19th Century Mugshots Show Victorian Christmas Criminals Imprisoned for Stealing Coal

Given hard labor for stealing items that would have kept them warm at Christmas.

These rare mugshots taken in December 1872 show Victorian thieves locked up at Christmas for seemingly trivial crimes such as stealing lumps of coal.

The fascinating photos were all taken around the same time by police in Wandsworth Prison, London, and are kept for posterity in the National Archives of England and Wales.

The offenders were found guilty of stealing items to keep them warm, such as woolen jumpers and coats. Others were locked up for stealing food, like 17-year-old Sidney Lowman who was sentenced to six weeks’ hard labor at Wandsworth for stealing “half a pint” of milk.

Of course, it’s entirely plausible that at least some of these people were purposely committing crimes so they could spend Yuletide behind bars. Although conditions in London prisons in the 1870s were harsh: the Victorian penal philosophy focused on deterrence and moral correction.

James Ealing, 17, was convicted of stealing a tin can and a half pint of milk on Christmas Eve, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor at Wandsworth Prison leaving him locked up for Christmas.

Julia Killey, 30, was convicted of stealing two pounds of bacon on Christmas Eve, 1872. She was given 21 days’ hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

John Sullivan, 17, was convicted of stealing a coat and lumps of coal on the 16th December, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor.

Mary Baxter, 22, was convicted of stealing a tablecloth on the 13th December, 1872. She was given 14 days’ hard labor meaning she got out the day after Christmas Day.

Thomas Mackett, 24, was convicted of stealing nine pounds of beef on Christmas Eve.

Ellen Smith, 52, was convicted of stealing an umbrella on the 17th December, 1872.

Henry Marsh, 18, was convicted of stealing a coat on the 23rd December, 1872. He was given six weeks’ hard labor.

George Buzzing, 17, was convicted of stealing a woolen shirt on the 19th December, 1872. He was given 14 days’ hard labor at Wandsworth Prison leaving him locked up until New Year’s Day.

Robert Graham, 16, was convicted of stealing 11 pairs of stockings on New Year’s Eve, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor.

Mary Sowerby, 69, was convicted of stealing a sheet on the 21st December, 1872. She got one month’s hard labor.

John Powers, 15, was convicted of stealing fabric on the 10th December, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

Caroline Lightfoot, 51, was convicted of stealing a drinking glass on the 4th December, 1872. She was given two months’ hard labor.

Ben Bowmont, 32, was convicted of stealing a rabbit and a duck worth four shillings six pence on the 19th December, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor.

William Ashley, 27, was convicted of stealing a rabbit on the December 2, 1872. He was given six weeks’ hard labor at the London prison.

Harry Williams, 42, was convicted of stealing lumps of coal on the 26th December, 1872. He was given 14 days’ hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

John Hanks, 16, was convicted of stealing a woolen shirt on the 19th December, 1872. He was given 14 days’ hard labor.

Daniel Kelly, 16, was convicted of stealing half a cut of iron on the 23rd December, 1872. He was given 14 days’ hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

Catherine Flynn, 63, was convicted of stealing six shillings from a person on the 9th December, 1872.

Rhoda Leaf, 30, was convicted of stealing a shirt from her master on the 2nd December, 1872. She was given six weeks’ hard labor.

Sidney Lowman, 17, was convicted of stealing a can and half a pint of milk on the 27th December, 1872. He was given six weeks’ hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

Edward Poller, 17, was convicted of stealing a tame pigeon on the 7th December, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor.

Agnes Rose Flowers, 44, was convicted of stealing a shirt worth two shillings six pence on the 16th December, 1872. She was given one month’s hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

John Kitchenside, 20, was convicted of stealing oats worth three shillings on the 23rd December, 1872. He was given six weeks hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

Eliza Smith, 16, was convicted of stealing three sacks on the 4th December, 1872. She was given one month’s hard labor at Wandsworth Prison leaving her locked up over Christmas.

John Williams, 60, was convicted of stealing a saw worth five shillings on Christmas Eve, 1872. He was given one month’s hard labor at Wandsworth Prison.

Worried about crime, the Victorians turned to the camera so they could record the likeness of an offender. The above photos were likely taken on a large format camera with bellows.

The mugshot wasn’t officially invented until about a decade after the Wandsworth Prison photos were taken when French police officer Alphonse Bertillon brought in standardized lighting and angles. Bertillon heralded an international standard that is still used to this day.