Berwick Petty Sessions

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 4TH FEBRUARY 1921

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MILITARY NOTES

Competition for Lady Armstrong’s Cup

It has been found impossible, owing principally to the expense involved, to run a football competition for the above trophy, which was recently presented to the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers. Instead to save travelling it was decided to put the trophy for competition in connection with the miniature range competition at present being run. Competing platoon teams will thus fire on their own ranges and neutral referees have been chosen to see that the conditions are fulfilled to the letter. For this purpose Major Smail, Jobling, Booth, and Capt. And Quartermaster Price have been selected. The competition commences tonight (Friday) at the Drill Hall, Berwick, when 13 Platoon will shoot No. 14. 

The former Drill Hall in Ravensdowne, Berwick, which was used for the Lady Armstrong Cup in 1921.  © Copyright: Graham Robson, Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 2.0).

CADETS’ DANCE 

To augment the funds of the Berwick Company, Northumberland Fusiliers’ Cadets, it has been decided to promote a dance, and the date fixed is Thursday, March 10th. C.S.M. Tilley and C.Q.M.S. Boal are undertaking the duties of Joint Secretaries, and the services of the following have been secured to act on the Committee, viz.:- Major H. R. Smail (chairman), Capts. F. B. Cowen, M.C., E. H. Crow, E. D. Mackay, A. J. Kennington, and D. Hebenton, Sergts. H. G. Patterson, Ridpeath,  M.M., and R. J. Swanston, D. C. M., and Messrs M. H. Blackett, A. C. A. Steven, and A. A. Crisp. 

DEPOT NOTES 

C.S.M. McClennan, M.C., D.C.M., formerly of the Depot, Berwick, and lately of Dumfries, who is under orders for India, has been made the recipient of a handsome silver spirit flask from the officers, N.C.O.’s, and men of the territorials there. Mrs McClennan, who is a Berwick lady, received at the same time a silver purse. We understand C.S.M. McClennan will be at Berwick Depot for a short period of duty before going aboard. 

A draft of 39 men are leaving the barracks on Thursday (today) to join the details of the battalion at Devonport. 

Gen. Sir Francis Davies, G.O.C. in C. of the Scottish Command, will visit the Depot, Berwick, on Tuesday next, and hold an inspection. 

On Friday next Major-General Robertson, the G.O.C. the Lowland Division, will also pay a visit of inspection to the Depot. 

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

His Father’s Maintenance

John Thompson, 75 Middle Street, Spittal, a stoker, was asked by Berwick Guardians to show reason that, he being of sufficient means, and being the son of Matthew Thompson, now an inmate of Berwick union, why he should not maintain his father. He did not appear. 

Mr Peters, appearing for the Guardians, said the man had been paying under a verbal agreement to the Guardians, and his payments had been very irregular. This was the reason the case had been brought. A return of his wages had been secured from his employers at the gas Works, and this, up to the 20th January, showed that he had been earning on an average £5 1s per week. He was a married man, with a wife and three of a family, the eldest of whom was 14 years of age. The cost of his father’s maintenance in the Workhouse was 15s 2d per week. The verbal agreement under which the man had previously paid, was based on a much smaller rate of earnings. He had then agreed voluntarily to pay 4s weekly, and he now asked that the Bench fix the amount which they thought he could reasonably be expected to pay. Ordered to pay 6s per week and court costs. 

NORHAM & ISLANDSHIRES RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL

The District Roads The Best In the County

The Surveyor then submitted his report and estimated on the amount of road material required during the ensuing year. The report was as follows:- 

