Sidney Hobson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1289 |
| Age: | 14 (born 31 July 1887) |
| Whence received: | Stony Stratford Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light, inclined to be sandy |
| Eyes colour: | Light grey, mottled, peculiar |
| Height: | 5 ft 3 ins |
| Particular marks: | 4 faint scars left arm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 02/12/01 |
| Late residence: | Oxford Street, Stoney Stratford, Buckinghamshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Stoney Stratford |
| Customary work and mode of life: | For 2 months employed as a telegraph boy at the Stoney Stratford Post Office |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Well, Standard 6 |
| Writes: | Well, Standard 6 |
| Offence: | Opening letters and stealing postal orders contained therein |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of good training. Has been a companion of bad characters |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 29 November 1901; Duke of Grafton; Stoney Stratford Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Nil |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Frederick Hobson |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Hobson |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Indifferent |
| Character of parents | Father left his wife and now living in America. The boy's mother has been living with a man named Clarke, a labourer at the Wolverton Carriage Works, by whom she has had several illegitimate children |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | Mother's address - Oxford Street, Stoney Stratford, Buckinghamshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Divisional Superintendent of Police |
| Person making this return: | E T Worley, Magistrates' Clerk |
| Notes: | |
| 7 December 1901 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Buckingham Express Saturday 7 December 1901 p.4 col.5: STONY STRATFORD POST OFFICE THEFT. A TELEGRAPH MESSENGER SENT TO THE REFORMATORY. - At the Stony Stratford Petty Sessions on Friday November 29th, before His grace the Duke of Grafton, K.G. (in the chair). and A. Grant-Thorold, Esq., Sidney Hobson (14), telegraph messenger, Stony Stratford, was brought up on remand and charged with stealing from the Stony Stratford Post Office on October 25th a letter containing two postal orders value 17s. 6d. and four penny stamps.- Mr. W. R. Parrott, Stony Stratford, appeared for the prosecution. - Samuel Calladine, postmaster, Stony Stratford, said Hobson had been employed at the Post Office since September 30th last at 5s. per week and uniform. The telegraph messengers were stationed at the rear of the office when on duty, and would have access to the letters on the sorting table. There was no proper waiting room for the messengers. A shed at the bottom of the garden was used in the summer time, but that was too cold in the winter. - Arther Edward Sabey, carpenter, of Warlingham, near Croydon, stated that the two postal orders produced were purchased for him at the Warlington Post Office. He took the numbers and placed them in a letter, with four stamps. The letter was directed to Mr. Calladine, bootmaker, Stony Stratford, and posted by 9 a.m. on October 28th. Not receiving an acknowledgment to the letter, he wrote to Mr. Calladine, who replied that he had not received the letter, Witness then laid the facts before the authorities in London. - Dora Wilson, sorting clerk and telegraphist at the Stony Stratford sorting clerk and telegraphist at the Stony Stratford Post Office, stating that the orders produced, marked with her initials showed that the orders were paid over the counter by her, the office stamp showing the date October 28th 1901. She recollected the order for 10s., but she had no distinct recollection of the other order. - Hubert Reginald Harold Read (14) Chutch-street, Stony Stratford, said he had known the prisoner about two years. On October 28th he met Hobson near the Poet Office about a quarter to eight. Hobson called him across the road and asked him if he would cash two postal orders, Hobson telling witness that the orders belonged to his mother. Witness filled the orders in and obtained payment. Witness gave the money to Hobson, who gave him four stamps. Witness told a boy named Morris that he had changed the orders for Hobson. Morris said to Hobson "Where did you get the orders," and he replied that he had found them. He also said he would make it all right. Hobson was going to give them a shilling each, but Morris wanting to buy a 3s. 6d. watch, Hobson gave them 3s. 6d. each. - An official from the G.P.O. stated he saw the prisoner in the presence of Read and cautioned him. Hobson said he got the letter out of the office about 5 p.m. on October 28th, and found two orders and stamps. Hobson also made admissions of other thefts of postal orders. - Mr. Parrott explained that other orders had not been traced until that morning, and consequently were not included in the charge. - Sergt. Gascoyne having given evidence, the prisoner pleaded guilty. He was ordered to be detained by the police pending his removal to a Reformatory until he is 19 years of age. - The Duke of Grafton considered that proceeding. should be taken against others, and it was stated that the whole facts would be laid before a solicitor to the Post Office, who would decide whether the evidence justified a further prosecution. | |
| 25 July 1904 Discharged from Saltley on account of enlisting in the Royal Berkshire Regiment | |
| 11 October 1904 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Hobson, Woking | |
| 13 December 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Hobson, Dublin | |