Local headlines from 40, 50, 60, 90, 100, 110, 120 and 130 years ago, including a postie who fell into a bonfire on Guy Fawkes night.
40 years ago (1983)
GLASWEGIAN FOUND GUILTY OF WOUNDING YORKSHIRE RIPPER Glaswegian James Costello was jailed for a further 5 years at Newport for attacking Yorkshire Ripper Peter Sutcliffe with a broken coffee jar, causing appalling injuries to his face. Judge McCreery told Costello:
“You are one of the most dangerous and evil men it has ever been my misfortune to encounter.”
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Costello had made 28 court appearances between 1963 and 1980, 9 involving violence. At the time of his conviction for attacking Sutcliffe, he was serving 10 years for firearms offences. Costello told the judge:
“I don’t understand how any man can get sentenced for using too much violence against a guy who has killed 13 people.”
50 years ago (1973)
WASH FROM NEW YARMOUTH TO LYMINGTON FERRY CAUSES CONCERN Lymington Harbour Commissioners praised the new British Rail Yarmouth to Lymington ferry Cenwulf. However, the Commissioners also heard a complaint from a man whose tender was caught in the wash when a ferry cut across his bows. British Rail representative Captain Wheeler said:
“With the use of the new ferry, I don’t think we shall increase our incidents with yachts; the number should be decreasing rather than increasing. Ferry captains have been instructed to be very careful every time they enter the river. They can do what they like when they are in the Solent; they can go as fast as they like. But once they get into the river, safety is foremost.”
60 years ago (1963)
CARAVANS SEARCHED FOR ESCAPED PRISONER Police checked empty holiday chalets and caravans at Thorness and Gurnard in their search for Michael Christopher Powell, 26, who had broken out of Camp Hill Prison. The previous day a doctor’s car – which had disappeared from the centre of Newport – was discovered from a Ryde council estate. Powell was serving 3 years for shopbreaking.
90 years ago (1933)
NEWPORT FIELD 4 FORMER FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS Newport (IW) FC fielded 4 former football league players – including 2 internationals – in their line up for Saturday’s game. Newport’s 4 were Dominy (Southampton), Rawlings (Southampton and Manchester United), Maffatt and Cook (Portsmouth). Rawlings had played for England against Scotland and Wales a decade previously and Cook had been a regular in the Welsh international team. Other clubs on the Island were also said to have former Football League players on their books. The News Chronicle commented:
“The Isle of Wight is well known as a health resort, but it will soon become equally famous as a place of retirement for players whose Football League days have come to an end.”
100 years ago (1923)
EAST COWES BOYS APPEAR IN COURT FOR FIREWORKS MENACE 2x 13-year-old East Cowes boys – Frederick Owens and Bernard Souter – appeared before the Isle of Wight County Justices at Newport charged with discharging fireworks on the highway. Postman Charles Cook of 11 Queen’s Road, East Cowes, stated that whilst sitting indoors, he heard a loud explosion in the front of his house and saw some boys running away. He then found a firework smouldering which had been put through the letter box. No damage had been caused. PC Courney gave evidence that the lads admitted lighting the firework and pushing it through the letterbox. He had cautioned the boys against ringing doorbells and tying people’s doors. The Chairman of the Justices Mr G Shedden said that were he the boys’ father, he would have given them a good thrashing. However, he dismissed the case with a caution.
110 years ago (1913)
PRINCESS BEATRICE TAKES UP RESIDENCE IN CARISBROOKE CASTLE Princess Beatrice – Governor of the Isle of Wight and youngest daughter of Queen Victoria – moved from Osborne Cottage in East Cowes to Carisbrooke Castle. She took up residence in the apartments where King Charles I had been imprisoned. The move led to many alterations and improvements at the castle, including the installation of electric light.
120 years ago (1903)
‘LADY IN THE ISLE OF WIGHT’ CAUGHT AND SENTENCED 26-year-old Edith Irene Simmons from Wroxall was sentenced to 12 months hard labour for obtaining goods by false pretences. Her method was to order goods on approval and then promise a cheque that never came. Simmons was said to have kept her husband and 5 children by fraud. Since 1897, she had obtained £256 worth of goods (£26,000 in today’s values) which the police had been unable to trace, and had earned the epithet “The lady of the Isle of Wight” in the drapery trade.
130 years ago (1893)
INQUEST ON POSTMAN WHO FELL INTO GUY FAWKES BONFIRE An inquest was held at the George Hotel in Yarmouth into the shocking death of 60-year-old Jesse Lock Warder who fell into the bonfire on Guy Fawkes Night. After a large fire had been lit, the effigy fell from the top. The deceased then attempted to place the guy at the top again and – in doing so – stumbled into the blaze which had been doused with paraffin. Blazing wood then fell on top of the unfortunate postman, and all attempts at rescue were in vain. Eventually – after some 20 minutes had elapsed – the fire was quenched, and his charred remains were removed from the scene. The deceased was said to have been very much respected, and the sad occurrence brought an immediate halt to the jubilations. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.
