Thomas Stroud - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1254 |
| Age: | 12 (born 22 January 1888) |
| Whence received: | Burton on Trent Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Light grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 7ins |
| Particular marks: | Small scar left of forehead |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 21 January 1901 |
| Late residence: | 7 house 2 branch Wellington Street, Burton upon Trent |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Schoolboy. Associate of thieves |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 4 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 4 |
| Offence: | Larceny |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 18 January 1901; J H Morris and G L Blackhall; Burton on Trent Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | Birched |
| For what: | Larceny |
| Father's name: | Isaac Sherwin Stroud |
| Occupation: | Carter |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 7 house 2 branch Wellington Street, Burton upon Trent |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Hicklin, Burton on Trent |
| Person making this return: | S Hicklin |
| Notes: | |
| 15 November 1900 A previous offence was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 15 November 1900 p.5 col.4: A YOUNG INCORRIGIBLE. - A lad, eleven, years of age, named Henry Stroud [first name given thus], of 7 house, 2 branch, Wellington Street, was charged with attempting to steal 4s. 3d. from the. till of the shop of Mr. Barrowcliffe, of the West End Toilet Club, Borough Road. The prisoner has been in trouble several times, and at the sessions on Friday was sentenced to six strokes of the birch rod for breaking into the premises of Mr. Platt, fishmonger, of Borough Road. - A youth named Thomas Bull, employed by Mr. Barrowcliffe, said that he was engaged in the saloon on Monday afternoon, and looking through a mirror, saw prisoner trying to climb, over the counter towards the till, which contained 4s. 3d. Witness picked up a brush and ran after the lad, who bolted towards the railway station. Prisoner closely questioned witness, saying that he had only gone to the shop to punch Bull's head for telling his (Stroud's) father something about him. - Police-constable Skidmore gave evidence as to arresting the lad, who was remanded to the Workhouse until Friday. | |
| 22 November 1900 Barely a week later he was in trouble again, as reported by the Burton Chronicle Thursday 22 November 1900 p.5 col.3: The youth Stroud. of Wellington Street, who, though only eleven years of age, has already given considerable trouble to the police, on Friday gave another exhibition of his quality at the Workhouse. It is only a week ago that he was birched for breaking into Mr. Platt's. shop in Borough Road, and he then showed his contempt for the punishment after the fashion of the Sacristan of old, who "Put his thumb unto his nose, And spread his fingers out." On Wednesday he was brought before the magistrates on a charge of attempting to empty the till of a hairdresser in Borough Road, and was remanded to the Workhouse. Notwithstanding all precautions the youthful delinquent escaped, and was not rearrested until some hours afterwards. On Friday he was committed to the Industrial at Wellington, near Stoke, until he shall attain the age of 16 years He was again sent to the Workhouse, and again he caused the Master much anxiety. He smashed the windows, in two wards, broke some furniture, and spoiled two locks in his endeavour to escape. And still his energy is believed to be unexpended. | |
| 24 January 1901 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 24 January 1901 p.7 col.1: SENT TO A REFORMATORY. - Thos. Stroud, an old offender, of 7 house, No.2 Branch, Wellington Street, John Bishop, a schoolboy, of Princess Street, and Thomas Millar, errand boy, of Wellington Street, were charged with stealing a box of briar pipes, valued at 6s., the property of Edith Corton, tobacconist, of Derby Street. - Prosecutrix said the stolen articles were in a cardboard box in her shop at twenty minutes past eight on Tuesday night, but whilst she was away a few minutes they had disappeared. She did not see the prisoners about. - Elizabeth Gopsall, wife of William Charles Gopsall, of Wellington Street, said she searched the house in consequence of what had been communicated by the police, and found the pipes, with a box of cigarettes, in the coalhouse. - Police-constable Bennett said he arrested the prisoners on Wednesday, and found the briar pipes on the prisoner Stroud. He charged the prisoners jointly with the theft, and Stroud said: "Yes, Millar and I went into the shop while Bishop watched outside and received the case." Bishop afterwards showed the constable where the case was, down the Rifleman Inn yard, and said there were but five pipes in the case and not six. - All three boys having been previously convicted the magistrates decided to send them to a truant school for five years. | |
| 22 January 1904 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Stroud was licensed to go out and work for the Manager (Mr W Sinwell), Ind coope & Co, Burton on Trent | |
| 17 January 1906 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |