File:Name- Mary Bryan (21433711426).jpg

English: Name: Mary Bryan

Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 22 February 1907
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-43-Mary Bryan
The Shields Daily News for 1 March 1907 reports:
“ALLEGED FRAUD AT NORTH SHIELDS.
At North Shields Police Court today, Margaret Bryan (70), widow, Lawson Street, was charged on a warrant, with having obtained, by means of false pretences, groceries to the value of 12s 10d, from Mary Dignan, between the 28th Jan. and the 2nd Feb.
Mr G.R. Duncan appeared for the defence. The evidence showed that the accused came to the shop of the prosecutrix in Vicarage Street on three occasions between the dates mentioned and was supplied with groceries on credit. She said her husband was a plater employed at Smith’s Dock and that she would pay on the Saturday. Mrs Dignan made enquiries and found that her statement was incorrect.
Upon a point raised by Mr Duncan the case was adjourned until tomorrow for the production of the prosecutrix’s books.
The Shields Daily News for 2 March 1907y reports:
“THE NORTH SHIELDS FALSE PRETENCES CASE. ACCUSED BOUND OVER.
At the North Shields Police Court this morning, Mary Bryan (70), married, 26 Lawson Street, was charged on remand with obtaining groceries to the value of 12s 10d, by false pretences, from Mary Dignan, between Jan. 28 and Feb. 2.
The case was adjourned from yesterday for the production of an order book by the prosecutrix. This was handed in and minutely examined by Mr Duncan, who represented the accused. Detective Radcliffe spoke to apprehending the accused at 26 Lawson Street, and charging her with the offence. She denied the offence but admitted having received the groceries. Chief Constable Huish said on the day the woman was arrested he asked her where her husband was and she then told him she was a widow. After being remanded yesterday, witness asked her if she was a widow and she replied, “Yes, a grass widow”. She also said her husband had been in the workhouse for about five years and during the last two years had been in that institution permanently. He was 80 years of age. Witness made enquiries at the workhouse and there found her husband, who was 74 years of age.
Mr Duncan: Do you think it quite English to interrogate a defendant after a remand?
The Chief Constable: I considered it fair to the woman herself. The woman and her daughter had been travelling between Newcastle, Wallsend and North Shields, taking houses and obtaining goods as in this case, and had used four different names.
The accused gave evidence on her own behalf and denied making any false statement to the prosecutrix. She certainly did not say that her husband was a plater and worked at Smith’s Dock as the prosecutrix alleged.
Mr Duncan pleaded for leniency and the Bench bound her over for 6 months to come up for judgement if called upon. They suggested that the money should be refunded. If she paid it back, the magistrates would take it into consideration when she came up again for sentence”.

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