The season that is closing has not been a favorable one for road upkeep. The changing conditions and more exacting nature of the traffic on our highways makes it imperative to approach the maintenance problem in a different manner to that adopted years ago, when motoring and motor haulage was not so great the nature of this traffic is greatly increasing, and the roads occupy a place of great importance in the industrial life of the district. The quantities given in this estimate are the very minimum required, and I trust in the forth coming season there will be a better supply available than there has been for some time past. Regarding the method of application of material, I beg to suggest that the Council continue to make and use tarred chips upon the roads now being thus treated. This method gives us a very good wearing surface that suits all traffic. As instructed by you, I carried out some short stretches of tar painting as an experiment. From my observations of what was done, I find that as a preservative of the road surface it is certainly good. For motor car, motor haulage, and motor char-a-banc traffic it is of the utmost benefit. It is beneficial in the saving of the machine or car, and it is beneficial to the comfort of the users through the surface being fairly smooth. It is also a benefit to those having to keep up and pay the cost of maintaining a road, in the fact that the tar painting increases the life of a road. Of course, I would point out that a good road is smooth, and that it is an important matter in a district such as this. Tar painting makes a road smoother than before painting: It is becoming recognised generally as an economical method of road preservation, and I would not like the Council to altogether discard tar panting because of its chances of getting slippery a few days in the year. My opinion is the benefits outweigh the occasional inconveniences. I would suggest that I treat the matter in an experimental manner for another season. 

Ruston Proctor steam roller No. 38591.  A similar steam roller would have been used in the tar painting of the roads under the control of Norham & Ilandshires Rural District Council, in 1921.  © Copyright: Geni, Creative Commons License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

The total quantity of stones estimated to be required is 5550 cubic yards, and 750 tons ¾ in. chips and dust. 

In reply to Mr Wood, the Surveyor said these estimated quantities were 500 cubic yards up on those of last year, the extra material being for the Duddo, Grindon Bridge, Ord and Sandbanks (Scremerston) roads. It was agreed to forward the quantities required to Mr Hogg, Kyloe Quarry, and get his estimates. At present the chips are taken from Kyloe to the Norham depot to be treated with tar, and the suggestion was made by Miss Greet that a tar depot might be made at Kyloe to save the expense of carting the chips likely to be required for use on road in the Kyloe area to Norham and back. Mr Wood agreed it was ridiculous to take the chips to Norham for tar treatment and then bring them back to Kyloe, but he suggested, with the approval of the council, that they wait Mr Hogg’s reply before taking any step in the matter. 

Mr Collingwood thought that the roads treated with tar chips were excellent and far away in advance of the roads kept up by the County Council, whose roads were a disgrace to the County. 

Mr Wood – The roads in this district are the best in the County. 

SPORT

Badminton

BERWICK V. NEWCASTLE

The Officers’ 7th N.F. Club played their most important match so far this season on Saturday last, when they tried their strength against the Newcastle Club, and came successfully through the test, beating the visitors by 9 matches to 7, 19 sets to 18, and 469 games to 394. The Newcastle Club were handicapped by having a man short over the 4 couples. Their strongest couple were Professor Hounte and Mrs Davidson, who played with fine combination, and beat all the Berwick couples, though Miss Mackay and R. Bishop succeeding in taking them to 3 sets. The visitors adopted different tactics, standing more on a level in the courts than the home couples, whose combination was, on the whole, good, one player guarding the back line and the other playing well up. The Newcastle ladies placed their shots more skillfully than the Berwick ladies. Berwick’s strongest couples were Mrs J. E. Carr and the Rev. J. H. Cutherbertson, and Miss Mackay and R. Bishop, each couple winning 3 out of the 4 matches played, Mr Cuthbertson, playing well forward, specialised in tricky shots at the net, combining well with Mrs Carr, who was as steady as a rock on the back line. Miss Mackay and R. Bishop also played a well-combined game, the former hitting with vigour from the back line, and the latter getting in a record number of brilliant “smash” shots that were quite unreturnable. Miss Caverhill and J. A. Herriot played steadily, but Dr Caverhill was not up to his usual form, though his partner, Mrs Fedden, played a steady game at the net. Ther was quite a crowd of spectators in the gallery, and after the match friendly games were also played between the teams. 

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 16 APRIL 1920

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CHATHILL GIRL AWARDED £100 DAMAGES

The details of an unfufilled promise of marriage were related before the Under-Sheriff of Northumberland  (Mr John E. Gibson), and a jury, who sat at the Moot Hall, Newcastle, on Tuesday, to assess damages in a case which had been remitted from the King’s Bench. The plaintiff was Mary Ternent, of Tuddle Farm, Chathill. The defendant, Robert Carr, was described as a boiler man, of Budle New Farm, Bamburgh. After hearing the evidence damages amounting to £100 were awarded.

