Frederick Smith - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 954 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 6½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Nil |
| State of health: | good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 2 October 1890 |
| Late residence: | 3 Charles Street, Burton on Trent |
| Parish he belongs to: | Burton on Trent |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing 1 shirt |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of efficient parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 2 September 1890; M Richardson and R Somerville; Burton on Trent court of summary Jurisdiction |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 3 |
| Length: | 1) Fined 4d and costs; 2) 6 strokes; 3) fined 2s 6d and costs |
| For what: | 1) Wilful damage; 2) stealing pigeons; 3) stealing growing strawberries |
| Father's name: | William Smith |
| Occupation: | Turner |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Smith |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Seem not to have controlled him |
| Character of parents | Reported good in both cases |
| Parents' wages: | Father 18s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Will be dealt with by H M Inspector |
| Parents address: | 3 Charles Street, Burton on Trent |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 17 July 1890 A previous crime was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 17 July 1890 p.6 col.4: CAUGHT IN THE ACT. - Frederick Smith (14), of Hunter Street, was charged with stealing half-a- pound of strawberries, of the value of 2d., the property of Mr. A. E. Thoday, on the 14th inst. - The prosecutor is a barley merchant, and resides on the Horninglow Road North. His statement was that on Monday afternoon he saw the defendant in the centre of his strawberry bed, gathering the fruit, some of which he consumed on the ground, while the remainder he deposited in his pockets. - The boy admitted the facts, and it transpired that his parents regarded him as incorrigible. - Mr. Thoday informed the magistrate that nearly all his fruit had been stolen by boys, and the defendant was the only one of any size he had been able to catch. There were previous convictions against Smith, who was fined 2s. 6d. and 8s 8d. costs, with the alternative of fourteen days imprisonment. | |
| 4 September 1890 The offence which sent him to Saltley was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 4 September 1890 p.7 col.5: ROBBERY BY BOYS. - Fredk. Smith (14), Charles Street, and Edwin Dyche (13), Thornley Street, were charged with stealing a shirt of the value of 2s 6d., the property of John Henry Appleby, on the 27th ult. - The wife of the prosecutor, who resides at the Lower Outwoods, saw Dyche loitering at the rear of the house near a spot where she had placed some clothes to dry, and shortly afterwards she observed him beckon to some one. Smith then darted from under the hedge and both ran sway, Smith carrying a bundle partially concealed under his coat Her suspicions were aroused, and she subsequently missed a shirt. It was shown that Smith induced a little boy named Cherril [possibly Frederick Cherrill, later sent to Saltley, boy 967] to pledge the shirt for a shilling at Mr. Price's. establishment in Waterloo Street, and that he tore up the ticket and through [threw] the remnants down a sough. They were arrested by Police-constable Macey, and when charged at the station each accused the other. - Smith, who has been convicted three times previously, was now sent to gaol for a month, and ordered to be detained in a reformatory school for five years, while Dyche was sentenced to receive six strokes from the birch rod. | |
| 29 November 1892 The Medical Officer reported: Contused foot | |
| 11 February 1893 The Medical Officer reported: Eczema | |
| 6 March 1894 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Smith was licensed to go out and work for Mr C Tull, 12 Shobnall Street, Burton on Trent | |
| 11 December 1894 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records that Smith returned to Saltley, on account of his conduct being reported as unsatisfactory | |
| 23 March 1895 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Smith was licensed to go out and work for Mr Couchman, Small Heath, Birmingham | |
| 1 October 1895 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |