I was pleased to receive this collection of photographs from Tony Green an ex-resident of Eccles, who took these photos in 1975, and show many scenes of the town centre, I love the bench outside the Bulls Head pub!

Tony tells me,

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I left St Marys in 1957 I went to St Patrick's in Winton (off New Lane). At the age of 13, I got a paper round with a paper shop (Johnsons) on Gilda Brook Rd. delivering at Ellesmere Park.

After leaving school in 1961 I worked for Gerrards of Swinton as an apprentice Joiner, working in multi storey construction in Manchester.

During those years I raced with Westwood Racing Cycling Club. The club room was at Stablefold on the canal bank at Worsley. Some years ago it suffered a fire. The area is now covered in posh houses. The club is also no more. We used to do time trials on the East Lancs and track racing at Fallowfield.

I still ride a bike.

1964 was a popular year for emigration to Australia and Canada.

I already had an Uncle who had come to Oz 5 years earlier. He managed to get my indentures transferred to Adelaide. So in 1964 most of our family came. My Dad passed away in 1962.

I was only 15. Our Mam wanted a new life.

 

Lucy Pugh, 19 a cotton operative at Connels Mill on Ancoats Lane, Manchester was walking down New Bailey Street, Salford when she came to the junction with Chapel Street, when Robert Lomas, 23 walked up to her and shot her in the face.

Now that I have your attention I shall tell you the the full story of this shocking incident, of a violent and doomed relationship, which happened in September 1919,  and is hardly Mills and Boon material.

Lomas who resided at Islington Drive appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with, felonious, unlawfully and maliciously wounding Lucy Pugh with intent to cause grievous bodily harm by shooting her with a pistol on Chapel Street.

He pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody for a week whilst police investigations were made.

Lucy had been taken to Salford Royal Hospital for treatment to her injuries, she had lost a lot of blood with a bullet wound to the left side of her face which exited through the right side of her cheek, she made a remarkable recovery and would soon be facing Robert Lomas in a courtroom.

The police inquiries revealed that Lomas and ex-soldier had been seeing Lucy for about seven months, but it was a very volatile relationship with him often making death threats to her family.

Lomas was then remanded to the Manchester Assizes to stand trial and was defended by a Mr Nolan, described as being, "a well known coloured barrister and Mr J. Thorpe prosecuted for the Crown Court.

Lucy told the crowded court that she was walking home from work with a friend who also worked at Connels Mill when Lomas approached her and asked, "Where were you last night?"

She told him that she had stayed in with her mother when she felt a blow to the face and passed out.

Mrs Pugh was called to give evidence and it soon became clear that there was no love lost between her and Robert Lomas.

She said that he was a regular visitor to the house and not always a welcome one, and on one occasion she came home to find him sat on her sofa, he jumped up and knocked chairs over and shouted, "I am Robert Lomas, I have had four brothers in the army and I will do all the Pugh family in, and I don't care for anybody" and then added, "You will soon be needing three coffins"

P.C. Hunter told the court that on the evening in question he was on duty in Chapel Street with P.C. Lorinson when he heard a gunshot, they raced to the scene and saw that a man named Robert Craddock had tussled Lomas to the ground.

They arrested him and a search revealed three live cartridges in his jacket all capable of being fired from the revolver which they also confiscated.

He was taken to the nearby police station and was told that he would be charged with the offence listed, however Lomas showed no remorse and said that he would plead not guilty at court.

Finally Dr Ghosh from Salford Royal Hospital gave evidence and stated that he treated Lucy Pugh for her injuries and said that if the bullet had deviated slightly it would have severed an artery which would have killed her instantly.

Mr Nolan for the defence must surely have known that he was fighting a losing battle in this case, however he did try and plead for his client.

He said that Lomas's threats had been carried out in a "boisterous mood", one way of putting it I suppose, and then added that when he pulled the revolver out he had no intention of firing it, merely to frighten her when it suddenly exploded in his hand!.

For good measure he chucked in that Lomas had been drinking that day and had also served his country in the war, receiving injuries in the process.

The jury retired to consider their verdict and were only out for a few minutes before they returned to declare that Lomas was guilty.

Justice McCardie described the offence as a cowardly attack with a revolver on a girl.

He sentenced him to seven years imprisonment.

The paper said that in court Lomas was seen waving at friends in the public gallery and smiling, and rather prophetically was seen to hold up seven fingers before the sentence was handed down, hopefully Justice McCardie had noticed this act of bravado and took him up on his suggestion.

With all the furore going on at the moment about the future of the Buile Hill Mansion, I thought it would be appropriate to include this rather sad tale of young Vernon Lowe, who tragically drowned in the the lake at Seedley Park in August 1919.

Seedley Park was purchased for £,5,000 by Salford Corporation in March 1873 and was designed by Henry Moore the Head Gardener at Peel Park and covered 13 acres of land including a lake.

An Inquest was held into the death of Vernon Lowe who was almost two years of age at the Salford Magistrates Court with the Coroner Mr A. Holmes in charge of proceedings.

Captain Townson represented Salford Corporation and Mr A. Wilsher  the Superintendant of Salford Parks was also in attendance.

Mrs Lowe the deceased boys mother told the inquest that that Vernon was playing at the rear of the house along with his brother Eric and another boy, Albert Gatlow both aged three years of age at 10.45am.

At 1.40pm the two boys arrived home minus Vernon, she asked where he was and was told, "He has fell in the duck pond and is crying"

She rushed to the park with another son Leslie and met a gardener, James Buckley who told her that he had taken a little boy from the water and had done all he could to revive him, he then took her to a nearby tool shed to identify his body.

Leslie Lowe aged nine told the inquest that he took his mother to the park to show here were the lake was, he then stated that he saw a park keeper hammering a railing into the iron fencing surrounding the lake.

