William Frederick Beasley - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1145 |
| Age: | 15 (24 November 1881) |
| Whence received: | Coventry Police Station |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Sandy |
| Eyes colour: | Light brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 6¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut scar on right foot, scar left arm |
| State of health: | Fair |
| Able-bodied? | Yes? [question mark in original] |
| Date of admission: | 12 January 1897 |
| Late residence: | 84 East Street, Coventry |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | - |
| Writes: | - |
| Offence: | Larceny from a shop |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Reported by police to be a clever pickpocket. Admits having stolen from the person, purses, and money on many occasions |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 7 January 1897; A T Thomson and John Bill; Coventry Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) Birched; 2) birched |
| For what: | 1) Breaking and entering a shop; 2) stealing a tin of sardines |
| Father's name: | John Beasley |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Alice Beasley |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Doubtful |
| Character of parents | Father good, mother bad |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 84 East Street, Coventry |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | James Shelley, Police Inspector |
| Notes: | |
| 13 May 1895 A previous offence involved a remand hearing, at which Beasley and his accomplices were detained in Coventry Workhouse. The sentencing hearing was reported in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Monday 13 May 1895 p.3 col.3: IMPUDENT GARDEN THEFTS IN COVENTRY. POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. The garden in the Park of Councillor S. Corbett, was recently the scene of a series of depredations by a number of youths. The sequel to such depredations was forthcoming at the City Police Court this morning. The magistrates on the Bench were Alderman J. Marriott (chairman), Mr. F. W. Franklin, Mr. R. Choules, and Mr. R. Hill. There were five defendants, their names being as follows: Edward Foster, 10 court, Far Gosford Street; Joseph Shirley, Henry Street; Frank Bourn. 56, Greyfriars Lane; William Walton. 22, Leicester Street; and Arthur Milliner. 64, Bond Street, They were charged with stealing pears and grapes of the value of 5s., the property of Mr. S. Corbett. whilst there was also a charge against Fred Wilson, 6 house, 13 court, St. John Street, stealing growing potatoes, valued 6d., from a garden in the possession of the New Beeston Cycle Company. Mr. Maddocks prosecuted on behalf of the Park Gardens Association. - Mr. Maddocks stated, in opening the case, that a witness named Smith was in Cheylesmore about twenty minutes to six on the previous Friday, when he saw a number of youths and men go into Mr. Corbett's garden. He sent for Mr. Corbett junior, and on the latter's arrival about twenty boys and youths were found in the garden doing great damage to the fruit trees. They had broken into the greenhouse, took away about 200 bunches grapes, knocked off the trees apples and pears, trampled all over the garden, and when Mr. Corbett jun. came rushed away. He was only able to catch Walton and Foster. - Walter Smith, carpenter and joiner, testified to seeing the defendants in Mr. Corbett's garden on the 25th ult. He asked them what they were doing there, and they replied, "What have you got to do with it? " He sent for Mr. B. Corbett, jun. The defendants had bundles of grapes in their possession, and . one of them threw a bunch at him. Shirley had grapes in his possession. - Mr. S. Corbett, jun., told the Bench that about 150 bunches of grapes had been stolen from his father's garden. Damage had been done to the extent of about £5. - Park-constable James had Walton and Foster handed over to him by Mr. S. Corbett, jun. Both had pears in their possession. - Shirley denied going into the garden, but Smith, recalled, said he saw him inside when he (witness) rushed into the garden. - Ald. Marriott said the Bench considered the case was one of the most gross of reckless and wilful damage that had been brought into that court. Each lad would have to pay 10s. fine, 5s. damage, and the expenses - 28s. in all, or go to gaol for 14 days. | |
| 7 January 1897 A report of the crime that sent him to Saltley was printed in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Thursday 7 January 1897 p.3 col.4: THREE REFORMATORY CANDIDATES. Three boys stood in a row charged with stealing a pair of boots. The boys were William Burton, 1c. 3h., Much Park Street; William Frederick Beasley, 84. East Street, and Edward Foster, 10c 3h., Gosford Street. Robert William Ferguson, assistant to Messrs. Cash and Company, Smithford Street, proved the loss of the boots from outside the shop. A smart errand boy, David Hitchins, working at Midland Clothing Company, opposite to Messrs. Cash's, saw the three prisoners round the boot shop. Foster took a pair, and the prisoners went off along Market Street. Witness went and informed Messrs. Cash's people. Information was given to the pawnbrokers in the city. and when Burton entered the shop of Mr. Hewitt, Well Street, the assistant there was ready for him. The assistant in question, Walter Scott, saw that the soles of the boots had been rubbed in the mud, and that it was a suspicious offer. So he detained the boots and Burton, also Beasley, who had come into the shop to see how Burton was getting on. Police-constable Ellis was sent for, and the two boys were taken into custody with the result, that Foster was soon traced. The Chief Constable was sorry to have to give all three prisoners a bad character, all having been previously before the Court. This was. only one of a series of robberies to which all three had conformed, including the taking of 30s from a woman's pocket. The Bench ordered each to be sent to a reformatory until nineteen years of age. | |
| 8 November 1900 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Beasley was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Co-operative Store, Coventry | |
| 23 November 1900 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 11 February 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Beasley, Coventry | |
| 8 December 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Beasley, Devonport | |
| 9 February 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Beasley, Devonport | |