John Legg, arrested for stealing beer

Name: John Legg.Arrested for: not given.Arrested at: North Shields Police Station.Arrested on: 19 September 1905.Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-77-John Legg..For an image of one of his accomplices, John Keating, see twm_news/22984005345/in/album-72157... ( ...twm_news/22984005345/in/album-72157651877221026/ ) ...The Shields Daily News 19 September 1905 reports:. .“THEFT OF BEER AT NORTH SHIELDS.. .At North Shields Police Court today, John Legg, Thomas Codling and John T. Keating, young men, were charged with stealing from the warehouse of Messrs Gray and Son, wharfingers, Liddell Street, 10 gallons of beer, valued at 14s, on the 11th inst.. .Joseph Gunn, manager for the prosecutors, said that in consequence of something that had previously happened he concealed himself in the warehouse on the 11th inst. At 8.50pm Legg and Keating entered the yard and made their way to the beer shed. He came out of hiding and caught the two men named and sent for the police.. .PC Graham said he arrested the accused and searched them. In the possession of Legg he found three spiles, which he said he used to stop the beer after he tapped the barrel. Witness afterwards charged all three. Legg replied “I did not steal all that.” Codling said: “I never stole that much” and Keating answered “The same for me”. On being formally charged the accused pleaded guilty and they were each committed to prison for one month”...Sadly, this wasn't be be John Legg's last court appearance. The Shields Daily News for 28 February 1907 reports:.."THEFT OF IRON AT NORTH SHIELDS. YOUTHS SENT TO PRISON...At North Shields Police Court today, John Legg (19), Skipsey's Quay; Robert Richardson (17) and John Richardson (14), Union Stairs, Liddell Street, were charged with having stolen a quantity of iron from the Shields Engineering Company's Works, Bell Street, on the 27th inst...PC Dixon said that at 9.50 last night he was on duty in Liddell Street, near the Engineering Works, when he heard a noise on the shore. On going there he found a bag containing iron on the bottom of some steps and the three prisoners a few yards away. He asked them what they were doing there and they said they were looking for wood. While they were talking Legg went away and witness followed, but was unable to find him, and the iron had also disappeared. He afterwards saw the three prisoners in Richardson's home and arrested them. He charged them with the theft and they replied that the iron was there when they went on the shore. An assistant manager of the Shields Engineering Coy. valued the iron produced at 2s...The two eldest prisoners pleaded guilty, but John Richardson denied the charge. Legg, who had previously been imprisoned for larceny, was sent to gaol for a month with hard labour. Robert Richardson was committed for seven days in the second division and John Richardson was discharged."..For an image of Legg's accomplice Robert Richardson see twm_news/18447897895/in/album-72157... ( ...twm_news/18447897895/in/album-72157651877221026/ ) . ..These images are a selection from an album of photographs of prisoners brought before the North Shields Police Court between 1902 and 1916 in the collection of Tyne & Wear Archives (TWA ref DX1388/1)...This set contains mugshots of boys and girls under the age of 21. This reflects the fact that until 1970 that was the legal age of majority in the UK...(Copyright) We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons. Please cite 'Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums' when reusing. Certain restrictions on high quality reproductions and commercial use of the original physical version apply though; if you're unsure please email [email protected].