13th January - MINERS AND OLD AGE PENSIONS.
A meeting of the North Skelton Lodge of the Cleveland Miners' Association forwarded the following resolutions to the Committee appointed by the House of Commons to consider the question of old age pensions.

14th January - VICTORIAN RESPECT FOR THE DEAD.
The remains of Mrs Gowland, the wife of Mr John Gowland, plumber of Skelton, were laid to rest yesterday afternoon in the local cemetery. Deceased was 62 years of age and had lived all her life in her native Parish. She was born to the grave by 6 old apprentices of her husband. Shops were closed and blinds drawn all along the route of the funeral cortege.

31st January - WIFE CRUELTY AND NEGLECT.
Robert Bongen, a miner of Skelton Green, was summoned by his wife Elizabeth Bongen on a charge of persistenT cruelty and neglect to maintain her and her child.
She sought a separation order under the Married Women's Act of 1895. They had been married 2 years and had lived in Cleveland Street, Skelton Green, having one child of 11 months.
About 6 weeks after the birth defendant began to ill use his wife. Several instances of cruel treatment were spoken to. Defendant was prepared to consent to a separation and would make his wife an allowance of 6s 6d per week. An order was made on these terms.

18th April - OFF SCHOOL, BABY MINDING.
Ann Bright was summoned again by Mr John Dixon, the School Board Warden, for neglecting to send her girl to school. She had promised 4 weeks ago to send her or remove her from the district. The daughter had been to school once and was employed nursing infants. Fined 5 shillings

18th April - VACCINATION NO GOOD.
William Jackson, a miner of Skelton, applied for a certificate of exemption from vaccination, but as he only believed there was no virtue in vaccination and could not say he believed the child would be injured in health, the application was refused.

5th May. GROCERS AND DRAPERS DISSOLVED.
Notice is hereby given, that the Partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned,Albert Tuck, of North Skelton, in the county of York,and John Thomas Thompson, of New Skelton, in the said county of York, carrying on business as Grocers and Drapers, at North Skelton and Skinningrove, in the said county, under the style or firm of Tuck and Thompson, has been dissolved by mutual consent as and from the twelfth day of April, 1899.
All debts owing by the said late firm will be paid by the said Albert Tuck, and all debts due to the said firm in respect of the business at North Skelton will be received by the said Albert Tuck, and all debts due to the said firm in respect of the business at Skinningrove will be received by the said John Thomas Thompson....

17th May - BILLIARDS.
The North Skelton Institute billiard team, champions of the Cleveland League were yesterday publicly presented with the silver bowl and medals.

20th May - MINE ACCIDENT.
On Friday a miner named Wilson, living at Ground Hill, Skelton was very badly injured by a fall of roof whilst working in Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Co's Longacre Mine, North Skelton. He was conveyed to the Miners' Hospital, Skelton Green.

30th May - COURT BY THE HARE.
Thomas Lightburn, George Smith and George Snaith, youths, were charged with trespassing on land in the occupation of Henry Robinson at Skelton in pursuit of game on the 12th. Joseph Hoggett, a watcher employed by Skelton Castle Estate saw the 3 on the Tockett's private railway.
One of them got over the fence and a dog coursed a hare, which was not caught. They then got on to a public footpath at Airy hill, where they had 2 or 3 courses among the whins. PC Boynton stopped them, when they denied being off the path. Fined 10s 6d each.

30th May - GAOL FOR A FERRET.
Francis William Agar, Joseph Bostock and Henry Wilbert Rooks were charged with trespass in pursuit of game at Skelton Warren belonging to Mr W H A Wharton on the 17th Thomas Barker saw the men with 2 dogs get up from a rabbit hole.
They had "purse-nestes" in their possession. Bostock refused to be searched and threatened to crack Barker's skull with a thick stick. Rooks picked up a ferret and is now in prison for the unlawful possession of this. The other two were fined 20 shillings each and costs or 1 months hard labour.

31st May - MINING ACCIDENT.
George Cooper, a miner at Bell Bros, Park Mine, Skelton was very seriously injured about the head and shoulders by a fall of roof. He was conveyed to the Miners' Hospital, Guisborough.

