1902

Newspaper story: LARCENY ON BOARD SHIP -- At North Shields, to-day, John Renstrom, fireman, of Finland, was charged with stealing from on board the steamer Arroll, on Nov 14th, a pair of trousers, two singlets, two shirts, a pair of socks, and a pair of drawer, valued at £1 7s, the property of Albert Woollass. -- Prosecutor stated he joined the above vessel on Nov. 14th, at the Albert Edward Dock, and took his clothes on board. He came ashore again, and on going to the vessel the next morning he found his bag had been opened and a number of articles of clothing extracted. He asked the men in the fo'csle if they had seen them at all, and they all said they hadn't. Witness made a complaint to the captain, and afterwards defendant went to his berth, and brought out a signlet, a sweater, and pair of socks, and gave them to witness. They were the same as had been stolen from his bag. Detective Scougal deposed to taking defendant into custody. In answer to the charge he said he found the goods. The Bench imposed a fine of 10s including costs. --- Shields Daily Gazette, 12 Jan 1903, page 3

Here is Bridget Phelan, 36, in the 1901 census..

Niall McAuley This woman could be 36. Do you think it is Bridget Phelan?

Yes, I think it is very likely, she's right there in Kilnagrange. Either this is Bridget, or Bridget (36) ordered a copy of a photo of another woman her own age.

"False pretenses" seems redundant to me. Who ever heard of "true pretenses"? What could be the nature of such a crime? It would seem to cover an awful lot.

Newpaper account: "FALSE PRETENCES AT NO. SHIELDS -- At North Shields, Mustapha Irola (33), an Italian fireman, was charged on a warrant with having obtained by means of false pretences £1 and a quantity of clothing, valued at 10s, the money and property of Constantine Janieries. Prosecutor said he was a boarding house keeper and resided at 60 Borough Road. On the 28th April the accused came to his house and upon him representing that he was to be paid off from a Liverpool ship at New Quay Shipping Office the following morning he, at prisoner's request, advanced him £1 and credited him with 10s worth of clothing. He (prosecutor) sent his step-son to make inquiries as to the accuracy of his statement, and found that it was false, whereupon he caused a warrant to be issued against accused. The step-son was called and corroborated the evidence of the prosecutor. He added that he had known the accused for three years. Mr Walton, superintendent messenger at the Shipping Office, said that no Liverpool ship was paid off on the date named. Sergt. Proud said he charged the accused on the 17th inst. and he replied, "The prosecutor is a liar. I never got anything from anybody. I was in Constantinople at the time." Formally charged the prisoner denied the offence. He said he got the money from the stepson's father. There was evidence that this man died in February, and the magistrates fined the accused 20s and costs with the alternative of one month's imprisonment." --- Shields Daily Gazette, 20 Aug 1904, page 5