In the 'Cambrian' newspaper, dated 7th August 1874, it was reported from a local
court that Michael LEARY had been charged by Mr HOWELLS, relieving officer, with
neglecting to maintain his family, and sent to prison for 6 weeks.
The relieving officer was appointed by the Board of Guardians, who used a locally-levied
rate (tax) to administer the Workhouse and 'outdoor relief' for the poor.
The magistrates ( including Charles BATH, known to some from their researches) were in
good form that day. Nicholas PROTHERO was also sent to prison for 6 weeks for stealing a
penny.
The case was not as absurd as it appears at first sight. When he was caught with the penny
in his hand, his hand was actually in the till of the West End public-house.
William MURRAY, charged with being drunk and riotous in Oxford-Street, pleaded in his
defence that he was suffering from rheumatism. He was fined 10 shillings and costs.
Other items I noticed in the same edition which might have reference to some researches I
have seen mentioned were:
Among the list of contributors to the Swansea and West Wales Institute for the Blind were
R. BEDLINGTON of Aberdare who gave 5 pounds and David MEAGER who gave 2 guineas. MEAGERs
shipbuilders were then opening an extended dry-dock near the South Dock, and David MEAGER
is also mentioned in an account of a meeting of the Swansea YMCA, then in financial
straits and 'little better than a circulating library and reading-room'.
Charles BATH was a trustee of the Blind Institute and gave 50 pounds. Joseph HALL of
Grosvenor House Swansea was secretary.
There was an advertisement for Arnold House School, Walter's Road, Swansea, Principal
G. HESTER M.A. ' The course of instruction is specially adapted to the regulations of
the Oxford Local Examinations, and great attention is paid to modern subjects'.
Henry A. CHAPMAN, Artist and Photographer, was at 235 High Street, Swansea and Mr James
ANDREWS, Photographer and Portrait Painter was at 'The Old Studio' opposite the
Royal Institution [now Swansea Museum]. His advertisement referred to Oil Paintings from
the life or Re- Produced from small or common place photographs.
Messrs. RICHARDSON & Co. took their employees, wives and families on a special train
to Llandilo [Llandeilo] for a Bank Holiday excursion to Lord Dynevor's Park. They had
tea at their senior employer's residence, Glanbrydan Park. The 'Bank Holiday
Act' was apparently then discretionary and an editorial recommended its widespread
adoption. BATH & Co. took their employees to Mumbles, and the St. Helen's
Engineering works chartered a steamer from Mr. POCKET and took their employees and
families to Tenby, the 'only casualty being a hat blown overboard on the outward
journey'.
Mr W. BONHAM of St. Thomas won 2nd prize for Musk at the Swansea East-Side
Working-Men's Poultry and Flower Show.
In the column of 'Literary Varieties' were these two
'The more a woman's waist is shaped like an hour-glass the quicker the sands of
her life run out.' and
'Lord Palmerston, when asked to support the bill for legalising marriage to a deceased
wife's sister, said the only advantage of such a change of law would be that a man who
married twice under such circumstances would not have two mothers in law.'
Jeff