David Heath - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1060 |
| Age: | 14 (born 4 March 1880) |
| Whence received: | Leek |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Dark |
| Hair colour: | Black |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 5 ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar on head; little finger left hand cut; scal [scald?] mark on left foot |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 3 March 1894 |
| Late residence: | Kingsley, Cheadle, Staffordshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Farm work |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 1 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 1 |
| Offence: | Theft of a watch and chain |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Parental neglect |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 28 February 1894; J Robinson and Henry Davenport; Leek Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Nil |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | William Heath |
| Occupation: | Shoe repairer |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Heath |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Bad |
| Character of parents | Suspicious - father 4 times convicted |
| Parents' wages: | Average 10s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | Kingsley, Cheadle |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | Superintendent Cooper |
| Notes: | |
| 3 March 1894 There is a brief report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 3 March 1894 p.7 col.3: THEFT. - David Heath, 14, Kingsley, was brought up on remand charged with stealing a watch and chain, value 25s., the property of Isabella Collier, of Ipstones. He was ordered to be flogged and to be sent to a reformatory school until 19 years of age. | |
| 19 February 1896 The Medical Officer reported: Eczema | |
| 6 January 1897 The Medical Officer reported: Innate wickedness | |
| 19 February 1897 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Heath was licensed to go out and work for Mr Clarke, Manor Farm, Over Whitacre, near Coleshill | |
| 15 August 1897 Absconded from employment whilst out on licence | |
| 8 February 1898 The Log Book report records that Boughey [boy 1007] notes in a letter to the School that Heath's parents have left the district | |
| 10 September 1898 Heath was recaptured but resisted arrest, as reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 10 September 1898 p.5 col.7: CHEADLE. - FRIDAY. (Before Sir Mortoo Manningham.Buller, Bart., and W E Bowers and W. Morton Philips, Esqrs.) SERIOUS DISTURBANCE AND ASSAULTS. The Bench had before them a number of men charged with assaults under aggravated circumstances. The disturbance took place on the 5th Inst., and arose in consequence of Police-Sergt. Robotham arresting a young man named David Heath for absconding from Saltley Reformatory, where e had been originally sent for stealing a watch. Whilst in custody of the sergeant in High street, Heath became very violent, striking, kicking, and scratching his utmost. A large crowd gathered, and William Heath, sen., struck Robotham on the head with his fist and tried to pull his son away. William Heath, jun., kicked him in the ribs and on the side of the head. William Henry Horne came to the assistance of the police, and was kicked severely by David in the face. Mr. E. K. Almond, colliery proprietor, also came to the assistance of the police, and was just in time to arrest William Heath, jun., in the act of taking a running kick at the sergeant as he was on the ground. Mr Almond succeeded in bringing this defendant through the crowd. He was very violent, and kicked Police constable Fisher on the face. In the result. David Heath, for absconding from the reformatory, was sent to prison for one month, for the assault on the police he was committed for two months, and for the assault on William Henry Horne for one month; William Heath, sen., was sent for two months for assaulting the police, and fined 40s. and costs or one month for obstruction; and William Heath, jun., for obstructing the police was fined 40s. and costs or one month, for assaulting the police he was sentenced to two months imprisonment, and to one month for assaulting Mr. Almond. A man named Finney got the benefit of the doubt, and was discharged. | |
| 17 November 1898 Formally discharged from Saltley, having died in Shrewsbury Prison. This was reported in the Shrewsbury Chronicle 25 November 1898 p.5 col.4: SINGULAR DEATH IN SHREWSBURY GAOL. - An inquest was held in Shrewsbury Gaol on Friday evening, before Mr. Coroner R. K. Clarke and a jury of which Mr. H. Mudd was foreman, on the body of a prisoner named David Heath, labourer (18), who died on the previous day. - Sarah Ann Heath, of Green Hill Lane, Cheadle, Staffordshire, identified deceased as her son. - Richard Frederick Rowles, chief warder at the gaol, said that deceased was committed on September 10th for assaulting the police. He was given two months for that assault; another month for another assault, and a further month that was to run concurrently with the latter, for escaping from Saltley Reformatory School. Deceased was sent to Stafford Gaol, and later transferred with his father, who was also in prison, and others to Shrewsbury Gaol. Deceased was in a good state of health, and was put to oakum picking and bag-making. Having asked that he should be given something to do outside, witness sent him to work in the kitchen. On Tuesday night deceased complained of being unwell; he was given a mixture, but as he complained again at 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday a doctor was sent for, and deceased was removed to the hospital, where he died at 5 p.m. on Thursday. - Dr. J. D. Harries, prison surgeon, said he saw deceased frequently, and he never made any complaint to him.. He (witness) saw him one Wednesday, when he found him suffering from inflammation of the bowels due to a stoppage. On Thursday, accompanied by Dr. Gray, he saw deceased twice. It was their intention to operate, but before that could be done deceased died from the inflammation. His diet on Tuesday had been soup and potatoes, and he (witness) put his illness down to deceased eating too greedily of the soup; in fact, gorging himself. - A verdict of death from natural causes was returned. | |