Ernest Wheeler - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1243 |
| Age: | 14 (born 26 December 1884) |
| Whence received: | Handsworth Petty Sessions (Birmingham prison) |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Bluish grey |
| Height: | 5 ft 3 ins |
| Particular marks: | No marks - fine looking lad |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 26 July 1900 |
| Late residence: | 58 Finch Road, Handsworth [now in Birmingham]. Uncle Mr McGarey, 7 Imperial Cottages, Court Road, Great Malvern |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Larceny of gold watch and gold ring |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 20 July 1900; J H Stone; Handsworth Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Jane Wheeler |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent of Police, Handsworth |
| Person making this return: | C Pike |
| Notes: | |
| 21 July 1900 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Saturday 21 July 1900 p.8 col.6: HANDSWORTH POLICE COURT. - At this Court, yesterday - before Messrs. J. H. Stone and W. Roberts - Ernest Wheeler (14), of 58, Finch Road, was charged with stealing a locket and gold ring belonging to his sister, and 10s., the money of his mother. On the occasion of the theft of the money, Monday week, prisoner was absent from home for two days and nights. The locket and ring, which were worth £1, were taken on Thursday. Mrs. Wheeler gave her son a very bad character. She described him as beyond all control, and a worthless lad upon whom reproof had no effect. Detective-sergeant Myatt, who arrested prisoner, said he had been in a situation until a week ago, but he was dismissed because of dishonesty. The Chairman of the Bench told prisoner that they would "try to make a decent fellow of him," He would have to go to prison for seven days, and then to a reformatory for five years. Perhaps that would get him out of bad habits. | |
| 6 July 1901 The Medical Officer reported: Inflamed ankle joint | |
| 11 August 1903 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records: A boy named Ernest Wheeler wishes to go out to New Zealnd to join his mother and step-father. This boy was received here in July 1900, and shortly afterwards his mother, a widow, and her daughter went out to New Zealand. There the boy's mother married again and is very comfortable. If it is their desire to have their son with them, I shall be glad to have your approval to send him. I have promised to give him an outfit and to see him on board at Southampton. I think if I was authorised by you to pay a small sum towards the ocean passage expenses, his emigration would be facilitated. | |
| 28 January 1904 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating to New Zealand. Left London on the SS Ruahepee for Wellington, New Zealand. The Log Book reports: His parents paid £13 of the passage money, leaving a balance of £4 which we pay. I saw him on board at the Royal Albert Docks | |
| 12 April 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Wheeler, Cape Town | |