held on Amos Adams of Oldbury who, during his stay at Featherstone, was known as William Norman. His mother said he was 42 and had left home because of his wife's drunkenness. He was employed at the gas works in Girnhill Lane where he was dismantling a gas retort. He fell 14 feet onto asphalt and was taken to Clayton Hospital suffering from a fractured skull. He died the next day and the verdict was accidental death.

  The council decided in future the overseers of the poor would be elected by the council. Cr Waller said a man who liked to jack the vestry meeting could get a man to vote for three pints of beer. Cr Maxwell said he was knocked-out on beer (ie lost the vote because the voters were bribed with drink). 

  Mr H E Clayton of Nostell View was a member of the Territorials. He went to camp at Doncaster with other Featherstone men and during an impromptu game of football he broke his collar bone. It was set at a Doncaster hospital and he was sent home.

  The Bishop of Beverley consecrated a new part of the cemetery. Both Featherstone and Purston Church choirs attended. The bishop and other locals were then entertained to tea at Purston Hall by Col Shaw.

  JULY  An inquest was held on Enoch Davies aged 45 of Gladstone Street. He was buried by a fall of coal at Ackton Hall Colliery on June 15 and was taken home where he died on June 24. Dr Steven said death was due to an injury to the spinal column and the verdict was death by misadventure.

  Another inquest was on George Jones aged 61 who lodged with Jonathan Cording in Albert Street. He was sat at a table with Jonah Westwood in the Junction Hotel when he simply put his head on the table and died. He had worked that day and had not complained of feeling ill. A post mortem showed he had died of a heart attack and the verdict was natural causes.

  Many local men joined the newly formed Featherstone Territorial Company of the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. They marched from the station to Purston Church where they were met by Col Shaw. After the service they went back to the Assembly Rooms for refreshments.

  The council refused permission to the Hon Lister to convert Ackton Hall into five homes.

  At a bankruptcy hearing on Handel Gunton of Kippax and previously of Castleford and Featherstone he said "I think I lost my money and solvency at Featherstone, where I had an oyster saloon with music and entertainment up to a year ago for a period of about 12 months".

  Edwin Pashley. a Purston farmer, was fined £3 for having three 56lbs, one 14lbs and one 4lbs weights all up to five ounces light.

  Four men, said to be on their way to Newcastle, were found after midnight in a barn in North Featherstone. They were arrested for vagrancy by PC's Whittaker and Lewis. They were all sent to prison for 14 days.

  An inquest was held on Joseph Wedge aged 63 of Post Office Road who collapsed and died when he came out of the closet. Dr Steven said death was due to a ruptured aneurysm of the great artery and the verdict was natural causes.

  An inquest was held on William Hall aged 51 of Fearnley Street who was injured by a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery. He was taken to Dr Finch's surgery where he died shortly after. The verdict was death by misadventure.

AUGUST  Ackton Hall Colliery was idle because of a strike so the workers were allowed to have a ticket for the fifth annual flower show and pay later. There were over 3,000 at the Athletic Grounds to watch a military tournament in the afternoon.

  At the council meeting it was decided all the clothing of children suffering from infectious diseases was to be disinfected including "Sunday best" which upset some parents. It was said it seemed some children were being sent home too early (from the hospital?) and were being allowed to wear their best clothes and they were spreading the infection. 
  Cr Maxwell asked why the lamps were being lit at 8pm in broad daylight. It was explained the round by the lamplighter was 75 minutes and he was now starting 15 minutes earlier. Also he began his round in Purston whereas he used to end there, which was why Cr Maxwell noticed the difference.  

  The members of the new Purston Wesleyan Church were making strenuous efforts in aid of an organ fund and had raised £120 out of the £400 required. They received a big boost when a letter arrived from Andrew Carnegie saying he would provide £200 when they had raised the other £200 themselves.

  An inquest was held on Herbert Toft aged 45 of Normanton View who was fatally injured by a fall of roof at Ackton Hall Colliery. His skull was fractured and he died the next day in Clayton Hospital. The verdict was accidental death.

  Fred Wagstaffe was charged with lodging in the open air without any visible means of support. PC Shaw heard snoring in a field in Wakefield Road and he found Fred asleep. The constable searched him but found no money. In court Inspector Hartley said the prisoner found sixpence in his clothes which had been overlooked before, so the case was dismissed.

