conviction

This is uncanny, but this Robert Hardy resembles my biological father whose name is also, Robert Hardy. He too had brown hair and blue eyes, only my father was 6'1" tall. I'm going to try looking into the relation of them and see if in fact we are related. I have always been drawn to an English garden, it is peaceful to me but I have never been to England. I was born in the US. Could it be b/c I am of English decent? As I looked into this more for records of birth and such, I would have to go to England to research or FLY there...I guess I will really never know how he was related, if so. If anyone knows how I can do this online myself, please let me know. I can be reached at customangelcakes@yahoo.com. Thanks.

At the Newcastle Police Court, on Monday 23rd August 1872, George Ray aged 30 a goodsguard, Robert Hardy aged 21 signalman, and Thomas Pearson aged 32 a pilot guard, all in the service of the North-Eastern Railway Company, were remanded on a charge of stealing a quantity of ale from a cask at the Trafalgar Goods Station on Sunday morning the 22nd of August 1872..

This happened 3 months shy of being 100 years of me being born. I was born in Nov. 1972. I wish you could see the resemblance...

:( incredibly sad...looks like he needed that clothing he stole.

SandyEm That was my first thought too. Poor lad!

Still in Woolwich at the 1871 census. Started an apprenticeship in the Merchant Navy in 1874, but cancelled. Has he tried to run away to sea perhaps?

its eraserhead !

I retouched this photo and made it into something awesome!

"Fatty" Potter? How on earth would he have scored a nickname like that!

I found 9 newspaper stories (from 1926-1932) about this fellow. Here's one: A "CAT" MAN CAUGHT -- HID IN A LIFT SHAFT -- Newcastle. Monday. - Described as "a dangerous man who could climb any wall and get to any house window", James Boyd Potter was at Newcastle today sent to prison for three months for being on enclosed premises. Sergt. Robinson found the accused hiding in a lift shaft in buildings in Bath-lane. "It was a dark night," the accused pleaded, "and the doors were open. What could you expect me to do?" -Hull Daily Mail - Monday 11 October 1926

From a year earlier: APPEAL FOR ANOTHER CHANCE -- Man Who Did Not Pretend To Be an Angel. Pleading guilty at Newcastle to two charges of theft from warehouses in which goods valued at £50 15s 9d were involved, James Boyd Potter (25), of no fixed abode, against whom was a long list of previous convictions, appealed to the the Bench for another chance. "I don't want you to think I am an angel," he said. "I have a bad record, but I came out of prison four months ago, after a sentence of eighteen months, determined to do what was right. I had not a penny and could not get work. I am willing to do anything. I have had no assistance from the parish or the "dole." Give me another chance, and if I come back you can send me to prison for as long as you like. Prison has no effect on me." Mr. C.J. Dymond (chairman) said it was difficult to know what to do with a man with a record like accused. However, they decided not to send him for trial. He would have to go to prison for twelve months. "Twelve months! And I will come out without a penny!" exclaimed accused as he went below to the cells. Dundee Evening Telegraph - Friday 13 November 1925