Ernest Chapman - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1299 |
| Age: | 13 (born 10 September 1888) |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Sky blue |
| Height: | 4 ft 5¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar left side of forehead; scar back of head; scar on left cheek |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 14 February 1902 |
| Late residence: | 28 Peel Street, Tamworth |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Schoolboy. Most untruthful and conduct altogether bad. would not attend school and stays out at night |
| Whether illegitimate: | Yes |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Stealing pigeons |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of efficient parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 8 February 1902; J Wales and H W Sadler; Tamworth Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford Prison |
| Sentence: | 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | Whipped |
| For what: | Stealing jacket and vest |
| Father's name: | Frederick Starkey (step-father) |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Emma Starkey |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 138 Peel Street, Tamworth |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Inspector of Police, Tamworth |
| Person making this return: | John Marson, Inspector of Police |
| Notes: | |
| 1 February 1902 A previous offence was reported in the Tamworth Herald Saturday 1 February 1902 p.8 col.4: A BAD BOY. - Ernest Chapman, (13½) 24 Peel street, was charged with stealing a cloth jacket and vest, value 12/6, the property of Julia Studd, on January 21. - Arthur Studd, traveller, 9, Heath street, said the goods (produced) were hanging outside his wife's shop on Colehill, between four and five o'clock on the date mentioned. They were missing at six o'clock, and brought back to the shop by P.c. Adams at about 7-30 the same night. - Henry Charles Lear, assistant to Mr. H. C. Goostry, pawnbroker, Tamworth, deposed that at 6-50 p.m. accused came to the shop and offered to pledge the goods (produced) asking for 5/- upon them. He told him his mother had sent him. 3/6 was subsequently allowed upon them. The boy was the habit of coming the shop. - P.c. Adams stated that in reply to the charge accused admitted taking the goods. Two sixpences were in his possession. - Accused, who now pleaded guilty, was said to be a bad boy. He was ordered to receive eight strokes with the birch rod. - Inspector Marson said Mr. Goostry rendered them great service in those cases, and he suggested that the money found on the boy should be returned to him. P.c. Adams said Mr. Studd was willing to refund the other 2/6. | |
| 15 February 1902 There is a report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Tamworth Herald Saturday 15 February 1902 p.8 col.6: TAMWORTH BOROUGH POLICE: SATURDAY. Before Mr. M. S. Wales and Mr. H. W. Sadler. THEFT OF PIGEONS. - Ernest Chapman, schoolboy, 28, Peel street, was charged with stealing two pigeons, the property of William Jeffcoate, Lichfield street, on February 7. - Prosecutor identified the birds (produced) as his property. He saw them safe in the pen in the morning, but missed them at night - John Allsopp, junior, fishmonger's assistant, in the employ of Edwin Marklew, Bolebridge street, deposed that at about 6 p m. on Friday the accused stood in front of his master's shop with the two pigeons (produced) under his jacket. Witness asked him if he wanted to sell them and he replied "Yes." Asked who had sent him, the lad replied a man named Parker out of Peel street. He enquired how much he wanted for them and he said 1/-. Witness obtained the pigeons and told accused to fetch Barker. Chapman then went away. The birds were afterwards handed to P.c. Adams. Witness knew the accused and suspected that he had stolen them. - P.C. Adams spoke as to receiving the pigeons from Allsopp. He went in search of Chapman and found him hiding behind some boards at his father's house. Accused was brought to the Police Station, where he admitted stealing the birds. - Accused was sentenced to ten days' imprisonment and four years in a reformatory school. | |
| 18 February 1905 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Chapman was licensed to go out and work for Mrs Wakefield, Wakefield House, Water Orton | |
| 7 February 1906 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |