| 25 October 1856 A probable account of his previous offence can be found in the Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser Saturday 25 October 1856 p.9 col.2: STEALING AND RECEIVING BRASS STEPS. - On Monday two boys, named Thomas Francis and John Welch, were charged with stealing two large brass steps, and George Livsey, marine store dealer, Spaw Street, was charged with receiving the same, knowing them to have been stolen. On the night of the 17th instant the premises of Messrs Harrison and Crighton, machinists, Bury Street, Salford, were broken into and two brass steps of the value of £10 stolen. About half-past eleven o'clock the same night a constable on duty in Clowes Street saw the prisoner Francis coming out of an out-house, and on examining it afterwards he found a brass step. He succeeded in apprehending the boy, and the next morning he took Welch into custody. On being questioned about the second step, which was missing, the prisoners stated that at eleven o'clock on the night the robbery was committed they went to the shop of Livsey and knocked him up, and told him that they had some brass to sell. He took the step from them and agreed to pay them 4d a lb for it the next morning, and said he would purchase as much brass as they could bring him at the same price. The next morning Livsey took the step to sell to Mr Houghton, moulder, of Queen Street, the place, unfortunately for him, where the steps had originally been cast. Mr Houghton refused to purchase the step, and told him it was the property of Messrs Harrison and Crighton. He then went away, and shortly afterwards Inspector Butterworth met him in the street and took him into custody with the step in his possession. - The prisoners were severally committed for trial to the sessions. |
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| 11 December 1857 Tried to abscond with T Burke [boy 125] but was stopped by West in the lane. |
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| 3 May 1860 The Reformatory Minute Book records: 674. The following boys were reported by the Superintendent as suitable for recommendation to situations or emigration though their term of detention is unexpired: Drake [boy 138], Smith [boy 123], Blick [boy 136], Finn [boy 101], Bentley [boy 139], Francis. |
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| 678. Francis to emigrate when a suitable opportunity occurs. |
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| 25 June 1860 Having conducted himself well for a long time past he was allowed to leave to work for Mr John Yates, Regents Road, Eccles, Manchester, at his mother's request. He is to lodge at his uncle's, Thomas Park, Queen Street, Eccles. |
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| 27 December 1860 Heard of as living at 46 Dale Street, Salford, working for Messers Richmond and Chandler, Chapel Street, Salford. "Attentive to his work." |
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| 20 October 1861 Had a letter from him. Now lives in Broom Street, Salford. |
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| November 1862 Heard of in prison. Character very bad. |
