Here is this week’s round-up of pieces from the Batley News relating to the parish of St Mary’s. As usual I have put in bold the names of those connected to the parish who served with the military. And, as ever, the spelling and punctuation matches that of the newspaper.
The Death Notices contained three relevant to the parish, including that of schoolboy John Woodhead whose death generated wild speculation in town. This was covered in detail elsewhere in the newspaper. The notices were:
WOODHEAD. —On 28th ult., aged 12 years, John, son of Henry Woodhead, 4, Melton Street.
MACMANUS. —On 30th ult., aged 58 years, Thomas MacManus, 30 Peel Street.
KILROY. —On 31st ult., aged 38 years, John Edward Kilroy, 18, Harwd Road, Brymbo.
The latter man, although resident in Wales, was buried in Batley cemetery in a service conducted by a St Mary’s parish priest.
As alluded to above, St Mary’s school hit the headlines for the wrong reasons:
A CROSS BANK SENSATION.
A Schoolboy’s Sudden Death.
Unfounded Rumours of Violence.
A Teacher Exonerated and the Father of a Scholar Criticised.A rumour that a boy had died as a result of being hit on the head by a teacher led to the Batley Education Committee being represented at an inquest held on Monday on the body of John Woodhead, aged twelve, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Woodhead, 4, Melton Street, Cross Bank, Batley, who had attended St. Mary’s Roman Catholic School.
Mr. J. H. Craik, Mr. G. R. H. Danby, Dr. Pearce, and Alderman H. North watched the proceedings.
The father of the lad, who is a miner, said deceased had always had a bad head, and had once before suffered from pneumonia. He had been treated at Bradford Infirmary for his eyesight. During the last two years, however, he had attended school regularly, and had only been troubled with his head occasionally. Last Thursday morning he went to the school as usual, and on returning complained of headache. He went to bed, and when his mother got home from work she gave him some powders. On Friday, as he was no better, a doctor was sent for, but the boy passed away about five in the afternoon before a doctor could see him.
“He said the Teacher had hit him on the Head.”
Ann Woodhead, the boy’s mother, said when she got home from work on Thursday noon she heard that her boy was in bed, and immediately went up to see him. She gave him some powders, and he became sick. That night she asked if anyone had hit him, and he said the teacher had hit him on the head.The Coroner: What made you ask him?
Witness: A little boy came to call for him and said the master had hit him for not getting his answers right.
Did you see any mark on his head? —No.
You don’t think very much about it? —No, I think it was only just a tap, and with his head being bad it would start again and then be all right.
Witness added that on Friday, when the boy became worse she sent for two doctors, but he died before either could attend. Her son had had no other accident that she was aware of. He had always had a bad head.
The Coroner: When he told you about this teacher striking him on the head you didn’t think much of it? —No, I don’t think the teacher had anything to do with it.A Schoolboy’s Evidence.
Willie Curley, a schoolboy aged 12, then gave evidence. He said he went to the same school as deceased.
The Coroner: Did you see anything happen in school last Thursday morning? —No.
You didn’t see anyone strike him? —No.
Did you tell anyone you had seen him struck? —No.
Did you tell his mother? —No.
The Coroner (after a pause): Who told you to say “No”?
The Boy: Nobody.
Mr. Craik: I am told this boy was in the same class as the deceased. They would be together in school.
The Coroner: Did you attend the same class as this boy? —Yes.
Didn’t you see this boy struck by the teacher? —No.
Why did you tell other boys that you had? —I didn’t tell them.
Mrs. Woodhead was then called into the room again.
The Coroner: You said a little boy called and said he had seen your boy struck on the head? —Yes.
Was this the boy? —No.Police-Sergeant’s Figures Opposed by a Parent.
The Coroner (to Sergt. Hebden): I understand you made enquiries in consequence of something?
Witness: In consequence of certain rumours and statements in the district, sir.
And what did your enquiries lead to? —Mrs. Woodhead told me that Martin Brannan —-
The Coroner: That is another boy?
Witness: Yes. —-had told her that her son John had been struck on the head at the school.
The Coroner: By whom?