James Buckley then gave evidence, he said that at 1.40pm he went to feed the ducks and saw an object in the water, he waded in and discovered it was the body of a young boy lying face downwards in the water which was between three and four feet deep.

He was asked by the Coroner if he had put any new railings in that day, he denied this and added that neither had he heard of any other park keeper having mended any railings around the lake on that day.

He explained that the railings were examined daily and if any were found to to damaged they would be straightened immediately and if one was missing it would be replaced as quickly as possible.

Leslie then told the inquest that the Buckley wasn't the man he saw putting in the railings, adding that the man he saw was wearing a park keepers hat.

Buckley said that at the hour the boy saw the man mending the railings none of the men on duty in the park would be wearing uniforms.

Finally P.C. Sykes took the stand and told the inquest that he took the boys body to Salford Royal Hospital and then to Wilburn Street mortuary.

In his opinion he thought that boy could not have got through the railings, he had examined them and in no place were they wider than the width of his hand, and therefore he must have got over the railings in some way.

The Coroner said it was impossible to say how the boy got into the pond and he must return an, Open Verdict.

Several unanswered questions here obviously.

How did Vernon manage to climb over the railings, or was he helped over? who was the mystery man who Leslie said he saw fixing the railings, if there was one? and why did the two young boys not raise the alarm instead of going home which was a ten minute walk away, did they panic when he went in to the water?

We will never know the answer to these questions in what is a tragic story.

In a footnote the lake was filled in, in 1945 but the ground still remains marshy and boggy.

Cricket, that most English of games, the smack of leather on willow, cucumber sandwiches in the pavilion, or whatever tickles your fancy.

Also even as I type the Ashes are being contested between England and Australia and so I thought it would be apt to post this rather sombre story of August 1919, from the pages of the Eccles and Patricroft Journal.

It tells of a fateful cricket match played between Monton, St Paul's  and the Swinton  Second Team at the Monton cricket ground.

Swinton Second had just finished their innings and Monton's Captain, Francis Smith strode up to the crease for the opening over.

With only a few balls bowled, Smith had already struck himself over the heart with  the top of his cricket bat handle, attempting "to pull a ball to leg" (whatever that means)

A few balls later however Smith misjudged from the Swinton bowler, James Arthur Hindle and the ball struck him on the heart.

To the horror of players and spectators, Smith staggered a few steps and then collapsed to the floor, and had to be carried to the pavilion.

A Dr Young was summoned to his aid but on arrival he "found life to be extinct"...what a quaint expression for dead.

Obviously the game was abandoned and his body was taken away by ambulance.

Francis Smith was 48 years of age and lived at Mirfield Drive, Monton, he was described in the paper as being "an accomplished player and one of four brothers who all played in local cricket leagues"

He had been captain of the Monton team for three seasons and as a mark of respect the flags on the Monton and Swinton cricket clubs were flown at half mast, whilst both teams sent floral wreaths to his funeral.

An inquest was held at the Blue Bell public house, Monton with Mr P.R. Bennett the Deputy County Coroner presiding over the inquest.

Smith's daughter, Bessie told the inquest that her father  had always enjoyed fairly good health and had left home at 2.30pm on the Saturday to play cricket.

James Arthur Hindle took the stand and told the Coroner that he had bowled the ball that had struck Mr Smith.

He said that the ball was straight and rose a little striking Smith in the stomach, who attempted to pull himself together but collapsed.

The Coroner asked Hindle if that instead of playing the ball, the deceased seemed to appear to double up over the wicket?

Hindle replied, "I did not think the blow from the ball would have killed him because it was not a fast delivery"

Dr Young told the inquest that he thought it was the second blow which proved fatal and he would have appeared to have died from shock following the blow.

Finally the Vice-Captain of the Monton Cricket Club, Sydney W. Painter told the Coroner that the accident happened about 5.30pm, and owing to the weather the deceased mistimed the speed of the ball and did not make his stroke.

After hearing all of the evidence Mr Bennett registered a verdict of "Accidental Death"

The newspaper noted that a special service for "men only" was held at the St Paul's Church, Monton on the Sunday afternoon, to his memory.

A sad and perhaps cautionary tale, and I wonder if there is some kind of memorial or trophy in memory of Francis Smith? it would be nice if there was reminder of his sporting life, does anybody know?

Vandalism, doesn't it get on your nerves? the number of times we must all have witnessed smashed up phone boxes, broken shop windows, litter bins set on fire etc.

I am certain we have all witnessed shocking behaviour on our buses, trains and trams over the years, I can still recall the horror of the last bus out of Victoria bus station as a callow youth and have witnessed a hail of meat and potato pies being hurled in a scene reminiscent of Agincourt, yes the good old days.

So this story from August 1919 reminds us that loutish behaviour is not a modern day phenomenon as two drunken chaps bring a new meaning to, men behaving badly.

Amos Williams 28, who lived at Irlams Place, Salford appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with with being drunk and disorderly in Eccles New Road and assaulting a female tram conductress, Ethel Featherstone.

Inspector Mitchell  told the Court that Williams and his chum, Joseph Mullen boarded the tram at Eccles Cross and were going to Weaste to meet a female friend.

However this journey to meet the mystery woman was curtailed when Amos Williams loutish behaviour resulted in the police being called.

Whilst the conductress was collecting fares upstairs, he decided it would be fun to continually ring the bell much to the annoyance of the other passengers.

One one occasion he rang the bell so vigorously that driver slammed the brakes on thinking it was an emergency stop, much to Williams amusement.

An elderly chap, Edward Smith, had the temerity to tell Williams to behave and asked him what he thought he was playing at?

