Stevenston - On This Day In History

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
3 DECEMBER 1874

STEVENSTON – THE FAMINE IN ASIA MINOR

In answer to an appeal made by the Rev. J. Treadwell, of the free church, from his pulpit, the sum of £5 10s has been subscribed by the members of the Free Church, Stevenston, and others, and transmitted to the treasurer of the relief fund in Edinburgh, for the famine stricken districts of Asia Minor.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
10 NOVEMBER 1873

SALTCOATS - IS A PROCURATOR ENTITLED TO SIT AS A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE?

This point was raised at a Justice of the Peace court, held at Saltcoats, on 7th inst., by Mr. McJannet, solicitor, Irvine, who appeared for CHARLES BYRON, collier, Stevenston, accused of assault and malicious mischief.

Mr. McJannet objected to the competency of Mr. Bailey, banker and procurator, Ardrossan, sitting as a justice in the case.

A long discussion followed on this objection; which ended in the Fiscal departing from the charge against Byron.

GLASGOW HERALD
8 DECEMBER 1873

SALTCOATS J.P. COURT

At Saltcoats Justice of the Peace Court on Friday, before Messrs William Mutter, John Barr, John G. Halkett, William Aitken, Patrick Warner, William Lockhart, and James L. Bailey, the following case was heard - CHARLES BYRON, miner, Stevenston, was charged with Wilful and Malicious Mischief and Assault, committed on 17 September last.

On the case being called Mr. Bailey retired from the bench.

Mr. W. D. McJannet, solicitor, Irvine, who appeared for the accused, said this was the sequel of the case in which, last court day, the question had arisen whether a prosecutor was entitled to sit as a Justice of the Peace. When the case was last before the court, after the witnesses for the prosecution and defence had been examined, and the court addressed both by Mr. Kirkhope, the prosecutor, and himself, the question as to Mr. Bailey's eligibility to act as a Justice of the Peace had been raised, and as the court had been placed in some difficulty the Fiscal had ultimately withdrawn the complaint.

It was then understood that by this withdrawal the case was at an end, and he was sure it must be a matter of surprise to them all that it should be again brought forward. At last trial each witness, had been allowed to remain in court during the remainder of the case, and had thus heard the evidence given by the other witnesses, so that if the case was allowed to be reheard great injustice would be done the panel. He, however, argued that they were barred from proceeding with the present complaint by the fact that Byron had already "tholed his assize" for the offence with which he was now charged.

The Fiscal, Mr. Kirkhope, in reply said that under a recent statue the court was entitled, in their discretion, to permit the examination of witnesses who had been present in Court during any part of the proceedings. He then read the 3rd section of the Act 3 and 4 Vict. Cap. 59, in support of his contention. In the former trial he had merely withdrawn the charge against the panel. He was therefore quite entitled to prosecute for the same offence on a new libel. In the former trial no decision had been given; he had withdrawn the complaint before any judgment either of guilty or of absolvitor had been pronounced. No pleas of Res Judicata could be maintained in bar of a second trial, unless a formal judgment had been pronounced in the first trial.

Mr. McJannet - "Mr. Kirkhope is evidently confounding the plea of Res Judicata with that of "tholed his assize," which we plead here. The two pleas are quite distinct and different."

Mr. Kirkhope - "The two pleas are identical."

The Court by a majority of 4 to 2, sustained the plea of the panel having already "tholed his assize" and dismissed the case.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
9 DECEMBER 1873

SHIPPING NOTES

On Saturday afternoon a French brig came ashore between Saltcoats and Stevenston, but was got off again without damage at the flow of tide, and towed to Ardrossan, for which port she was bound.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
11 DECEMBER 1876

STEVENSTON - BODY IDENTIFICATION

The body found here on the shore on Thursday was identified on Friday, by the relatives from Ayr, as the body of Mr. Rowcastle, contractor, who went amissing on the 15th of November, and is supposed to have fallen into Ayr Harbour.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
12 DECEMBER 1984

BUSINESS FOR SALE
GREYSTONES HOTEL, STEVENSTON, AYRSHIRE

Hotel building comprising Lounge Bar/Function Suite, Public Bar, Dining Room, Letting and Owner’s accommodation. Full Hotel Licence with extensions. Good service areas. Large car park. Freehold.

Offers are sought in excess of £45,000 for the heritable interest.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
17 DECEMBER 1872

GREAT CONFERENCE OF SCOTTISH MINERS IN GLASGOW

Yesterday, a delegate meeting of miners (the largest that has ever met in Glasgow) was held in the Democratic Hall, Nelson Street – Mr Hector McNeil in the chair.

