Ale houses and bordellos were dangerous places in any town,
but add to this, sex-starved and thirsty seamen your bound to end up with
trouble. April 1879 in an ale house in Bishopwearmouth, Selina Robson 20 years
old agreed terms with James Lennard the mate from a schooner the 'Sarah of
Mistley'. Back at Selina's place in Charles Street the couple were soon
undressed. James was up to the occasion but could not reach to base. Sarah
worked with a bully by the name of Thomas Bell 23 years old, he would hide in
the house and wait.
When Sarah returned with James, Thomas with his heavy boots and huge hands, set
upon James without showing any mercy. Thomas who had only been free for one
month, after serving a twelve month sentence for a similar crime, was quickly
caught. Harsh sentences were given to repeat offenders, those days what you were
given was what you served. So the seven years Thomas Bell was sentenced to meant
he would be 30 years old before he was released. Corporal Punishment was also
used but only on men and so Thomas Bell also received twenty strokes of the
'cat'. As for Selina for her part in the crime, she received twelve months in
prison.
