File:Rose Sparrow alias Burns, arrested for stealing clothes (16888885997).jpg

English: Name: Rose Sparrow alias Burns

Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 5 March 1906
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-39-Rose Sparrow AKA Burns
For an image of her accomplice (and mother), Ellen Leavy, see <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/22669115693/in/dateposted/">www.flickr.com/photos/twm_news/22669115693/in/dateposted/</a>.
The Shields Daily News for 12 March 1906 reports:
“SHOP-DOOR ROBBERIES AT NORTH SHIELDS. MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SENT TO PRISON.
At North Shields Police Court today Ellen Leavey (46), 8 Barrington Lane and Rose Sparrow (26), Park Street, South Shields, mother and daughter, were charged on remand with having, on the 3rd March, stolen from the shop door of No. 96 Bedford Street, a child’s dress, valued at 6s 11d, or with receiving the same, well knowing it to have been stolen.
An assistant with the prosecutrix (Miss M.A. Hogg), a draper, said she missed the dress and gave information to the police. Inspector Thornton said that he arrested the prisoner Sparrow in Barrington Street, South Shields and charged her with the theft and she replied that she was so drunk that she knew nothing about it. PC Graham said he arrested Leavey in the back lane of Sibthorpe Street, she then having the dress in her possession. He charged her and she made no reply.
They were further charged on the same date with having stolen seven blouses valued at 13s 8d from the shop door of Mr Thos. Heslop, draper, Saville Street. Prosecutor said that at 3.20 pm, from what he was told, he followed the prisoners down Rudyard Street back lane and found the seven blouses and two pairs of boots under the shawl of the younger prisoner. The elder woman had also two pairs of boots. He detained Leavey until the arrival of the police, but Sparrow bolted.
Bridget Leavey, a child of 10 and a daughter and sister of the prisoners, who was with them, said she saw Rosie steal the articles and give them to her mother to run way with.
Prisoners were also charged with having stolen four pairs of boots, valued at 16s 10d, from the shop door of Messrs Stead and Simpson, 2 Saville Stret, on the 3rd inst. and further with having stolen a shawl, valued at 3s, from the shop door of Margaret Armstrong on the 3rd inst. Similar evidence was given and upon being formally charged Leavey pleaded not guilty and Sparrow admitted the thefts and said her mother had nothing to do with them. She asked to be leniently dealt with. She had taken to drink in consequence of her husband having neglected her and if she was given one more chance she would keep off the drink and never enter the town again. The magistrate committed them to prison for 7 days in each case, one month in all.
The Chairman (Ald Collins), after giving the decision, said the tradesmen were very much to blame for hanging goods outside the door. If they insisted on hanging goods outside, they must have someone to watch them. The Chief Constable said they were indebted to Mr Heslop for the arrest of the prisoners”.
Sadly Rose Sparrow couldn’t live up to her promises to change her ways. Less than two months later the Shields Daily News for 30 April 1906 reported:
“SHOP DOOR THEFT AT NORTH SHIELDS.
At North Shields Police Court today, Rose Sparrow (26), married, No. 5 Cross Street, was charged with having stolen two pairs of slippers, valued at 7s 6d, the property of Julius Jacobs, general dealer, Duke Street, on Saturday evening. The prosecutor’s son said the slippers were hanging outside the shop door and from what he was told he followed the accused towards the Bull Ring. He asked her for the slippers she had stolen and while he was speaking to her the slippers produced dropped upon the street as did also a pair of new boots.
The accused was further charged with stealing a pair of boots valued at 6s 6d, the property of Shiklman Michael, Duke Street, on Saturday last.
Chief Constable Huish said that in March last the accused was convicted on four charges of shoplifting and since then she had been fourteen days in Durham Gaol. She was committed to prison for fourteen days on each charge. Lieut. Col. Haswell, one of the magistrates, said the hanging of goods outside shop doors led to a good deal of evil doing.”
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).

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