We definitely enjoy the artful presentation of vintage mug shots — as we’ve pointed out before several times, like here, here, and here. A new batch of old-timey crooks and deviants recently caught our eye over at Dangerous Minds. While the website pointed out the female prisoners housed at Newcastle City Gaol and House of Correction — incarcerated between 1871 to 1873 — the number of children in the bunch is what interested us. All of the Victorian kid criminals we’ve shared past the break are no older than 16, and most of them were sentenced for petty theft. Poverty and peer pressure probably inspired a few of these cases, but no explanations are given apart from the crimes done. Even if they were naughty children, at least their mug shots are extremely polite! Meet a few child crooks below.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
At the young age of 11, Ellen was ordered to do 7 days hard labour after being convicted of stealing iron when caught with Mary Catherine Docherty, Rosanna Watson and Mary Hinnigan.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Jane Farrell (age 12) stole 2 boots and was sentenced to do 10 hard days labour.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
John Reed (age 15) was sentenced to do 14 days hard labour and 5 years reformation for stealing money in 1873.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Margaret Cosh (age 15) was convicted of stealing a coat, she had no previous convictions and served 2 months with hard labour.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Isabella Hindmarch (age 16) was convicted of stealing money, she had no previous convictions and served 1 month with hard labour.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
James Donneley AKA James Darley, at the age of just 16, this young man had been in and out of prison, but on this occasion he was sentenced for 2 months for stealing some shirts.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
At such a young age, Henry Leonard Stephenson (age 12) was convicted of breaking in to houses and was sentenced to 2 months in prison in 1873
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Along with Mary Catherine Docherty, Ellen Woodman and Rosanna Watson, Mary Hinnigan (age 13) was caught stealing iron and was sentenced to do 7 days hard labour.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
James Scullion (age 13) was sentenced to 14 days hard labour at Newcastle City Gaol for stealing clothes. After this he was sent to Market Weighton Reformatory School for 3 years.
Image credit: Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums
Mary Catherine Docherty (age 14) was sentenced to 7 days hard labour after being convicted of stealing iron along with her accomplices: Mary Hinnigan, Ellen Woodman and Rosanna Watson.