Joseph Shaw criminal records Montreal

[hmserge]

Hello everyone.

I’m looking into my 2x great grandfather’s life in Montreal and prison in Montreal. ( Hopefully I’m posting in the correct place. )

He was born about 1848 Halifax, Yorkshire, England.  He arrived in Montreal in June 1903 and by November 1903 he was in prison.  (I do have this prison record thanks to a very kind lady in Canada). 

In 1911 there is a prison record for him and in 1921 there’s another prison record. 

He died on 31 December 1921 in prison in Montreal. 

I was wondering how I find out any criminal records for him and wondered if anyone could help me?  He may have been in and out of prison a few times, I’m really not sure.  18 years in and out of prison is a long time. 

It would be so nice to try and finally find out about Joseph’s life in Montreal.  I’ve always wondered whether he had friends, a place to call home, a job or did he have nothing and just prison. 

The family story is that he left on the ship ‘Bavarian’ from Liverpool to Montreal and never returned.
His wife and family remained in England. 
 
If anyone knows where to start looking and can help/advise me in anyway, I would be most grateful.

Thank you so much   

[DonM]

The records you seek will be in the Quebec Court Archives.  However, accessing Quebec material can be difficult at times without someone being there. That said, the Archives area here, I would be surprised if they are open.

https://www.banq.qc.ca/ressources_en_ligne/intruments_rech_archivistique/archives_judiciaires/index.html?language_id=1

Don

[hmserge]

Thank you Don

I think it’s going to be one of those long and never ending searches.  Wish I lived closer it would be lovely to visit the communal grave and maybe see the prison (if it’s still there).

Just seems such a lot of years to be imprisoned so I’d love to be able to solve why he was there (maybe one day )

Thank you for the link

[DonM]

Try the Montreal Gazette

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=Fr8DH2VBP9sC

Don

[hmserge]

Thank you Don,
That sounds a great idea,

Thanks again