Sunderland Court Round Up -  1

Jane Atchison

Sunderland County Petty Sessions in November 1872, saw Jane Atchison was fined ten shillings after being found on the night of the 13th lying on the flags in a beastly state of drunkenness. She had to be carried on a butcher's stretcher to the police station.

Mr Cunningham

In September 1879 Joseph Cunningham was charged with permitting drunkenness on his licensed premises in Southwick. A police officer upon entering the public house found three women drinking, one of them very drunk was Sarah Forster. When Mr Cunningham appeared in court the case was dismissed. When the defence pointed out that Sarah Forster had been hit over the head with a glass and was dazed, which is what had made the police officer believe she was drunk.

John Smith

John Smith from the East End of Sunderland, was caught stealing a handful of hay from High Street East Corn Market. His sentence for the crime was, the hand that had stolen the hay would be forced into a burning fire.

Thomas Stones

It was June 1842 when Thomas Stones an 11 year old from Wood Lane was caught and charged with throwing stones at the scholars of the national school, Bishopwearmouth. His sentence was if he was found throwing stones again he would be fined 5 shillings or he would serve 14 days in the house of correction.

Tumbler Pigeons

In November 1911 two 12 year old boys and two 10 year old boys all from Southwick were caught and found guilty of stealing eight tumbler pigeons from a pigeon loft in Southwick. When they appeared at the County Juvenile Court, they each received six stokes of the birch rod.

Indecent Behaviour

1885 in Gateshead 18 year old Matthew Oliphant was looking after the 7 year old daughter of his landlady. As he was putting the little girl to bed he sexually abused her and threatening to thrash her if she told anyone. After he was arrested and charged on the 28th March 1875 with carnally knowing and abusing 7 year old Elizabeth Harrison, it was found that Elizabeth was also suffering from a sexual disease passed on by Matthew Oliphant. He was found guilty of indecent assault and sentenced to 15 months hard labour.