EDWARDIAN NEWS FROM THE MEWS, 23

Submitted by Editor on Sun, 13/06/2021 - 08:46

CABLE-CAR ACCIDENT.

A sad accident occurred opposite Piershill Cemetery on Tuesday evening.

A boy named Andrew Cameron, nine years of age, and residing at 32 Greenside Row, was returning from Portobello along with a companion, when he rushed out behind a van and ran right in front of a cable car coming in the opposite direction.

The driver applied both brakes, but he was unable to stop the car, which knocked the lad down, and the wheels passed over one of his legs, severing it under the knee.

A temporary bandage was put on by a gentleman who was passing, and he conveyed him to a doctor’s residence some distance away. The medical man being out the boy was handed over to a policeman, who drove the boy in a cab to the Royal Infirmary. There it was found necessary to amputate the limb above the knee.

Mid-Lothian Journal, 6 January 1905[1]

[1] Image top-right: Brixton Guide, accessed 12.6.22.

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DISORDERLY LADS IN EDINBURGH STREETS.

JAMES SQ

Five lads, William Mackenzie, Andrew Watson, and Alexander Fraser, residing in James Place; John Donnachie, residing in Gilchrist Entry; and Michael Gillian, residing in James Street, appeared at the Edinburgh City Police Court to-day, before Sheriff Orphoot, charged with having behaved in a disorderly manner in St James Street on Christmas Day, 1904; with shouting and uttering bad language, and with jostling passengers.

The evidence was to the effect that the lads had congregated in front of the mission hall in St James Street,[2] and had run about the street shouting and using filthy language. They had been previously warned by the police, but had not desisted from the practice. There had been complaints about this before from the occupants of the mission hall.

Sheriff Orphoot characterised the offence as a detestable practice, and fined the boys 1s each, warning them not to repeat such conduct.

Edinburgh Evening News, 11 January 1905

[2] Map: Ordnance Survey (1894). Reproduced by permission of the National Library of Scotland. The Mission Hall appears on the south-west side of St James Square.

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LOVE LETTERS TO A MARRIED MAN.

riding master

Before Lord Ardwall, the Court of Session, to-day, evidence was led in an action of divorce by Helen Maggie Roberts or Roriston, the Green, Galashiels, against her husband, John Roriston, riding master, the Central Riding Stables, Duke Street Lane, Edinburgh.

Examined by Mr J. Duncan Smith, the pursuer said she was married to the defender in Edinburgh in October, 1896. Her husband was then a mercantile clerk, but in 1901 he became a riding master. The marriage was unhappy from the first, owing to the defender’s giving way to drink and ill-treating her. On one occasion she had to leave him for six weeks because of his cruelty.

In the spring 1902 they went to stay at North Berwick, where he was giving riding lessons, and there his conduct became worse. He stayed out at nights, his excuse being that he was too drunk to go home, but her suspicions were aroused when she found love letters from other girls addressed to him.

In April last she ascertained that her husband was staying week-ends with another woman in rooms in George Street, Edinburgh, and in September she learned that had stayed with one Sarah Dick, in Marchmont Road. Evidence was led to show that an illegitimate child had been born, of which the defender was the father.

His lordship gave decree of divorce.

Edinburgh Evening News, 14 January 1905

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THE FEEDING OF THE EDINBURGH DESTITUTE.

queue

In the Corn Exchange the distribution of food under the Lord Provost’s scheme, and for which the “Evening News” is collecting subscriptions, continued to-day. As usual the morning was occupied in supplying applicants who came provided with the necessary tickets for food to be consumed at home. In all there were 360 meals given out for home consumption to 129 families. As usual there were some late applicants who had to be warned that if they could not keep the proper hour they would require on the next occasion to wait tall the general company was served.

Arrangements have now been made for the opening of a depot at Church Lane Hall, Stockbridge, on Monday, under the supervision of the Rev. Henry Smith. The distribution will take place between 12 and a quarter to one, and it is particularly requested that utensils for carrying away the soup be brought by those applying.

Another phase of the scheme under consideration is the supplying of men with soup and bread engaged at relief works of the city. The company of helpers to-day comprised: Fraser and Smith Elliot, Parish Councillors Williamson, Joseph Thomson, White, and Slater; Mr T. G. Fisher, Lieut. M’Lennan, Mr Dippie, Mr M’Hattie, city gardener, &c.

The Lord Provost, Mr John Wilson, and Robert Wilson were visitors during the distribution.

In the Corn Exchange the number fed was 1220, and too this had to be added the rations sent out to the districts and for home consumption. The distribution was over to-day by a quarter to one, and everything passed off as usual without a hitch.

The Home Relief scheme.

A meeting of those members of committee who were present in the Corn Exchange to-day at the distribution of food was afterwards held. It was decided to call a meeting of the full committee at 10.30 to-morrow in the Council Chambers to discuss the best means of working the home relief scheme.

The Salvation Army free breakfasts.

The Salvation Army scheme of supplying free breakfasts children at the Citadel, Nicolson Street, is being continued, and during the past week 3566 meals were supplied. The details were: Monday, 599; Tuesday, 618; Wednesday, 751; Thursday, 803; Friday, 795. Since the scheme was inaugurated on the 7th December 18,577 breakfasts have been supplied.

Edinburgh Evening News, 20 January 1905[3]

[3] Image:  Beastrabban/'s Weblog, accessed 12.6.21.

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