Williams responded by grabbing hold off his legs and dragging him to the floor of the tram, were he began kicking him.

Ethel Featherstone. came downstairs to see what all the commotion was about  and asked him what he was doing, his reply was to slap her across the face and then attempted to push her off the tram, which fortunately had stopped. 

I noticed the driver of the tram hasn't come racing to her rescue!

The police were called at Weaste and managed to drag the two drunken men off the tram and into police custody and reflect on their behaviour.

In his defence, Amos Williams told the Magistrate:

"I had drank a lot of beer that day"

Truthful but hardly the best defence he could have come up with is it?

He was fined £1 or 30 days imprisonment for being drunk and disorderly, also he was fined £3 and six shillings for assaulting Ethel Featherstone or 28 days imprisonment, with the fine being paid to her in costs.

P.C. Cormie took to the stand to testify against his co-accused, Joseph Mullen who was also charged with being drunk and disorderly.

He told the court that Mullen kept interfering with Williams arrest, using bad language and even going so far as to attempt to incite the tram passengers to help release Williams!

Williams was hardly popular with the tram passengers so I should imagine his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Mullen told the Magistrate:

"All I did was to walk to the police station and see how my pal was and if he needed any money, then I got arrested"

He was fined £1 or 14 days imprisonment.

So a warning for us all, don't balloon on public transport unless you want to spend the night in the cells and face a possible hefty fine..and I haven't mentioned a single person I know!

I came across this very sad story in the pages of the Salford City Reporter from the first week in August 1919 and tells the story of a Salford school outing, which went tragically wrong and ended up with the loss of three schoolboys.

Mr H.B. Winfield was the Headmaster of the Salford Secondary Modern School which later became the Salford Grammar School as we knew it.

He had arranged a three weeks camping holiday in the Lake Disrict at High Lodore for pupils, teachers and old boys.

On the day of the tragedy they set sail for a picnic at Manesty Woods an island off Derwent Water, some 25 boys including the Headmaster and a form teacher, Mr S. Duckworth, taking five boats from Lodore, taking the precaution of having at least one good swimmer in each boat.

They had rowed about half a mile when the wind sprung up and the water got choppy, it soon got worse as fierce gusts of wind blew up a storm.

This was to have fatal consequences resulting in the three deaths and an inquest being held at Keswick preside over by  Mr. E. Atter.

Mr Duckworth told the inquest what had happened on that fateful day

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"There were three of us rowing in the boat, about 300 yards from the shore, I noticed water in the boat, very soon it was above my ankles.

"In 30 seconds the boat was full of water and I told the boys to get into the water which they did, I then managed to to turn the boat over.

"I made direct for Eric Molloy who I knew was a non swimmer, I put him on the stern of the upturned boat and then went for another boy, Vernon Thomas and put him on the other end of the boat, the two other boys were clinging to the side of the boat.

"By this time I was exhausted owing to my heavy clothing and the efforts I had made in turning the boat over.

"I was sinking in to the water when I was rescued by Mr Winfield and in another five seconds I would have been done for"

 

Mr Winfield then took the stand and gave his version of events.

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"I was in the second boat with  Taylor, one of the pupils when I was about to turn back to shore, I saw the boat with Duckworth in was in trouble.

"I proceeded to it rapidly and lifted him out of the water but I could not see any of the other boys"

 

A search party set out to look for the missing boys, sadly Eric Molloy's body was found at 2.40pm, the bodies of the two other boys David Watkinson (17) and Herbert Fenton (15) were found close together the next morning.

Mr A. Watkinson the father of David told the inquest that his son was an expert swimmer but he had never known him to go into the water with his clothes and boots on, which would no doubt hamper him.

He then added that he thought that the boats that the boys were in should be examined if possible.

The Rev S.C. Robinson on behalf of the relatives of Eric Molloy thanked Mr Duckworth for doing his utmost to save the deceased boy, as he did by placing him on the upturned boat.

The schoolboy Vernon Thomas gave evidence and said that he saw Eric Molloy clinging to the boat but little else, adding,

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"I am very lucky to be alive and I must thank Mr Duckworth for all that he did"

 

The Coroner, Mr E. Atter summed up by saying,

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"It was a lamentable occurrence and I am sure the whole of the inhabitants of Keswick express their sympathy with the parents and relatives of the deceased boys.

"People come here for health and enjoyment and it a most sad occurrence when this happens, especially in cases so young.

"I don't think there is any blame attributable to anyone, and Mr Duckworth has the satisfaction of knowing that there has been every appreciation of his efforts.

"Accidents of this this description although rare still happen"

"Therefore my verdict must be that the cause of death of these three boys was through accidental drowning"

 

Herbert Fenton lived at Bolton Road, Pendleton and was buried in Weaste Cemetery, Salford with schoolchildren laying wreaths.

Eric Molloy (13) lived on Tatton Street, Salford and was buried at Greenfield, Oldham again his school chums laid wreaths in his honour.

David Watkinson was a resident of Farnworth and was educated in Salford, he was buried in a local church in Farnworth again school friends were in attendance.

A very sad story with nobody to blame, but it's hard to imagine the sorrow these boys families must have had to suffer, taken away at such an early age.

It took a little longer than expected as some of the photos were heavily damaged but we managed to salvage them and even managed pull a few photos from the contents sheet that we didn't have actual photos for. They may not be as high quality but they were too good not to include.

So without further agadoo, we present to you the third and final part of the 1970's Eccles photo collection.

We still have no idea as to the identity of the mystery donor but we wholeheartedly thank him/her for allowing us to digitally preserve them for future generations to enjoy.

Laydeez and Jellymen, uncross your fingers, open your eyes... yes it is the long awaited, - well 24 hours -  part Two of the Eccles Photographs.

