25 YEARS AGO

KIDNAP boy Paul Getty 111 was re-united with his mother today after being released in Southern Italy - with his right ear missing. His family had offered to pay a ransom of £1.4million to the kidnappers who had cut off the ear and posted it to the boy's mother. The 17-years-old was found on a motorway, and apart from his missing ear is said to be in good health.

From the Evening News, December 15, 1948

A SOCIETY founded 108 years ago, the Bolton Poor Protection Benevolent Society, held its annual meeting in the Town Hall today. Although schemes of social security have taken a great deal of responsibility from the Society, there is still need of its work, said Mr Geoffrey L. Tillotson, treasurer. Before the war, £2,500 a year was spent in grants to the poor and needy. Today, even with the increased cost of living, less than £1,000 was spent, but income, too, had decreased.

Practically the whole of the assistance given by the Society is now limited to cases of distress due to sickness, infirmity and old age, and consists of grants for food, coal, convalescent treatment and surgical requisites.

125 YEARS AGO

ON Tuesday a severe gale swept over a large district of England, and caused the death of a number of persons, besides destroying a large amount of property. Although no serious accidents are reported in Bolton as the result of the gale yet in the immediate neighbourhood the wind had a disastrous effect. At Astley Bridge there are some houses in the course of erection by Mr Holden, contractor. They were nearly approaching completion, for when the workmen left off work on Monday night they were ready for roofing. On the men resuming work in the morning, it was found that a portion of two of the houses which was exposed to the force of the wind, was blown down. Efforts were at once made to repair the damage; but the work of destruction still went on, for at two-o'-clock in the afternoon half a dozen houses were as nearly as possible razed to the ground. This will make it necessary for the remainder at present standing to be pulled down, as they are so insecure and shaky.

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