Willingly wilful

And with wacky words – The Flintshire Observer, 1 May, 1857: “IN DYING, HE REMEMBERED HIS FRIENDS.”- Dr. William Dunlop, of Western Canada, left behind him an eccentric will. His silver tankard he bequeathed “to the eldest son of old...

It was me, said Paddy

A nip of rum too many – Bell’s New Weekly Messenger 04 April 1847: A BAREFACED THIEF.-An Irish lumper (docker), named Thomas Maguire, was brought up before the Liverpool police Magistrate on Saturday, under the following circumstances:- The prisoner, with...

Seriously, it’s a funny place

The court-room is meant to be a serious place but people being people, humour is not far from the surface. Hystericals – Liverpool Echo 30 April 1918: When two women were summoned at Bootle to-day for assault, the following interesting passage took place:-...

I’ll set my wife on you

Threatening payback – Worcester Journal 18 April 1850: ASSAULT.-Jones v Evans- The defendant in this case (who is a half-witted broker, or “general dealer,” better known by the appellation of “greasy pockets,”) had evaded their service of...

A cross coroner’s examination

A very useful witness who could not remember dates – Illustrated London News 16 December 1899: An amusing dialogue occurred at an inquest held in the Westminster Coroner’s Court, Horseferry Road, by Mr John Troutbeck. An elderly female witness was giving...

A warm day and too much gin

An Irish Tea Party! – Illustrated London News 14 May 1842: A brace of Irish ladies came before Mr. Hardwick with all the evidences upon them of having been recently engaged in pugilistic contest. The complainant in particular had her face so tatooed by the nails...