In February 1842 Robert Forbes 10 years old from High Street was caught and charged with stealing 3/6d from a lady. When he appeared in court his sentence was to have a whipping
George Mills
15th August 1879 George Mills was caught riding a bicycle on a footpath at Southwick. When he appeared in court the magistrate said: These bicycles are an intolerable nuisance. George was dismissed on condition he put ten shillings in the poor box.
Pickpocket
Police Sergeant Flynn came to Southwick to combat crime and started boasting to a gang of locals that within a few weeks there would be no thieves left. So imagine how he felt when after his boasting he discovered a pickpocket had stolen his watch and chain.
William Hamilton
In 1839 chimney sweep William Hamilton was charged with the murder of William Cain a workmate who worked in the East End. They were working at Fosters Yard when they started to argue over selling some soot. William Hamilton struck William Cain in a rage and the blow was enough to kill Cain. Hamilton was sent to Durham Assizes for a trial. Mr Justice Coleridge decided against the death penalty and sentenced Hamilton to be transported
No Knees Please
In 1963 two Sunderland girls holidaying in Majorca unexpectedly found themselves on the wrong side of the law, after failing to observe a 'no knees please' ruling when they went shopping in Palma wearing shorts which were less than knee length. They were arrested by police and each fined the equivalent of 24 shillings, while their hotelier was fined the equivalent of £3 for failing to inform his guests of the ruling on the island.
