discovery

Big science!

Here is the telescope as it is today: (blurry picture, sorry!)

This one is really worth 1,000 words!!! I'd love to know his story!!!

Kristen Davis Newpaper account: "BURGLARY AT NORTH SHIELDS -- SMART SENTENCES -- To-day, at North Shields, Alfred Thompson, a painter, and John Reay, a labourer, were charged with stealing three hens, a cock and fifteen pigeons, valued £9 6d, the property of George Bolam, from a garden at Ropery Banks on Aug 31st; a further stealing a padlock valued a shilling, the property of John Patterson. Thompson was further charged with assaulting P.C. Taylor at the same time and place. George Bolam, residing at Waldow Street, stated that he rented a garden. On Saturday he left the place secure. There were four hens and a cock there and fifteen pigeons. When he went back on Sunday morning he found the place had been broken into and all the pigeons and cock and hens were gone. He valued them at £9 6s. Afterwards he identified the dead birds produced at the police station. His garden was next to Borough Road. P.C. Taylor stated early on Sunday morning he was on duty at the Ropery Banks and heard a noise in Balam's garden. On going there he saw the two defendants. Thompson was outside of the pigeon house with a bag, and the other defendant, who was inside the house, was killing the birds and passing them out. He followed the defendants and took them into custody. On searching them at the Police Station, he found several padlocks and keys upon them. Reay's hands were covered with blood. Sergt. Proud deposed to taking 24 keys from Thompson. There were several skeleton keys amongst them which opened the locks at the garden. P.C. Taylor stated when he charged the defendants on Sunday night Thompson replied, "That's right," and Reay said, "I say the same." Both defendants pleaded guilty, and said thy were under the influence of drink at the time. John Patterson, a cartman, said he had a stable at Ropery Banks. When he went on Sunday morning he found that the doors ahd been opened and the padlocks missing. Sergt. Proud deposed to taking a padlock form Thompson's pocket. When charged by P.C. Taylor, Thompson replied, "I had it in my pocket when I was locked up." Reay replied, "I was with him." Upon the third charge, P.C. Taylor stated that when he took Thompson into custody he seized him by the shoulders, forced him back against one of the wooden sheds, and kicked him several times about the legs. Both the men were sober at the time. Thompson persisted in saying that he was under the influence of drink at the time, or he wouldn't have been there. Upon the first charge defendants were committed to prison for two months, on the second charge one month each, and for the assault Thompson was committed for fourteen days; the sentences to follow each other." ---Shields Daily Gazette, 1 Sep 1902, page 3 Here's his partner in crime: