Albert Nelson Shorthouse - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1239 |
| Age: | 14 (born 4 May 1886) |
| Whence received: | Burton on Trent Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brownish grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 5½ ins |
| Particular marks: | 3rd finger right hand has been broken; small burn right cheek; faint + [cross] right forearm and dot; several dots left forearm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 10 July 1900 |
| Late residence: | 5 court New Street, Burton on Trent |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil |
| Whether illegitimate: | Yes |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Larceny |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad home |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 6 July 1900; C Harrison and A J Coxon; Burton on Trent |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 3 |
| Length: | 1) (12 April 1900) fined 5s and costs; 2) (25 May 1900) fined 12s 6d and costs; 3) (8 June 1900) fined 10s or 14 days in prison |
| For what: | 1) Wilful damage; 2) throwing stones in street; 3) stealing boots |
| Father's name: | Arthur Nelson |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Mary Nelson |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not good |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 5 court New Street, Burton on Trent |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent of Police, Burton on Trent |
| Person making this return: | S Hicklin |
| Notes: | |
| 19 April 1900 A previous offence was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 19 April 1900 p.7 col.1: DESTROYING TELEGRAPH INSULATORS. - Arthur Nelson Shorthouse, a boy, of New Street. was charged with maliciously breaking a telegraphic insulator, the property of the Postmaster-General, on the 25th March. - George Hale, a labourer, of the same thoroughfare, said that on the day in question he was in the Hay in the afternoon, and saw defendant throw a stone at the telegraph and break an insulator. Witness then acquainted Police-constable Grantham with the occurrence. - Henry King, telegraph engineer, said that the average breakage in the Hay was about six a week, and it seriously interfered with the telegraphing. It was a serious matter, for in this district alone they had about 16,000 broken every year. - A fine of 5s., with 16s. 6d. costs, or fourteen days, was imposed. | |
| 31 May 1900 Another previous offence was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 31 May 1900 p.7 col.1: STONE THROWING. - George Henry Wilson, Albert Nelson, William Dyche, Arthur Greenwood, and Ernest Mansfield, were charged with throwing stones on the Ferry Bridge, on the 4th May. Only Dyche and Mansfield appeared. - Police-constable Eastbury proved the case, stating that both Police-constable Smith and himself saw all the defendants throw the stones from a disused building in Fleet Street at passengers crossing the bridge. - Dyche and Mansfield were fined 1s. and costs each, and the remainder 2s. 6d. and costs. | |
| 14 June 1900 Another previous offence was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 14 June 1900 p.7 col.1: YOUTHFUL SHOPLIFTERS. - Joseph Thomas Little (16) and Albert Nelson Shorthouse (14), of New Street, were charged with stealing a pair of shoes, value 5s., the property of William Rose, On the 30th inst. - The prosecutor, who is a shoemaker, and has a workshop in Stanley Street, said the prisoners, who were hawking blacklead or something of the sort, paid him a visit on the day named, and after Little had picked up a pair of brown shoes and put them down several times, together with asking a number of questions, they left the shop. Subsequently they came in again, and sold 2 pairs of boots that wanted repairing for 3d., and the next day he missed the shoes produced. - Police-constable Jones said that he arrested the prisoners on the 1st inst., and charged them with the theft of the shoes. Little said that Shorthouse told him to take them, while Shorthouse replied that he saw Little take them. Subsequently Little informed witness that the shoes were hidden in the chimney at his house, where they were found. - The defendants were fined 10s. each, with the alternative of fourteen days. | |
| 12 July 1900 There is a report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 12 July 1900 p.7 col.1: THEFT BY LADS - Three lads named Thomas Little, rag gatherer; Albert Nelson Shorthouse, labourer, 5 Court; and George Henry King, labourer, 3 Court, all of New Street, were charged with stealing half-a-ton of iron, valued at 9d. the property of Messrs Ind, Coope, and Co. - Mr. Ranger, chief engineer to the firm, identified the iron as the property of the firm. - Thomas Fredk. Hunt, manager to Mr. John Wells, scrap iron dealer, of Fleet Street, said he bought the iron produced from Little on Saturday, the 30th June. Wilson assisted Little to carry the iron into the warehouse, and Little received the money. - Police-constable Evans said that on Saturday he arrested the prisoners and charged them with stealing the iron. Little replied to the effect that Wilson fetched the iron out of the malthouse yard and placed it on his (Little's) truck, while Shorthouse was watching on the rails, and it was taken to Well's marine store in Fleet Street they receiving 1s. 6d. for it, the money being divided between Wilson and himself. Wilson said that he and Little were going "tatting" (rag gathering) when they met Shorthouse, who told them that he would show them where to get some iron. He then took them to the malthouse and pointed the iron out to them. - Shorthouse also said that Wilson and Little took the iron and sold it, but said he (Shorthouse) did not have any of the money. - Mr. Ranger said Ind, Coope and Co. had no wish to unduly press the charges, but there had been so many thefts of this kind that they felt bound to take proceedings. - The lads, who had all been previously convicted, were sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, and ordered to be subsequently sent to a reformatory for five years. | |
| 1 September 1903 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Shorthouse was licensed to go out and work for Mr Gittings, Holborn Hill, Birmingham | |
| 14 December 1904 The Log Book report records that Shorthouse, who had been reported as satisfactory by his employer on 6 November, left his place after a disagreement with his employer a fortnight later, and went home to Burton. I desire yo ask you [the Committee] to allow this lad to enter the Army, where he will certainly be able to get admission to the Regimental shoemaker's shop. His reutation for work is very good, and generally he is of a quiet disposition. He is the offspring of parents who have cohabited for many years, and his father bears a very bad character. The lad wanted to enlist in October 1903, but his parents then (as now) refused to give their consent. Shorthouse is 18 years of age [parental consent was not required for enlistment from age 18 and upwards]. | |
| 3 May 1905 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |