February 9, 1876 - Part One

“ Local news is scarce.

  Crows are becoming plenty in the country.

  The country roads are in some places impassable.

  The Mayor’s dinner was held last night in the Royal Hotel.”

      Hamilton Spectator  February 9, 1876

        Definitely a slow news period in Hamilton, early February 1876.

          Nothing much to share as regards February 8^th,  and the lead for the following days said it all – “local news is scarce”

      A quick note about Michael McConnell :

 “The wife of the convicted man visited him on Monday and had a talk with him. He did not appear much affected and talked quite rationally to her about family affairs.” The wacky weather referred to once again :

“Another startling change in the weather has taken place, and has effectually stopped the mouths of the weather prophets, who get mad now if you ask them what kind of winter we’re going to have.”

       The Spectator reporter reporter did manage to get one story by visiting the police station on King William street:

       This afternoon, a dilapidated looking female named Catharine Marshall, appeared at the Police office and got out a warrant for Mary Searles. Her face was terribly blackened and bruised, her right eye being completely closed up, and her nose quite swollen and black. She was much the worse for liquor, and she and Mary Searles had evidently been pounding on each other in a drunken spree. Mrs. Marshall, who is possessed of a rich flow of words, startled the Chief by telling him that she had been killed, murdered and beaten to death, and that there was not a whole bone in her body. The case will come up tomorrow morning.”

          As noted above, the mayor of Hamilton hosted his annual dinner at the Royal Hotel – proceedings of which will be recounted in the next post.