Joseph Parkes - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 869 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | - |
| Particular marks: | Face freckled |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 14 December 1887 |
| Late residence: | 7 King Street, Dudley |
| Parish he belongs to: | Dudley |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, 2nd Standard |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, 2nd Standard |
| Offence: | Stealing 2 cocoa nuts |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Not under proper parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 5 December; William E Walker and Joseph Hall; Dudley Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 10 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 6 strokes birch rod |
| For what: | Shop robbery |
| Father's name: | James Parkes |
| Occupation: | Blacksmith |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Reported good |
| Character of parents | Not reported |
| Parents' wages: | 30s weekly when in work |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not yet assessed |
| Parents address: | 7 King Street, Dudley |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Wilcox, Council House, Birmingham |
| Person making this return: | M Elliott, Clerk to the Visiting Committee, H M Prison Birmingham |
| Notes: | |
| 6 November 1886 A previous offence was reported in the Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, and County Express Saturday 6 November 1886 p.6 col.2: YOUNG THIEVES. - George Dodd (12), Joseph Parkes (12), and Joseph Southall (10), all residing in Church Street, were charged with stealing a box of chocolate, valued at 2s. 3d., the property of John Lucy, Union Street. - Mr. Chief-superintendent Burton stated during the last three months upwards of forty boys had been brought up in that Court on the charge of felony. Southall, although only ten years of age, has been several times convicted of felony, and it was stated he was beyond his parents' control. He was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment and to be afterwards detained in a reformatory for five years. The other offenders were ordered to be birched. | |
| 10 December 1887 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, and County Express Saturday 10 December 1887 p3 col.6: A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES. - Bertie Bullas (13), scholar, Springsmire, and Joseph Parks (13), scholar, King Street, were charged with stealing two cocoa nuts from a bag in Stone Street, the property of Messrs. Enoch Baker and Son, fruiterers. - Parkes was ordered to be detained for ten days, pending an application to to be made for his admission to a reformatory, and Bullas was ordered receive twelve strokes with the birch rod. | |
| 23 April 1889 The Medical Officer reported: Enlarged glands in neck, which still remained by 17 May | |
| 26 February 1891 The Medical Officer reported: Tubercular glands. 4 April the MO suggested that he should be sent to the General Hospital to undergo the Dr Koche cure..An abscess on his neck glands was opened up and drained on 11 April. By 9 May glands were still discharging and the MO thought it necessary to remove the glands, but the boy should go to the General Hospital first for the "Tubercalive" treatment. Finally, on 16 June was admitted to the General Hospital under Mr Barling. By 7 July the glands had been removed but treatment continued under Mr Barling, with Parkes as an outpatient | |
| 10 August 1891 the Reformatory Committee Log Book notes: Joseph Parkes has returned from the General Hospital, having benefited considerably by the treatment he has received. | |
| 19 September 1891 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Parkes was licensed to go out and work for Mr Freeman, Dudley | |
| 13 December 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |