Huddersfield Chronicle (12/May/1855) – A Beerseller in Trouble: Second Appearance of the Seedhill Ghost

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


HUDDERSIFLED POLICE COURT.

Saturday, May 5, 1855.
(Before G. Armitage and J. Haigh, Esq.)

A Beerseller in Trouble — Second Appearance of the Seedhill Ghost.

John Tasker, keeper of a beerhouse, Castlegate, was charged with having his house open at unlawful hours on Sunday, the 29th ult. P.C. Marsden stated that at 25 minutes to eleven on the night named he met defendant’s wife coming out of the back door with a couple of quarts of beer in her hand, and accompanied by a little girl. She was drunk at the time. She placed the beer in the yard, and the officer took it up and produced a sample thereof. The woman said that it was hardly ten o’clock when she drew some ale and took it to a cart in her back yard; and she called the little girl who recently figured as the Seedhill Ghost, who added that she heard the parish church clock strike ten at the time. When they had put the ale down they were astonished to encounter the policeman instead of somebody else. Superintendent Thomas asked the diminutive witness if she could tell a lie? She answered “Yes sir, when I’ve a mind to.” Fined 10s. and costs.

Halifax Courier (12/May/1855) – The Woes of John Barleycorn

The “Seed Hill Ghost” is covered more fully in this blog post.


The Woes of John Barleycorn.

On Saturday last John Tanker, Elizabeth Beckwith, and Henry Wilson, all innkeepers, were brought before the Huddersfield bench charge with offending against the tenor of their licence. Tasker’s offence was in tilling ale after ten o’clock on the 29th alt. His wife appeared for him, and explained the case in a very needless manner, when money is sure to make all right. She, however, thought proper to state that the ale was filled before ten o’clock, and placed outside the premises for certain parties who had ordered it, but who neglected to fetch it away on account of some row which happened in the street, and she was fetching it in again when the officer came to the door. Mrs. Tasker had a witness — Who do you think, reader? — why, truly, the girl that lately figured as the ” Seed Hill Ghost,” Catherine Hayley, — who took oath that Tasker’s house was clear of company by ten o’clock. We know not whether it be according to etiquette, but Superintendent Thomas asked the girl whether she could not tell a lie? To which she said she “could if she had a mind.” Tasker was fined 10s. and expenses.