Arthur Clewes - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 962 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 3½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar right side of forehead; molenear left nostril; 2 small burn marks front of left wrist |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 3 April 1861 |
| Late residence: | 14 Cross Street, off Caroline Street, Longton, Staffordshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Longton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil. Police report: The boy is incorrigible and a ringleader of a band of juvenile thieves. He has been given every chance by his mother, who says she cannot control him |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Offence: | Stealing a cap and 2 postage stamps |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 4 March 1891; B Browse and H M Williamson; Longton Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, to be detained at Saltley until the age of 16 |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) 6 strokes (19 October 1888); 2) 6 strokes (2 March 1891) |
| For what: | 1) Stealing a dress; 2) stealing a fowl |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Mary Ann Clewes |
| Occupation: | Charwoman |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | 5s to 6s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 14 Cross Street, off Caroline Street, Longton, Staffordshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 7 March 1891 There is a brief report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 7 March 1891 p.7 col.2: BOY OFFICE BREAKERS - John White. Anchor-road, David Moore, George-street, Joseph Green, Market-lane and Arthur Green, of the same address, were in custody charged with breaking Into the office of Mr. J. F. Wileman's pottery works in Church-street and stealing 24s. on the 1st inst. White, against whom were previous convictions, was ordered be sent to a reformatory school for four years and the other lads were ordered to receive a birching. - The prisoners were then charged, together with John Heywood, Ednor-road, Arthur Cloves. Cross-street, and George Heywood, with breaking Into the office at the works of Messrs. Hallam and Co., Church-street, on the 1st inst., and stealing a cap and two postage stamps. Cloves was ordered to be sent to a reformatory and the other lads were ordered to be whipped. | |
| 13 March 1894 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Clewes was licensed to go out and work for Mr Emery, builder and contractor, Longton | |
| 15 April 1894 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| 8 December 1896 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Clewes [surname given as Clowes in Log book], Longton. (Wishes to pay a visit to the School. Mother a widow, finds a difficulty in keeping home together) | |
| 10 August 1897 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Clewes [again spelled Clowes], Longton | |
| 14 December 1897 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Clewes [spelled Clowes], pottery hand, Longton. (Quite well. Still at work) | |
| 14 October 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Clewes [again spelled Clowes], Longton | |