File:Robert Jackson, hawker, arrested for stealing money (22585079162).jpg

Name: Robert Jackson Arrested for: not given Arrested at: North Shields Arrested on: 2 July 1915 Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-260-Robert Jackson

The Shields Daily News for 5 July 1915 reports:

“THEFT OF £5. NEWCASTLE MAN GETS SIX MONTHS HARD LABOUR AT NORTH SHIELDS.

Robert Jackson (31) a hawker, of 2 Carlisle Street, Newcastle, was charged at North Shields today, with having stolen, on the 1st inst., £5, the property of John Mackie, while in the Golden Fleece Inn, New Quay.

John Mackie, a naval stoker, said that at 7.15pm on the 1st inst. he was in the Golden Fleece Inn, New Quay, and had some words with another man. Witness said the man was a German, and he (witness) would give him £5 if he could prove that he was an Englishman, Scotchman or an Irishman. He laid the £5 on the counter and defendant came across and picked it up. John W. Herd said he was in the bar at the time and he told the defendant to give the prosecutor his money back. Defendant said “There is half a sovereign: that’s all I’ve got”. Defendant denied this.

Sergt. Askew stated that he arrested defendant shortly after 7.15 on that night. When charging him the sergeant was suspicious and asked defendant what he had in his mouth. Defendant opened his mouth and took out a sovereign. Jackson then asked if he could speak to the man who was charging him. He was under the influence of drink at the time. When charged the next day, defendant denied having stolen the money. Defendant pleaded not guilty and said the money he put in his mouth was his own. He put it there because it looked suspicious.

Chief Constable Huish said that in 1913 defendant was committed for 18 months for assault and robbery and in February this year he was again committed for three months. Defendant asked for a chance and he would join the army, but he was committed to prison for six months with hard labour.”

These images are taken from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 (TWAM ref. DX1388/1). This set is our selection of the best mugshots taken during the First World War. They have been chosen because of the sharpness and general quality of the images. The album doesn’t record the details of each prisoner’s crimes, just their names and dates of arrest.

In order to discover the stories behind the mugshots, staff from Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums visited North Shields Local Studies Library where they carefully searched through microfilm copies of the ‘Shields Daily News’ looking for newspaper reports of the court cases. The newspaper reports have been transcribed and added below each mugshot.

Combining these two separate records gives us a fascinating insight into life on the Home Front during the First World War. These images document the lives of people of different ages and backgrounds, both civilians and soldiers. Our purpose here is not to judge them but simply to reflect the realities of their time.