If you thought yesterdays were good, have a look at these beauty's, can you recognise the shops and the views from Clarendon Road, also the M602 cleaving it's way through Eccles, good word that, cleaving. Did you have a cake from F. Ashworth's? Are you F. Ashworth, if so or you were one of the '& Sons' then get in touch as we would love to hear from you.

Karl has once again done a magnificent job in restoring these images and I doff my massive over-sized cap.

I just wish we knew the identity of the mystery benefactor, and more to the point does he have any more!

So sit back, relax and have a proverbial stroll down Memory Lane or Church Street if you want to be be pedantic.

But remember to call back later for Part Three, yes there are even more. Some of the photos were heavily damaged and are taking a little extra time to repair and so rather than just throw them up 'as is' we thought it better to take the time to restore them to their former glory properly.

Enjoy!

Life can be strange and as a glowing example of this I was in Eccles Library today or home as Karl calls it, when the young librarian chap comes over and hands me a wallet full of, no not cash, black and white photographs of Eccles, some 26 in total the first 11 which are below in part one of what is a two part article.

Sadly the chap who left them for me never left his name, but blimey they are fascinating, they show Church Street, Eccles which to be fair hasn't changed that much - just wait until October 2019 when The Top House and Booths come down .

The photographs of Church Street show shops such as Woolworths, , The Chicken Barbeque, Twin Stores, Rediffusion, Clifford Turner, Edith Lloyd, Radio Rentals, Crossley's, Fryers, Eccles Journal, Waterworths, Loofe's, Quine, Village Wool Shop, Ashworths, R. Quinns, Waddiloves, Little Dolphin, W H Smiths, H. Fairhurst, need I go on!

Can't forget the pubs we have The Top House, Cross Keys, Grapes, Oddfellows, Hare and Hounds, and the Bulls Head!

It is a proper nostalgic walk through time, OK they were taken some 48+ plus years ago but what a amazing set of photos they are.

Eccles had recently been pedestrianised and you can see concrete flower beds, all removed now and sets of benches in the middle of Church Street, again all gone.

They must have been taken earely on a Sunday morning because there are no people in the photographs apart from a stray dog walking past the Hare and Hounds pub.

On the contact sheets are views of the Eccles Precinct, and it looks eerie, what is now Wilkos was then called Giro, of all names!

A Nat West bank is slap in the middle of the Precinct, also shops such as Jones the Jewellers, Bacon and Cheese Shop, Hamlet Grill, Curtess Shoes, Dorothy Perkins etc.

Did anybody work in these shops? if so the memories should come flooding back, I shall not mention if you supped in any of the pubs because we all know the answer to that one.

So that is two great Eccles photographic finds in a few months, with the amazing George Shepherd exhibition which drew record amounts of people to the Eccles Community Art Gallery and this smaller but in my opinion, important find.

Finally mystery donor will you reveal yourself and more importantly are there any more left lying around?

If so you know where I am most days!

Part Two will be coming tomorrow but for now we leave you with these little gems.

Yet again another story of everyday Salford folk when combined with alcohol, police assault always ends up in tears if not the Salford Magistrates Court as his story from June 1919 shows.

John Lyons who resided at Hudson Street, Broughton appeared at Salford Magistrates Court dressed in full Army khaki uniform charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting P.C. Bradshaw.

Alongside him was his father, Joseph Bradshaw of the same address but no khaki uniform, charged with assaulting P.C. P.C. Fairbrother.

P.C. Bradshaw told the court that he was passing the Royal archer public house when he heard a commotion and saw a group of men arguing, in the middle was John Lyons, shouting and gesticulating.

The brave bobby, "requested" that John go home, only to met with a punch to his face and was then gripped around the neck as John attempted to strangle him!

Happily, PC's Brady and Walker happened to be passing, always a bobby there when you want one isn't there?

P.C. Walker told the Court that he went to P.C. Bradshaw's assistance and it was with some difficulty they managed to get the "slips" on him, as he was, "fighting like a madman"

P.C Brady backed him up by saying that he saw John attempting to strangle P.C. Bradshaw, when he noticed Joseph Lyons grab P.C. Fairbrother by the throat causing him an injury that required medical assistance.

A brawl then ensued with several people joining in, and it was with some difficulty that the two men were taken into custody.

Mr Desquesnes appeared as Defence for John Lyons whilst Joseph chose to defend himself.

Rather smoothly Desquesnes told the Bench that that he had no reason to doubt the accuracy of anything said by the police and had to admit that his client had committed an offence...however.

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"My client, John Lyons has been on Military Service for his King and Country for the past four and a half years and has just returned from Mesopotamia.

"It was under circumstances of of readjustment  from the life he had been living that he was induced to go to the Royal Archer, where he took some spirits when he was not in a fit condition to take them.

"It was a case of fiery liquids on an empty stomach with the results that he became greatly agitated and by the acts which he afterwards committed he certainly behaved very badly towards the police.

"He has since expressed his very sincere regret for the injury he caused to P.C. Bradshaw and for the disgraceful way in which he behaved"

 

He then asked the Bench to be lenient with him and to take into account that he had been in police custody since Saturday evening, and with a final roll of the dice told the Court that John had promised to be "well behaved" for the rest of the time of his leave.

Joseph Lyons denied assaulting P.C. Fairbrother and stated that he was the one who had been assaulted and on the evening in question there was great confusion outside the pub and all he could remember was a P.C. telling him to clear off.

Superintendent Clarke then chipped in that both men had several convictions for being drunk and disorderly.

Surprisingly John Lyons was sentenced to prison for seven days with hard labour.

Joseph Lyons was then given 14 days in prison with hard labour.

Perhaps Joseph should have pleaded guilty and would have received a lesser sentence?

