Published: Wednesday, 26th May, 2010 4:40pm

Pages from the Past

Summoned for leaving master's service

1860

Thomas Lovell was summoned to Athlone Petty Sessions in May 1860 by his master John Dolan for leaving his service without notice and before the completion of his time.

The Westmeath Independent reported: "The court adjourned its decision till next session to give the plaintiff an opportunity of going back to his service or submitting to the alternative of three months in jail.

Drowning off Dead Man's Island

In late May 1860, a workman named Richard Duckworth, employed in the woollen factory of Messrs Gleeson and Simpson, Northgate Street, was accidentally drowned off the Dead Man's Island, a short distance from Athlone, the paper reported.

An inquest into his death was held before a jury comprising, Edward Woods, Henry Percy, Patrick Egan, John Skales, Joseph Johnston, Patrick Casey, Robert Kerr, Roderick Ross, Laurence Boyhan, Patrick Geoghegan, Michael Naghton and Matthew Manning.

James Wilson said that he was a fellow workman of the deceased where they were both engaged as "mule spinners".

At about 11am on Sunday, they took a boat at the bridge to go up the Shannon to fish, along with a boy named Galvin.

Up river, they had two pints of porter each at a pub called Gilligan's and then pushed out onto the river again towards Dead Man's Island. On their way back, they stopped again at Gilligan's and had another two pints each, with the deceased also taking a glass of whiskey.

About half way home, the deceased, who was steering, brought the boat in near the rushes and "in pulling the cords from the tiller, it came out and the deceased fell forward against Galvin, who had the stern oar, and capsized the boat, throwing the whole party into the water".

The others held onto the boat, but Duckworth's hands were caught in the ropes from the rudder and was drowned.

1910

Athlone mourns death of a monarch

"Early on Saturday morning, the sad intelligence of the death of King Edward VII reached Athlone and caused very evident and genuine regret among all classes in the town. The high character of the King was appreciated and rightly or wrongly the people accepted that in his death Ireland and their cause had lost a good friend," the Westmeath Independent reported.

"In the present great Constitutional crisis, it was believed no matter what attitude the King might eventually take up it was felt he would not stand in the way of Ireland, even on the question of Home Rule.

"Over the old castle, the Royal standard floated at half mast, and in the garrison the news of King England's death evoked general sorrow and suspended gaieties of every description.

"On Sunday in both Protestant churches, sermons appropriate to the occasion were delivered and in the Catholic Churches incidental references in sympathetic language were made to the death of the sovereign."Athlone Urban District Council adjourned its meeting with the nationalist side of the house, led by Michael J. Lennon, supporting a vote of sympathy.

In St Mary's Protestant Church was draped in black, the chancel, pulpit, reading desk and gallery and hung in the same colour drapery.

Similarly at Athlone Petty Sessions, the court was adjourned as a mark of respect.

Edward VII was replaced by George V.

1960

Cattle Fairs cause road traffic injuries

They were more innocent times 50 years ago, it is often claimed - and with some veracity if court reports in the Westmeath Independent of late May 1960 are any indication.

The paper reported on how two locals were fined for having unlicensed wireless radios in their possession and there was a case involving a man accused of leaving a donkey standing without food and water for nine hours at Market Square, Athlone.

Of most note though was the scene depicted in a number of prosecutions relating to Saturday market day on Mardyke Street.

Seven different cattle men were fined at the court following the introduction of new bye-laws introduced by Athlone Urban Council under the Road Traffic Act.

The cases prompted Justice Ua Donnchadha to warn that motorists might try and by-pass Athlone because of traffic difficulties arising from the sale of animals on the town's main streets.

Seven local cattle vendors were accused of causing obstructions in Mardyke Street by exposing stock for sale at the Saturday markets.

Guard M.J. Mannion told the court that he had seen twelve calves for sale around a square wooden box containing hay, opposite the sub post office on Mardyke Street.

The box was six or seven feet out on the road from the footpath.

The vendor told the court that he did not want to take the cattle to the Fair Green as he felt he had a better chance of selling the cattle where they were.

The justice commented that on occasions it was impossible to walk some of the town's footpaths owing to pigs being lifted in and out of carts. The place was always left in a filthy condition due to the presence of stock on streets.

Some of the vendors argued they had a legal right to sell cattle on the streets - and whilst this was accepted, the judge said this did not mean they had the right to cause obstruction and prevent free passage of traffic.

"We are living in a changed world and what was good enough in our grandfather's day is not good enough today," the judge remarked.

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