Walter Thompson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 739 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Dark brown |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | 3 blue dots of W left lower arm |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 7 December 1883 |
| Late residence: | 35 Howe Street, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Iron caster |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a scarf |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | A desire to have money |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 24 November 1883; W Holliday and C B Lloyd; Court of Summary Jurisdiction Birmingham |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | In workhouse on last occasion |
| For what: | Sleeping out and larceny |
| Father's name: | Joseph Thompson |
| Occupation: | Fender grinder |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Says very kindly |
| Character of parents | Believed to be honest. Health good |
| Parents' wages: | Average about 30s weekly |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not ascertained |
| Parents address: | 35 Howe Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Wilcox, Moor Street, Birmingham |
| Person making this return: | A Tinkler, Governor, H M Prison Birmingham |
| Notes: | |
| 16 April 1883 A possible previous offence was reported in the Birmingham Mail Monday 16 April 1883 p.3 col.4: THE BIRCH WANTED. Walter Thompson, Wilcox McLean, Thomas Hill, Ed. Downes, and William Friddy, all boys about 15 or 16 of age, were charged with sleeping out on Saturday night. They all said they had been locked out, and when asked why they did not home earlier, one of them said had been to the Museum Concert Hall. - Mr. Kynnersley said the Bench did not like sending boys like these to goal, although they would have to do so if the practice of sleeping out continued so much. It was, he supposed, the cheap concert halls that kept the boys out. - The Magistrates' Clerk (Mr. J. B. Hebbert) said it was pity the officers wore not provided with ash plants to thrash the young truants with. - Mr. Kynnersley said he was sorry could not order them the birch. - They were discharged with a caution. | |
| 24 November 1883 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Birmingham Mail Saturday 24 November 1883 p.3 col.5: YOUTHFUL SHOP THIEVES. Walter Thompson (15), 35, Howe Street, and William Roberts (11), back 79, Coleshill Street, were charged with stealing a woollen muffler from the shop of John Burleigh, draper, Stafford Street. - Police constable Sheppard said he saw the boys Coleshill Street yesterday afternoon. He was told they had stolen something, and in following them he saw Thompson pass a red scarf to Roberts, on whom it was afterwards found. It was identified by Mr. Burleigh. - Thompson, who has been in trouble several times before, was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, and five years in a reformatory. Roberts, whose first offence it was, was remanded to the workhouse for a week for enquiries. | |
| 2 October 1886 Formally discharged from Saltley by order of Home Secretary on emigrating to Canada from Liverpool, with Towers [boy 746], Woodcock [boy 722], and Bayliss [boy 733] | |
| 25 February 1887 The Reformatory Committee Log Book records receipt of a letter from Thompson, 611 Little Sussex Street, Ottawa | |
| 5 April 1888 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Thompson, Ottawa | |
| 12 June 1888 The Log Book report records receipt of another letter from Thompson, Ottawa, Canada | |