English: Name: Joseph Tombling

Arrested for: Larceny
Arrested at: North Shields Police Station
Arrested on: 4 February 1905
Tyne and Wear Archives ref: DX1388-1-63-Joseph Tombling
The Shields Daily News for 10 February 1905 reports:
“SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST A NORTH SHIELDS YOUTH. COLLECTING FOR A BOGUS CRICKET CLUB. THREE MONTHS’ IMPRISONMENT.
At North Shields Police Court today Joseph Tomblin (17) was charged with having obtained by means of false pretences 2s 6d from Henry Dillon Irvin on the 1st inst. with intent to cheat and defraud.
Prosecutor who resides at 9 Prudhoe Terrace, Tynemouth, said that on the 1st inst. the prisoner came to his house and at his request was turned away. Subsequently the accused met him in the street and asked him for a subscription towards the Tynemouth Boys Cricket Club. He asked him to accompany him to his rooms. Accused did so and there he put certain questions to him. Prisoner produced a subscription list and said the club had made arrangements with the North Shields Athletic Association Football Club for the rental of their field. On this representation he gave him 2s 6d and finding afterwards from inquiries that his statements were incorrect he applied for a warrant for his arrest. He produced the list, which bore his and several other names.
Septimus Crowell, 39 Jackson Street, who is secretary of the North Shields Athletic Club said he had never heard of such as club as the Tynemouth Boys Cricket Club.
Detective Sergt. Scougal said he arrested the accused in Front Street, Tynemouth, on the night of the 3rd inst. and charged him. He made no reply. He took him to the Tynemouth Divisional Police Station and upon searching him he found in his possession several lists (produced). In conversation the accused said he had collected the money shewn on the lists upon his own account. There was no such club as the Tynemouth Boys Cricket Club. An organization bearing this name did exist about five years ago but he was not a member of it. On one of the lists appeared the name of A.B. Brown, who was supposed to be the captain of the club. Witness asked him who this person was and he replied that he did not know. Some of the lists were dated three or four years back. During that period the accused had been collecting money for a football club at one part of the year and for a cricket club at another.
Accused was formally charged. He pleaded guilty and had nothing to say.
Prisoner was then charged with having obtained by means of false pretences 9d from Henry Jarvis Ward in the latter part of January. Prosecutor who lives at No. Albury Park Road said the accused came to his house in the latter part of January and told him that arrangements had been made for the renting of a field for the club and that all the money had been subscribed with the exception of 2s 6d. Accused had been coming to him twice a year for at least for years collecting subscriptions for a football and a cricket club. Detective Sergt. Scougal proved the arrest and prisoner pleaded guilty.
A third charge was preferred against the accused of having obtained by similar means 5s from Coun. Geo. Stephenson, steam trawler owner, No. 1 Park Crescent. Accused said he only got 2s 6d.
The father of the accused was asked by the magistrates if he could account for his son’s misconduct. He blamed a certain religious body in Tynemouth, the officials of which sent boys to collect subscriptions. They did not give them officially signed papers or collecting books and this created a great temptation.
The Chairman (Capt J. Bolt) said it was a very bad case. The Bench, however, had decided to deal leniently with the accused. He would have to go to prison in the second division for one month on each charge – three months in all”.
The Shields Daily News for 1 September 1905 reports:
“ASSAULTS AT NORTH SHIELDS. YOUNG MAN FINED.
At the North Shields Police Court today, Joseph Tombling, a young man residing at 25 Edith Street, Spital Dene, was summoned for having assaulted Mrs Jane Mitchell, who resides in the same thoroughfare, and her daughter, Jane Mitchell, on the 25th ult.
Mr A. Whitehorn, who appeared on behalf of the complainants, said they were mother and daughter. They resided at 47 Edith Street, Spital Dene, whilst the defendant lived at No. 25 in the same street. On Thursday afternoon last Mrs Mitchell was wheeling a pram past the defendant’s mother’s door when a brother of the defendant jeered at her. She took no notice of him but next day seeing him in the back lane she remonstrated with him about jeering at her. At this time the defendant came upon the scene and rolling up his sleeves offered to fight anyone in Mitchell’s house. Mrs Mitchell advised him to go away and to frighten him said she would throw some water over him. She put the pail underneath the tap and let the water run but before it was half full the defendant ran into the yard, took hold of her by the throat and knocked her head against the wall. Mr Whitehorn described the attack as a most outrageous one and asked the Bench to deal severely with the defendant. The daughter of Mrs Mitchell called the defendant a coward for striking a woman, whereupon the defendant struck her a violent blow on the side of the face. Complainants bore out this testimony.
Defendant alleged that Mrs and Miss Mitchell made a practice of reminding him of the time he was in gaol and telling him he would be there again. He denied assaulting either of the complainants and called his brother who gave evidence on his behalf. A fine of 5s and costs was imposed in each case, with the alternative of 14 days imprisonment”.
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.

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