As Gilbert and Sullivan wrote in the Pirates of Penzance, A Policeman's Lot Is Not A Happy One, especially in Salford at closing time.

Photo: Royal Archer.

This little story from April 1919, tells about a particularly, feisty Salford woman, Sarah Donohue who appeared at Salford Magistrates Court charged with an assault upon Sergeant Grainger the Salford Summons and Warrant Officer.

It was his unfortunate job to track down people who had failed to pay their court fines and either obtain the money or arrest them, as you can imagine a fun filled job.

Sarah Donohue lived at Park Place, a side road off Cross Lane which was notorious for being an area of lodging houses, shared houses with a reputation for drunkenness and brawls.

On the evening of April 2nd, Sergeant Grainger called at Sarah's lodgings in search of money she owed to the Magistrates Court in reference to an order granted by the Local Education Authority.

The hapless Sergeant had called three times at Sarah's house in a fruitless attempt to get money from her and on each occasion she had, "acted abusively towards me"

He then told the Magistrates that when he saw her on the Monday evening he could tell from her demeanour that she had no intention of paying him the outstanding money.

He told her, "quite frankly" that if she did not meet her obligations, i.e. cough up the money that she owed, she would have to accompany him to the Cross Lane police station.

Sarah wasn't taking this threat lightly and tried to incite a group of women she was drinking with by saying that he was going to lock her up for the sake of five shillings and he should be ashamed of himself.

The women tried to persuade her to borrow the money from her friends, she put on her shawl and said to Sergeant Grainger that she would be back with the money shortly.

Sadly, Sarah had no intention of stumping up the money and instead walloped Sergeant Grainger in the mouth, splitting his lip and drawing blood, as he tried to arrest her, she scratched his face drawing even more blood.

He managed to  arrest her and cart her off to the police station where she acted like, "A mad woman" screaming and shouting.

In her defence she told the Magistrate that, "I asked him if he would give me the chance to get the money and he said that he would have me instead and dragged me to the police station.

The court was told that Sarah was no stranger to the courts and had numerous convictions for drunkenness, which sealed her fate.

Sarah was sent to prison was 14 days with hard labour.

Image:Cross Lane police station.

The Jones brothers of Eccles are worthy members of that club as they proved at Eccles Magistrates Court in March 1919 when John appeared accused of Unlawful Wounding of his brother.

The court heard that the feuding brothers, John and the other sadly unnamed were originally good friends and when John came back from the Great War they decided that the two of them would set up a green grocery business in Winton, Eccles, so far so good.

The arrangement was that the unnamed brother who was an Engineer in Manchester would provide between £30 - £40 to set up the business and he, his wife and four children would live at the shop.

John was to manage the shop in the daytime and after he had finished his shift would go to Manchester to meet his brother after he had finished his night shift amd purchase produce from the local markets.

The friendship soured on Sunday 17 March, 1919 when there was dispute between them about John not getting to the market in time resulting in John giving him a black eye which obviously soured the relationship.

John told the Court that he didn't go in work on the Monday and on the Tuesday morning was out in connection with the business.

He returned to the shop and asked where his brother was and was told that he was at the cottages behind the Jolly Carter pub.

Mr Parker for the Prosecution asked John why he went to the cottages, his reply was none to subtle, "To give my brother a good thrashing"

Parker then told the Court that when John got to the stables his brother was nowhere to be seen, however he was seen coming out of the kitchen door of the pub.

John hit him three times with a hammer and the pair started fighting and rolling about on the floor.

John denied taking the hammer with him and said, somewhat bizarrely, that he had, "taken his false teeth out as a precaution in case of a fight"

In the fight the unnamed brother got the upper hand, and the hammer and started walloping the living daylights out of John.

The Landlord of the Jolly Carter, John Baines said that he heard shouting and saw the brothers fighting and managed to separate them whilst the police were called.

P.C. Woodworth told the court that he took John into custody who said to him, "I wish I could have killed him" not helping himself here is he?

Then the real reason for the fight came out, the unnamed brother had told him on the Sunday, after the black eye incident presumably, that he was selling his share in the business and not to him.

John then went to the shop on the Tuesday to remove stock which he said was his only to be told by his brothers wife that he couldn't take any stock as his name wasn't above the door and furthermore his brother had sold his share of the business.

So this was the reason why John  went to see his brother, and no doubt the reason for taking the hammer and his false teeth out.

Mr Watson for the Defence told the Magistrates that his client had been serving in very hot climates abroad with he Army and some allowances should be made for that and asked for the charge of Unlawful Wounding be reduced to the lesser charge of Common Assault.

He then added that John wished to express his regret at what had happened and surely the fact that he had taken his false teeth out proved that he was not going for a fight!

What was John going to do, bite him to death?

The Magistrate, Mr A. Dempsey decided to bind John over in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months and must also pay the Court costs.

So who do we have sympathy for, John the hard working if somewhat erratic ex-serviceman who felt that he had been diddled of his share of the company, or the unnamed brother who was no doubt sick of getting second prizes from his violent brother and wanted rid of the business?

Hopefully the brothers kissed and made up though I somehow doubt it, the story made me laugh though.

Image: Jolly Carter pub.

The language used to describe the men is frankly disgraceful, yet was acceptable at that time.

The original story headline was, "Attacked by Negroes" and "White Man beaten with a poker".

James Johnston described as being a "coloured" man was charged with assaulting John Hall at a house in Duke Street, Greengate, Salford and was remanded in custody for a week.

Detective Inspector Clark told the Magistrates that Hall was living in at Queen Street, Greengate,  Salford and had come to visit his brother William who had a room in a house where Johnson lived.