The Moot Hall Court in Newcastle, where the the case of Mary Ternent, of Tuddle Farm, Chathill, was heard in 1920.  © Roger Smith, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license

Mr Hugh Percy, of Alnwick, who represented the plaintiff, said the parties in the case were in humble circumstances. The girl was 25 years of age, and she met the defendant, as unhappy fate would have it, about November, 1917, their acquaintance ripening into courtship. Carr proposed to her in January, 1919, which could be proved by a letter written by defendant to plaintiff, posted on January 21st, in which the following passage occurred: “Have you made up your mind yet about getting married? I do not like to say anything to your mamma, as you know I am shy, but I think she would let me have you darling.” That occurred in the middle of a voluminous correspondence, and it was important in fixing the date because of a particularly sad feature of the case. The girl gave all to this man, with the result that a child was born on March 17th last. He appeared to be acting honourably towards her, and in May, 1919, he had bought her an engagement ring. Later, however, he deserted her, and did not reply to her letters. After the proposal, added Mr Percy, Miss Ternent had spent £10 on household linen, and during her illness lost about £45 in wages.

Plaintiff bore out Mr Percy’s statement, and Carr, asked as to his financial position, said that his wages amounted to £2 10s per week, of which he paid 30s for board.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

FRIDAY

Before A. T. Robertson and Thos. Purves, Esqs.

Neil McGee, labourer, Ireland, was charged with being drunk and disorderly in Chapel Street, Berwick, at 9.30 p.m., on Thursday, 8th April. April. He pleaded guilty.

P.C. Cruickshank proved the case, and said he found accused using foul language in a passage, and later, after being warned, he found him committing a nuisance.

One previous conviction was recorded, and accused was fined 5s or 7 days.

MONDAY

Before Alex. Darling and Jas. McNab, Esqs.

PUNCHED THE POLICE

Jane Wood, married woman, Berwick, was charged with having assaulted P.C. Latto and P.C. Robson, while in the execution of their duty in her own house in Chapel Street, on Saturday evening. She pleaded guilty.

P.C. Latto said he heard the accused cursing and swearing in Chapel Street, and abusing P.C. Robson. Witness advised her to go home, but she continued the disturbance. Her husband attempted to drag her into the house, but she bit, scratched, and tried to punch him on the face. She was mad drunk, and witness and P.C. Robson went into the house to try and pacify her. She continued to kick and strike out, and hit P.C. Robson on the lip, causing it to swell.

P.C. Robson said when he had occasion to check the child of accused, Wood, who was mad drunk, started to abuse him and use vile language. When trying to pacify her in her house, she behaved violently and struck him on the mouth, also kicking him in several places. She resisted all the way to the Police Station, kicking and scratching all the road.

This being accused’s third appearance; she was fined £2, with the alternative of one month. A fortnight was given in which to pay.

LOCAL NEWS

A long delayed letter and a postcard were received by Mrs Anderson, 66 Hunter’s Road, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on 27th March. The missives were posted in Moscow, Russia, on July 29th, 1914, by her son, Mr W. D. Anderson, a Freeman of Berwick, who was going to China, and they described the mobilisation of Russian troops for the great war, then just about to begin.

How Moscow would have looked to Mr Anderson, a Freeman of Berwick, in the early part of the twentieth century. © Author: С. С. Ильин.  Source: Фото архив С. С. Ильина

Mr Anderson, shortly after posting his letter to home, crossed Siberia to China, and was there 12 months when he came home to join up and become gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the D.L.I. He then went over to France, and was badly smashed up at the Somme, and returned to Newcastle, where he remained with his wife until demobilisation. He has been back in China for nearly a year. His brother, Mr Jas. Anderson, who is also a Freeman of the Borough and a regular visitor to the old town at holiday times, was in Berlin on holiday a few days before war was declared, and just got away at the last moment.

While excavations in connection with the laying of underground telegraph and phone cables were in progress at the Berwick end of the Old Bridge on Friday, workmen laid bare a piece of very old masonry, and a very much encrusted water main of lead was also unearthed. It is believed that the masonry is part of the foundations of the old English Gate or Key Gate, which are shown on a sketch of the Bridge dated 1745, and which were demolished nearly two centuries ago. The old foundations appeared to be composed of sandstone and limestone, run together with hot lime. The foundations cannot have belonged to the old Toll House, as it was situated in the recess at the Bridge End, close to Mr Vance’s shop.

