Robert Richardson, miner, arrested for breaking and entering a marine store

Name: Robert Richardson.Arrested for: not given.Arrested at: North Shields Police Station.Arrested on: 18 November 1907.Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-117-Robert Richardson..For an image of his accomplice John Thomas Keating see twm_news/22984005345/in/album-72157... ( ...twm_news/22984005345/in/album-72157651877221026/ ) ...The Shields Daily News for 18 November 1907 reports:.."At North Shields Police Court today before Coun. Sanderson and Mr Jas. Walton, George Edward Whiting (20), Robert Richardson (18), John Thomas Keating (22) and Jos. Walker (19) were charged with breaking and entering, between 6pm on Nov. 15th and 9am on Nov. 16th, marine store at Black Cock Quay, Clive Street, and stewaling therefrom a cash box containing 4s 6d in money, a pair of opera glasses, value 10s, and a number of foreign coins, valued 1s, the property of Messrs Morris and Coy...Solomon Morris, who trades under the style of Morris and Co., said he left the premises secure at six pm last Friday and next morning he found that they had been broken into and the money and goods mentioned in the charge were missing. Witness found that an entrance had been effected by forcing away a board which had been nailed across a window...Inspector Proud said he apprehended Whiting at a house in Union Stairs. He then went to South Shields and received Richardson into custody from the police. He had been arrested while offering the opera glasses in pledge. Witness arrested Keating and Walker in an attic in Liddell Street. He jointly charged the four men with breaking and entering the premises and stealing a cash box containing 4s 6d, a pair of opera glasses and a number of foreign coins. Whiting replied: "I have nothing to say". Richardson said: "I can say there was only 2s 6d in the cash box and we shared it out, receiving 8d each". Keating's answer was "I have nothing to say; it's true" and Walker replied "I have nothing to say; that's right." Witness recovered the opera glasses and coins from the South Shields police and found the cash box in Linskill Bank leading from Clive Street to the Ropery Banks...The accused who had nothing further to say, were committed for trial at the next Quarter Sessions." ..The Shields Daily News for 3 January 1908 reports from Northumberland Quarter Sessions:.."SHOPBREAKING AT TYNEMOUTH...Joseph Walker, 19, labourer; John Thomas Keating, 22, labourer; Robert Richardson, 18, miner and George Edward Whiting, 20, cartman, all pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the shop of Messrs Morris and C. and stealing a cash box, a pair of opera glasses, a number of foreign coins and the sum of 4s 6d in money .....Inspector Proud, in answer to the Bench, said all the lads had been previously convicted. The Chairman said they wished to give two of the prisoners a chance to reform. Therefore they sentenced Walker to twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour, under the Borstal system, and Richardson was discharged on entering into his own recognisances of £5 to be of good behaviour for twelve months. Keating, whose record was commented on by the Bench as being a very bad one, and who was described by the Chairman as the leader of the gang, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labour and Whiting to three months' with hard labour." ..This wasn't Robert Richardson's first offence. The Shields Daily News for 28 February 1907 reports:.."THEFT OF IRON AT NORTH SHIELDS. YOUTHS SENT TO PRISON...At North Shields Police Court today, John Legg (19), Skipsey's Quay; Robert Richardson (17) and John Richardson (14), Union Stairs, Liddell Street, were charged with having stolen a quantity of iron from the Shields Engineering Company's Works, Bell Street, on the 27th inst...PC Dixon said that at 9.50 last night he was on duty in Liddell Street, near the Engineering Works, when he heard a noise on the shore. On going there he found a bag containing iron on the bottom of some steps and the three prisoners a few yards away. He asked them what they were doing there and they said they were looking for wood. While they were talking Legg went away and witness followed, but was unable to find him, and the iron had also disappeared. He afterwards saw the three prisoners in Richardson's home and arrested them. He charged them with the theft and they replied that the iron was there when they went on the shore. An assistant manager of the Shields Engineering Coy. valued the iron produced at 2s...The two eldest prisoners pleaded guilty, but John Richardson denied the charge. Legg, who had previously been imprisoned for larceny, was sent to gaol for a month with hard labour. Robert Richardson was committed for seven days in the second division and John Richardson was discharged."..For an image of Richardson's accomplice, John Legg, see twm_news/24138890482/in/album-72157... ( ...twm_news/24138890482/in/album-72157651877221026/ ) . ..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...(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email [email protected]