Runcorn Hawker's Home

Very seldom do I come across a newspaper article that does not paint a Palin cousin in a favourable light.     I have a hard time accepting things at face value and constantly wonder, “What is the story, behind the story?”

Here is an article found in the Northwich Guardian on May 21, 1912.

Runcorn Hawkers Home

Bench Give Time for Improvement

At the Runcorn Sessions on Monday, Thomas Palin, 14 King Street, a fish hawker was charged with having neglected his three children in such a manner as to cause them unnecessary suffering and injury to health.  He pleaded not guilty.

Mr. W.E. Hough prosecuted on behalf of the N.S.P.C.C. and said the defendant lived with his wife and five children.  Two of them were 22 and 20 respectively, and did not figure in the proceedings.  The children in respect of who the action was being taken were Martha 14, Arthur 10 and Henry 5.  The complaint was that the children had been neglected and were verminous and filthy, and that not sufficient bedding was provided.  In April last the society’s Inspector reported the case to the head office.  At that time Palin’s wife was ill and the society decided that they would leave any action over till she recovered and the man would have an opportunity of bringing about an improvement in the meantime.  That was six or seven weeks ago, but there had not been any improvement.  Had it not been for the illness of the wife there was no doubt she would be charged along with the defendant.  The man could not say that he was unaware that this sort of thing was going on, for on half a dozen occasions when he visited the house the Inspector saw the defendant and told him the condition of things.  Palin might say that he was out all day hawking and that his wife was ill, but the time had arrived when it was absolutely necessary that some improvement should be brought about.  The society had done everything it possibly could to bring about a reform.  The condition of things at the house had been reported to the Sanitary Inspector and on one occasion it had been found necessary to send the defendant’s daughter home from school on account of her dirty condition.

Inspector Preston of the N.S.P.C.C. gave evidence detailing the facts outlined by Mr. Hough.  He visited the house at the beginning of September last, when he found the furniture to consist of two tables and a box.  There was also a double mattress and chaff bed.  There was no food in the house on this occasion, but the family told him they had just had dinner.  He paid another visit on the 14^th September, and found the girl Martha was in a filthy and verminous condition.  He called Palin’s attention to the state of things, and Palin said the children were a great expense to him and he could not get along when his two eldest sons were not working.  Mrs. Palin was then ill in bed.  Witness detailed a number of visits.  On all occasions he found the house and the children very dirty.  On the 1^st April he saw both the parents and spoke to them about the condition of things.  The children on that occasion had been washed, but their clothing was dirty and verminous.  On the 9^th April the children were cleaner, but the beds and rooms of the house were filthy dirty.  There had been no marked improvement since.

Palin said the Inspector had seen him at the house twice.  On one of these occasions he thanked the Inspector for what he said to him and for his assurance that he did not want to prosecute them if he could help it.

Inspector Preston said he had seen Palin at the house five or six times.

Dr. M.S. McDonald spoke to paying two visits to the house in company with Inspector Preston.  On the 9^th January he found the girl Martha was in a filthy and verminous condition, with her head full of nits.  The condition of things as regarded Henry was the same.  The lower rooms of the house were in a dirty condition.  In the cupboard he saw a quantity of stale food.  The beds were in a wretched state.  The position of matters was such that the children must have been caused unnecessary suffering.  On another occasion he saw the boy Arthur, who was in a rather better state that the other two children.  The sleeping accommodation for seven persons was quite insufficient.   He visited the house on the 14^th of May with the object of seeing if Mrs. Palin was fit to attend court.  He reported that in his opinion she was not fit.  He did not know what was the matter with her.  He had not been attending her.

George Howard, attendance officer to the Runcorn Education Committee, said the head mistress of one of the Runcorn elementary schools, sent the girl Martha home on October 2^nd in consequence of her dirty condition and she was away from school for five weeks on that account.

Detective Davies spoke to serving the summons on Palin.   The house was then very filthy.  He had known Palin for three and a half years and had been in the house on many occasions.  It was always in a beastly dirty condition.  All the children were filthy – the older lads were equally as bad as the children.   Both parents were of drunken habits, Mrs. Palin being worse than her husband.

Palin – Was the kitchen filthy when you were in on Friday?

Witness – Yes.  I would not keep a pig in it.

Palin – It’s a good job you have got a good home.

Palin denied that the condition of things was as bad as had been made out.  He had had his wife ill for 16 or 17 weeks and had difficulty in earning a living since at the time of the coal strike.

The chairman inquired with regard to the notice given by the sanitary authority.

Inspector Preston said he had found the backyard very filthy.  The back kitchen was inches deep in dirt and a box of kippers was on the floor.  This no doubt would be taken out and the kippers offered for sale.  He reported the matter to the secretary to the Urban Council, and the Inspector of Nuisances visited the house.  He understood that a notice had been served on the landlord stating that the house would be declared unfit for habitation unless the condition of things was altered.  The fireplace fell down on one occasion and almost cut the toes off one of the boys.  The things the defendant hawked in the streets were taken home at nights and witness had seen potatoes, oranges and rhubarb kept in the house.

After the Magistrates had consulted on the matter, Mr. Hough suggested that the case might be adjourned.  If the society could bring about an improvement in the condition of the house and family their object would be gained.

Addressing Palin the Chairman said – We want to give you a chance to put things right.  It seems to be a question of filth more than of lack of nourishment and there is no excuse for that no matter how much poverty there maybe.  We will adjourn the case until 8^th July and if there is no marked improvement you will be dealt with very severely.

Palin – Thank you sir.

Think what you will, but before you go too far this next article was in the Northwich Guardian September 6 1912.

You can find Thomas and his family in the tree here.