7th June - OVER THE HANDLEBARS.
A somewhat serious accident occurred on Sunday morning at Skelton Ellers Bank. A tradesman was on his way to join his family at the seaside, when in negotiating the steep decline leading to the Ellers he applied the brake of his machine too suddenly and as a consequence was thrown to the ground with great force.
His chin had sustained a frightful gash and he was more or less bruised all over. Fortunately Messrs Brown and Pounder were cycling to Guisborough and rendered every assistance and accompanied him to Guisborough where his wounds were stitched up.

15th June - NO SCHOOL WHEN IT RAINS.
There were 2,012 children on the books of the School Board, with 1,590 in average attendance. Owing to an outbreak of measles in Old Skelton the attendance had suffered and several wet days meant some of the larger schools had an average of not more than 30 percent.
It was decided that Summer holidays should be from 14 July to 14 August.

15th June - TEACHERS' PENSIONS.
Members of School Boards and teachers everwhere will watch with interest the developmment of an application which yesterday was made to the Skelton and Stanghow School Board in respect of superannuation of the teaching staff.
The new Act provides that the teachers shall contribute £3 for males and £2 for females per annum.
The application by the Skelton teachers practically means that the Board pays contributions for them, as they pay such small salaries the teachers cannot afford it themselves. A precedent may be set.

20th June - WHAT ABOUT THE TEACHERS PENSIONS ?
Government pensions did not start until the next century.
Letter to the Editor. Sir, I read your report of the North Skelton public meeting with interest and regret.
Inasmuch as we miners are so much interested in old age pensions, and justly so too, we recognise the present inadequacy of the Poor Laws in meeting cases of the deserving poor.
More than that we say that nothing short of a general measure whose funds are provided out of the National Exchequer will safisfy us.
In all fairness would it not be only reasonable to grant to this section of the community quite as absolute an old age pension as we ourselves desire ?
Granted the class referred to are not miners. No Sir. They are in a worse plight than miners, i.e. some of them.
There are plenty of miners earning from 120 to 200 pounds per year. Yet they ask someone else to pay them a pension.
Alas for our consistency. I venture to think that few teachers are getting more than the above and let me ask who deserve better at our hands.
The danger is of us becoming too selfish and cruel in that selfishness. Please allow me to correct Mr North's statement.
If a teacher pays one or more year and ceases to contribute, for whatever number of years he or she has paid they will receive an allowance at the age limit.
Teachers are only mortal, but not more than miners.
I pay all honour to them, realising how the weal of the future of my bairns depends upon their good sense, intelligence and conduct.
I am, Yours truly. Miner.

27th June - INDECENT ASSAULT.
A respectable looking young man named John Flemming was charged by Margaret Donally with indecently assaulting her at Skelton on the 16th. It was said by defence that the case was a trivial one and defendant fined 40s and costs.

30th June - MINERS WAGES.
Letter to Editor. "Miner" says that there are plenty of his class who are making £120 to £200 per year.

4th July - GUISBOROUGH POLICE COURT.
Henry Kirk, a horse driver in the mines, of North Skelton was fined 10s and costs for trespassing on the railway between Skelton and Saltburn.
William Palmer, Henry Wright, John and Henry Hodgson, Fred and Robert Grainger, all boys, were charged with Ernest Palmer, William Hodgson and Henry Kell, who did not appear, with malicious damage to growing hay in the field of Mr George Brack of the Dairy Farm, New Skelton on the 26th. All fined 5s.
George Hodgson was fined 5s for neglecting to send his child to school.

6th July - MINERS' DEMONSTRATION.
The 26th Annual demonstration of the N Yorks and Cleveland Miners and Quarrymen's Association was held in a field off Redcar Rd, Guisborough.
Among the many Lodges attending were No 4 Skelton and No 18 North Skelton, with a total crowd of between 4 and 5 thousand.
They were led on a parade through the town by the bands of Brotton, Guisborough, Skelton, Marske, Skinningrove, Eston, North Skelton, Boosbeck, Stanhope and Frosterley. They were addressed by Mr J H Wilson MP and many others.

11th July - POACHER.
William Harris, a miner, was charged with trespassing in pursuit of game on land occupied by Mr William Young at Claphow Farm, Skelton on the 25th. Fined 21 shillings including costs.

