William Baxter - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 919 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 4¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut mark on centre of forehead |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 29 April 1889 |
| Late residence: | 107 Lichfield Street, Tamworth |
| Parish he belongs to: | Tamworth |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None - school boy |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a plum cake |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Parental neglect |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 16 April 1889; A Clarson and Martin G Haley; Tamworth Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 14 days in prison, 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (9 September 1887) |
| Length: | 6 strokes birch |
| For what: | Stealing 4s |
| Father's name: | George Baxter |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Jane Baxter |
| Occupation: | Tailoress |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Neglected |
| Character of parents | Nothing reported against them |
| Parents' wages: | Father 17s per week, mother 3s |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 107 Lichfield Street, Tamworth |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Dodd, Tamworth |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 10 September 1887 There was a report of an earlier offence in the Tamworth Herald Saturday 10 September 1887 p.8 cols.2-3: A YOUTHFUL THIEF. - William Baxter, a schoolboy, aged 11 years, of Lichfield Street, was charged with, on the 7th inst., stealing 4s from a basket, the property of David Richardson. - Defendant when brought before the Bench cried piteously. Defendant's mother said the lad was sent to school regularly, and he went to school the morning the money was taken. He was set a good example at home, but had got into bad company, and was a naughty lad. - Inspector Dodd said he sent for the father last night to take charge of the lad, to prevent his being locked up, but he refused, and said he would not go and see the young "d…." The Mayor: No wonder we have him before us then. - Sarah Richardson, residing with her husband, a gardener, at 123, Lichfield Street, said on Wednesday she gave a basket containing four shilling pieces, to George Barber, for him to go on an errand. The money was wrapped up in paper, and after being put in the basket she did not see it again. Shortly afterwards Barber returned with the basket, but the money was not in it. - Inspector Dodd said he had traced the money to the prisoner. He had spent it all, or given it away. - George Barber, of 2, Orchard Place, said on Wednesday morning, Mrs Richardson sent him to Miss Richardson's, with a basket but he did not know there was money in it. He did not know whether there was anything in it. Prisoner met him near Mr Sadler's shop in Church Street, and carried the basket for him as far as Mr Griffin's in George Street, where witness went in, leaving prisoner outside with the basket. The latter took the basket to Colehill while he (witness) delivered some milk in Bolebridge Street. When defendant returned he delivered up the basket, but did not say he had taken anything out of it. Witness did not have any of the money. Mr Starkey said Mrs Richardson should have told Barber there was money in the basket. It was most foolish the course she had adopted. If the lad could be trusted at all he should have been trusted with the knowledge that there was money in the basket. - Robert Melbourne said prisoner showed him four shillings, two single shillings and a two-shilling piece, in the class room at school, and said Mr Robotham gave it to him for feeding his pigs and cows. - P.C. MacDonald stated that the previous evening, about half-past eight, he arrested the prisoner in Lichfield Street. As soon as Baxter saw witness coming towards him he said "I did not take the money, it was some other lads.' This was before witness spoke to him. He told him he was going to lock him up for taking the money out of the basket, and he again denied having done so. Witness asked him if he had not given some money to another lad, and he replied that he did, but that it was given to him by a gentleman on Monday for minding his horse on Saturday. He said the gentleman gave him 3s. 6d. but did not know who he was. Witness took him to the station, and on the way prisoner told several other tales.- Prisoner's mother elected for the case to be tried at once, and in answer to the Bench, Baxter pleaded guilty. - Inspector Dodd detailed to the Bench the way in which the lad had told him he had spent the money. He had enquired what character he bore at school, and Mr Stone said he was a very bad lad. - The Bench ordered prisoner to receive seven strokes with the birch rod, and cautioned him as to his future conduct. | |
| 20 April 1889 There is a report of the crime in the Tamworth Herald Saturday 20 April 1889 p.8 col.1: SHOP LIFTING. - A CASE FOR ENQUIRY. - William Baxter aged 11 years, of Lichfield Street, was charged with stealing a currant loaf valued at 1s. 3d. the of Thomas James Stephenson, baker and confectioner of Church Street. - A Sister-in-law to the prosecutor said that on Saturday evening she was standing in a room which commands a view of Mr Stephenson's shop, when she saw the prisoner enter the premises, put his hand on a shelf and take the cake produced. He ran up the Church yard and she immediately raised alarm. She had seen the prisoner before playing about in the street. -Fred Brown, a labourer, residing at the School house, College Lane, stated that on Saturday afternoon he was in Church Street and Mrs. Stephenson said to him "Fred" that boy, pointing to the prisoner, has stolen a cake, catch him. The prisoner was running through the Church Yard with the cake under his arm. Witness gave chase and pursued the boy for some distance but failed to overtake him, owing to the prisoner running to the back of some houses and witness falling. - P. C. Pearson deposed to receiving information of the robbery and arresting the prisoner on Monday afternoon on the Staffordshire Moor. The prisoner was hiding from the police and on seeing the witness he ran away, but was eventually caught after a long chase. When charged with stealing the cake he said "Jack Hutchings told me to fetch it," and he kept watch. - In answer to the Deputy-Mayor, the prisoner said he should not have taken the cake, but acted on the instructions of Hutchings who was a playmate of his. - Inspector Dodd said Baxter was one of a number of bad boys who were allowed to play about the streets. Prisoner had been whipped for a previous offence; it was then proved he spent four shillings given him to pay to a local rate collector. - Mr. Wales: I am afraid he is a very bad boy. - Inspector Dodd: There is no doubt of that. Last week instead of going to school, he and two others visited Lichfield Races. - Alderman Clarson wished the parents could be punished.. Was the father or mother present? - Inspector Dodd said they were neither in court. When they were told what time the case would be tried, they said they should not attend. - Mr. Wales: It shows they not take much interest in the boy's welfare. - Inspector Dodd said the boy was so severely whipped by the father, that he was afraid to go home. - Mr. E. Argyle (Deputy Magistrates' Clerk) said he thought these parents who were known to ill use their children should be proceeded against. It was monstrous for parents to thrash their children in so unmerciful a manner as make them afraid to go home. - Mr. Wales was of the same opinion. This was the second similar case in less than a week. - Inspector Dodd said the prisoner's education had not been neglected. Although only 11 years of age he was in the Sixth standard at school. - Inspector Dodd said that last week Mr. Stephenson lost two cakes from the shop, and Baxter had admitted stealing them. - The Bench sentenced the boy to 14 days imprisonment, and four years in a Reformatory. | |
| The apparent indifference of the parents in the report above prompted the newspaper, in the same issue, p.4 col.5, to print an editorial emphasising the importance of home influence in bringing children up properly, and the failure of it to aid youngsters in turning to wrong-doing. | |
| 23 January 1891 The Medical Officer reported: Ulcer of foot, ordered to bed. By 29 January was considered to be improved but not in good health | |
| 21 January 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Baxter was licensed to go out and work for Mr Hamil, Tamworth | |
| 28 April 1893 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 30 April 1895 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Baxter, Tamworth | |