William Josiah Timms - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 737 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | 2 nick marks back of neck, blue spot back of left hand |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | ‘4 October 1883 |
| Late residence: | 3 Thomas Street, Burton on Trent |
| Parish he belongs to: | Burton on Trent |
| Customary work and mode of life: | No occupation |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Sacrilege |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 5 November 1883; Sir John Pearson; Court of Assize |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Not previously convicted |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Hannah Timms |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Treated well |
| Character of parents | Good. Circumstances very poor |
| Parents' wages: | Not in any employment, supported by the parish |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | See previous question |
| Parents address: | 3 Thomas Street, Burton on Trent |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | James Gilbert, Superintendent of Police, Burton on Trent |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| Brother of Herbert Timms (boy 738). Click here to go to his record | |
| 5 October 1883 There is a report of the crime in the Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal Friday 5 October 1883 p.8 col.7: BURGLARY AND SACRILEGE BY BOYS. - At the Police Court, Tuesday, before Col. Levett, M.P., H. Wardle, M. Richardson, and G. W. Peace, Esqs., five boys, named Downes, of Thornley-street; Wm. Timms, Herbert Timms, and Smith, Victoria-street; and Hickinbottom, Thornley-street; whose ages ranged from nine to fifteen years, were charged with breaking into a warehouse belonging to Mr. Harrison, auctioneer, Derby-street, and stealing 54 bottles of lime juice and glycerine, 16 cigar cases, two albums, and other articles, value £3, on the 25th. ult. Mr. Wilson defended Hickinbottom. - Police-constable Shaffery gave evidence to the effect that in consequence of information received he and police-constable Buggy secreted themselves inside the warehouse, and just before eleven o'clock at night, they heard a horse and cart drive up. Smith and the elder Timms entered the warehouse and carried out a basket, which contained the things mentioned, and which it is supposed they had previously packed, to the cart. The officers followed them, and saw Downes and the younger Timms on the cart. Downes attempted to drive off, but was prevented, and all four prisoners were removed to the police station. Each of the prisoners tried to lay the blame on the other, Wm. Timms saying that Hickinbottom was present. - Mr. Wilsom contended that there was no evidence against the latter, who was discharged. - The other four prisoners were further charged with stealing s set of harness, value £1, on the 25th. ult. - this was the harness found on the horse. The horse and cart had since both been identified, one belonging to one man and the other to another, and the harness to prosecutor, a beerhouse keeper at Little Burton. - There was a third case of breaking into the Hunter-street Church, on the 25th. ult., and stealing five altar cloths, a wash leather, a sponge, an ink bottle, some keys, and two boxes of matches, value £2. - The prisoners were suspected of this theft, and upon making enquiries, the police found that they had sold the altar cloths to Mrs. Jones, a second-hand clothes dealer in Waterloo-street, for 2s. 6d., and the wash leather to a Mrs. Preece, in Horninglow-street, for 2d. The sponge and keys were found on Smith, and the inkstand and matches on the elder Timms. - Mrs Timms asked the Magistrates to deal leniently with her children, but Col. Levstt said it was the worst case that had ever come before him. It was something extraordinary that boys so young should have kept up such a a system of robbery, and it only showed the Bench that the parents must have known something of their conduct. - All the prisoners were committed for trial at the Assizes, the younger Timms being admitted to bail. | |
| 10 November 1883 The sentences were handed down a week later, as reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Saturday 10 November 1883 p.6 col.5: STAFFORDSHIRE AND SALOP ASSIZES. - YESTERDAY. - Before MR. JUSTICE PEARSON. - SENTENCES� William Archibald Downes, William Josiah Timms, George Smith, and Herbert Timms, four lads who were convicted this previous eveninig of stealing goods from a warehouse, at Burton-on-Trent, were sentenced to one month's imprisonment and five years in a reformatory; his lordship requesting that the boys should be sent to different reformatories. | |
| 9 January 1887 The Reformatory Committee Log Book records that Timms had been licensed on 31 December to be let out to work for Messrs T & J Smith, Higher Hillgate Mill, Stockport | |
| 20 September 1887 The Log Book report records that Timms is now working for the Redish Sewerage Works, Mr A B Ogden, but the Register of Boys On Licence has him still working for T & J Smith until 29 September | |
| 29 September 1887 Discharged early from Saltley. The Log Books records that this is because: has been on licence nearly two years and has good reports [from his employers] during this period | |
| 5 April 1888 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Herbert and William Timms. Stockport, Cheshire | |