Penniless, Foodless, Friendless

By Harold Cunliffe

Above: Manchester Assize Court

Vintage newspapers and magazines hold a wealth of interesting information relating to life in bygone times. Reporters back then covered events in great detail and paint a vivid picture of what life was like. Looking back at what made the news makes interesting reading, even though the first two cases reported here are of a sad nature. Manchester in the 1920’s. The City Coroner read a remarkable letter which was left behind after taking his own life by a 67 year old gentleman who lived alone in the district of Blackley, Manchester, who ended his life by inhaling town gas. A neighbour passing the home of Edward Bowden discovered a strong smell of gas. As quickly as he could he forced the front door to find Mr Bowden lying dead on the floor. As the neighbour entered the living room he was met with a warning notice which had been written by Edward in chalk on the dining room table, “Beware of the gas, Gas disconnected.” In not having any money to feed the gas meter Edward Bowden had removed the gas inlet pipe from the meter to enable an unlimited supply of the poisonous gas to fill the front room of his terraced house.

It transpired that the reason Mr Bowden took his own life was due to total desperation. In a letter found in the house, which was addressed to the Coroner, he stated, “I am almost 68 years of age and can no longer live in a cruel and merciless world. I am unable to pay my rent, deserted by my relatives, and will be homeless before the week is out.” His family had driven him from their home five months earlier and forbidden him to return, also being refused by them a little help to buy food. It was stated that he found work but after only three days he broke his arm and wrist. He was granted unemployment pay at the Openshaw Labour Exchange, of eight weeks pay at 15 shillings a week (75p). His final payment was 2s.6d, this amount was all he had to support himself for a total of 23 days.

Edward wrote, “I have always vowed that I would not die in the workhouse, so I beg you will forgive me the trouble I am causing you. I wish to ask you to kindly give my grateful and humble thanks to Mr. and Mrs Callaghan, Old Road, Blackley, for their noble and generous assistance during the last two years. Many a hungry day would I have had, but not for them. God help me, but I have no other choice.” He concluded the letter with these lines: “So, He who formed me in the womb. He shall guide me to the tomb. He will guard me, he will keep. He never slumbers, never sleeps.” I remain yours in sorrow. Edward Bowden. The Coroner returned a verdict of “Suicide during temporary insanity.”

Edward Bowden started work in 1853 and lost very little time during his working life. All through the 1914-18 war he was employed in shell making. In a final twist to this sad case, Edward wrote a note for the attention of the Corporation apologising for stealing the gas which took his life. “I had not enough money for the gas meter to supply the quantity of gas required.”

Above: Valentine Brow, Blackley. * shows the location of Old Rd, which leads to the village, just prior to the tram office.

Left His Wife For Better Life

An old woman named as Mary Wilson was in front of the Manchester Police Court charged with attempted suicide. When brought in to the dock she appeared

Above: Postcard of the Manchester Workhouse at Crumpsall

to be in an extremely neglected and exhausted state. She informed the court that she was a married woman and had not lived with her husband for many years. Her husband had supported her by contributing a few shillings a week towards her upkeep, this allowance had ceased when he had immigrated to America in 1886, hoping to start a new life for himself. Mary had found employment at a costume manufacturer as a finisher. Reading the police report it transpires that this company paid a very low rate of pay. A weeks pay was 2s-2d. (around 11p), out of this she had to pay six pence for cotton and hot water, leaving her with only 1s-2d., her lodgings were 2s-6d per week. Employees at the firm would take work home with them to increase their wage. They worked late into the night for a few coppers more.

Hungry and concerned for her future, Mrs Wilson claimed that she had travelled to Hulme to try to find a relative, but was unable to find her. Mary could not manage and was in desperation. She was unable to seek a loan because she could not pay it back. On her way home she took a route along the canal bank, “looking at the water I fell in.” She denied that she had attempted suicide. Once in the cold water she may have had a change of heart and was unable make it back to the embankment and was in fear of drowning. Close by a young man named as George Green was walking his dog, a small fox terrier. The dog heard the distressing calls made by Mary which attracted the attention of the animal, the terrier speedily went off in the direction of the canal. George missed his dog and set off to locate it. Next he heard splashing sounds and spotted his dog in the canal; he witnessed it dragging a bundle of old rags towards the embankment, then on closer inspection he saw it was a woman. He succeeded in getting the old woman out of the canal, where she was then taken to the police station. She made a statement, “I did it through want.” In summing up The Chairman of the court, expressed the opinion that the life of Mary Wilson was saved by the actions of the fox terrier, and gave the opinion that the animal should be awarded a medal by the Humane Society. Mary however promised to go to the workhouse, the Magistrate agreed to discharge her on this understanding.

