John Charles Hickman - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1203 |
| Age: | 14 (born 14 December 1884) |
| Whence received: | Walsall |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light |
| Eyes colour: | Steel grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 8¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar on forehead |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 13 July 1899 |
| Late residence: | - |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Larceny |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 12 July 1899; Joseph Clare; Guildhall, Walsall |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | - |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Both |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | C A Loxton |
| Notes: | |
| 15 July 1899 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Walsall Advertiser Saturday 15 July 1899 p.8 col.6: JUVENILE THIEVES AT THE RAILWAY STATION. John Hickman (14), St. Paul's Street, George Somerfield (12), 30, Wisemore, and Wm. Brant (14), 5, St. Paul's Street, were charged with having stolen eight shirts, value 10s., the property of the L. and N. W. Railway Co., between the 8th and 10th July. - William Gill, warehouseman, in the employ of Messrs. Bliss, Ennals and Co., said that the shirts (produced) were part of a parcel of shirts that were sent to the railway station on Saturday, and Walter Smallwood, 36, Teddesley Street, spoke to having taken the parcel down to the station. - John Dunlaney, of New Street, said that on Monday Somerfield and Hickman came and asked him if he wanted to buy a shirt, Hickman producing one from under his coat. Witness purchased one for 2½d., and subsequently pawned it for 6d. - Francis Clifford, a pawnbroker, spoke to having received the shirt (produced) in pawn from the last witness. - Ann Thorngill, pawnbroker, said she received the shirt (produced) in pledge from a William Davis for 1s. 6d. - William Davis said that Brant asked him to buy the shirt (produced). He gave 2d. for it, and afterwards pledged it for 1s. 6d. - Detective Smith arrested prisoners, who now pleaded guilty. - Brant was put on his good behaviour for six months, and the other two were each ordered to be sent to reformatory for four years. | |
| 1 March 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Hickman was licensed to go out and work for Parton & Williams, Station Street, Walsall | |
| 1 July 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Hickman was re-licensed to go out and work for Mr F A Longmore, Park Street, Walsall | |
| 14 October 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book shows that Hickman has enlisted at Gosport [in the Kings Royal Rifles. Usually, when boys were allowed to enlist before their time at Saltley was up, permission would be obtained from the Home Office to formally discharge them from Saltley. Unusually, in this case Hickman was shown as out on licence until his sentence expired] Subsequent Log book reports record him at Malta | |
| 11 July 1903 Sentence expired whilst out on licence in Malta, discharged from Saltley | |