13th July - TEACHERS' PENSIONS.
At the School Board meeting a deputation appointed by the public ratepayers consisting of Messrs John Wood, Daniel Chilvers and David Bannister said they did not want to pay for Teachers' Pensions.
They had always paid for their own clubs and accident premiums and did not see why they should now pay for people who earned twice their wages.
The Board said no decision had yet been made and the discussion was adjourned.

[The Wellesley was an old sailing ship that had taken part in sea battles. It was now moored off North Shields and used as an approved school.
Schools of this type had been created by the Industrial Schools Act of 1866 to provide education for destitute, often orphaned children or ones like Joseph Jackson, who seemed to be out of parental control.

18th July - DAMAGING GRASS.
James Carter was charged with malicious damage to grass while mushrooming in a field belonging to Mr R W Stevenson at Trout Hall, Skelton on the 13th. Fined 11s 6d.

25th July - HEAD CRUSHED IN MINE.

28th July - 19 YEAR OLD MINER KILLED.
North Skelton Mine. William Allanby, a driver aged 19, died as a result of injuries received on the 7th July.
"He was riding in-bye on his horse, against the rules and was crushed between the timber supporting the roof and the horse, causing very severe injury to his back."

9th August - NEW BRIDGE OVER SKELTON BECK.
The work of replacing the old wooden bridge at Old Saltburn by an arch of solid masonry and an embankment roadway has been completed.
A very substantial structure in Pateley Bridge stone has taken place of what was a year ago an insecure and tottering one.
The roadway has been widened and the approach at the east end much improved. Formerly the tide washed under the bridge to great width, but now it is confined to a single arch of 26 feet, sufficiently wide for the rush of the burn and the rest of the space has been embanked with masonry strong enough to defy a stormy sea at high water.
The work commenced in December and fortunately has not been impeded by storms.
Three quarters of the cost of £1,000 will be borne by the County Council with the Saltburn Urban Council and the Skelton and Brotton Council paying an eighth each.

14th August - MINE IDLE.
Messrs Bolckow, Vaughan and Co's Longacre Mine, Skelton was laid idle on Saturday through the breaking of the shaft of the winding engine at the commencement of the morning shift.

21st August - LUNATIC ASYLUM.
Benjamin Payne age 39 of 18 Green Rd, Skelton, was admitted to the Lunatic Asylum, York. He was “suffering from mania, is very lost, no memory, incoherent", the cause of which was “injury to head”. He had worked at various pits in the area and the 1901 census registers him at the Asylum as a “pauper patient, ironstone miner”. He died at York on the 14th October of that year

NO RAILWAY STATION. The railway viaduct over Skelton Beck had been completed in 1872 and a passenger service started in 1875

But the train did not stop in Skelton, as the timetable on this page shows.

The local populace campaigned loudly way into the next century, before they obtained their own station at Hollybush.[1902].
In the meantime most had to travel a mile or two by foot or horse to board a train at Boosbeck, Brotton or Saltburn.
As can be seen there were first class or third class compartments on the carriages.
One could travel from Boosbeck to Saltburn via Skelton, 3rd class, in 22 minutes or so, about 4 miles, for 7 old pence. [about 3 pence in 2006]
To travel from Boosbeck to Darlington return, about 80 miles, took 2 hours each way and cost 3 shillings and eleven pence, and must have been far beyond the average ironstone miner's family means.

30th August - PUNCH IN THE MOUTH.
George Laing Taylor, a miner, was summoned for assaulting James Smith by striking him on the mouth at Skelton on the 19th.
Smith said that he remarked to Laing Taylor about the conduct of his brother, who had assaulted a youth at that place and the response was to be struck in the mouth.
Taylor in defence said that Smith and several other young men threw stones at him and he was obliged to defend himself. Fined 2s 6d and 12s 6d costs.

30th August - PITCH AND TOSS.
For playing pitch and toss at Skelton Green on the 13th, Thomas Lightburn and Arthur Boughen were fined 3s 6d and John Lightburn and Herbert Craine 1s each and costs.

30th August - PINCHED BUTTER BASKET.
Robert Jobson was brought up in custody charged with stealing a butter basket, the property of Dr Merryweather at Skelton and as no one appeared to prosecute the case was adjourned for a week.