About 1.40 a.m. on Saturday while two soldiers of the K.O.S.B.’s were returning after attending a dance, they observed fire to have broken out in an old house used as a workshop, at the rear of Mr Thos. Buglass’ property at 79 Low Greens. They immediately in formed the police, who communicated with the Borough Surveyor with a view to getting the fire engine out. Meanwhile a number of railway cleaners, and others who had hurried to the scene got at work on the burning building with water buckets. Their efforts were rewarded by keeping the fire from Lowrie’s stable which is adjacent, but the entire workshop was gutted. The fire brigade call was cancelled immediately the fire was got under control. It is believed that the conflagration was started by an old incubator which is kept in the workshop, becoming overheated. Damage to the extent of £100 was done, and the property, we understand, is not insured.

The children attending Kiln Hill Sunday School were entertained to a social on Thursday evening last in the Mitchel Memorial Hall. The first gathering of its kind for the past few years, owing to war conditions, the youngsters naturally looked forward with added keenness to a night’s enjoyment. The teachers and those responsible for the arrangements saw that they got it. Over 100 children were present at tea, and the good things were thoroughly enjoyed. Afterwards a concert of recitations, etc., provided by the children, was gone through, many parents and friends being present. Another treat was the exhibition of lantern slides by Mr G. Short, Berwick. The Rev. W. Jardine, who was accompanied by Miss Jardine, was present, and spoke a few words to the children. Mr Grainger, Superintendent of the Sunday School, and Mrs Grainger were also there.

BERWICK ADVERTISER, 2 APRIL 1920

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BERWICK POLICE

From yesterday (Thursday) the County Council assumed control of Berwick’s police, and on Tuesday we understand Capt. Fullarton James, Chief Constable for the County, came to Berwick to consider the draft agreement for the transfer. A new Inspector or Chief Constable for the Borough will have to be appointed some day, and there is the question of the Police buildings. We understand that the Borough is bound by law to provide certain cell accommodation, and that if the buildings are taken over the County they will have to guarantee to discharge this liability for the town. Again, the Borough gets an annual contribution of £30 for the use of the Court by the Norham and Islandshire justices. Is the Borough Rate still to get the benefit of that payment? These are only crumbs of information which have fallen from the great men’s table. We are satisfied that the County Council authorities are above trying to steal a march on the Borough, but again, we ask the members of the Council to disclose the agreement to their principals, the ratepayers, in time to give them an opportunity to discuss it before it is sealed.

BERWICK PETTY SESSIONS

Catherine Curry, the two month old daughter of George Curry, hawker, 25 Walkergate, was found dead in bed at 6.30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and as the result an inquest was held on Saturday evening by Mr P. M. Henderson, acting coroner. Catherine Curry, the mother, said she and her husband slept in the same bed as the child, the husband being at the back of the bed and child at the front. The child cried at about 4 a.m., and after she had fed it it went off to sleep again. Witness also went to sleep and at 6.30 was awakened by her husband, who noticed the child was very still, but its body was quite warm. She was very anxious, and went immediately for a doctor. Witness was a total abstainer. George Curry, the husband, corroborated his wife’s evidence. Dr P. W. Maclagan said he was called to the house shortly after 6.30, and found the child dead. There were no suspicious circumstances, and no external marks of violence. On a later examination he came to the conclusion that death resulted from asphyxia. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned.

BORDER O.B.E’s

COMMANDERS (CIVIL DIVISION)

Lieut. Col. C. W. Brims, M.C., T.D., was the Director of Extensions Department of Controller General of Merchant Ship-building. He is the son of the late Mr B. M. Brims, contractor, who was formerly at Berrington House, Beal. Lieut. Col. Brims was awarded the M.C. in October, 1918.

Mr T. W. H. Inskip, K.C., M.P., who has been head of the Naval Law Branch of the Secretary’s Department at the Admiralty, contested Berwick-on-Tweed Division in the Unionist interest.

