Ernest Cowell - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1276 |
| Age: | 12 (born 12 May 1889) |
| Whence received: | Cardiff Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey mottled |
| Height: | 3 ft 11¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | Long cut on head just above forehead, blue scar on right foreleg |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 8 July 1901 |
| Late residence: | 70 Howell Street, Cardiff |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Schoolboy. Police say that he has long been accustomed to sleep out at night |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Offence: | Stealing pigeons and tame live rabbits |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 29 June 1901; R Cory and L Samuels; Cardiff Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Workhouse |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 16 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Herbert Cowell |
| Occupation: | Baker |
| Mother's name: | Alicia Cowell |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Indifferent |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Chief Constable, Cardiff |
| Person making this return: | D Rees |
| Notes: | |
| 29 June 1901 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Evening Express [Cardiff] Saturday 29 June 1901 p.3 col.8: BOYS, PIGEONS AND RABBITS. Three boys, named Albert Mahoney. thirteen; Ernest Cowell, twelve; and Frederick Logan, eleven, were charged at Cardiff Police-court to-day with stealing two pigeons and two tame live rabbits, value 10s., the value [error for 'property'] of Charles Cooper, from a coop at the back of No. 2, Bertram-street on the 27th inst. The boys took the rabbits early in the morning, and as they were carrying them off dropped the spoil and ran away as a policeman came on the scene. On being arrested, they confessed, accusing each other of the theft. Mahoney was discharged, but the other two were said to be very bad. Cowell was sent to a reformatory school till he was sixteen. and Logan to an industrial school till he was sixteen. | |
| 30 November 1904 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Cowell was licensed to go out and work for Mr Stagg, Misken Road, Trealaw, South Wales | |
| 11 May 1905 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |