From this newspaper 150 years ago (June 17, 1865)

THE headline said: “Alleged murder at Barnard Castle”. Three members of the South Durham militia, Joseph West, Dominick Roake and James Haffey, appeared in court in Barney charged with the murder of Henry Mckenery, a fellow militiaman, whose body had been found washed up on the banks of the Tees at Manfield.

The three accused were Irishmen, who lived at Sunderland.

They had been drinking on May 29 in Barnard Castle, where Mckenery had been "chaffing in a friendly manner, but there were no hard words between them".

However, outside Christopher Harbottle’s public house in the riverside Bridgegate, Haffey was seen to strike Mckenery above the eye and draw blood.

“Mckenery did not defend himself,” said the paper. “He afterwards paid for a quart of ale, part of which he drank.” Then, at about 11 o’clock, he left the pub, closely followed by Roake, Haffey and West.

Witness Harriet Hall, who had gone to Harbottle’s to find her own errant husband, said she saw a group of men leave the pub. “She saw a man laying on the ground, and three or four others standing about. One of these men either struck or kicked the man who was lying down on the right eye. She was so frightened she could not see whether the blow was delivered with the hand or the foot. She could not identify any of the men, but she heard one of them say they would give the b----r it for biting."

This lack of positive identification was a familiar theme from those who entered the witness box. Even Mr Harbottle, the publican, could not identify the assailants, although he said he saw "a little soldier strike a man".

Only one witness, Thomas Longstaff, offered any kind of verification. He said he "saw the same men about forty yards down Bridgegate, but there was no quarrelling going on. Roake was one of the men”.

Longstaff was immediately challenged by the man he had named, and you can sense the threatening atmosphere in the court from the report:

“Roake: Don't you think you are mistaken in the man?

“Witness (hesitatingly): I can't say that I am mistaken.”

The prisoners were remanded in custody for a week when the case would resume.

From this newspaper 100 years ago (June 19, 1915)

THE pages were full of reports of local men dying at the front, but every cloud has a silver lining. Under the headline “Changing Ripon”, the D&ST reported: “The military camp on the outskirts of Ripon has brought about a wonderfully changed condition in the affairs of the city.

“The old time ecclesiastical atmosphere, familiar to residents for so long, is being succeeded by a bustle never anticipated six months ago.

“Besides the three or four thousand workers employed at the camp who flock into the city after working hours, the streets are filled each evening with crowds of khaki-clad soldiers from the South Camp, a considerable portion of which is now occupied.

“The occupation of the camp by the military has naturally brought an influx of visitors, particularly at the weekends, and these people are almost at loss to find accommodation. Indeed, many Ripon residents who never accepted visitors in the past are now taking them in on most advantageous terms.

“Another sign of the times is the scarcity of boy labour in the city. The demand at the camp for youths far exceeds the supply. High wages are offered, and errand boys have been drawn away in large numbers, and their former employers are now to be seen on occasions in the undignified position of carrying out parcels.

“Many tradesmen are attempting to meet the difficulty by employing female labour, of which, however, there is also a scarcity.

“Despite the exigencies of war time, Ripon is at the moment passing through an era of prosperity never known in its history.”

From this newspaper 50 years ago (June 19, 1965)

THE Farmer’s Bible was drooling over the technological wonders at an agricultural exhibition.

It said: “There was just about everything for the farmer and the average gardening man at the open day on Wednesday of Farmway Ltd, agricultural engineers of Piercebridge.

“One could spend hours marvelling at the giant, green-painted Bamford combine, costing £3,115, or the smaller Viking harvester (used for two seasons only) at £1,275.”

Manfully, the reporter tore himself away from the marvellous green giant, only to find himself enthralled by a small, floating, orange device which had only been invented the year before.

“Of particular interest during the day was the Flymo, a little lawnmower utilising the ‘hovercraft’ principle,” said the report. “Originally patented in Sweden, it is now being manufactured at Newton Aycliffe and sells for 35 guineas.

“Weighing less than 30lbs, it floats on a cushion of air and is ideal for trimming grass verges and golf courses.”

The hover, of course, took the bother out of lawnmowing.