Monday, April 3, 2006

100 years ago

A hansom cab proprietor named Jacob R Oliver sued Fred Bell, a cabman, in the York County Court for the recovery of £3. It was said that Bell was sent by Oliver to buy a horse and hansom for £13, or less if he could, from a man who Bell said had a horse and hansom to dispose of. Oliver handed Bell £18 altogether, and when the latter returned with a horse and hansom he said he had paid £10 for the horse and £5 for the hansom. He declined to tell Oliver the name of the man from whom he made the purchase, and refused to show a receipt. Later Oliver found out that the horse and hansom were purchased from Thomas Stocker, cab proprietor of Cambridge, for £12. Stocker told his lordship that Bell asked him to make out a receipt for £15, but he refused. A verdict was given for Oliver for £3 and costs.

50 years ago

British scientists had left for the Monte Bello Island, off Australia, to complete preparations for Britain's third series of atomic weapon tests. This was announced at Canberra by the Australian Minister for Supply, Mr Howard Beale. Mr Beale said the fall out from these tests would be less than that caused by the explosion in 1952. The tests would be at the north of the islands, and weapons would be detonated from a tower in the same area as that used in 1952. Instruments would be set up round the detonation area, and scientists would man camera sites on Hermite Island. Mr Beale said: "There will be no danger to people or stock on the mainland." Russia had also undertaken another nuclear test, it was disclosed in Washington. This was the second announcement of a Russia test made by the US Atomic Energy Commission in the past 13 days, and the sixth in the eight months.

25 years ago

York Minster bells would ring the following day to celebrate a 300-year-old record. The first peal of 12 bells ever heard in this country was rung in York in 1681. Twelve ringers aimed to complete 5,000 changes in a four-hour marathon. They would be led by Mr David Potter, captain of York Minster Society of Change Ringers and the team would include guests from churches in Lancashire and Leicestershire. The ringers would use a method known as Grandsire Cinques, which had been handed down through 250 years. "Under the rules we are not allowed any replacement during the four hours," said Mr Potter. "Each change of 12 bells takes two seconds and we use the Grandsire method but work the changes out from that as we go."

Updated: 11:56 Saturday, April 01, 2006