He alleged that Johnson came out of his room and attacked him with a poker for no reason, hitting him about the head, arms and body, another "coloured" man joined in the attack hitting him with a poker several times.

William Hall heard his brother's screams and shouted out of his window for help.

P.C. Gleeson came to his aid and found him to be suffering cuts to his head, arms and hands, and took him to Salford Royal Hospital for treatment where he was given an X-Ray.

The following day two more "colored" men were arrested by the police and charged with assaulting Hall, this time the Salford City Reporter headline read, "Two More Niggers Charged"

The men were William Daniels and Obadiah Williams, the police advised the Magistrates to remand the men in custody for a week whilst further investigations were carried out.

One week later the mean once again stood in the dock at Salford Magistrates Court, described by the paper as being, "Sequel to Negroes concert party"

The paper described the assault happening in a lodging house in Duke Street were a negro concert party was being held, "niggers" were strumming banjos and white women danced"

That set the tone for the case implying that white woman by dancing with black men were immoral and therefore loose women.

William Hall took the stand and told the court that he returned home about 10.30pm and was searching for his key in his jacket when Johnson rushed out of his room and struck him on the neck with a poker, he managed to get into his room and lock the door.

Presently his brother John called to see him and he to was attacked by three "colored" men armed with sticks and pokers, knocking him to the floor.

P.C Gleeson arrived on the scene and found John Hall bleeding profusely from a head wound, he arrested Johnson and managed to get Hall to the hospital for treatment.

Along with his head wound he was found to have bruises and cuts to his arms, shoulders also his thumb bone had been split in three parts.

Hall said that if P.C. Gleeson hadn't arrived in the nick of time he believed that the men would have killed him.

All of the men denied the allegations but were all found guilty.

James Johnston was sentenced to prison for two months with hard labour, the other two men were given six weeks in prison with hard labour.

The Magistrate asked that the Home Office be informed of this case.

You may recall that the Chief Constable of Salford, Major Godfrey had recommended to the Home Office that convicted black men should be sent back to their respective colonies following the so called Race Riot in Salford.

I have never found any evidence of any of these convicted men being deported I am happy to say.

Would the Salford City Reporter have said that black women were found dancing at this party, I doubt it very much, it's just because they were white women and their behavior was considered taboo.at this time.

And as for using the "N" word to describe the men, it is sad but that word was acceptable in common parlance of the day, but today it makes for uncomfortable reading.

There is no doubt that the three men were guilty of assaulting the Hill brothers and justice was served but the way it was reported still leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Photo: Artisan Dwellings, Queen Street, Greengate, Salford

Greengate at this time had to be possibly the worst slum dwelling area of Salford with hundreds of people crammed into squalid rooms in shared houses, a fertile breeding ground for crime and disorder.

It was also the location of the first black community in Salford with many of them, sailors who had left their ships in Salford and settled here, forming their own communities, sadly not to everybody's liking.

Salford Magistrates Court was reported as having a packed public gallery, as crowds had flocked to see what the sensation what all about following the lurid headlines in the press.

Thomas Williams a black man was charged with being on enclosed premises on Duke Street for an unlawful purpose, alongside him in the dock were Albert Cuthbert, Jack Andrews, Lewis Wyndham, John Barber, Thomas Peters, George Nelson and William Johnson who were all charged with assault by striking and kicking P.C. Noddle in the execution of his duty and unlawfully rescuing Thomas Williams from the lawful custody of of P.C. Noddle in Gravel lane, Salford.

Further excitement was caused when one of the accused, Thomas Peters had to be carried to the dock seated in a chair as he had sustained a fractured leg in the melee, also face wounds which were covered with cotton wool.

Detective Sergeant Clark told the court that Thomas Williams had walked into a house on Duke Street, Greengate whilst the occupier a tailor by the name of John Fennell was working in a back bedroom, in the kitchen was a man named Henry Williams who asked Thomas Williams what he wanted, he was told that he was looking for a man called Peters.

He was told that there was nobody of that name there but refused to leave the premises, Mr Fennell came downstairs and he threatened to call the police, Williams ran out of the house pursued by Fennel and Henry Williams.

He darted into another house and quickly fled through the back door but was apprehended by P.C. Noddle who had been alerted by the commotion.

Joined by Fennell and Williams he attempted to take Thomas Williams into custody when they were suddenly attacked by 50 black men some carrying, razors, knives and sticks.

The three men were badly knocked about by the mob and the prisoner was rescued and made good his escape.

Police from the nearby Chapel Street police station were quickly on the scene to help quell a potential riot, they made arrests at various house in the area and were identified by P.C. Noddle as having been concerned in the affray.

D.C. Clark said that Thomas Peters took a large part in the fighting and was found in possession of a razor with a jagged blade, razors were also found on two other men.

John Fennell and Henry Williams both gave evidence in which Williams said that he lived with Fennell and there had been several instances of, "coloured men" walking into the house at all hours, uninvited, and on one occasion a "coloured man" walked in when Fennell's sister was sat alone, , she called out to him and the man fled the house.

Chief Inspector Markland then took the stand and said that when Williams was captured, Thomas Peters began to obstruct P.C. Noddle when negroes from Greengate area gathered together and attacked the men.

P.C. Noddle drew his staff and struck several of the attackers but after a short struggle managed to liberate Williams, when he was rearrested it took six policemen to subdue him as he "fought like a wildcat"

D.I. Markland then added that there had been a lot of trouble with "these coloured men" and he had been called out to quell the disturbances five times and they were becoming, "a perfect nuisance".

In his defence, Thomas Williams said that he entered Mr Fennell's house in error, whilst all of the other accused men, denied taking part in the affray.

Alderman Linley the Chairman of the Bench said that they considered that Cuthbert and and Andrews had taken the least part in the affray and they would go to prison for one month with hard labour.

