File:John William Atkinson, arrested for breaking and entering (19550102306).jpg

English: Name: John W. Atkinson

Arrested for: Break & Enter
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 28 July 1904
Tyne and Wear Archives ref:DX1388-1-53-John Atkinson
The Shields Daily Gazette for 28 July 1904 reports:
“ALLEGED SHOPBREAKING AT TYNEMOUTH
At North Shields, John William Atkinson, 20, a labourer belonging to Newcastle, was charged with breaking and entering on the 28th inst. a refreshment shop on the Grand Parade, Tynemouth, and stealing a quantity of cakes and chocolate, the property of Mr J.H. Graham, and also with breaking and entering on the same date another sweet shop on the Grand Parade, and stealing a silver watch and albert. He was remanded for eight days”.
The Shields Daily Gazette for 4 August 1904 reports:
“SHOPBREAKING AT TYNEMOUTH. HOT PURSUIT AFTER A PRISONER
At North Shields, John William Atkinson, 20, labourer, Newcastle was charged with breaking and entering two shops on the Grand Parade, Tynemouth and stealing goods to the value of 8s 3d, the property of John Harker Graham and to the value of £1 1s 6d, the property of Maynard Ltd.
The evidence for the prosecution was to the effect that the prisoner had in both cases effected an entrance through the fanlights above the doors, ransacked the shops and filled his pockets with the articles mentioned in the charge. After leaving his second shop he stood awhile in the Grand Parade where he was seen by PC Telford, whose suspicions were at once aroused.
As soon as the prisoner caught sight of the constable he bolted over the sea-banks and along the sands, the policeman in hot pursuit. He sought cover among the bathing machines but was chased out of his hiding place and made another run for liberty. Telford doggedly followed his man and eventually ran him to earth at the south end of the beach. Searching him he found the young man’s pockets full of sweetmeats, which he admitted having got from the refreshment house. At the Police Station he found the rest of the rest of the articles in the prisoner’s possession. Accused was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions”.
The Morpeth Herald for 22 October 1904 reports:
“John Wm Atkinson (24), miner for breaking into the shop of Messrs. Maynard, Tynemouth and stealing a watch and some chocolate at Tynemouth on July 28th and for stealing scissors, a knife, ginger ale and chocolate from John H. Graham at Tynemouth on the same day, was sent to prison for two months”.
These images are a selection from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 in the collection of Tyne & Wear Archives (TWA ref DX1388/1).
This set contains mugshots of boys and girls under the age of 21. This reflects the fact that until 1970 that was the legal age of majority in the UK.

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