« Reply #486 on: Wednesday 27 November 19 10:04 GMT (UK) »
Just on a lighter note - some updates I have come across recently (I have already let Sophie know):
C. Battista who achieved Military Medal has his photo in the Illustrated Chronicle on Monday October 22 1917. Perhaps newcastle library might get around to publishing this photo at some point by next year.
Also, Giovanni's Elizabeth and Antonio appear to have been baptised twice. In volumes at North Shields library they are both recorded as having been baptised at St Peter North Shields.
Elizabeth on 17 October 1886 parents John & Elizabeth Ellen.
Antonio on 26 December 1880 parents Giovanni & Elizabeth Ellen.
On that court case I do think it was quite suspicious that the jury were urged to return a not guilty verdict because of 'no evidence'. I think there was plenty of evidence to point to guilt. Why the alias name? Also, if he really thought he was a widower then why was 'bachelor' put down. Also, I think it quite far fetched the idea that someone would not make further enquiries if told their estranged spouse had died and they wanted to marry again.
I think that jury must have had a great deal if respect for authority and just gone along with what they were told to do. It is incredulous that any of them let alone all of them would have believed that.
Conroy, Fitzpatrick, Watson, Miller, Davis/Davies, Brown, Senior, Dodds, Grieveson, Gamesby, Simpson, Rose, Gilboy, Malloy, Dalton, Young, Saint, Anderson, Allen, McKetterick, McCabe, Drummond, Parkinson, Armstrong, McCarroll, Innes, Marshall, Atkinson, Glendinning, Fenwick, Bonner