Witness: By the teacher. She also said her own son had told her the same story. I went to see Brannan, and he said, “It was not me that saw him struck; it was Willie Curley, who is in the same class.[”]
The Coroner: Did he say why he knew it was Curley who had seen him struck? —He said Curley had told him. I have paid several visits to Curley’s house, and his father would never allow me to see the boy. He said he would not allow him to make any statement unless he was compelled. I told him yesterday if he failed to let this boy come it would be a serious matter for him. He wouldn’t allow me to take any statement from him, even in his presence. I could have done if required.
The Coroner: He must have been a very foolish man. You weren’t seeking to blame the man?
Witness: No. I could have taken a statement from the boy in pencil if he would have allowed me to.
The Coroner (to the boy Curley): You see although you haven’t told us we know all about it. You know quite well you told Brannan, another boy, about this boy being struck on the head. Just tell me all about it now.
Curley: I didn’t tell him.
Who did you tell? —No-one.
It’s all a lie then? —Yes.
Did your father tell you not to tell me? —No.
The Coroner: When you get a little older you will find it best to stick to the truth. It pays in the long run.Dr. Walker’s Examination.
Dr. Walker said he had known the boy all his life and had attended him many times. He attended him in June, 1915, for pneumonia. He had made a post mortem examination.
The Coroner: Was there any external mark of violence? —No.
Did you hear the rumours? —Yes, I was told by the mother that he had been hit on the head by a teacher, but there was no mark or contusion in any part of the body.
Did you find any injury to the skull or the brain? —No.
And the lungs? —The lungs were held down to the chest wall by adhesions. There was evidence of early double pneumonia. It was a very grave condition. The boy must have been gravely ill from the commencement.
And the cause of death? —Was syncope. He died from heart failure due to double pneumonia.
It’s commencement causes headache? —Always.
Do you think the headache he complained of on Thursday was the normal headache?—No; he would be beginning with his illness.
It is quite clear from your examination that this was a purely natural death? —Quite so.
Mr. Craik: I think the doctor has cleared up all that we had any doubt about.
The Coroner: Supposing the boy was commencing with double pneumonia and was struck on the head, but not sufficient to bruise him, would that have any bad effect?
Dr. Walker: No, I don’t thinks so. If one had a headache one doesn’t want one’s head touching; that is all.
It would not hasten his death? —No.The Teacher’s Explanation.
The teacher concerned, John Healey, 17, Byron Street, temporary headmaster at St. Mary’s R.C. School, then gave evidence.
The Coroner: Did you strike this boy?
Witness: I don’t know if I struck that boy, but I remember giving one or two a little touch on the neck.
For what reason? —I set them some arithmetic and they didn’t do anything, but were taking it very easily. I really don’t remember touching this boy at all. It was not really by way of punishment, but for inattention. You do it mechanically just to make them more alert.
Did you hear that this boy had complained of being struck? —Yes, on Friday night.“The Police Must be Assisted.”
The Coroner (to the jury): So far as I can judge there is very little special in this case. The rumours were spread abroad – it is astonishing how rumours once started will spread – that this poor boy had been struck on the head by a teacher at the school. Then he was taken seriously ill and died next day. It was my duty to hold an enquiry to see what it meant. The mother says her boy made some repetition of the statement to her that he had been struck. Then there is the boy Curley, who has been before you, but he was a somewhat difficult witness. Whether he did see anything is not clear, but it is quite clear that his father took a very wrong course in telling the police that he wouldn’t allow him to be interviewed. It is the duty of everyone in town to assist the police in many cases, but especially in connection with inquests. There is a life gone, and it is our duty to try and find why it has been taken. The police are the officers appointed by the Coroner. They have to make enquiries, and it is the duty of everyone to assist them, and not to say “I will not.” The boy Curley came here and his mouth was shut evidently by instructions from his fathers, which is absolutely silly and very wrong. On the medical evidence it seems quite clear that the boy had died a purely natural death, and, therefore, the importance of the wrong action taken by Curley’s father is not so serious. If the boy had been allowed to speak he would only have been able to say what the teacher has said. This boy’s death was not connected with any act of violence. There is no instruction I know that a master cannot lay a hand on a boy, or is not to hit without permission. It would be rather difficult to go to work at all if he couldn’t put his hand on a boy’s shoulder. Do you wish also to say that there was no violence inflicted on him – in other words that he was not struck?
Mr Craik: There is no evidence of striking at all.
