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Aspull (Interesting Old News)
Published by Brian on Thursday 21st July 2022
It's time for more interesting old news, this time from Aspull. I've delved into the archives and have found some interesting articles dated between 1869 and 1931...
Thomas Hilton's Grocers shop c.1895.
Wigan Observer and District Advertiser 06 February 1869
THE SINGULAR SUICIDE IN LIVERPOOL.
AN ELOPEMEMENT FROM INCE.
In our Aspull news last week we briefly reported the suicide in a Liverpool public house of a man having in his possession several letters addressed "Edward Hughes, Parkhill Terrace, Aspull, Wigan." The name on the letter proves to be that of the deceased, who was a mason belonging to Newmarket, where he worked at his trade some time ago. Having been thrown out of employment he went on to "tramp", and among other places he visited Ince, near Wigan. While there he lodged with a man with whose wife, it is said, he contracted an improper intimacy, and the guilty pair eventually eloped together, the woman leaving several children behind. They visited several towns, and eventually came to Liverpool. The woman seems to have been repentant, and was desirous of returning to her husband. She intimated this to her paramour, and he endeavoured by every means to prevent her. But all his persuasion was of no avail; the female expressed her determination to go back to the house she had deserted. Hughes, finding that he could not prevail upon her to stay with him, called a policeman, and gave her in custody on a charge of threatening to commit suicide. Hughes and his companion were taken to the detective office on Thursday evening, where the case was investigated by Mr. Horne, the inspector in charge. He found that there was no ground for the accusation that she intended to take her life, and that the charge was a ruse on the part of Hughes to frighten her, as he was unwilling that she should leave him. The inspector advised the woman to carry out her resolution of returning to her husband, and as the charge made against her by Hughes was not entertained she was allowed to go. She left the office saying that she had sufficient money to pay her fare to Wigan, and that she would return there as soon as possible. In order that she might carry out her good intentions, and that she might not be molested by her late companion, Hughes was detained in the office for some time. Ultimately he allowed to depart, and nothing was heard from him until it was discovered that he was the man who had terminated his existence in so horrible a manner. It appears that in the evening he went to Mrs. Gleave's public house, No. 10, Great Howard-street. He called for a glass of whiskey, but did not drink it. After standing by the counter for about a quarter of an hour he sat down on a form and cut his throat with a razor. He died immediately after being taken to the Northern Hospital. The inquest on the body was held on Monday before Mr. Clarke Aspinall. Evidence was also brought forward to show that the deceased was about thirty years of age, and was a mason by trade. About a year and a half ago he lived at Birkenhead, and while there was ill with brain fever, after which he became very unsteady and given to drinking. After drinking heavily his mind was often affected. A verdict was returned that deceased committed suicide while in a sate of temporary insanity.
Liverpool Daily Post 12 November 1869
DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.
Last week died Alice Swan, of New Springs, Aspull, near Wigan, at the advanced age of 103 years. Her bodily faculties were unimpaired almost to the last, as only a fortnight before her decease she walked to Wigan, a distance of over two miles.
Nottinghamshire Guardian 02 June 1871
FATAL GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION NEAR WIGAN.
Shortly after noon on Saturday, an explosion of gunpowder, attended with fatal results, occurred on Aspull Moor, about two miles from Wigan. On Friday or Saturday a keg containing one cwt. of gunpowder, and another containing 25lb., were entrusted to John Ainscough, a carrier between Aspull and Wigan, who had a beerhouse at the far end of the moor. The powder was stored in the beerhouse, and was being removed to his cart for delivery on Saturday when the explosion took place. It is said that whilst the heavier keg was being lifted into the cart it fell to the ground, and the end was staved in. The smaller keg stood at the time a yard or two away. Three young colliers, named Ely Gorner, of Scott-lane; John Howarth, of the Springs; and Henry Makinson, of Aspull Moor, agreed to help Ainscough to save as much as possible of the powder, and it is alleged that one, if not more, of the numbers were smoking. A spark from a pipe ignited the loose powder, and the explosion of that in both kegs immediately followed. The four men were frightfully burned, and fatal injuries were sustained by Ainscough's granddaughter, a child five years of age, and named Mary Cunliffe, who was standing by, and by Ann Gray, a widow woman of 72 years of age, who was seated on the doorstep of the next house, some few yards from the cart. Mr. Smith, surgeon, of Blackrod, promptly attended to the sufferers, but the child died at one o'clock, and the woman at half-past six on Sunday morning. The injuries to the men are serious, and Ainscough was not improving on Sunday. The fire licked the hair and skin from one side of the horse.
Huddersfield Chronicle 04 September 1874
A BOY ROASTED TO DEATH.
A horrible death is reported. William Fawcett, aged 13, who was employed at the Albion Ironworks, Aspull, Wigan, having missed from his work, search was made for him. The manhole lid of one of the furnaces was discovered to have fallen in, and on further examination revealed the fact that the body of Fawcett was lying at the bottom of the culvert which conveys the flame and smoke from the furnace. The poor boy was roasted to death.
Yorkshire Gazette 26 March 1892
A PINT OF WHISKY AT A DRAUGHT.
John Dillon, farm labourer, 35, died at Aspull, near Wigan, on Sunday. On Saturday night he got intoxicated, and whilst in that condition he purchased a pint of whisky and drank it off. He was found dead in his chair.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser 01 August 1893
ASSAULTING A CONSTABLE WITH A POKER.
The Bolton County Magistrates yesterday sentenced John Ashcroft, of Aspull, near Wigan, to six months' imprisonment with hard labour for a savage and cowardly assault on Police-constable Potter. The prisoner had freely used a poker, and the constable was badly injured.
Liverpool Weekly Courier 01 July 1899
STEALING GAS.
At Wigan yesterday, Richard Seddon, the well-known Aspull, Wigan, Salford and Lancashire County footballer, was charged with fraudulently using gas belong to the Wigan Corporation. Two years ago the gas meter was removed from Seddon's house, but on the 20th inst. an inspector noticed that the house was lighted up, and discovered that a connection between the street supply pipe and that in the house had been effected by means of a piece of indiarubber pipe. The defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined 40s. and the costs.
The Scotsman 26 July 1904
SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.
A terrific thunderstorm, attended by fatal results, passed over Barmouth about four o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mr and Mrs Valentine, of Bolton Road, Aspull, near Wigan, were walking on a hill overlooking the town, when both were struck by lightning. Hearing loud cries for help, Dr Pughe Jones and some other men ran up the hill, and found Mr Valentine lying dead and his wife in an unconscious state. The lady now lies in a serious condition. During the storm a quantity of gorse was set on fire by a flash of lightning.
Globe 15 October 1910
The King has just accepted a photograph of a veteran Lancashire miner, named William Crook, of Aspull, Wigan, who by his 72 years of work in the coal mine has established what is claimed as "a world record."
Dundee Evening Telegraph 12 September 1931
FOOTBALLER KILLED
Centre-Forward's Collision With Goalkeeper
It was stated at an inquest at Wigan that Henry Heilsham, aged 22, a labourer, of Stanley Road, Aspull, near Wigan, who was playing centre-forward for a works team in a junior football match, collided with the goalkeeper of the opposing side and sustained internal injuries from which he died. The match was played at Rivington, and the accident happened just before the finish. Harold Tudor, Chorley New Road, Horwich, said he cleared the ball fairly and added - "I was trying my best to clear, and Heilsham was trying his best to score."
The Coroner, returning "Accidental death, said he was satisfied the game had been played fairly. It was Heilsham's first match of the season.
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