The following reports were given in from the various districts:-

KILMARNOCK – There were 4000 men on strike, and that state of matters had lasted for eight days. There were no coals in the district. Messrs Merry and Cuninghame’s works had not been reduced even the first shilling. A settlement was expected. There were 3000 men on the union roll, and the fund amounted to £800.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
17 DECEMBER 1872

GREAT CONFERENCE OF SCOTTISH MINERS IN GLASGOW

Yesterday, a delegate meeting of miners (the largest that has ever met in Glasgow) was held in the Democratic Hall, Nelson Street – Mr Hector McNeil in the chair.

The following reports were given in from the various districts:-

KILMARNOCK – There were 4000 men on strike, and that state of matters had lasted for eight days. There were no coals in the district. Messrs Merry and Cuninghame’s works had not been reduced even the first shilling. A settlement was expected. There were 3000 men on the union roll, and the fund amounted to £800.

GLASGOW HERALD
18 DECEMBER 1872

THE DISPUTE IN THE MINING TRADE

Another mass meeting of miners was held in Kilmarnock yesterday. There was a large attendance. Mr. John Ker, Annbank, presided.

Reports were received to the effect that the men on strike at Kilmarnock, Hurlford, Galston, New Cumnock, Annbank, and Dreghorn districts, were still unflinching in their resistance to the reduction of 2s per day.

It was also reported that the miners of Messrs Merry & Cuninghame at Stevenston, Annick Lodge, and Warwickhill were working at the old rate of 9s 6d per day; and the men at Woodhill, Doura, and Auchenharvie were working at 8s 6d.

A motion was proposed to the effect that the men adhere to their resolution to continue the strike till the masters give 8s 6d per day.

An amendment was also proposed, that they continue the strike in resistance to any reduction whatsoever, but on a vote being taken, the motion was carried almost unanimously.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
19 DECEMBER 1989

WRITER WHO WAS ‘MATURE ANARCHIST’

Eddie Boyd, one of Scotland’s most respected writers for television and radio drama has died in hospital in Glasgow, aged 73………………..Born in Stevenston, Ayrshire, he was educated at the local higher grade school and Ardrossan Academy………………..He received Writers’ Guild Awards for the Wolf Far Hence (radio), The Odd Man (television) and Robbery, the film about the great train robbery, starring Stanley Baker………………..His adaptation for television of Huntingtower won the annual Scottish Radio Industries Televison Award for Drama.

[Hughie]

Wonder if he was one of the three Boyd brothers who had the bleach business in Moorpark Road East. As a wee boy, I like many others worked for them. I think there was an Eddie.

[5siamese7]

Wonder if he was one of the three Boyd brothers who had the bleach business in Moorpark Road East. As a wee boy, I like many others worked for them. I think there was an Eddie.

No Hugh he was not one of those Boyds.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
20 DECEMBER 1887

THEFT

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday WILLIAM GRANT, Junior, a collier, residing in Main Street, Stevenston, pleaded guilty to the theft of a tape line from the engine-house at No. 10 Bridge, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Railway, on the 12th inst., and was sentenced to five days’ imprisonment.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
21 DECEMBER 1894

THE HON. THOMAS COCHRANE, M.P., AT SALTCOATS

Yesterday a bazaar in aid of the platform and organ fund of Stevenston Parish Church was opened by the Hon. Thomas Cochrane, M.P., in the Town Hall, Saltcoats.

The Rev. W. Lee Ker, Kilwinning presided, and there was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen in the district.

The Hon. Mr. Cochrane said his wife, Lady Gertrude, was invited to open this bazaar, but unfortunately she was unable to be present, not being very strong, so that he was there as locum tenens – an ecclesiastical term for a person that occupies the pulpit of the rightful owner.

If Lady Gertrude were present he thought the first thing she would say would be how much the success of the bazaar depended on the ladies (Applause.)

She might say to the men that they had boasted that they were the upholders of the Church in former days, and had drawn their swords in its defence; but the women with their natural implement, the needle, had done far more in the last hundred years in its defence than men had achieved with their swords in warfare (Applause.)

He thought the strength of the Church, and the good work being done in connection with every one of the churches with so much zeal and energy, was very largely due to the influences, the work, and the devotion of the women of this country (Applause).

There was no more popular minister nor abler preacher in the West of Scotland than the minister of Stevenston (Mr. Kyd). He had done a great deal to improve and beautify the church by the introduction of a fine organ and the erection of a platform.

There was a time when people resented the introduction of instrumental sounds; but they had got beyond that. He thought that anything that tends to make more attractive the service of the Church must have a good result so long as the means were innocent. They were aware of the influence of the music, and it would ill become them to despise what might be found to improve and strengthen the service of the Church (Applause.)

He then declared the bazaar open.