Appearances at the City Police Court

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the Saturday August 7 1915 issue):

City Police Court

[The City Police Court was based in the Guildhall building on Dunfermline's High Street where Wetherspoons is now]

Monday

(Before Baillie Norval)

[Norval Place in Rosyth is named after Baillie Norval.  Baillie/Police Judge James Norval was on the committee for naming streets in Rosyth and later became Provost of Dunfermline]

Of the 15 persons who were in the hands of the City Police at the weekend only 4 appeared.

Drunks

Agnes Brown outdoor worker of no fixed address admitted having been found helplessly drunk in Bruce Street on Saturday.  She said she had a son a private and had got very bad news of him. She was fined 2s 5d with the option of 5 days imprisonment.

Alexander Dunbar a labourer who had been found in like condition in Queen Anne Street on Saturday evening was similarly punished, the magistrate remarking that at a time like the present young fellows should not take drink until helpless.

 Peace breakers

Rodger Docherty and John Burnett labourers admitted having made a disturbance in Dunfermline Model Lodging House on Saturday night.  They said they had no recollection of the occurrence.  They were each fined 15s with the option of 7 days imprisonment.

[For those who are know Dunfermline, the building which was Dunfermline Model Lodging House still stands - it's the building on the corner of Chapel Street, Carnegie Drive and Bruce Street which has a hairdresser, take-away and tattoo parlour on the ground floor.  It was built in 1900 as a model lodging house, taken over by the YMCA who ran it as a hostel for servicemen until it was converted into shops in 1958]

Tuesday

(Before Baillie Norval)

Kirkgate Drunk

Annie Smith vagrant was fined 15s with the option of going to prison for 10 days for being drunk on 2nd inst in Kirkgate.

Neighbours Quarrel - Conflicting Evidence

Jane Cowan or Grant wife of John Grant labourer, 4 Orchardhead Hut, Rosyth and Eliza Fernie or Hannah, 34 Mortimer Street, Dundee denied a charge of having assaulted Mrs Mary Baxter of French wife of Albert French No 3 Orchardhead Hut by striking her with their fists and causing a disturbance.  Accused was defended by Mr Peter McLeod  Evidence was led to the effect that the women who were neighbours quarrelled concerning the ownership of several articles. Mrs Grant gripped Mrs French and they had to be separated.  Mrs Hannah was a stranger on holiday.  Baillie Norval said it was evidently a squabble between neighbours regarding a clock and a fender.  In view of the conflicting nature of the evidence he found the charge not proven.

James McGuire admitted being drunk on 4th inst in Bruce Street and was admonished.


Tune in next week to see what happened in Dunfermline next week 100 years ago ..........

Blog written by Jacqueline Hunter of Ancestral Research by Jacqueline, Dunfermline, Scotland. Please email me at jacquelinehunter895@gmail.com if I can help you with your family history research.

Children's Gala and the Police Court

In the Dunfermline Journal and Advertiser for West Fife 100 years ago this weekend (to be specific the Saturday July 17 1915 issue):

This week I've highlighted another name-rich resource I've found (see afterwards for an expanation if you're not familar with the concept of a 'gala') and also, for those who like to read about criminals ( otherwise known as the after-effects of the weekend's revelry), a police court report.

Children's Gala, Kelty

The annual gala was held on Saturday in the public park where all the children of school age met numbering over 1000.  They were formed into sections with with the co-operation of the teaching staff and a large committee they were provided with a substantial refreshment and a gift of 3d each after which a large number of races and other entertainments were entered into.  The football competitions were all keenly contested for which handsome prizes were offered there being an entry of 35 teams for the three sections.  There were also a number of special races for boys and girls over 12 years of age.  The following are the principal prize-winners:- 100 yards race - 1 T Henderson, 2 Hy Henderson, 3 John Cuthbert 220 yards race - 1 Henderson, 2 Hutchison, 3 J A Morrison.  Half mile race 1 Henderson, 2 Hutchison, 3 Wm Brown.  High jump - 1 A Cowan 3 ft 10 in, 2 Henderson 3ft 9 in, 3 J Anderson 3 ft 8 in.  Broad jump - 1 Henderson 12 ft 5 in, 2 Hutchison 12ft 3 in, 3 Anderson 12 ft.  Hop, step and leap - 1 Henderson 30ft 4 in, 2 Cowan 29 ft 2 in, 3 Hutchison 29 ft 1 1/2 in.  100 yards girls' race - 1 Mary Patrick, 2 Lizzie Adams, 3 Marie Hailstones.  50 yards girls' race - 1 A Cameron, 2 G Wilson, 3 A Pane.  100 yards boys' race (under 12 years) - 1 Bertie Galloway, 2 A Anderson, 3 T Adams.  All the winners were presented with suitable prizes while in addition to this T Henderson was presented with a gold medal for having gained most points in each of the events while H Hutchison received a silver medal as runner up.  The Kelty and Blairadam Brass Band were present during the afternoon and discoursed a programme of music while Mr Jospeh King's Troupe of  dancers gave an exhibition of Highland dancing.  A squad of the St Andrews Red Cross Ambulance were present in order to render assistance if called upon.  The weather was fine but general regret was expressed that the procession was not held as in former years.  Thanks are due to Mr Rattray the chairman and others for the way in which the whole arrangements were carried through.

[A gala is a week long celebration still very popular in West Fife which tends to be hald in June or July in both towns and villages.  It tends to consist, nowdays, of various events each evening during the week such as barbecues, pet shows and dances, then on the Saturday children are chosen as the Royal party for the day, there will be a parade of floats ie decorated lorries and also people on foot and then an afternoon of races and displays.  I recently watched a video from 1932 of the Dunfermline Children's Gala and it was very similar to what happens nowadays: http://ssa.nls.uk/film/1360 ]

Inverkeithing Police Court

On Monday the following cases were disposed of before Baillie Wylie - Bernard Burns and Patrick O'Donnell were both charged with being drunk and disorderly and in each case a fine of 15s was imposed with the option of 10 days imprisonment.  Thomas Callum for being drunk and incapable was fined 5s or 5 days.  Robert Bryce was fined 2s 6d or 5 days for committing an obstruction.  For cimmitting a breach of the peace Patrick Ferry was fined 10s or ten days.  On Tuesday Peter McGovern was sentenced a to a fine of 10s or 10 days for breach of the peace.

Tune in next week to see what happened in Dunfermline next week 100 years ago ..........

Blog written by Jacqueline Hunter of Ancestral Research by Jacqueline, Dunfermline, Scotland. Please email me at jacquelinehunter895@gmail.com if I can help you with your family history research.