Accrington Railways - Robert Kenyon

Mr Kay QC with Mr Edwards, were appearing for Boothman, whilst for the L & Y the legal team consisted of Mr Pope QC, along with Messrs Russell and Jordan. During the trial it was revealed that Boothman had previously stood trial for perjury and had been acquitted, but had served 10 days in gaol. He also admitted being found to have committed an immoral act. After hearing all the medical evidence, the Judge advised the jury that if indeed injuries had been sustained, it was just a matter of the amount of compensation the plaintiff would receive. Following short deliberations, the jury found in favour of the defendants and the case was dismissed. It was then revealed that prior to the hearing an offer of £250 had been made to withdraw the suit but had been refused and on several previous occasions, and Boothman had actually purchased other actions for damages against the Railway Company. May The Bill concerning the amalgamation of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway with the London & North Western Railway, was placed before a Select Committee of the House of Commons. July Mr J. C. Hindle, who had worked at Accrington Station for twenty-three years, was promoted to District Superintendent of the Liverpool Division of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. He had always been a supporter of the town in various organisations. He was succeeded by Mr Winterbottom from Burnley. In December Mr Hindle, who would retire from the L & Y after twenty-seven years, was presented with two bronze vases, an elegant timepiece and an illuminated address out of donations totalling 100 guineas, which reflected the respect of his colleagues. August On Wednesday evening, the 17 th , the 7:40pm train to Manchester started off from Accrington Station with an engine on the front and another at the rear banking the train. This got about halfway up Baxenden incline when due to a steam pipe splitting the train locomotive stalled to a halt, the jerk causing the couplings to snap. The train then began to roll back down towards the station, the speed only being moderated by an application of the brakes on the banking engine. With sparks flying and a great screeching of the wheels it finally was brought to a standstill from where it had started on the platform. No passengers were injured but many were alarmed. The defective locomotive was removed and a replacement found within ten minutes, when the journey continued behind the new one. October On Saturday the 18 th , at Preston Quarter Sessions, the L & Y were contesting the new rateable value to be imposed upon them by the Haslingden Union, which encompassed Accrington. Mr Edwards for the Company, said that in ten years there had been an increase in rates from £400 to £1,248 per mile of track. Mr Leresche said, according to the valuation made during 1862, the estimated gross rental of the Company was, within the township of Accrington £132 – 18s – 0d, with a net rateable value of £106 – 5s. These had remained the same until this year when it had been raised to £283 – 9s gross, and £234 – 14s respectively. The gross estimated rental was made up of £147 – 12s for the lines, plus £135 – 17s for the buildings, whilst the net rateable value of £234 – 14s included £111 – 14s for the station, and £123 for the lines. Mr Dugdale, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the L & Y, had informed his shareholders on the takeover of the East Lancs Railway in 1859 that revenue stood at £824,490 whilst in 1873 this had risen to £1,600,239, and at the present time they were paying a dividend to holders of ordinary shares of 7¾%. The L & Y had also refused to open their books for examination, so that these figures could be tested according to Mr Leresche. A former accountant for the L & Y, Mr Edge, stated that the earnings per mile between Baxenden and Haslingden in 1852 were £3,178, and between Baxenden and Accrington £3,055 per mile, the average for the whole of this section being £3,180. By 1870 this had increased by over 51% to £6,150. According to the books, this had risen again to £7,358 in 1872. The number of trains operating on the line between Accrington and Haslingden was 380 each week. On the Accrington side of Baxenden Station the average revenue was £5,865, whilst on the Baxenden to Haslingden section this figure was £6,100. Mr William Benbow, from the L & Y’s accounts department was called to give evidence, and he produced a set of traffic returns for the line, but these he admitted did not include the revenue generated for the transportation of coal. A Mr Botte was then called and he presented figures which should be deducted from the gross earnings of £4,286 with regard to the operating costs of the line, chiefly those related to the locomotives and their maintenance. In his summing up Mr Edwards stated, “I have found no justification for the trebling of these rates, and the case for adding 80% for the increase in traffic has not been proven. Having made a deduction from 15% to 10% upon the tenant’s capital and allowing £415 for working expenses, it has only increased the rateable value from £400 to £500 and not the £1,248 sought”. The Chair did allow Mr

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