An Attempt to Shoot a Policeman

It was while I was reading a case which was brought before the Manchester Assize Court in an original copy of a Manchester newspaper dated 1867 that prompted me to sit up in my seat and take notice, when I read the comment made by a prisoner following summing up by the judge. In fact I took a double take by reading the item twice. A 19 year old servant girl, known as “Irish Mary,” was in court charged with attempted murder. For some reason or other she desired to shoot and kill a policeman. Unfortunately Mary was not a good shot, also had little idea of how to load a revolver, resulting in one bullet entering the policeman’s tunic, the second blowing off his helmet. In court his tunic was examined and the first bullet was found in the sleeve of the garment.

The police constable told the court that last November he was on duty at Hyde Road. He spotted the prisoner looking in to a shop window, commenting, “There are some nice looking pictures in there.” She replied by asking him if he was an Irishman. He did not reply so she asked the question again, “I am an Englishman.” He turned to walk away when he heard a loud crack, then a second sound was heard. Looking behind him he saw Mary with her right arm raised, holding a gun close to his head. A struggle took place with which the gun broke in half. She was then arrested. In court the jury found her guilty of the attempted murder of a policeman. In summing up, Justice Shee, sentenced Mary to five years penal servitude, but, upon hearing this she became agitated and demanded to be hung for her crime. She had no desire to go to jail, no desire to live, she wanted and demanded to die at the gallows. She commented upon hearing the verdict, “Thank you my Lord, I prefer hanging, let me be hung if the rest are hung.” Leaving the dock she shouted in a tone that reverberated through the courtroom, “Allen! Allen! Allen!” The ‘others’ she refers to are the three Finian members, Allen, Gould and Larkin, who were to be hung for their part in the death of Sergeant Charles Brett at Hyde Road, Manchester. Irish Mary it transpires was emotionally involved with Allen.

First Policeman to be Killed

Sergeant Charles Brett was the first Manchester policeman to be killed while on duty. A police van was making its way from a police court to Belle Vue prison on the 18th September 1867, which contained, along with other prisoners, two members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. As the police van approached the railway bridge at Hyde Road a group of Finians ambushed the horse drawn vehicle with the intention of releasing Timothy Deasy and Thomas Kelly, known as Captain Deasy and Colonel Kelly. A prisoner who was also inside the van gave evidence, he stated that the vehicle pulled up with a jolt. This was followed by many voices making demands upon the release of the two Finian members. Banging on the side of the police van and climbing onto

the roof a voice was heard from the rear door instructing Brett to, “Open the door and let your prisoners out.” Charles Brett made no comment. “Where are the keys, turn em up?” Brett refused, “If you give up the keys we will not kill you,” was made by a female voice. Sergeant Brett stood his ground. “Dare Not I Must Do My Duty.”

It is reported that one of the mob fired a shot through the lock on the van at the same moment as Brett was looking through the keyhole to observe what was taking place, he was fatally wounded. The keys were extracted from the pocket of Charles Brett which prompted the release of Kelly and Deasy, who made good their escape finally avoiding capture by making their way to America. Five people were the first of many to be arrested in connection with this outrage. Larkin, Allen, Shore, Maguire and Brett were before the court, Mr Justice Mellor who presided found them guilty and announced the sentence.

He addressed the convicts, “I now only have to perform the solemn duty which devolves upon me to pass upon you the sentence of the law.” Placing the black cap upon his head, “That sentence is that you, and each of you, be taken hence to the place whence you came and thence to a place of execution and that you be there hanged by the neck until you shall be dead.”

Interestingly, the name of Mr Shore was an alias for Connor (or Condon). In court he stated that his real name was Edward O’Meagher Connor of Cork County, who was later given a respite along with Maguire.

Condon had an American accent, stating in court that he was an American citizen from Ohio. He travelled to Ireland where he was given training by the Federal Military Service; he was seen to be helping the escaping prisoners, Deasy and Kelly assisting in the removal of their handcuffs. I now find that Mr Condon is a distant relative, but not biological, a link via marriage.