All of the other men in the dock were sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.

He than added, "I hope this will be a lesson to you men, we are determined to protect the police against any rowdyism of this kind" and then asked D.I. Clark to to make representation to the Home Office that these men were becoming a nuisance.

The story doesn't end there because the Chief Constable of Salford, Major C.V. Godfrey actually called at the Home Office in London that week and handed over a report which read.

"The presence of these negroes in Salford was causing a great deal of of dissatisfaction and was looked upon as a public menace.

"We recommend that they be returned to their respective colonies, especially so as the labouring work which they had been undertaking during the war can now be satisfactorily done by the returning soldiers and sailors.

"Many of these men are living with white girls and several had been convicted for living on the immoral earnings of women.

"Several had also been convicted for offences committed on the high sea's including threats to inflict grievous bodily harm on officers with razors and other weapons.

"The white population in the districts of Greengate and the docks area were living in terror at the present time and it was feared that serious trouble would occur in the near future"

If that isn't scaremongering to an incredible degree I don't know what is.

Basically he is asking for "coloured" people to be deported back to the county of their origin whilst chucking in large does of racist rhetoric, guaranteed to inflame tensions even higher, if any existed at all, a shocking thing for the Chief Constable of Salford to say, in my opinion, and almost on par with Enoch Powell's, "Rivers of Blood" infamous speech in 1968.

A browse through and pages of the court cases in Salford will show that the vast majority of crimes ranging from murder, arson, theft, violence, drunkenness etc were committed by white Salfordians of both sexes.

On reflection it's a sad testimony of the mindset of the time that people of a different skin colour could be blamed for a "reign of terror and fear".

Happily the "serious trouble" that Major Godfrey predicted, never happened and life went on in Greengate.

Thomas Bell the landlord of the Windmill pub in Pendlebury, Swinton appeared at the Manchester County Police Courts charged with with wilfully inflicting grievous bodily harm on a four year old boy called, John Wilcock who resided at Engine Brow, Pendlebury.

The court was told that on Sunday, 23rd February 1919, John was playing with a few friends outside the pub when for some reason he decided to peer through the letter box of the pub.

He was met with a faceful of boiling water chucked at him from inside the pub which scalded him about the eye's..

Mary Wilcock the boy's mother rushed him to a local Doctor who treated his injuries, he was then taken to the hospital for further treatment and was discharged that day.

Richard Price a collier told the court that he noticed a group of young lads playing outside the pub, and a young boy lifting the letter box and looking through.

He then heard the boy scream and run away, rather ominously he noticed a pool of steaming water on the pavement outside the pub.

Rose Dixon who lived in the pub took the stand and said that she had heard the letter box rattling and saw Thomas Bell standing in the vestibule but she couldn't see what was in his hand as he had his back to her.

Minutes later she heard somebody banging on the pub door and in came Mrs Woodcock with young John in her arms, she too had noticed steam coming from a pool of water outside the pub.

Cross examined by Mr Watson for the defence she said that Bell had been in the Army since October 1914 but last Christmas had a severe bout of influenza which led to pneumonia, this resulted in him going into hospital for treatment.

When he did come home she noticed that he appeared, "a bit queer"...read into that what you will.

P.C. Woodworth told the court that when he arrived at the pub to to make enquiries, Bell rushed past him and ran upstairs, the plucky P.C. caught hold of him by the legs and dragged him to the floor and arrested him.

He was taken to Pendlebury Police Station and charged with assaulting the boy, to which he replied, "I am not guilty of that"

Addressing the Magistrate's on Bell's behalf, Mr Watson gave a lengthy and strange explanation for Mr Bell's actions.

He said there was no evidence before them to suggest that it was an act that was done deliberately for the purpose of injuring the child and that the correct assumption was that it was done impulsively in a moment of irritation to frighten the children who had been annoying him.

He did not dispute that the water had been thrown and naturally it was a most unfortunate incident.

Mr Bell had decided to make himself a cup of tea and had a kettle of boiling water in his hand for that purpose when he was annoyed by children rattling the letter box and without thinking of the consequences, he threw the water at the closed door and some appeared to have spurted through the opening, sadly hitting the boy in the face.

In what seems a plea for mercy, Mr Watson continued that Bell was anxious to to make any possible reparation as far as the child was concerned, and to pay Mrs Woodcock £5 for any expenses that she had been put to, also something substantial as well.

Does that sound to you like he is attempting to buy the family off?

With a final flourish he added that the Magistrates to come to the conclusion that Mr Bell was a thoroughly, respectable man, but was queer in the head and that the least rattling of the letter box would irritate him.

The Chairman of the Bench, Mr Hugh Howarth then decided that a fit punishment would be that Bell would be fined £1, with a further £1 for legal costs, also Mrs Woodcoock to be given 10 shillings and the other two witnesses five shillings each.

He was told that he was fortunate that the boy wasn't badly injured or he would be facing a far more serious charge.

Superintendent Keys then piped up that Bell was an absentee from the Army!

However the Magistrates decided that to adjourn that charge for a week so that the Military could be informed, and Mr Bell walked free from the Court.

So what do we make of this, if Bell was an absentee from the Army, no wonder he wanted to pay the family off, however his fine was considerably less than what he had offered!

If he was an absentee, how come he was the Landlord of a busy pub, hardly hiding away was he?

I'm certain that the Military would take into account his service record and also his sickness record and discharge him, I hope so.

It's a good job that "Trick or Treat" hadn't yet landed on our shores or I would imagine there would be a lot more scalded kids in Pendlebury, if Mr Bell had his way.

