Edward Cutts - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 903 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 5 ft 3 ins |
| Particular marks: | Small mole front of right shoulder |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 29 January 1889 |
| Late residence: | 17 Brick Kiln Street, Wolverhampton |
| Parish he belongs to: | St Pauls, Wolverhampton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly (and cyphers [numbers] not at all) |
| Offence: | Stealing money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad example and lack of control on part of parents |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 16 January 1889; N C A Neville; Wolverhampton Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Edwin Cutts |
| Occupation: | General dealer |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Cutts |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Apparently neglected |
| Character of parents | Both father and mother are reported as of drunken habits. Mother cohabits with another man |
| Parents' wages: | Not known (won't work) |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not assessed |
| Parents address: | 17 Brick Kiln Street, Wolverhampton |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Chief Constable, Wolverhampton |
| Person making this return: | G L Leggatt, Governor, Stafford Prison 31 January 1889 |
| Notes: | |
| 16 January 1889 The crime was reported in the Wolverhampton Express and Star Wednesday 16 January 1889 p.3 col.4: THREE THOROUGH LITTLE THIEVES. - COULD DO FIVE YEARS ON THEIR HEADS. - At the Wolverhampton Police Court, this (Wednesday) morning, before the Stipendiary Magistrate (N. C. A. Neville, Esq.), George Craner (14), Dudley-road, and Joseph Cutts (14), no fixed abode, were charged with attempting to rob a till at the shop of John Charles Everton, New Cross, Heath Town. Edward Cutts (15) was also charged with aiding and abetting. - The wife of the prosecutor deposed that she heard footsteps in her shop and went twice to see what was the cause, but could see no one. At length, on going into the shop again, she found Craner behind the counter, and gave him into the custody of Police-constable Leadbitter, who also arrested Joseph Cutts; Edward Cutts being subsequently arrested by Police-constable Kelly. The three were charged together, Edward Cutts replying "I didn't go into the shop; I held their boots. I was frightened. I never go in, I always stop outside." - It was stated that on the 31st of December last Edward and Joseph Cutts were bound over for a month to appear for judgment at the expiration of that period on a charge of stealing money. It was then stated that the lads were deserted by their father and mother, and it will be remembered that a man named Potts, living in Brickkiln-street, who had kindly given them a house, promised, at the suggestion of the magistrates, to find the lads shelter so that they might get work. This he had done, but both the boys left his house recently, and, It was stated, he now refused to have anything more. to do with them. - The Stipendiary said the prisoners were undoubtedly three thorough little thieves. Craner had had no less than six charges of theft preferred against him, and as recently as the 24th November last was sentenced to ten days hard labour. The only chance of reforming them was to send them away for a long period, and each of them would therefore have to go to Stafford for 14 days with hard labour, and after that to a reformatory for five years. - Joseph Cutts, who, as the Stipendiary was speaking, had held up five fingers to a detective in Court, as a sign of what was coming, informed the Court that they could "do it on their heads." Edward Cutts laughed as if he quite appreciated the fun of the whole affair; and even Craner, who had "turned on the tap" when his mother expressed her fixed resolve to "skin him as soon as she got at him," went to the cells smiling through his tears.4 June 1880 Absconded from the School with Wilkes [boy 868], Buxton [boy 887], and Cooper [boy 854]. Recaptured 6 June at Stafford | |
| 5 March 1892 Discharged early from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating to Canada, along with Archer [boy 853] | |
| 14 February 1893 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cutts, Melbourne, Canada | |
| 12 December 1893 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cutts, Melbourne, Canada | |
| 26 April 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cutts, Melbourne, Canada | |
| 11 June 1895 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cutts, Lisgar, Quebec | |
| 11 February 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cutts, Lisgar, Quebec | |
| 11 August 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cutts, Lisgar, Canada | |