Francis Edwards - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 974 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 5 ft 2 ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut top of head and left cheek |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 5 November 1891 |
| Late residence: | 2 High Street, Bilston |
| Parish he belongs to: | Bilston |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None, and has never been to school but for a month |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Breaking into a shop and stealing money therefrom |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 6 October 1891; G A Ledsey and H H Ward; Bilston Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) 7 days; 2) discharged |
| For what: | 1) Breaking into and entering a theatre and stealing £1 5s 9d and 4 bottles of mineral water; 2) breaking and entering a stall |
| Father's name: | William Edwards |
| Occupation: | Shop keeper |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Ann Edwards (step-mother) |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | Yes |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Utterly failed in their duty to the boy |
| Character of parents | Reported good. Father was formerly manager of a public house, but was dismissed as a consequence of allowing betting |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 2 High Street, Bilston |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| There is a note in the Admissions Register that the boy has an aunt, Mrs Baker, of Providence Buildings, Muntz Street, Small Heath, Birmingham. Also has a brother, a barman at the Marquess of Lorne, Cattell Road, Birmingham | |
| 20 June 1891 There is a report of the remand hearing for a previous offence in the Bridgnorth Journal and South Shropshire Advertiser Saturday 20 June 1891 p.8 col.3: DARING THEFT AT BILSTON. At Bilston Police Court on Tuesday morning, before Mr. J. L. Gibbons, three boys, named Francis Edwards (13), of High-street; John Cook (14), of Smith-street ; and Joseph Owen (14), of Walsall-street, were charged with stealing £1 4s. 9d. and two bags on the 7th inst., the money of Mr. E. Darby, and seven bottles of mineral water and two stoppers on the 14th inst., also the property of Mr. Darby. - Jabez Jackson Wood, manager of the Bilston Theatre, said on Saturday evening he locked up the theatre, leaving in a drawer in the top bar two bags containing over £2 in copper and silver. In the evening he found that the door of the theatre had been opened and the money in the drawer abstracted. There was also missing a quantity of tobacco and some 25 or 30 cigars - Detective Moreton said on Sunday he arrested Edwards in the theatre. In reply to the charge he said: "There were two other boys with me, I think they were two brothers. They asked me to go. I was with them also on Sunday last." On the same evening witness arrested the prisoner Cook. On being charged he said "I'll tell you all about it. Today me and Joseph Owen and Frank Edwards went to the theatre about four o'clock and wrenched the bottom hinge off the door. We all three entered. I took a pair of gloves which were in the dressing room, but did not keep them. Last Sunday Frank Edwards and Joseph Owen went inside about six. They brought out a bag containing silver and copper, which we shared between us. Owen and Edwards again went into the building and this time brought out another bag containing money. This we also divided. I had two cigars, Frank had ten, and Owen had about five. It was Edwards who opened the door. He did it by putting a piece of wire through the letter box and pulled the bolt away." Owen also admitted being concerned in the theft. - The prisoners were remanded, bail being granted. At the next hearing a few days later, briefly reported in the Birmingham Daily Post of the same date p.8 col.7, it says the magistrates were disinclined to convict and decided the boys were to be brought up in 12 weeks time. | |
| 7 October 1891 Although the word "reformatory" is not mentioned, there is a short report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 7 October 1891 p.7 col.6: BILSTON. - YOUNG SHOPBREAKERS. - At the Police Court, yesterday, Francis Edwards (13), High Street; William London (14), Frank Aston (14), Wellington Street; and Joseph Kirkland (11), Lichfield Street, were charged with breaking into the shop of Mr. Price, butter dealer, Church Street, Bilston, on Monday night, and stealing 9d. - It transpired that Edwards entered the shop through an opening 13½in. wide by 10½in. high, in a back-window, and after taking the money, divided it with the other prisoners, who were waiting outside. Edwards, who had been twice convicted, was sent to gaol for a month, and the other prisoners were ordered to come up again in three months time. | |
| 10 August 1895 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Edwards was licensed to go out and work for W Adam, Green Lane, Bilston | |
| 4 November 1896 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 8 February 1900 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Edwards, 1st South Staffordshire Regiment, Gibraltar | |
| 31 July 1900 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Edwards, South Africa [the Boer War was underway at this time] | |
| 9 October 1900 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Edwards, South Africa | |
| 12 February 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Edwards, South Africa | |