6th September - POACHED CONIES.
William Harris, William Ridley, Alfred Hanson, Robert Pennock and John Wood, miners, were charged with trespassing in pursuit of conies on land belonging to Mr W H A Wharton, JP and in the occupation of Messrs Bolckow Vaughan and Co at Skelton.
They were also charged with damaging corn and Hanson was further charged with giving a false name and address. They were fined 5s and 4s 3d costs for trespass, 7s 6d each for damage and Hanson an extra 18s.

12th September - POLICE COURT.
James Young and Elijah Young were charged with malicious damage to two apple trees at Skelton, belonging to Mr Robert Pinkney Petch on the 26th. The trees in the orchard had been stripped and ruined. Fined £1 each including costs.
Christopher Johnson of Skelton was summoned for removing swine into an infected area without a licence. He had bought the pigs at Farndale and taken them home to Skelton. Fined £1 including costs.
Noah Lockwood of Marske was summoned by Mr Henry Newson, the relieving Officer, to show why he should not contribute to the maintenance of his father, Robert Lockwood of Skelton. The old man was too infirm to do anything and the son earned 39s per week, in which to which he had a tobacconist's shop. Ordered to pay 2s per week.

13th September - PLATELAYERS WAGES.
A meeting of representatives of platelayers, [men who laid the railway lines for the movement of tubs of ironstone and waste below and above ground,] was held at the Miners' Institute, North Skelton. The present rate of pay was 3s 2d to 4s per day and it was decided to apply to the mine owners for an advance.

19th September - MINER BURNT WITH BLASTING POWDER.
A miner, named Richard Moody, who lives at Moorsholm, was very seriously hurt about the face and upper parts of his body by a premature explosion of blasting powder in the Claylane Iron Co's South Skelton Mine. He was removed to the Skelton Green Hospital and is progressing.

30th September - ASSAULT ON YOUNG GIRL.
Dalton Taylor, a labourer of Skelton was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Pearson, 10 years of age, of 41 Fenton St, Boosbeck, at Stanghow on Tuesday.
The girl stated that the prisoner joined her and her brother and another lad brambling and after sending the boys away in another direction, took her down the bank, saying that there were a lot of brambles there.

9th October - MINE ROOF FALL.
A miner named Ems was admitted to the Skelton Miners' Hospital suffering from an injury to his head caused by a piece of stone from the top falling upon it whilst working in the Clay Lane Iron Co's South Skelton Mine.

11th October - BOER WAR STARTS.
Beginning of the Boer War in South Africa.
The British, who occupied Cape Colony, declared War on the Boer [Dutch/German] colonies of the Traansval and Orange Free State, allegedly over the taxation and denial of rights of British citizens who had gone there to exploit the gold mines.
A speedy victory was expected, but the Boers used guerilla tactics, which were difficult to combat in the large areas of land involved.
The War continued until 1902.

17th October - POLICE COURT.
Thomas Stanson, farm labourer of Skelton was fined 2s 6d and costs for being drunk and disorderly.
Robert William Carver, miner, was charged with being drunk and disorderly and assaulting Sergeant Dunville and PC Simon at Lingdale. He kicked the officers and was so violent that that had to tie him down and convey him in a cart to the lock up at Skelton.
Being an old offender he was sent to prison for 2 months with hard labour for assault and fined 2s 6d or 14 days for drunkenness.
George Catton, George Sherwood and Matthew Jollings were charged with playing pitch and toss at Skelton Park Pit on the 8th. Fined 3s 6d and costs.
William Ridley, Aaron Faith, William Harris and Joseph Padgett were charged with playing pitch and toss on the highway between North Skelton and Brotton. Fined 10s and costs.
William George Dunn, labourer of Skelton, was summoned by Emma Dunn, his wife under the Married Women's Act. She said she wanted her husband to maintain her and 2 children.
The Bench granted an order for 8s per week and intimated that the wife was not bound to live with her husband.

