William Henry Davies - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1252 |
| Age: | 14 (born 5 January 1886) |
| Whence received: | Cannock Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey mottled |
| Height: | 4 ft 6ΒΌ ins |
| Particular marks: | Mark on breast |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 31 December 1900 |
| Late residence: | West Hill, Hednesford |
| Parish he belongs to: | Cannock |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil - loafing about |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Larceny (stealing money and a pawn ticket) |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control. Police report that he was in the habit of watching for smaller boys going to pawnshops and taking money off them |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 31 December 1900; Lord Hatherton and W Wolverson; Cannock Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 12 strokes |
| For what: | Stealing money |
| Father's name: | Thomas Davies |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Mother's name: | Annie Davies |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | West Hill, Hednesford |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Inspector Burgess, Cannock |
| Person making this return: | E A Orton |
| Notes: | |
| 13 October 1900 A previous offence was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 13 October 1900 p.8 col.3: ANOTHER NICE BOY. - William Henry Davies. a lad, was charged with stealing half-a-crown the property of Edwin Rotchell, of Cecil Street, Chadsmoor. - According to the statement of the son of prosecutor, a little boy, he was sent to the pawnshop and the half-crown was handed to him. The prisoner who was standing by the side of the usual opening took the coin from him and said he would wrap it up in paper, and handed him some paper but the money was not in it. He went after him and challenged the prisoner who asserted that he had not got the money and said he had only twopence and he was willing to be searched. - Arthur Rotchell said his little brother complained to him on the 6th and he went for the prisoner and asked him for the money, but he denied that he had had it. - Officer Cook proved the apprehension of the prisoner who now asserted he was not guilty. - The lads father desired to have the case dealt with by their worships, remarking that if he was guilty he must pay the penalty. - Lord Hatherton said it was a mean trick and ordered the prisoner to receive 12 strokes of the birch. | |
| 5 January 1901 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 5 January 1901 p.8 col.1: JUVENILE PRECOCITY. William Henry Davies, a lad , was charged with stealing two sixpences and three half-pence with a pawn ticket, the property of Moses Jones, on the previous Friday, at the pawnshop at Hednesford. - A little fellow, Moses Jones , said he went William Henry Davies, a lad , was charged with stealing two sixpences and three half- pence with a pawn ticket, the property of Moses Jones, on the previous Friday, at the pawnshop at Hednesford. A little fellow, Moses Jones , said he went her. Annie, the mother of the lad, residing took the money from his right hand trousers pocket. He went into street as did witness and was crying when he met his mother on the station bridge, and he then told his mother In one pocket he had twopence halfpenny, her. Annie, the mother of the lad, residing at Church Hill said she gave him the money and ticket. From what she was afterwards told she went to the pawnshop where Miss: Davis told the prisoner to turn out his pockets. In one pocket he had twopence halfpenny, and in another four pence and four oranges. Officer Cook apprehended the boy and he asserted that he had no money. Officer Upton visited the prisoner at the Hednesford cells, with his breakfast, on the 30th. when he admitted that he took the money spending some of it at some shops, buying oranges; mince pies, and potted meat. The father of the lad was called forward and he said he was beyond his control. He was employed as a driver on the Cannock and Rugeley. The prisoner admitted the offence and desired that the case should be dealt with by their worships. A list was handed up to the Bench showing that this was not his first offence and his lordship now ordered him to be sent to a Reformatory until he is 19 years old, and further said that his father would be called upon to contribute towards his support. | |
| 3 August 1903 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Davies was licensed to go out and work for Mr W Knowles, Wythall, Worcestershire | |
| 30 September 1903 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating. The Reformatory Log Book report records that Davies: left Liverpool in the SS Belgenland for Philadelphia, on the way to Murray City, Ohio. The father of this boy went out in June last, and with the assistance of relatives already settled in the United states, passages were paid for his family to join him. I conferred with Mr Hobbiss and Mr Hargreave [members of the Reformatory Committee?] and application was made for the boy to be allowed to go with his mother. | |