William James Mason - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1226 |
| Age: | 14 (born 19 August 1885) |
| Whence received: | Walsall Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Sallow |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 6 ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar thumb right hand; small burn on abdomen and right thigh; slight pug nose |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 19 April 1900 |
| Late residence: | 2 house 1 court Bank Street, Walsall |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | News boy |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Larceny (several charges on same day) |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 18 April 1900; B Beebee; Walsall Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | 1) Vagrancy; 2) sleeping out |
| Father's name: | William Mason |
| Occupation: | Brass dresser |
| Mother's name: | Jane Mason |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Fairly good |
| Character of parents | Fair |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 2 house 1 court Bank Street, Walsall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Chief Constable, Walsall |
| Person making this return: | B Beebee |
| Notes: | |
| 21 April 1900 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Walsall Advertiser Saturday 21 April 1900 p.5 col.8: STILL THE IRON KEEPS GOING. George Hickman (17), Guest's lodging- house and William Mason (15), of Bank Street, were charged with stealing a quantity of iron, value 3s., the property of Messrs. John Russell and Co., on April 9th. - Mr. W. C. Checkley (Messrs. Duignan and Elliott) prosecuted on behalf of Messrs. Russell and Co. - Detection Burrell saw the boys loading bags with iron from a heap in Messrs. Russell's Yard on the date named. - Defendants pleaded guilty. - The magistrates expressed the hope that the police would follow the boys to see where they took the iron with a view to prosecuting those who received iron from them. - There was a second charge against the defendants of stealing a bodice and a mackintosh, value 12s., from a crate on the London and North-Western platform at Walsall station. - R. E. Ettridge, a detective in the employ of the railway company, prosecuted, and Frank Simmons, manager for the Callow Park Milk Company, said that he was on Walsall station on Sunday morning at six o'clock. There was a crate on No. 1 platform which witness noticed was quite intact, but shortly afterwards he saw four boys come along and commence to rifle the crate. Mason pulled out the bodice (produced) and Hickman a mackintosh. Witness then went towards them, but on observing him the boys dropped the mackintosh and bodice and ran away. Witness pursued them and caught Mason. - Hickman was discharged into the care of Mr. W. W. Davis, police court missioner, who undertook to place him into a home, and Mason was sent to a reformatory for three years. | |
| 10 February 1901 The Medical Officer reported: Thecal abscess, better by 26 February | |
| 5 June 1901 The Medical Officer reported: Disease of bone | |
| 5 August 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Mason was licensed to go out and work for Mr Hines, Nechells Place, Birmingham | |
| 1 January 1903 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Mason was re-licensed to go out and work for Mr Stangles, Eldon Street, Walsall | |
| 10 February 1903 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records that Mason had been given leave at Christmas to visit his home, but overstayed his time there. Mr Blake went over to Walsall and took him back to his situation. | |
| 17 April 1903 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 12 April 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Mason, Walsall | |