17th October - MINE DEATH, ROOF FALL.
Longacres Mine. Ralph Johnson, a miner aged 31 was killed.
Arthur Smith, a miner of North Skelton, said that he was working in the same part of the mine as deceased.
The accident happened about 1 p.m on Tuesday. He had just 5 minutes previously seen deceased at work breaking stone. Deceased's mate was charging a hole at the time. Witness went to his own place, which was 40 yards off and returned when he heard shouts of help.
It Jackson that shouted. Half a dozen men went to the spot and found Jackson fastened against the side of the prop and Johnson buried underneath the stone. His arms were wrapped round the bottom of the prop. About 6 or 7 tons had fallen from the roof. Johnson was dead when they got him out and Jackson was injured and still unable to give evidence.
Jackson had charged a shot and Johnson had fired it.
In witnesses opinion the shot was opposite a prop and the stone flying away had knocked two props out and let down the beams. The men were in the act of replacing the props when the roof came down, which could happen two or three minutes after a shot was fired.
Ralph Johnson lived at No 5 Green Road, Skelton and left a widow and a child just 1 month old.
He was the fifth brother of the same family to have been killed by accidents of a similar kind. There were 9 daughters and 6 sons in the family. The mother died very suddenly not long ago.
The sixth brother is said to be recovering from a serious accident he had in one of the Cleveland pits a few weeks ago.

17th October - JEWELLERY HEIST.
John Henry Mohun and William Harris, both miners of North Skelton, were charged with breaking and entering the shop of Mr William Stead at Carlin Howe Road, Skinningrove on the 22nd and stealing a quantity of gold watches, gold alberts and other jewellery of the value of £200.
Mr Stead was called up at 12.30 a.m and on going to his shop found the shutter had been taken off, the window broken and 4 trays of jewellery missing.
Mohun had been seen standing near the Wesleyan Chapel close by after 11 p.m.
A miner named Granger was walking on a footpath leading between Lumpsey Mine and Carlin How and found a white parcel in a drain or culvert. It contained watches. He took it to Loftus Police Station.
The contents were taken out and the parcel made up as it was before and placed back in the drain. Police the kept watch on the place.
At 3.30 p.m on the following day, Mohun left his lodgings and went to Pratt's Corner at North Skelton, where he met Harris and 3 other men. The others left at Millholme Bridge. Harris said that he and Mohun were going to "get them things".
On taking out the parcel Mohun made an exclamation of disappointment.
The officers observing the place tried to cut them off, but they went an unexpected way. PC Buchan followed them on horseback.
On seeing him, Mohun ran off and by dodging round some trucks at Lumpsey mine got clear away. A Mrs Pennock of Brotton said he arrived at her house in a breathless condition, saying he had been chased by the police.
Harris was seen at Skelton at 9 p.m and also said he had been chased. Mohun was arrested eventually at Waterhouses. The handkerchief in which the parcel was wrapped was identified as his by his landlady, Mrs Graham.
The prisoners were committed for trial at the York Assizes.

18th October - FIRE.
Yesterday a fire broke out at the house of Robert Nunn in William Street, North Skelton. It originated under the stairs and obtained a good hold before it was observed. The furniture was destroyed and much damage done to the house before the neighbours were able to subdue the flames.

24th October - BAD TENANT.
At Whitby County Court, George Conn of East Loftus, a labourer, sued Thomas Hight, shoemaker, late of Loftus and now of Skelton in Cleveland for £1 rent and damage to property.
Defendant had rented a house belonging to Conn at 2s 9d per week but the rent had been raised to 3s. After a year he left owing 6s. He sent a postal order for 3s and a cheque for 3s but plaintiff could not cash them.
This was said because plaintiff did not send a receipt within 10 days. Mr Conn also claimed that Hight had damaged the backyard door by cutting a hole in the bottom to give his poultry access and that all the window sash cords were cut and had to be restored.
Also that Hight's son had clambered all over the roof after his pigeons and broken the slates as well as other damage to the coal house and wash house. Ordered to pay 12 shillings and costs.

1st November - ASSAULT ON 13 YEAR OLD GIRL.
Arthur Henry Swainston, a miner, was charged with indecently assaulting Lizzie Bella Webster, aged 13, at North Skelton on October 28th. Mr T D H Stubbs of Middlesbrough defended and after hearing the evidence the charge was reduced to one of common assault and a fine of £1 and 13s costs imposed.

Notable drought with extended heat waves in the summer of this year.

