Thomas Howse - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1217 |
| Age: | 12 (born 24 May 1888) |
| Whence received: | Stone Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 6½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Pug nose |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 1 February 1900 |
| Late residence: | 140 Church Street, Stone, Staffordshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Schoolboy |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Offence: | Larceny of a dress, value 30s |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Drunken, worthless parents |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 31 January 1900; W Thompson and J Harding; Stone Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (23 December 1899) |
| Length: | Birched |
| For what: | Stealing a watch |
| Father's name: | William Howse |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Mother's name: | Alice Howse |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not good |
| Character of parents | Bad |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 140 Church Street, Stone, Staffordshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | W Thompson |
| Notes: | |
| 30 December 1899 A previous offence was reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 30 December 1899 p.7 col.7: THEFT OF A WATCH. - Thos. Howse, aged 13, of Church-street, Stone, and Alice Howse, his mother, were charged, the former with stealing a watch, value 30s., the property of Annie Jenkins, and the latter with receiving it knowing it to have been stolen. The boy pleaded guilty. It appeared that he told Police-Sergt. Kelly that the watch was hidden under his mother's bed. and it was found in a corner of the bedroom. In the presence of his presence of In* mother at the police station the boy said that he took the watch from a house in Station-road and gave It to his mother, but the latter affirmed that she knew nothing about it. When in the cell she was heard saying to her son "I told you that I would go with you and take it back Why didn't you keep your mouth shut as I told you before." The boy was ordered to receive six strokes with a birch rod and the woman was discharged. | |
| 3 February 1900 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel Saturday 3 February 1900 p.6 col.4: SENT TO A REFORMATORY. - At the police-court on Wednesday, Thos. Howse, a boy aged 12, living with his parents in Church-street, was charged with stealing a gold ring value 30s.. the property of Mrs. Fradley. The latter left her residence for a few moments, and while she was absent the boy slipped in and took the ring from a drawer. He pleaded guilty to having at the end of December been given six strokes with the birch for the theft of a silver watch. He was now sent to Saltley Reformatory for five years. | |
| 9 May 1900 The Medical Officer reported: Phymosis. Sent to hospital | |
| 8 October 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Howse was licensed to go out and work for Mr Wakefield, Bredon, near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. The boys conduct was reported as unsatisfactory, and he returned to Saltley on 13 March 1903 | |
| 13 March 1903 Returned to Saltley from licence for severe misconduct, having stolen money from his employer | |
| 5 May 1904 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the Home Secretary on account of emigrating to Canada, along with Walford [boy 1284] and Jury [boy 1287]. Left Liverpool on board the SS Pretorian bound for Richmond, Quebec. Subsequently a letter from the School's agent was received, reporting their safe arrival and placing in employment | |