sepiatoned

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Veterans of the American Civil War, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

Looks like he's got something false hidden in his trousers, too!?

He looks like a Cat haha

Mike HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Maybe it's not false???

Newspaper account: " FALSE PRETENCES AT NORTH SHIELDS. -- A SERIES OF CHARGES -- Sylvester Hailbert, alias Bell, a labourer, of no fixed abode, was charged at North Shields with obtaining a suit of clothes, value £2 17s 6d, from Ernest Hutton, by means of false pretences on the 6th, and further with obtaining a suit of clothes, value £2 2s 6d, from Charles S. Arthur, by means of false pretences, on the 30th ult.; also with obtaining food and lodgings to the amount of 14s, from Jane A. Todd, by means of false pretences. -- Edward Allen, manager with Mr Hutton, stated defendant went to their shop and presented the letter produced. Upon the strength of the letter he let him have a suit of clothes. -- Chief Constable Huish stated the letter was supposed to come from Mr J. Phillips, and stated that defendant who had been three years in their employ, was an honest and trustworthy person, and if he (witness) could oblige the bearer, a deposit would be paid at their office on the Monday. -- A clerk with Messrs Phillips at the Fish Quay, stated defendant had never been in their employ, and the letter produced was not authorised by the firm. -- A pawnbroker deposed to advancing 15s to the defendant upon the suit produced. -- Detective Sergt. Scougal stated that he arrested defendant. When charged he denied the offence. -- Mr Arthur stated that defendant went to his shop, and stated that he was employed at the Fish Quay, and gave the name of Mr Albert, Stephenson Street. He stated Mr Hunter had recommended him to go there. Upon his statement, he let him have a suit. -- Mr Hunter was called and denied recommending defendant to go to Mr Arthurs. -- Detective Sergt. Scougal stated that when he charged defendant, he said "That's right." He had been unable to recover the suit. -- Upon the third charge Mrs Todd stated that on August 29th, defendant went to her house and asked for lodgings. He told her he was going to work at Kilgour's on the Fish Quay. He stayed with her a week, and went out regularly as though he was going to work. It was upon the representations which defendant made that she took him in. -- Detective Sergt. Scougal stated when charged defendant replied, "That is right." -- When formally charged by the clerk defendant pleaded guilty to all the offences, and was committed for two months in each case, one to follow the other. -- Mr Allen asked that the suit should be returned to him without payment, as he considered the pawnbroker was as much at fault as he was. The trousers were made for a man six feet high. -- Mr Kidd: How does it happen that you let the prisoner have them in the first instance? -- Mr Allen: He said he knew a tailor named Sheldon who would alter them for him. They were for a funeral on the Sunday he said, but as it was only on the wife's side it didn't matter about the trousers being light. (Loud laughter.) The Bench decided to allow the pawnbroker half of his money." --- Shields Daily Gazette, 25 Sep 1902, page 3

Wow, he looks a wrong 'un ;)

"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