4th November - SKELTON LITERARY INSTITUTE was opened.
The £2,000 cost was paid for by the Whartons of Skelton Castle.
Parish Magazine -
The building is the gift of the Squire.
It contains a handsome reading room on the ground floor, with large billiard room containing two tables on the first floor, together with a room for library and in an adjacent building providing a large lecture hall with two committee rooms behind the platform.
The Squire reserves the right to resume possession of the buildings if they are used for sectarian or political purposes or if not governed and regulated for the poor and benefit of all parishioners alike.
The Institute will be managed by a president, treasurer and secretary together with a committee of 14 members, consisting of 2 Churchmen,

7th November - SOLDIERS AND SAILORS FAMILIES FUND.
To the Editor of the Northern Echo.
Sir, - As President of the Guisborough branch of the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association may I beg my neighbours and friends to help me by subscribing on behalf of the many wives, families and, alas, in some instances widows, who have so bravely and loyally sent out their dearest and their best to fight for their Queen and Country. Believe me, yours truly,
BESSIE S M WHARTON, Skelton Castle, November 4th, 1889.

8th November - POACHER WITH BULKY POCKETS.
A Skelton miner named William Bennett was charged with being a suspected poacher at Skelton. PC Boynton stated that at 8.30 on October 31st he saw the defendant coming from land belonging to Mr W H A Wharton. He noticed that his pockets were bulky and on searching him found 4 nets and net stakes in his possession. Ordered to pay 21s or one month's hard labour. The nets etc were ordered to be destroyed.

13th November - MILITARY ENTERTAINMENT AT NORTH SKELTON.
There was a large gathering in the Miners' Institute in aid of the Christmas dinner fund for aged miners of the village.
The principal feature of the evening's proceedings consisted of "Reminiscences from an Old Soldiers Diary", given by Mr W Walker of North Skelton, who was formerly in the East Surrey Regiment.
Mr Walker in an interesting manner described a voyage to India by the Cape of Good Hope, a march through our Oriental Empire and gave details of the life of a soldier in the Far East and the incidents of the return journey by way of the Suez Canal.

17th November - WATCH ON TICK.
At Guisborough County Court before his Honour Judge Templar, Messrs Joseph Harris and Sons of Manchester sued Richard Pennock, an old miner, of North Skelton for £2 5s, which was the balance on the cost of a watch. A traveller of the firm sold the defendant a watch in 1894 for £5 15s to be paid in instalments, with a 15s discount if the payments were regularly kept up.
The defendants wife had paid £3 9s up to July last, but nothing since and said Richard had been ill. His Honour thought the discount should still be allowed and gave judgment for 30s and costs to be paid at 2s per month.

18th November - BOER WAR, RESERVISTS CALLED UP.
Last night at the Miners' Institute at North Skelton an enthusiastic audience, who had met to give a send-off to 3 reservists belonging to the place. Their names were Marley, Codling, and Keeley, who have been summoned to rejoin their Regiment, The Princess of Wales's Own Yorkshire, now mobilising at Aldershot.
Many local dignitaries were present. Each reservist were presented with a pipe, tobacco, tobacco case and a card portrait of Mr Wharton and Skelton Castle.
The Skelton Volunteer band were present and played Rule Britannia, Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem. A considerable amount of money had been collected for the men who were leaving.

19th November - BOER WAR COLLECTION
Collections were made in aid of the wives and children of our soldiers [including reservists] and sailors who are called out on account of the war in South Africa in all our churches.
Calling out the reserves has intensified the interest felt by all classes in those who have gone out to fight our battles, for it means calling out men who are engaged in different occupations side by side with and who are living in many cases with their wives and children in our streets.
When the bread winner is called to leave his work and join again his old regiment it means not only leaving wife and children, who may never see him again, but leaving them without his wage to live upon, dependent upon the much smaller allowance paid to a soldiers's wife.
And even this is not paid in the case of a large proportion who are not, as it is called, on the strength of the regiment.
The same applies to regular soldiers who have married without leave.
England demands that this time the wives and children and, alas,in some cases, the widows and orphans, shall not be left unprovided for and that the heart of the soldier shall be cheered as he bravely bears the hardship and peril in the field that we "at home are taking care of the wives and kids".
Besides the collections we hear that the members of the St John Ambulance Associations in the Parish have contributed over £12 for Red Cross work in succouring and nursing the wounded at the seat of war.
And at the "set off" on Monday, when our people turned out in their hundreds to see off the reservists from Saltburn Station, they gave a practical turn to their cheering by subscribing upwards of £5 , which they handed to the wife of the married one.