The Duchess of Northumberland was the Commandant and Donor of Syon House Hospital, Brentford, Middlesex.

Capt. Alistair Houston Boswell Preston, who is Assistant Director of Road Transport, Ministry of Food, is the son of Col. T. H. Boswell Preston, Tweedhill, Berwick.

OFFICERS (Civil Division)

Mr J. Gilroy was Potato Distribution Adviser in the Northern Division. He is the son of the late Ald. Jas. Gilroy, Berwick, and was for some years resident in Ravensdowne before taking up business in Newcastle.

Mr W. T. Rainbow who was Fish Distribution Officer and Assistant Commissioner for Demobilisation, is well-known in Berwick as the handicapper of the Athletic Society’s Sports.

Miss E. M. H. Storey, who was Recruiting Commandant of the Northumberland and Durham Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, is a grand-daughter of Mr Samuel Storey, of Sunderland.

Miss Annie Louise Simpson, who was made an Officer of the Civil Division, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in June, 1918. She is the daughter of Mr Chas. Simpson, London, and grand-daughter of Mr Alex. Simpson, Coldstream. Miss Simpson is personal shorthand writer to the Prime Minister, and is raised to this high class of the Order for services rendered in connection with the Peace Conference.

MEMBERS (Civil Division)

Dr Alex. Dey, M.B.C.M., who acted as Medical Officer, 12 Northumberland V.A.D., at Fowberry and Heton Hospital, and the 13th Northumberland V.A.D. Hospital at Etal Manor, is the Medical Officer of Glendale, and a well known and popular figure in Wooler, where he has been practising for a long time.

Robert Yelloly, awarded the Order for services as Supt. of Newcastle Police Force, has been associated with criminal investigation work for many years. He is the son of the late Mr Robert Yelloly, High Court Bailiff, Berwick, and is married to a Berwick lady.

THE EDITOR OF “COUNTRY LIFE”

Mr P. Anderson Graham, writing in “The Times” against the proposed removal of the Scotsgate, says :- “The excuse put forward is that this well-known gate was reconstructed in 1858, and the claim is made that it is not an integral part of the wall. The truth about the matter is that in 1850 the Ordinance Department proposed to pull down the ramparts from the Scots Gate to the Flagstaff.

The Scotsgate Arch. @ Copyright: Michael Dibb, Creative Commons License (cc-by-sa/2.0).

The negotiations were divulged at a meeting of the council held in July of 1850, but public opinion took fire at once, and in deference to the remonstrance made the scheme was abandoned and the walls handed over to the local Board of Health on condition that they should be maintained as a walk for the public convenience. If the proposal had been  to rebuild or widen the gate no fault would have been found with it. But it is an unhappy proposal to destroy this feature in Berwick for the purpose of putting up a war memorial on the stumps of the mutilated wall.”

LOCAL NEWS

The Compton Comedy Company from all we can hear reached high water mark last week in “The School for Scandal.” We cannot recall a performance which gave more pleasure, and  the writer has seen Forbes Roberston, Mrs Patrick Campbell, Mr Charles Terry, Lewis Waller, Walter Farren, and Cyril Maude, all appearing together one evening at the Lyceum in this immortal comedy. We were particularly pleased with Rowley, and Joseph Surface was also very well done.

Playbill for Sheridan’s ‘The School for Scandal.’  Scanned from The Dramatic Works of Richard Brinsley Sheridan. © In public domain

Generally Joseph is made so oily that any one can see through him, but on Thursday he was bluff enough to deceive a saint. Sir Benjamin Backbite was a real maccaroni, and the behaviour of Sir Peter Teazle, with all his temper and in all his mistakes could not fail to command the sympathy of the audience. Here was an English gentleman. We also much enjoyed Sir Oliver Surface, – we should imagine a fairly easy part to play. The costumes of Sir Peter and Sir Oliver were also most artistic. Both of them looked like old masters when the curtain drew up. In our opinion the gentlemen were superior to the ladies, but that was all. It was an excellent company, and we hope Mrs Mather will be able to arrange for their return. We feel sure that, even if it were necessary to raise the price of the seats, Berwick people would support companies of a similar standard.

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