The Coroner: Well, you can say he died in accordance with the medical evidence and there is no evidence of any assault. I think you ought to say that if you believe it.
A verdict to that effect was unanimously returned.“Died from Double Pneumonia.”
The teacher was then called into the room and the Coroner addressed him: We are quite satisfied from the evidence that this boy died from hat we call a natural death. He died from double pneumonia, and we are also satisfied that there was no assault on this poor lad by you.
If you want to read more about this incident read my piece entitled “A St Mary’s School Sensation.”
To read how the school recorded the events, read the Boys’ School Log Book here.
Father Kestalyn, a Belgian priest attached to St Patrick’s in Birstall, but who was also associated with St Mary’s, gave an account of his visit to Ireland. I have reproduced it below, along with the misspellings:
FATHER KESTALYN IN IRELAND
Belgian Priest Gives His Impressions to Birstall Catholics
Irish Children’s Prayers for Roger Casement1Father Kestalyn, a Belgian priest who has been making his home in Birstall for some time, has this week given the Roman Catholics of Birstall an account of another visit which he has paid to Co. Sligo, Co. Mayo, Connemara, Co. Galway, and Co. Clare.
At Holyhead all the passengers were challenged as to their nationality.
“Belgian, friend of small nations,” said Father Kestalyn smiling. He was pulled aside, examined, and allowed to pass. At Kingstown he was not even asked for his passport, and was offered a nice cup of tea.
Nature has lavished her charms on Erin (says Father Kestalyn) with so bountiful a hand that it would be difficult to describe them in too high terms of praise…The island is begirt with unmatched attractiveness.
The new church of Ballyhaunis is beautiful, magnificent, lavishly decorated, and a great credit to the people. The Irish emigrants from Co. Mayo – exiles in America – have contributed to the building of it the large sum of £1,300. That is a bit of Irish Catholic spirit.
The Miracle of Knock
Next day I spent in Knock. You know how this place is famous for its pilgrimages, for the numerous favours received there by the intercession of Our Lady of Knock, for the wonderful miracle wrought on August 21st, 1879. To those who deny the Blessed Virgin, and the power given her by Almighty God, I say: Go and see Knock, and count and touch the big number of crutches, of rosary bead, of medals, of scapulars of those who came there as invalids and cripples, and went away sound and safe. But there is no worse blindness than those who don’t want to see. Rev. Father O’Connor, C.C., was most kind in receiving me and gave me a token of the highest hospitality during several days. Most pleasant were the hours spent in fishing and shooting.Some good fellow was boating for us, while we were engaged in fishing, and he asked what they called in Flemish, French, German, Dutch, even Latin, the nice perch we caught just then. I told him as far as I could remember.
“But,” he asked, “what do they call it in Greek?” I couldn’t tell. “Look here,” he said, “they call that so-and-so,” and he gave the Irish name. Good man!
Some other day he told me that Pat So-and-So was courtmartialled for spitting in the ear of an English donkey, which was frightened and ran away! And the president asked Pat what he was spitting for. Pat answered: “I was just whispering in the ear of the donkey that we wanted Home Rule, and he went mad.”
Poor country indeed! You may see a rock of turf, but not many fruitful fields. The houses, though thatched and low, are tidy, and look nice in their white skirts (so they called the whitened outside walls). They rear a good number of pigs and cattle; and the potatoes, in their jackets, are so flowery that they excite your appetite.
Ducks, geese, and sheep are not scarce either. Those people live there as happy as kings, and they let the landlords go! You meet their kind and rich hearts under poor clothes; and I didn’t see any savages at all. When these people have a shilling in one pocket and a penny in the other, be sure that you will get the former if they can only make you happy. That is a bit of Irish generosity again.
It will be enough to say that I passed in a drive through Aghamore, Kilkelly, Glan, Kilmoree, Charlestown, Tobercurry to Sligo, and came along the coast by Dromore to Inishcrone. This is a seaside place, where a good few take a quiet rest. It was not my style, and we came back by Ballina and Swineford. Splendid scenery all about; I could have spent there another week or two, but the best of friends must part. A good farmer drove me to Claremorris – with its magnificent church, deep expression of the people’s lively Faith. The train took me to Balla, Castlebar, and Westport. This last town presents a pleasing appearance, owing to the abundance of foliage about it. It consists of one long street, through the centre of which runs a mountain stream. All along are avenues of lime trees, which form on each side a splendid promenade.
