| 14 January 1864 There is a report of his previous offence in the Birmingham Daily Post Thursday 14 January 1864 p.3 col.6: JUVENILE DEPRAVITY.-Four youths, varying in age from twelve to fifteen years, named Richard Kirnberley, Bartholomew Street; Henry Jackson, Loveday Street, Samuel Dunn, Lichfield Street; and William Abbs, Tranter Street, were charged with having cut out a pane of glass from the shop window of Mrs. Powell, boot and shoe dealer, Bridge Street, with intent to commit a felony. From the evidence it appeared that, on the previous evening, two youths, named Cook and Wood [A report in a different newspaper gives the second person's name as Thornton, not Wood], saw the prisoners and two other lads loitering about the prosecutrix's shop window in a very suspicious manner. They watched them, and at length saw Jackson in the act of cutting out the putty round the window frame, and ultimately push out a pane of glass. The other prisoners were at the same time endeavouring to hide Jackson's operations from the passers-by; but when the young thieves observed that some persons noticed them they put their hands in their pockets and began to whistle and play. 'Upon seeing Jackson push out the pane of glass Cook and Wood called to them and informed the prosecutrix of what he had seen, upon which the prisoners with their companions ran away. The lad, Wood,. however, followed them and succeeded in giving the prisoners into custody. Before he was enabled to do so, however, one of the young thieves bit him several times, another struck him In the face and. kicked him, while the remainder threw stones at him. Some of the prisoners had been previously before the Magistrates. They were each committed to the House ef Correction, with hard labour, for two months for wilful damage. |
| 13 December 1864 The crime was reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 12 December 1864 p.3 col.3: A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES. - Thomas Higgins (14), residing In London Prentice Street; Samuel Dunn (14), residing In Fox Street; . and John Gravine, (13), residing in London Prentice Street, were brought up on remand, charged . with stealing a quantity of velvet from the shop of Ann Ponton, haberdasher, residing at No. 9, Stafford Street, on Thursday evening .last. A witness, named George Singham, stated that on the evening in question he was standing by a baker's opposite prosecutrix's shop, when he saw the three prisoners standing there. Immediately afterwards he saw Dunn take the velvet from the window and hand it to one of his comrades, who went away with It. The prisoners were afterwards apprehended by Police-constables Briscoe and Bishop. The evidence was insufficient to convict Hlggins, who was therefore discharged, after receiving a severe reprimand from the Bench. Dunn was sentenced to twenty-one days' Imprisonment, and at the expiration of that time to be sent to a reformatory school for five years. Gravine was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment. |
