File:Peter Taylor, coppersmith, arrested for stealing from his employers (22544149218).jpg

Name: Peter Taylor Arrested for: not given Arrested at: North Shields Arrested on: 13 May 1915 Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-260-Peter Taylor

The Shields Daily News for 21 May 1915 reports:

“STEALING AND RECEIVING. MAN AND WOMAN SENT TO PRISON AT NORTH SHIELDS.

At North Shields today, Peter Taylor, a coppersmith, of 26 Whickham Street, Sunderland, was charged with stealing, between February 15th and May 12th, from a foundry in Lawson Street, 28 brass flanges, 25 brass bosses and a quantity of copper pipe ends, valued at £11, the property of James Hogg and Sons and Caroline Allen of 99 Church Street, Monkwearmouth was summoned for feloniously receiving the same, well knowing the same to have been stolen.

Mr P.M. Dodds prosecuted and Mr L. Wolff, of Sunderland, defended the female defendant. Mr P.M. Dodds stated that Taylor had been employed by James Hogg and Sons for three months and during the last two months they had been missing brass and copper from the foundry in Lawson Street. Suspicion fell on Taylor and he was kept under observation.

Det. Mason said that he had drilled a hole in a partition to watch Taylor and at 12.20pm on the 15th inst. he saw him pick up three brass flanges. He put one in his pocket and two down his trousers. He intercepted defendant and when charged he replied “I don’t deny stealing it.” Defendant also said he sold the brass and copper to defendant Allen. He did not know how much he had stolen, but Allen said she would buy anything up to an anchor. Witness then went to Sunderland and charged Allen, and she said Taylor had been telling lies, as she did not know they were stolen. She admitted buying flanges etc. from Allen, about four times a week, and she sold them to a Gateshead store.

John Hearn, foreman for James Hogg and Sons, went to Gateshead with Det. Mason and identified some flanges and copper. Taylor pleaded guilty and Allen not guilty. Mr Wolff then submitted there was no case against Allen, on the ground that she had not a guilty knowledge.

The magistrates committed Taylor to prison for three months and Allen for one month in the second division. The Mayor (Counc. H. Gregg) said that if it was not for the likes of Allen, Taylor would not be in the position he was in.”

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.