imprisonment

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

She looks sadder than most in this set.

"ANOTHER GAS METER CASE. Sarah Patterson, married, appeared before the magistrates at North Shields on a charge of attempting to steal money from a gas meter, the property of the Tynemouth Gas Company. Mrs Lawson, 44 Charlotte Street, said that on Saturday accused went to her house and asked her to for a pint of beer. On returning she found the woman coming out of the front room. From what she was told witness examined the gas meter, which was in a cupboard in the front room, and found the lock had been damaged. Accused was committed to prison for 14 days." Shields Daily Gazette, 14 Mar 1904, page 3

SARAH PATTERSON: Born: Sarah Amer, in 1865 at Sunderland in Durham, the daughter of William a shoe & boot-maker and Mary Ann. Sarah Amer married, Samuel Septimus Patterson in 1886 at South Shields. A daugher Mary Ann Amer Patterson was born in 1887, at Tynemouth, Northumberland. 1891 census, 10 Stephenson Street, Tynemouth, Northumberland. Samuel Patterson Head 25 Stoker On Steamship, North Shields. Sarah Patterson Wife 23 Sunderland, Durham. Mary A Patterson Daughter 4 North Shields. 1901 census, 16, Stephenson Street, North Shields, Tynemouth, Northumberland. Samuel Patterson Head 37 Steam Ship Stoker, North Shields, Northumberland. Sarah Patterson Wife 34 North Shields, Northumberland. Mary A A Patterson Daughter 13 North Shields, Northumberland. Shields Daily Gazette Wednesday10th December 1902 ASSAULTS AT NORTH SHIELDS: Sarah Patterson, Stephenson Street, was charged at North Shields today with assaulting Eliza Shepherd. Complainant stated that while she was transacting business with another woman, defendant went up to her and after using filthy and abusive language, struck her a violent blow in the face. Defendant did not deny the charge, and was fined 5s., and costs. Shields Daily Gazette Friday 27th March 1903 ASSAULTS AT NORTH SHIELDS: Sarah Patterson, was fined 5s., and costs by the North Shields magistrates today for assaulting Eliza Boyd. Complainant alleged that defendant, who was drunk, deliberately struck her behind the ear without any provocation. In her defence Patterson stated that the complainant drowned her with soap suds and then struck her with a poker. Shields Daily Gazette Wednesday 22nd April 1903 HUSBAND AND WIFE SEPARATED; Samuel Patterson, who works on a trawler, applied to the magistrates at North Shields this morning for a judicial separation, under the new Licensing Act, from his wife Sarah Patterson, who he alleged, was an habitual drunkard. Mr. Chapman appeared for the applicant. The applicant stated that he had been married to the defendant for seventeen years. During the last eight years she had led a fearful life, and had been addicted to drink. He had given her plenty of money to keep the house on, but several times when he had returned from sea he had found her out, and a lot of his clothes and bedclothes pawned. He had tried all he could to get her to lead a better life. Last Thursday when she came out of prison he thought he would give her another chance. He made the fire on, and put the house in order, and then went to seek her. She was at her sister's and he got her to go home with him. He gave her 2s 6d., then, and the next morning he gave her half-a-sovereign. She kept sober all the Friday, but on the Saturday was drinking all day with other women. He could not give hwe another chance, because she was unfit to look after her own affairs, or the house. Defendant made serious allegations against her husband, but said she was glad she was going to get a separation order, because it would save her being badly used. The Bench decided to grant a separation, ordered the applicant to contribute 7s 6d., per week towards his wife's maintenance, and gave the husband the custody of the daughter, who is sixteen years of age. Shields Daily Gazette Monday 14th March 1904 ANOTHER GAS METER CASE Sarah Patterson, married appeared before the magistrates at North Shields on a charge of attempting to steal money from a gas meter, the property of the Tynemouth Gas Company. Mrs. Lawson, 44 Charlotte Street, said that on Saturday accused went to her house and asked her to go for a pint of beer. On returning she found the woman comimg out of her room. From what she was told witness examined the gas meter, which was in a cupboard in the front room, and found the lock had been danaged. Accused was committed to prison for 14 days. Shields Daily Gazette Monday 20th June 1904: MARRIED COUPLE CHARGED At North Shields Samuel Patterson, fireman, and Sarah Patterson, his wife, 10 Stephenson Street, were charged on remand with having been drunk and disorderly in Saville Street. The husband was further charged with assaulting P.C. Hannah, and his wife with having assaulted P.C. John Dodds. The officer explained that he found the couple drunk and behaving in a very disorderly manner, whereupon they became so violent that he was compelled to call P.C. Radcliffe and P.C. Dodds to his assistance. On the way to the station the male defendant struck him a severe blow in the mouth, and kicked him several times about the legs, and P.C. Dodds was also assaulted by the female defendant. This was corroborated named J.W. Nichol. The defendants called three witnesses, who swore that they were sober at the time. They were fined 2s 6d., and costs on the first charge, and 5s., and costs on the second. Shields Daily Gazette Monday 07th November 1904: A WOMEN'S QUARREL. At North Shields Sarah Patterson, no fixed abode, was charged with having assaulted Catherine Hunter, and wilfully damaging a hat to the amount of 12s 6d. Complainant said the defendant was jealous of her, and charged her with being familiar with her husband. On the 4th inst., she came to her house, abused her, struck her in the face, and pulled her hat to pieces. Corroborative evidence was given, and the accused who pleaded that she was provoked, was fined 5s., and costs on each charge, and ordered to pay the amount of the damage. Mary Ann Amer Patterson Married Robert Legg in 1908 at Tynemouth. 1911 census, 37 Wellington St, North Shields, Tynemouth, Northumberland. Samuel Patterson Head 46 Waterman, born North Shields County of Northumberland. Sarah Patterson Wife 43 born Sunderland County of Durham. Married 24 years, 1 Child. 1911 census, 56 Stephenson St, North Shields, Tynemouth, Northumberland. RobertLegg Head 28 Bricklayer, North Shields Northumberland. Mary Ann Amer Legg Wife 23 North Shields Northumberland. Mary Ellen Legg Daughter 2 North Shields Northumberland

Thanks for adding all that information. It looks like Sarah and her husband didn't follow through on the judicial separation, or they got back together.

A bonny woman. Oh dear she must have been desperate..