File:Name- James Lee (21672031406).jpg

English: Name: James Lee

Arrested for: not given
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 1 May 1905
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-69-James Lee
The Shields Daily News for 8 May 1905 reports:
“FALSE PRETENCES AT NORTH SHIELDS.
At North Shields Police Court today, James Lee, alias John Lee (42), fitter, Manchester, was charged with having obtained, by means of false pretences, food of the value of 2s and 5s in money from Isabella Bowmaker on the 8th ult. Prosecutrix who resides at Coulson’s Bank, Clive Street, said that the accused came to her house and asked to be taken in as a lodger. They came to terms, the prisoner promising to pay 14s per week. He said he was busy altering a weighing machine on the Penny Ferry landing and would be engaged at least a week. He stayed until the following day and after he had had his dinner he borrowed 5s from her, saying he had to get some ironwork at the North Shields Railway Station. He went out and did not return. Afterwards she made enquiries and ascertained that his representations were false.
Alex. Roberts, bridgeman at the ferry landing, said there were no weighing machines on the landing. Inspector Thornton gave evidence as to arresting and charging the prisoner, who admitted his guilt.
There was a second charge against him of having obtained, by means of false pretences, 2s from Robert Atkinson, on the 4th ult. Prosecutor said the accused came to him and told him that the firm with which he was employed in Sheffield had failed to send him certain tools and he wished to wire them and his wife. He pulled some money out of his pocket, accused having asked for the loan of 1s 6d, and when he saw a two shilling piece, he remarked: “Make it 2s”. He did so and never saw him again.
Chief Constable Huish put in a record of convictions against the prisoner, who had suffered imprisonment for fraud in various parts of the country. Accused said he intended to refund the money after he had obtained employment. The magistrates committed him to prison for 3 months in each case”.
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).

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