It also attracted various characters including "Ladies of the Night" who were keen to meet foreign seamen and show the myriad attractions of Salford and The Barbary Coast, a popular nickname for Trafford Road and Cross Lane which had dozens of pubs, some of which had tables screwed to the floor, just in case of brawls, The Fox being a good example.

This story concerns Angel Diaz, a Spanish seaman who appeared at Salford Magistrates Court in February 1919 charged with assaulting Albert Davies and Joseph Schofield on Trafford Road, Salford.

Diaz had appeared at the courts the week before charged with this offence and was remanded for a week in custody whilst investigations were made.

Davies a recently discharged soldier told the court that he was walking along Trafford Road when he met Diaz who to him, appeared to be under the influence of drink.

He gentlemanly stepped aside to let Diaz pass him, however Diaz muttered something to him, then seized him by the throat, forcing him against the railings at the side of the road.

A struggle ensued in which Diaz drew out a knife and struck him in the back, cutting his overcoat and wounding him twice.

A soldier named Schofield and some civilians came to Davies's assistance, Diaz then stabbed Schofield in the leg to which Schofield punched him to the ground no doubt concerned for his own safety.

Diaz was pinned to the ground and detained by several citizens and no doubt a few sly digs and kicks were administered to him in order to fully restrain him.

P.C. Noddle -his real name! - arrived at the scene and took Diaz into custody possibly for his own safety whilst Davies and Schofield were treated for their injuries at Dr Cranes surgery on Regent Road.

In court the Spanish Consul spoke out for Diaz and said that Diaz and another seaman were walking along Trafford Road with two girls when Davies and Schofield stopped them and told them to leave the girls alone or there would be trouble.

The other seaman ran off no doubt worried for his health and Diaz had only pulled out his knife to protect himself.

Detective Clark however said that the police had been unable to find any foundation for Diaz's suggestions.

The Magistrate then sentenced Diaz to one months imprisonment with hard labour.

So was Angel Diaz a happy go-lucky seaman looking for a night out in Salford with two lady companions when he was threatened by irate locals and it all turned nasty?

Perhaps it would have been better if he had followed his friends example and ran away instead of flashing a knife about and stabbing two people.

A months imprisonment for stabbing two people is very lenient and perhaps the Magistrate took into account that Trafford Road could be quite a daunting place for a foreign seaman with a pocket of money looking for a good time.

Finally I wonder how Diaz managed to get another ship out of Salford assuming that that his ship had sailed without him, in more ways than one.

Sailor beware!

The story concerned two brothers, both described as being, Russian Jews, however one was described as a fighter and the other a "shirker" - shirker being a common name used at this time for people who did their best to avoid conscription to the armed forces.

The headline to the story read, "Shirker rooted out of his hiding place", strong language to say the least.

The full story unfolded at Salford Magistrates Court when Maurice Miller, 23 who resided at Broughton Lane, Salford was charged with, "failing to furnish to the Registration Officer of Salford as to his change of residence and also with failing to to furnish particulars affecting the accuracy of the information previously supplied"

This was the Alien Registration Act of 1914 when at the outbreak of World War One, all aliens over 16 were required to register at local police stations and to demonstrate a good character and knowledge of English. This was partly due to a fear of spies, informants and basically, wrong 'uns.

Detective Inspector Clark told the Court that the prisoner had registered himself at the Aliens Office in Salford in February 1916, in March 1918 a calling up notice was served upon him by the Military Authorities but this he failed to answer.

The police were informed but a  search of Salford and surrounding areas failed to show any sign of him.

Enter his older, unnamed brother who was born in Russia but had come to England in 1916, presumably with his brother, Maurice, this chap voluntarily joined the British Army and was soon fighting in France.

In early February he had come home on a fortnights leave and was, "disgusted" to find that his brother was missing and even worse had failed to to join the colours.

He told the Court that he vowed to find him even if he spent his fortnight's furlough tracking him down, true to his word a search of the Strangeways area found Maurice.

He dragged him to the Broughton Police Station, remarking, "You are now going to face the music!" and handed him in.

Maurice Miller told the court that he had been sleeping out rough.

Sergeant Smith said that, "this suggestion was repudiated by his tidy appearance" and then added rather sinisterly,

"There is an organised scheme to to keep these foreigners in hiding whilst they are evading the law and they were not sleeping out rough, but were living in known houses in the area"

I assume he his hinting at that so called, "safe houses" were available for foreigners to hide in whilst evading the law.

Detective Inspector Clark added, 

"It is entirely owing to his brothers loyalty to the Crown that the prisoner is here this morning and has set a glowing example".

The Magistrate Mr J. Jackson then sentenced Maurice Miller to, two months imprisonment with hard labour and at the end of his sentence he would be recommended for deportation!

Yes Maurice Miller was a deserter from the army but for the press to label him as a "shirker" and a "foreigner" is biased to say the least.

Also, Sergeant Smith's suggestion there were, "known houses" in a predominantly Jewish area of Salford, presumably for Russian Jews, doesn't that smack of anti-semitism?

After he had served his sentence, Maurice Miller was to be recommended for deportation, but where to? Russia a country I should imagine he had good reason to flee from in 1916, a country that was still in turmoil after the October Revolution of 1917, also the country was infamous for it's pogroms of Jews.

Surely he would have been executed the minute he set foot back in Russia?

As for his older brother, no doubt he was acting in a bout of misguided loyalty to the Crown, did he see it as, "I have done my bit, and now it's about time he did his, and it's my patriotic duty to hand him over to the Authorities".

Possibly but could he lived with the knowledge that he had sent his younger brother to  a possible firing squad by his actions, I doubt it.

Hopefully Maurice Miller learnt his lesson in prison and was not deported back to Russia.

A strange case which shows the jingoism and and fear of foreigners that was prevalent in the country at that time, and on reflection has it changed all that much in the last 100 years?