Michael McNally, The Fountain Hotel, Consett

[AlanBoyd]

This is the burial of the son who died from chloroform:

Benfieldside, County Durham 
Benfieldside (aka Blackhill or Consett) Cemetery 
19 Jul 1878 Thomas McNally, of Bath Hotel, Consett, age: 11, son of Michael McNally

Thomas is in the 1871 census along with another son, John
1871 Census, Lanchester District
Conside & Knitsley, Consett, Victoria Street
Michael McNally, head, married, 43, Publican, born in Ireland 
Mary McNally, wife, married, 34, born in Ireland 
John McNally, son, 12, Scholar, born in Iveston, County Durham 
Thomas McNally, son, 4, Scholar, born in Knitsley, County Durham 
Catherine McNally, daughter, 2, born in Knitsley, County Durham 
Ann Donley, female servant, 27, Servant, born in Ireland

[AlanBoyd]

The last article that I can find linking McNally to the Fountain Hotel is published in The Consett Guardian 18th August 1893.

This is a report of a case before Consett Petty Sessions in which McNally is charged with permitting drunkenness. He had a defending lawyer and the owners of the premises had separate representation. This is a long article which goes into great detail of who drank what, and where, and served by whom. This is the last section:

After a lengthy consultation, the Chairman said they were unanimous of opinion that the case was proved, and seeing that there was no previous conviction against the defendant, he would be fined £2 and 12s costs, the license not to be endorsed.

Mr Patrick [representing the owners] said he would like to point out how the owners of this house were desirous of having the best tenants possible to conduct their business. In the first instance, if it was the desire of the Bench the tenant would be turned out at once; but he thought some consideration ought to be given to Mr McNally seeing that be had been a publican for 30 years, and this was the first conviction received against him.

The Chairman said they were not disposed to give any advice in the matter, but they desired that Mr McNally should suffer no more than really was necessary.

Mr Patrick said that Mr McNally had already suffered by having his goods destroyed when the premises were burnt down, and the owners were anxious to do the best for the man.

The Chairman: I think this will be a sufficient warning to him.

I may be reading too much between the lines here, but the fact that the representative of the owners, after the verdict was announced, raised the possibility of McNally losing the tenancy suggests that maybe they were unhappy with him and it was only the recent fire that was inhibiting them.

So maybe he was now on probation, and the next transgression resulted in his dismissal – although I haven't found a report of another court case.

[Elliven]

Or maybe he quit in disgust after he took on the pub when it was failing (closed actually) and made it a success and then brought it back to a successful business after the disastrous fire.  After 30 years as a publican, he had one small lapse and the owners failed to support him.  Even the magistrates showed sympathy by giving him the minimum fine and no endorsement on the licence stating that they thought he had learned a lesson.  Probably we will never know the truth.

[Elliven]

AlanBoyd,

The Medici family had quite a few Consett and Leadgate pubs over the years but they were a lot less notorious than the Medicis you are thinking about!

Neville