James Mason - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 945 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 1 ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar mark left side of forehead |
| State of health: | Fair |
| Able-bodied? | Rather slight but fairly strong |
| Date of admission: | 1 May 1890 |
| Late residence: | 33 Dudley Street, Walsall |
| Parish he belongs to: | Walsall |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Very imperfectly |
| Writes: | Very imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing 3 pork pies |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | An associate of other young thieves |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 11 April 1890; J Newman and W E Blyth; Walsall Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 21 days in prison, Saltley until the age of 16 |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | David Mason |
| Occupation: | Brass caster |
| Mother's name: | Miranda Mason |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Nothing known against them |
| Parents' wages: | About £1 per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 33 Dudley Street, Walsall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 12 April 1890 The crime was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 12 April 1890 p.5 col.5: STEALING PORK PIES. - Flve children, named Thomas Carless, Penkridge Street, James Mason, Dudley Street, Martin Rooney, Proffitt Street, James Burns, Margaret Street, and George Henry Jones, Rollingmill Street, whose ages varied from eight to twelve years, were charged with stealing three pork pies, value 3s., the property of Henry Gee, baker, Park Street. - a lad named Thomas Russon stated that he lived next to Mr. Gee's bakehouse, and about half-past four on Thursday afternoon he saw the baker leave the bakehouse, and, afterwards, three of the lads go into the place and come out with three pork pies, whilst the other two were watching. When they all met they ran into Marsh Street to the canal side. He accompanied the baker to the spot. and found them sharing the pies. - William Thornton, baker, in the employ of the prosecutor, stated that he left a number of pork pies in the bakehouse, and when he returned in about five minutes afterwards three of the pies were gone. He followed the lads, and found them on the canal side eating the pies. - Burns, Carless, and Rooney were sentenced to receive six stripes with a birch rod, and Mr Newman said he hoped that it would be a warning to them not to come there again. The other two were sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment. and afterwards to be sent to a training ship [a form of reformatory] until they attained the age of sixteen.22 January 1894 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Mason was licensed to go out and work for Mr Menzies, Ellesmere Lodge, Altrincham | |
| 25 February 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 8 December 1896 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mason [named as W Mason in the Log book], Walsall | |