Edwin Steer - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 937 |
| Age: | 11½ (birthday 3 April 1878) |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 6 ins |
| Particular marks: | Small anchor back of right wrist; a large fracture in right forearm; part of bracelet on left wrist; blue dot back of left wrist |
| State of health: | |
| Able-bodied? | Yes- |
| Date of admission: | 29 October 1889 |
| Late residence: | 41 Bromley Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 30 September 1889; J G Wright and John Marston; Wolverhampton Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (19 August 1889) |
| Length: | 1 day and 6 strokes |
| For what: | Stealing a pair of stockings |
| Father's name: | Edwin Steer |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Annie Steer |
| Occupation: | Carpet maker |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Reported "not good" |
| Parents' wages: | |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 41 Bromley Street, Blakenhall, Wolverhampton |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 29 August 1889 A previous offence was reported in the Wolverhampton Express and Star Monday 29 August 1889 p.3 col.2: Edwin Steer, a boy, of Dudley-road, was sentenced to one day's imprisonment, and ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod, for stealing a pair of stocking, value 11d., the property of Mr. S. Young, of Victoria-street, Wolverhampton. - Mr. Young, who had been summoned to appear, expressed his unwillingness to prosecute, but was informed that he had no option in the matter. - It was stated that the prosecutor's brother, who had seen the theft committed, had refused to attend as a witness. - The boy's mother stated that she had seven children to keep and to work for. This boy was in the Day Industrial School, where he got with another boy, who led him astray. He never came home until very late at night since he had been in the Institution. - Mr Turton (Deputy Clerk): The school is a great failure. | |
| 1 October 1889 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Tuesday 1 October 1889 p.6 col.8: EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS BY BOYS . - Robert Knight (12) 20, Compton Street; Edwin Steer (11); Bromley Street; Richard Howard (11), Pool Street, all day Industrial School boys, were charged at the same Court with stealing a horse and trap, the property of Mr. Upton of Pendeford; and further with breaking into the office of Mr. Enoch Howard, cooper, Green Lane, Wolverhampton, and stealing 7s. 10d. and a bridle and reins. - On Friday Mr. Upton drove to Wolverhampton and engaged a boy to hold his horse. On his return the horse and trap had vanished, and according to the admission of some of the boys they broke into Mr. Howard's office, and then drove to Dudley, Cannock, and Birmingham. purchasing food with the stolen money. On Saturday night they drove the horse and cart into Mr. Howard's yard, and were given into custody. - They were now sentenced to a month's hard labour, and ordered to be confined in a reformatory for five years. | |
| 23 January 1892 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza. Fully recovered by 22 February | |
| 4 March 1892 The Medical Officer reported: Suppurating corn on foot | |
| 15 December 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Steer was licensed to work for Mr Clarke, Monwood Lea, Coleshill | |
| 28 October 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 30 April 1895 The Reformatory Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Steer, Birmingham | |
| 11 August 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Steer, Warwick | |