Following the tale of neglect at Forrest Place, High Blantyre told yesterday, I have a couple more incidents at the same property which also happened in June 1907. This may give an indication of some of the troubled lives attached to some residents in that property. A Hungry Man’s an Angry man. This is the […]
Whenever I read about families in times gone by neglecting children, I have to wonder if parents had no choice because of poverty, rather than doing it deliberately or through cruelty. Such a case follows from 1907 and a warning that the content may be upsetting. On Wednesday 5th June 1907, Charles McGuigan a brusher […]
The subject of sectarianism is one I’ve often deliberately not chosen to dwell on much in Blantyre Project, but the truth of the matter is this town DOES have an early history of violent disorder relating to party division. There’s sometimes no escaping it when researching articles, particularly just over 100 years ago and it […]
In March 1908, 11 year old William McLeary of Dixon’s Rows, Stonefield, Blantyre found himself in trouble with the law. And not for the first time. Along with 2 other boys, he had broken into a shop on Glasgow Road and stolen chocolate and matches. He was also further charged with breaking into Whistleberry collieries […]
Entrusted with a watch, albert and badge by a compatriot to keep for him whilst he underwent a 30 day prison sentence, Adam Brown a Polish miner of Broompark Place pawned the articles on the 4th February 1908. This was the very day after his pal had asked him to keep them for him. Adam […]
Don’t blame me for the title, this was reporters choice of words in the Hamilton Herald and Lanarkshire Weekly News in May 1908, reminding their readers of the old adage, “Better meddle wi’ the devil, than the bairns o’ Blantyre” in relation to a break in. It was said that in the first week of […]
Although proudly confirming he had never been in court before, William Lang, a Blantyre painter seemed to have prepared and knew all about court proceedings and workings. It was June 1908 and William was charged with having been found hopelessly drunk on the evening of Wednesday 3rd June 1908 at the tram car terminus. He […]