Reminiscences of Rotherham
by Alderman Geo. Gummer, J.P.
« « prevmother’s customers. Every Sunday he paraded to the Parish Church with a big Bible and a hymn book under his arm. One of his delusions took the form of being an owner of some valuable property, which he was kept out of by his enemies. He used to tell we boys that he was a Divinity, and when we yelled in derision, he would cry like a child. Except ing when in drink, Joe was quite harmless.
Lounging in the street one day, with hands in both pockets and a cutty clay between his teeth, he met a local tradesman (a strong advocate of temperance and non-smoker), who accosted him thus, 'Joe, my lad, I am sorry to see that pipe in your mouth.' 'Hold yer noise, Mr. ---' quoth Joe, 'I bought t’ bacca ‘ at your Shop'.
Poor Joe, after his mothers death, took to a vagabond life, starvation and drink playing havoc with his previous strong frame. He died in the Workhouse in 1885.
Another curious character, Silas Cooper,travelled hundreds of miles in search of the very poisonous Deadly Night-Shade and Mandrake Root.
Poor Silas a cripple all his life, afflicted with distorted knees and extraordinarily big feet, had three sisters named Faith. Hope, and Charity, and an eccentric old mother, who used to wear a long blue cape extending to her knees, and a big printhood. She obtained a livelihood by selling home made pickles, bread and teacakes.
ROTHERHAM BOB
Robert Huntingdon, another celebrity, well known as Rotherham Bob, at election times used to paint his face with many colours and turn his clothes inside out. Burlesquing in this grotesque manner,he paraded the streets and begged coppers. which he spent in drink. This poor half witted creature’s craving for intoxicants brought him repeatedly before the magistrates for drunkenness, his appearances numbering well over one hundred, his facial expressions under the most favoured circumstances were most repulsive under the influence of drink his appearance became horrible and grotesque.During Alderman Neill’s occupancy of the civic chair an incident in Rotherham Bob’s life became a cause célèbre. Charged with having been drunk and disorderly and damaging the property of the landlord of the Angel Inn, he was lodged in gaol.
During the Mayor’s temporary absence from town Bob was brought before Alderman Marsh. the deputy mayor, and remanded for a few days. On his Worship’s arrival in town, he attended the Court house and set Bob at liberty. The date of the remand arrived, and Mr. Hickmot t, a young solicitor attended at the Court with evidence to prove his case against the prisoner. To his astonishment, however, he found that he had been Iiberated.
At the first meeting of the Court, Mr. Hickmott complained to the County Justices (there was no Borough Bench then), contending that the Mayor had exceeded his jurisdiction in discharging without evidence a prisoner whom another magistrate had remanded to a stated date.
At the following Police Court, Alderman Neill stated his reason for releasing Bob. Expressing sympathy for the poor half witted individual, he publicly admonished Mr. Hickmott for making his complaint. He made personal remarks ahout the youth and inexperience and self-conceit of this young lawyer which, raised a deal of indignation in the town.
Although Mr. Hickmott was only fulfilling a public duty, he found later on that there are some public men it doesnot pay to cross » next
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