  A Local Board inquiry was held into the council seeking a loan of £5,159 to convert the Snydale sewage works, which served 6,114 people, to the same system as South Featherstone. The inspector suggested a cheaper scheme should be considered.

SEPTEMBER  Henry Gledhill applied for a renewal of his pawnbroker licence. This was objected to by Supt Ackroyd because of two convictions for being drunk and disorderly. Henry Gledhill said he had been refused at Castleford on the same grounds and he would withdraw his application and attempt to satisfy Supt Ackroyd before making another.

  The fifth annual Featherstone Main Athletic Club meeting had managed to obtain the One Mile Yorkshire Championship as part of the proceedings. Although there were 1,000 spectators there were only four runners, and the winning time was a disappointing four minutes and 40 seconds. W Cottrill (Hallamshire Harriers) won the gold medal.

  A revised application by the Hon Lister  to convert Ackton Hall into five separate houses was passed.

   This Ordnance Survey map of Ackton shows Ackton Hall now called Ackton Hall Cottages and split into five parts.

  This photo from the Featherstone Library Collection shows the frontage after the conversion. The original entrance in the middle is now a window, and three windows have been changed to doors.

OCTOBER  Sarah Jane Witton, wardrobe dealer, was on her way to the lodging house in Phipps Street after a tip-off when she met Jennie McRae carrying a shirt she recognised as from her shop. Jennie said David Massey had sent her to pawn it. In court Abe Goodworth said he saw Massey take the shirt from the shop. Massey, an old offender, was sent to prison for one month with hard labour.

  The council decided new buildings would be required to have WC's if they thought it necessary. They said the rates would have to go up because there was a deficit at the bank and more people than usual had been sent to the isolation hospital.

  An inquest was held on James Turton Haggas of Crossley Street. He was killed by a fall of stone at Featherstone Main Colliery. The verdict was death from misadventure.

NOVEMBER  Mr and Mrs Holiday entertained members of the Ackton Hall Colliery and Featherstone Station ambulance classes to tea at the Gospel Hall. After the certificates were presented, Mr Holiday said an ambulance brigade had been formed which would be ready to do work whenever needed at outside public gatherings. It now had 30 members.

  Florence Moor of no fixed abode was sent to prison for three months for stealing a sovereign from William Cooper of George Street. In court he said he met her in the tap room of the Jubilee Hotel and she asked him to treat her. They left together and he later missed the sovereign. When questioned by the police she said she had not taken it. Then she said she had given it to her brother. Then she changed her mind again and said a man in Phipps Street had taken it off her.

  Ackton Hospital wrote to the council saying the hospital was crowded at present and no more cases could be admitted. The council chairman said no cases from Featherstone had yet been refused.

  A troop of boys from Dr Barnardo's Homes gave a concert in front of a large audience in the drill hall.

DECEMBER   John Lunness, now of Barnsley, was in court charged with stealing £39 2s 4d from the Ackton Hall Colliery Sick and Accident Fund. He should have paid the balance into the bank weekly, but he missed some weeks in July and August, and when the books were examined the deficit was found. Edward Hough, the union secretary, said the men were willing to give John Lunness a chance to repay. Lunness told the court he hadn't absconded - they knew all the time where he was. He offered to repay £5 down and 15s a month. This was accepted and the case was adjourned for three months.

  John Greaves, secretary of the local National Union of Gasworkers branch, was found to be £10 light in his funds. In court he offered to pay it back at £1 a month. The Bench accepted and said in default he would go to prison for two months.

  William Long was in court for stealing a half-sovereign from Alf Leeds of Station Lane, and 5s 3d, two razors. scissors and comb from Thomas Amison, a hairdresser in Station Lane. Alf Leeds said he shared a bedroom with Long. One morning he found Long had gone and a half-sovereign was missing from his waistcoat. Thomas Amison said Long managed his shop in Pontefract Road for five weeks. He found the shop locked and money and articles missing. PC Wright said the prisoner had given himself up in Sunderland and admitted the offences. He was sent to the Quarter Sessions.

  In the council meeting it was reported Dr Law had commenced an inspection of the district and he would visit every class of property. Perhaps expecting the worst from the report, the council decided backyards would be asphalted or paved and the surveyor would be instructed to get out new specifications.