The “Sinai” of Ireland
The chief feature in the surroundings is the Pilgrimage Mountain, Croagh Patrick, looking out on the Atlantic Ocean from the southern shore of Clew Bay, and called the “Sinai” of Ireland. It rises in a perfect cone to a height of 2,510 feet. St. Patrick, on the Saturday before Ash Wednesday in 441, betook himself to the mountain top. Here he spent the days of Lent, chastising his body with fasts, pouring out his heart to God, and entreating Him with prolonged importunity and with tears that the Faith might never fail the land of Erin. Also with outstretched hands solemnly blessed the land of Erin that no poisonous reptile, whatever it was, might infest it. A chapel was rebuilt there in 1905, and Archbishop Healy dedicated it to St. Patrick. The annual pilgrimage from time immemorial has been held the last Sunday in July; 21 Masses were said there this year on that day, and about 25,000 pilgrims went up to hear Mass and to receive Holy Communion. That is Irish all over!“A Little Bit of Heaven.”
But I tell you that ladies had best leave their fancy boots at home, as they might lose them there. It took me two hours to climb that mountain, and an hour and a half to come down. How fortunate I was – a rainbow appeared over the magnificent Clew Bay, with its 365 little islands, and surely it was a little bit of heaven.What could I not tell about the gems of Achill scenery? To use Cook’s expression, Achill is an island in shape resembling a gigantic boot. It’s distinctive features are bold rugged mountains – Slievemore and Croughan, [sic] 2,190 feet high – with broad, undulating moors covered with dark heather, and towering sea cliffe [sic]. A tithe of the attractions possessed by the Cathedral Rocks, Minnaun [Sic] Cliffs, and the great seal caves, and miles of velvety bathing strands, would be sufficient to make the reputation of any English watering place. The drive westwards towards Achill Head is the most picturesque in the whole of Ireland. Nothing can beat the sight of that awful cliff; it is the highest and most extraordinary precipice, and it is not surpassed in the world.
Go ahead now from Westport to Clifden – a ride of 46 miles in a motor-car, which will take you through the mountains, through Connaught, in about four hours; it is lovely indeed. Beautiful is Leenane, charmingly situated at he head of the famous fjord. Killary Bay presents a character of scenery more like an artist’s ideal panorama than actual nature. It runs eleven miles from the Atlantic; grand solitary savageness and minute verdant unmatched beauty are combined there. This arm of the Atlantic is capricious and deep enough to admit of the largest ships running inland to the very heart of the mountains for a distance of some nine miles. Pardon me for not mentioning before the mountain called “the Devil’s mother.” The shape of it is most peculiar. Grand also is the scenery before and when you cross the mountains, called “the Twelve Pins.” I counted about 31 peaks of mountains all around me, including the Maumturk Mountain, all bare rocks. The Lake of Kylemore is probably the most beautiful of any in the Western Highlands. Don’t forget the mountain scenery of Delphi, and the most interesting ruin of Cong Abbey. No friend of small nations pulled this down, I suppose.
Prayers for Roger Casement
Speaking of Galway, Father Kestalyn said he found in Carraroe a real Irish-speaking centre, in which many natives never hear an English sound. Some of the children never wear boots or shoes until they are 15 to 18 years old. As they go to school in summer they each take a sod of peat turf to provide fuel for the winter.“I got to know that every day the first prayer said by the little children at school was for their kindhearted benefactor, Roger Casement, who had provided them a good dinner every day, and for years to come. No doubt Roger got his conversion, and a ‘happy dead’ by the prayers of these grateful children.
The Roll of Honour compiled from local casualties who appeared in War Office lists this week included the following:
WOUNDED
Batley. —Pte. H. GROARK, K.O.Y.L.I.
Footnotes:
1. Roger Casement was a former Foreign Office diplomat, humanitarian and Irish nationalist, accused of treason for eliciting German military aid for the 1916 Easter Rising which sought to gain Irish independence. He was executed at Pentonville Prison on 3 August 1916. Controversy still exists as to whether he did write what became known as the Black Diaries, which contained accounts of his homosexual liaisons at a time when homosexuality was illegal.
PastToPresentGenealogy 