21st November - BOER WAR RESERVISTS LEAVE.
Yesterday the 3 Reservists of Skelton, W Marley, B Keeley and W Codling left their homes. Their Regiment the Princess of Wales' Own Yorkshire are mobilising at Aldershot and they have been ordered to report to Richmond.
They were accorded a most enthusiastic send off by the miners of the village, who assembled in hundreds. Skelton High Street presented a lively scene quite unusual in the village.
The band of the Skelton Rifle Volunteers turned out in uniform and headed a procession which soon formed, the 3 men being carried shoulder high.
The band preceded them all the way to Saltburn and after crossing the Halfpenny Bridge they were again carried to the Railway Station. As the 5.41 train was signalled out the band struck up "Auld Lang Syne".

23rd November - BOER WAR RELIEF FUND.
It has been arranged that the Cleveland League match between Guisborough Priory and Skelton on the 2nd December shall be a benefit match for the Soldiers and Sailors Relief Fund. Half the average receipts and all surplus will be given to the fund and the townspeople's interest should mean a large attendance.

12th December - DRUNK IN CHARGE OF A CART.
Samuel Walker was charged with being drunk in charge of a horse and cart on the 10th. Superintendent Clarkson and Inspector Bolland were driving on the road from Guisborough to Skelton when they met the defendant with a waggonette near Skelton Ellers.
His horse was down on the road and he himself being helplessly drunk. They had to put the vehicle into a field and locked up the defendant at Skelton. Fined 15 shillings including costs.

19th December - OLD FOLKS CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.
The Literary Institute at North Skelton was crowded with an enthusiastic audience, when a concert was held promoted by the committee of the North Skelton Lodge of the Cleveland Miners' Association in aid of a fund for providing seasonable gifts for 16 aged and infirm workmen living in the village.

20th December - SHOEMAKER SMASHED GAS LAMPS.
Harry Barwick, a shoemaker, was charged with breaking several lamp glasses, the property of the Cleveland Gas Company, at Skelton on the 3rd December. He was ordered to pay 7s 6d damage, £1 fine and costs - in all £2 0s 6d.

20th December - THE GREAT SKELTON CASTLE HEIST.
Eleanor Mitchell Lowe, a respectably dressed young woman, whose address is 78 Seymour Place, Bryan-stone Square, London, was brought up in custody charged with stealing one diamond gipsy ring, one diamond and sapphire breast pin and one gold collar stud, value £25, the property of Lieut Alexander Fitzgerald Watts of Longhull, Guisborough on December 13th at Skelton Castle.
Lt Watts was on a visit to the Castle and reported the missing items to the police.
Jessie Collins, the Castle housekeeper, said Miss Lowe came to the Castle on the 4th as maid to a lady who was visiting Mrs Wharton, the wife of the Squire. She left on the 13th. On one day while she was there Jessie noticed that she was wearing a breast pin similar to the one produced. She would have had to pass Mr Watt's bedroom whilst going to her own apartments.
Inspector John Bolland of the Guisborough Police and Supt Clarkson was at Skelton on the 13th when he apprehended Miss Lowe on her way to Saltburn Railway Station.
She was taken to Skelton Police Station and searched. On being charged she replied, "I have nothing to say."
When they began to examine her satchel, she thrust her hand into it and drew forth some tissue paper, in which were wrapped the stolen goods. She said, "Here are the ring and pin. I don't know whatever made me do this. I am ruined for life, but I hope you will do the best you can for me."
She was further charged with stealing 2 blankets, 2 large plated dinner forks, 3 small forks, 2 dessert spoons, 3 tea spoons, 3 egg spoons, a china cup and saucer and 2 towels, the property of Mrs W H A Wharton.
Jane Blenkinsopp, a maid at the Castle, said she went to Skelton Post Office with Miss Lowe with 2 parcels and William Wood, assistant to Mr Kingston, postmaster, confirmed addressing the labels to a place in London.
James Moore, a detective with the Metropolitan Police went to Seymour Place and found the parcels with the stolen items.
Miss Lowe was committed to the Quarter Sessions for trial without bail.
At the Northallerton Quarter Sessions, held on the 5th January 1900, she was sentenced on 2 charges to a total of 18 months in prison with hard labour.