The Execution

It was a Saturday morning when the three men were to be hung at the New Bailey Jail, Salford. A few days prior and at the same time the executioner Calcraft arrived at the jail the roads surrounding the area were closed off with barriers to prevent the crowds from reaching the gallows and making any preparations to storm the building.

At the time of the execution no one was allowed into New Bailey Street, from which the gallows were visible, the houses opposite was taken over by the police so to avoid any spectators. It was anticipated that the Finians may try to free their members prior to or at the time of the execution.

Hundreds of troops were brought in to safeguard against any attack. A garrison inside the jail totalled 114 men of the 72nd Highlanders. Also providing protection was the 57th Foot Regiment, 8th Hussars and two batteries of artillery.

By eight o’clock on that fateful day it was estimated that 12,000 people had turned up to witness the event. In fact the demise of the three men was witnessed by a very small number of people. 10,000 special constables were drafted in to maintain law and order.

Manchester Martyrs Monument

Caroline, Dowager Marchioness of Queensberry wrote to the Rev. Father Gadd, including £100 with her letter. She expressed her concern at the demise of the three men and desired that the money be of help to the wife, or wives and children on their irreparable loss. A monument exists to this day at St Joseph’s Cemetery, Moston, Manchester.

Our two images show the monument as it once was and how it is today. I discover that this impressive monument was paid for by public subscription. The Martyrs Monument can be seen from the Moston Lane side of the cemetery.

Above: Retro postcard showing how the monument once looked

Above: Recent photograph of the Martyrs Monument

Above: Rochdale Road entrance to Manchester General Cemetery, Harphurhey

Funeral of Sergeant Charles Brett

The murdered policeman, Sergeant Charles Brett is buried at Harphurhey General Cemetery, Rochdale Road. In the course of researching this item I decided to visit the grave. I had never visited this cemetery before, even though I once worked for an insurance society close by. A famous comedian also worked at this office. Upon arrival at the cemetery I was fortunate to meet three members of the ‘Burial Services’ of Manchester Council who were just about to make their way out of the cemetery. I enquired if they knew the location of the grave of Sergeant Brett. One of the group, a pleasant lady was keen to help, commenting that it was a coincidence, that they had just visited the grave and had discussed the story regarding his demise. One of the group kindly escorted me to the grave, then having noticed it was covered in leaves cleaned the memorial stone so the inscription could be read. This heavy stone is now broken in two sections and is placed on the grave for safety reasons. On the day of the funeral we find that a large number of people turned out to pay their respects. The Mayor and members of the city council headed the long train of vehicles which was a third of a mile long, occupied by council officials and members of the public was witnessed by the family of Charles Brett. Both sides of Rochdale Road was packed with residents too. It was stated that they were overwhelmed by the magnitude of the demonstration in his honour. Brett was a kind and well-liked man who instilled over 400 Manchester policemen attended the funeral to pay their respects. It was said that Charles Brett was a Christian man, a good man, keen to help anyone even though he did not frequent church on Sundays. The inscription on the grave reads; In Remembrance of Charles Brett of the Manchester Police Force who died in the Discharge of his duty at Hyde Road. Sept 18th 1867 in the 52nd Year of his age. “I Dare Not, I Must Do My Duty.”

You know what they say, “When the cats away.” Burglars took advantage of the succinct police presence in Manchester by entering a warehouse in the heart of the city. The burglars made good their time in the premises by entering and ransacking every room and also helped themselves to the contents of two safes. Upon leaving the building they treated themselves to a cask of wine.

Above: The grave of Charles Brett

Above: Inscription reads; “I Dare Not, I Must Do My Duty.” A Very Big Issue

Following the executions of Allen, Gould and Larkin, there was a huge demand for newspapers, which covered the story in great detail. Manchester publications related the facts to the letter. As an example, reporters in court accurately recorded the statements made by the convicted men. The national press also covered the “Finian Outrage” with great interest. The Manchester Examiner and Times did a roaring trade. In total 192,645 copies were sold, this consumed fourteen and a half tons of paper, with one and a half million printed pages. The edition covering the execution sold at a rate of 35,000 copies an hour to readers in Manchester, Yorkshire and the towns of Lancashire. This was a world record.