15 Examples Of Why Mugshots Were Way Cooler In The 1800s

These days, pretty much everyone looks terrible or like a joke in their mugshots. Back in the nineteenth-century, they looked the same—but with a bit more style. And now you can emulate the exact same style with the "Mugshot Yourself" app, below—and then tune into Copper, new episodes Sundays at 10/9c only on BBC America.

1. Amy Gill

Via bbc.co.uk

With or without having committed a physical crime, Amy probably should've been locked up just for sporting that terrible weave. That being said, she also let some poor shopkeeper in Birmingham, England have it back in the late-1800s.

2. Alick Evan McGregor

Via plus.google.com

Alick—undoubtedly as a wayward youth back in the 1880s—spent a month in jail for larceny. Let's just hope he was trying to steal a new shirt.

3. Aporo Paerata

Via plus.google.com

Aporo rubbed someone out in 1887 and sentenced to death, but his dashing looks must've gotten him a reprieve—he was later given life in prison instead.

4. Heuare Kakukuio

Via plus.google.com

Heuare served two years for two counts of horse stealing back in 1888—because if his hat and facial hair don't scream "horse stealer" to you, then you need to have your eyes checked.

5. David Kirk Rhodes

Via plus.google.com

Rhodes got put in the slammer for three years after he was found guilty of nine counts of embezzlement. He was probably just trying to get a manicure, GOD.

6. Catherine Read

Via bbc.co.uk

Catherine was arrested for being a "heavily tattooed prostitute," and they didn't even THINK we might be interested in actually seeing the tattoos?? Rude.

7. Basil Cochrane

Via plus.google.com

Basil, whose alias was "George M. Donald," was sentenced to four months in jail for imposing... but it's pretty clear he should been charged with dressing too fabulously.

8. Frederick C.L. Flint

Via plus.google.com

In 1887, Frederick served a month in jail, but it was under false pretenses. So it's pretty obvious the cops who got 'im just knew his mugshot would look super sweet.

9. Thomas Murphy

Via bbc.co.uk

Probably charged for having some real bad teeth.

10. "Paddy the Devil"

Via bbc.co.uk

Paddy the Devil was a purported "reluctant sitter," which is weird because it looks like he was sitting when he was apprehended.

11. Edward Nolan

Via plus.google.com

Sentenced to eighteen months in jail for robbery and violence in 1889. And also for looking like Elijah Wood with a big honker.

12. Mary Davies

Via bbc.co.uk

With "at least" eight different aliases and almost certainly as many different ways to style her totally cool hair, Mary was charged with a "variety of crimes" and went to prison in Manchester.

13. George Walter Foster

Via plus.google.com

Despite the fact that his mugshot screams "it wasn't me," George spent two years in jail for forgery and "uttering."

14. Jane Brown

Via sites.google.com

Given Jane's very early adoption of the bullcut, it's no wonder that she was such a successful prostitute that cops took her off the street and into the slammer.

15. Maurice Kerr

Via plus.google.com

Maurice served nine months in jail for an unknown crime, but was later freed under false pretenses. Presumably because he looked chill as heck.

Think these mugshots are sick? With BBC America's new app, you can make yourself look like a nineteenth-century rapscallion. MUGSHOT YOURSELF:

Via bbcamerica.com

If you think you look good enough to rough up the town like these guys, add your mugshot in the comments!