Harry Cox - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1171 |
| Age: | 12 (born 26 October 1885) |
| Whence received: | - |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 5¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | 1 vacc. mark left arm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 12 March 1898 |
| Late residence: | - |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 4 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 4 |
| Offence: | Stealing a coat and vest, value 7s |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 11 March 1898; W Bayliss and J T Cottam; Walsall |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) (28 July 1897) cautioned; 2) (1 October 1897) bound on good behaviour, 6 months |
| For what: | 1) Stealing a watch and chain; 2) stealing a watch |
| Father's name: | Albert Cox |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Fanny Cox |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 34 Cobden Street, Walsall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | C A Loxton, Magistrates' Clerk |
| Notes: | |
| 31 July 1897 A previous offence was reported in the Walsall Advertiser Saturday 31 July 1897 p.5 col.7: CHARGE OF STEALING A WATCH. Harry Cox (11), school boy, of 34, Cobden Street, was placed in the dock on a charge of stealing a silver Swiss watch, chain, and case, value £1, belonging to Wm. Doughty, of 134, Bath Street. - On the 24th inst. prosecutor was carrying hay in a field at Palfrey, and placed his waistcoat on a hedge. He afterwards saw the prisoner and two other boys, who, on seeing him coming towards them, ran away. Prosecutor then missed his watch from his waistcoat. Detective Harper arrested prisoner on Sunday night. Prisoner said he had hidden the watch near a tree in the field, but witness could not find the watch. The prisoner then said he had put the watch in a wheel track and covered it over with hay, and witness altogether searched for an hour and a half. The boy then put his hand into his pocket and, pulling out the watch, said, "Here it is; I'm sorry I told you lies." - Prisoner now pleaded guilty. - The Bench. in consideration ol the prisoner's tender age, discharged him on the prisoner promising not to get into trouble again, and the father undertaking to look after him. | |
| 2 October 1897 Another previous offence was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 2 October 1897 p.3 col.5: A NEW USE FOR A SCHOOL PRIZE. - Harry Cox (11), school boy, was charged with stealing a watch, valued 15s., the property of John Wood, of 85, Milton Street, between the 14th and 25th ult. - The watch was identified by John Wood, who stated that he last law it in the house, about three weeks ago. in the kitchen of his house. It was missed on Saturday last. He communicated with the police, and the next time he saw the watch was on Wednesday last, when it was in the possession of the police. - William Woodward, a boy, of 63, Ford Street, said that on Thursday, the 16th September, he was in Hillary Street school, when the prisoner showed him the watch, and said it was his mother's, and she had told him to pawn it. Prisoner asked witness to get a Mrs. Wilkes to wind it up, but, as it would not go, they went down Springfields and tried to pawn it, but no one would take it in. Subsequently the prisoner gave it him for a knife and a ring, but on the next day he gave it him back, and the prisoner gave him a school prize to say nothing about it. - Mr. Newman: A new use for school prizes. - Detective Haycock said that on Sunday, the 26th September, he made inquiries, having received information of the robbery, and later on received the watch from the prisoner's father. He arrested the boy and cautioned and charged him, to which be replied, "I took it from the drawer." - Mr. Wood said that the prisoner was in his employ as an assistant to the hairdressing business, and that, if they would let him off, he would take him back and see that he had no temptation in future. - The father of the boy said that he had seen the baby playing with this watch, and it was a strong temptation. - The father was bound over in the sum of £5 for six months for the good behaviour of the boy. | |
| 12 March 1898 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 12 March 1898 p.8 col.2: A YOUNG OFFENDER. - Harry Cox (12). 34, Cobden Street, was charged with stealing a coat and vest, value 7s., the property of Ernest Herrick, of Shaw Street, on 7th inst. - Mr. Newman (deputy magistrates' clerk) informed the father of the boy that he was liable to have his goods seized, seeing that on the last occasion when the boy was brought up the father was bound over for the boy's good behaviour. - The evidence was that the things were missed by prosecutor and offered in pledge at Franks's by the prisoner, who ran away when questioned about the things. - Sent to a reformatory school for four years. - The Chief Constable said he did not intend to proceed against the father, who was bound over, as there were only about three more weeks to run, but he wished it to be understood that the parents when bound over must look after their children. - Mr. Bayliss cautioned the father. | |
| 9 April 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Cox was licensed to go out and work for Messers Barton and Evans, Milton Street, Walsall | |
| 1 July 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Cox was re-licensed to go out and work for Mr Boyes, Saw Mill, Pleck Road, Walsall | |
| 10 March 1902 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 9 August 1904 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cox, Curragh Camp, Ireland | |