New Year Quarrel Over A Victorian Penny
In the early days of Queen Victoria’s reign a local joiner treated his workmen to a New Year drink … regrettably that night would deprive nine young children of their fatherly protection forever.
New Year Quarrel over a Victorian Penny
On the evening of New Years Day, 1839 Mr. T. Ladyman, a local carpentry contractor treated the men in his employ to a number of drinks in the Theatre Tavern and other Preston town centre public houses. Among the groups of joiners was John Alderson, aged 30, a married man with three small children and 42 year old William Bell who had a wife and six children.
As the evening wore on members of the party gradually dispersed and went their separate ways. By this time much drink had been consumed by most of them and they parted in high spirits.
Later that night, shortly before eleven o’clock, John Alderson turned up at the Wellington Tavern in Glover Street; he seemed somewhat the worse for drink. Already in this public house was fellow joiner William Bell and Alderson sat himself down near to his acquaintance.
Bell, who appeared to still be reasonably sober, was sat with a friend, drinking a glass of rum. He started to talk to Alderson who appeared to be drunk and oblivious to the conversation going on around him. Bell then accused Alderson of owing him a penny and when he got no reaction from him, struck him a blow and sent him crashing to the floor.
The landlord immediately reacted to the situation and ordered the aggressive William Bell from the premises. The blow that Alderson received had not been a very violent one and although appearing to be in a sleepy condition he remained in the Wellington Tavern for a few more minutes. Then in the company of another joiner, he made his way home to nearby Pleasant Street, where both he and William Bell lived almost opposite each other.
After sitting by the fire for a few minutes in the company of his wife, Alderson without speaking got up from his chair and went into the street. He crossed the road and tried the door latch of the home of William Bell, it was locked. Next he started to shout saying “Bell, come out, I want to pay you for what you’ve done to me at the Wellington”, and rattled the door.
Within a couple of minutes Bell’s door opened and he rushed out with a penknife in his hand to confront Alderson. The irate Bell, who was only about one yard away, flashed the threatening weapon in his right hand and said: “ I will do for thee in a few minutes if thou will step a foot further I will stick it through your heart”.
Alderson replied: “ I will try thee”, and stepped closer to Bell, whereupon a scuffle commenced between the pair. The outcome was that within a minute Alderson had been stabbed and blood was dripping from his left side in the region of his heart.
His wife, who had been a witness to the sorry affair, rushed to his aid and helped him back home where he died within a few minutes. His last words to his wife had been: “ Fetch the constables”. By the time they and the local doctor arrived the life of John Alderson was over.
Reacting to the information received, the constables went across to the home of William Bell, where they found him lying on the bed in his nightshirt. When they asked him to accompany them, he replied: “ I will go quietly”. As he was dressing the constables examined his clothes and in a pocket of his jacket, they found a penknife, which had traces of blood upon it.
It was now some thirty minutes after midnight and the constables escorted Bell to the lock up in Avenham Street. He appeared to be much affected by the drink and staggered very much on his way there. Next morning, when confronted with his terrible crime, he claimed that he had been so drunk that he had no recollection of anything that had taken place.
Bell, a stout broad man and a native of Kirby Lonsdale, was subsequently charged with the Wilful Murder of John Alderson, who had been a native of Poulton. He was described as a hardworking man but one who was disliked by his workmates on account of his violent disposition and a history of aggressive behaviour.
At the following Spring Assizes at Lancaster Castle, Bell appeared charged with Wilful Murder. The incident in the Wellington Tavern was related again with Bell claiming that the deceased man owed him a penny piece. Alderson’s widow then gave her account of the tragic incident. The local constables afterwards reporting on the drunken state of the accused following his arrest and the fact that he had said: “ I don’t care – he deserves all he got”, when told of Alderson’s death.
The counsel for the defence addressed the Jury at considerable length and endeavoured to show them that no witness had seen the fatal blow, and that Alderson may have suffered by rushing on to the weapon, suggesting that manslaughter was a more fitting verdict.
His Lordship after going through the evidence gave an elaborate explanation of the legal distinction between murder and manslaughter. The Jury then desired to retire and after an absence of just ten minutes returned to court, and the Foreman announced their verdict of “Aggravated Manslaughter”.
His Lordship feelingly addressed the prisoner on the great criminality of his conduct, and concluded by sentencing him to be ‘Transported For Life’, telling him that for some years he would be amongst the worst class of those transported.
Just a few years ago the newly installed licensee of the Wellington Tavern told of strange goings on at the public house. There were unexplained noises on the landing at night and it was thought that the spirit of the victim of this nineteenth century tragedy was roaming the building in search of the Victorian coin at the centre of the row.
Local Historian
Keith Johnson 2005