100-YEARS-AGO: SALFORD'S "HOME OF REST" CLOSED DOWN FOLLOWING POLICE RAID

The Salford City Reporter for December 1920 reported on a police raid, carried out on a house on Hulton Street. off Trafford Road which was "carried out in the stillness of midnight" by Superintendent Clark, Sergeant Lamb and a dozen constables.

The police were acting on information received not to mention a complaint by the American Consul in Manchester about men returning to their ships at Salford Docks in a drunken condition from what the sailors called , "The House of Rest".

Two police constables in plain clothing had previously called at the house and were supplied with whisky and beer which they paid her for. they returned several times and were served with drinks, they were on observation duty in the house when the police raid took place.

A police search of the house found, a considerable quantity of rum, whisky, port and 47 pint bottles of beer, hidden underneath a bed in the front room, a large quantity of boots were found in a cupboard, when asked to account for them, she said she had bought them,, but couldn't produce receipts for them.

They arrested Annie Warange and she was charged with being in, unlawful possession of, several pairs of boots, galoshes, shirts, flash lamps and other articles, her husband Avrid Warnge was charged with being in unlawful possession of a gold watch.

At Salford Magistrates Court, Annie Warange had changed her name to, Annie Filkins for reasons not explained and the case got underway with Mt Tomson for the Prosecution and Mr Flint for the Defence.

Mr Tomson said Annie was being prosecuted under Section 65 of the Licencing Consolidation Act of 1910.

The court was told that after receiving complaints the house was put under observation and two police constables in plain clothing made frequent visits to the house and were sold whisky and beer and whilst in the house saw numerous sailors, mainly American being served, whisky and port for which they paid Annie.

The midnight raid by Superintendent Clarke found the accused in the kitchen with ten sailors who were all drinking, on the table was a bottle of rum, a bottle of port and six glasses of beer, underneath the table were a further six empty bottles of spirits.

Six of the seaman were arrested for being drunk and disorderly and taken to Trafford Road police station.

Mr Tomson then told the court that Annie had been charging for a bottle of beer, which cost 11 pence, one shilling and sixpence, a shilling for a glass of whisky which would normally cost seven pence and for a glass of rum a shilling which would normally cost six pence.

Annie pleaded guilty to all of the charges.

Sergeant Lamb told the court that the American Consul had contacted them alarmed about the condition of their sailors returning from shore leave to their ships, he thought that Annie had been doing a very profitable business and that there was a big trade being carried out at the house.

Mr Flint for the defence said that Annie had lived in the house on Hulton Street for nine years and this was the first time she had been in trouble.

This very flimsy piece of character building cut no mustard with the Magistrates who came down heavily upon her.

She was fined £10 and ten Guineas on the first charge, and £20 each on three other charges a grand total of £80 and ten shillings in total, a very large amount in those days and no doubt sent out as a warning to anybody who harboured thought of opening their own, "Home Of Rest"

On a further charge of receiving a stolen, mincing machine, she was fined a further £5, her husband was acquitted of receiving a stolen gold watch and the charge was dropped.

Not a good day in court for her was it?