Joseph Edgar Higgins - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 917 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | 4 ft 7 ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut mark back of right forefinger |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 17 April 1889 |
| Late residence: | 105 Church Street, Hanley |
| Parish he belongs to: | Hanley |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Errand boy at Mr Butler's, Trinity Street, Hanley |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 18 March 1889; G Bradford and S A Jones; Hanley Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (23 February 1889) |
| Length: | 6 strokes |
| For what: | Stealing straps from a shop door |
| Father's name: | Joseph Higgins |
| Occupation: | Manager carter |
| Mother's name: | Mary Higgins |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | 24s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 105 Church Street, Hanley |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 25 February 1889 Two previous convictions were reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel Monday 25 February 1889 p.3 col.6: ALLEGED THEFT OF POTTERS' TOOLS. - Daniel Phillips (16) , John Daniels (16), and Joseph Edgar Higgins (12), were charged with stealing from the manufactory of Messrs. Johnson Brothers, a number of tools belonging to several workmen, including a polishing-knife, a trimming-tool, a fettling-knife, a bat, an apron, several sponges and rubbers on the 21st inst. - Mr Snow defended. - The Chief Constable stated that the three boys were found, about quarter to seven o'clock, on the works of Messrs. Johnson Brothers' Old Hall-street. The prisoner Daniels broke window of one of the workshops and entered the premises. He and the other boys were seen there by a potter's presser named Henry Leat, who asked Daniels what he wanted and ordered him to take nothing away. Daniels replied that he had come for his rights, and if he could not have his rights he would have those of someone else. The boys left the works, and the next morning the articles mentioned in the charge were missed. The stolen property had been found on one of the prisoners. - Daniels, it appeared formerly worked at the manufactory, and he left without taking away his tools. - After hearing evidence, the Magistrates, taking all the circumstances into consideration, discharged the defendants. | |
| THEFT FROM A SHOP-DOOR. - Three youths, John Daniels, Joseph Edgar Higgins, (two defendants in a previous case) and Thomas Elias Smith, were charged with stealing six straps value 3s., the property of John Godwin, leather merchant, Lamb-street, on the 20th inst. - The bundle of straps were hung outside the prosecutor's shop on the date named, and subsequently missed. The evidence showed that Daniels and Smith offered straps for sale to several youths. When arrested Daniels stated that Higgins took the straps from the door, and afterwards they were divided, each of them having two. - Smith who had appeared before the Court several times previously was fined 10s. and costs, Daniels was ordered to pay 5s. 6d. and costs, and Higgins to receive six strokes from the birch. | |
| 19 March 1889 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel Tuesday 19 March 1889 p.3 col.4: FIVE YEARS ON A TRAINING SHIP. - Joseph Edgar Higgins, a respectable-looking lad, thirteen years of age, was charged with stealing £16. the monies of Mr. Charles Butters. The lad pleaded guilty. He was engaged at Mr. Butters' office as an errand boy, and during the momentary absence of a clerk retracted sixteen sovereigns from a cash drawer. He subsequently hid £15 10s. of the money in the Old Hall Fields, with some of the balance treating himself and another lad to the circus. When first spoken to by P.C. Humphries about the theft he denied all knowledge of the money, has subsequently confessed his guilt, and took the officer to the spot where the money was concealed. It was the third time this year the boy had got into trouble. - He was now sentenced to one month's imprisonment, to be follow by five years on a training ship. | |
| 26 October 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Higgins was licensed to work for Mr Crewe, Hanley | |
| 16 April 1894 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| 10 December 1895 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Higgins, Stone, Staffordshire | |