File:Thomas Wallace, arrested for indecent exposure (16403612390).jpg

English: Name: Thomas Wallace

Arrested for: Indecent Exposure
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 17 February 1905
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-65-Thomas Wallace
The Shields Daily News for 17 February 1905 reports:
"At North Shields Police Court today, Thomas Wallace (18), rivet catcher, 26 Trinity Street, was charged with having indecently conducted himself on three separate dates, viz., the 17th Jany. and the 12th and 14th Feby., in the presence of females. Mr G.R. Duncan defended.
Evidence in support of the charge having been given, Mr Duncan called Dr E. Brumwell, who described the accused, who is 18 years of age, as a youth of extremely weak intellect. In his opinion he required to be carefully watched, as he was in danger of developing permanent insanity.
Mrs Wallace, mother of the prisoner, described her son as a kind, hard-working, well disposed lad. He had never been in trouble before and the present case had come as a great shock to her. Detective Sergt. Scougal said he arrested the accused and charged him with the three offences. He admitted his guilt.
Mr Duncan asked the magistrates to deal with the accused under the First Offenders Act and bind him to over to come up for judgement if called upon. He assured them that the fact of the accused being brought before them would have a lasting impression upon his mind and would influence him for his good in the future. The magistrates committed him to prison for 7 days in the second division on each charge - three weeks in all".
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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