Thomas Ward - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 761 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 4 December 1884 |
| Late residence: | back of Turner's fruit shop, Great Lister Street, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Brass polisher |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing 1 bottle and 3½ pints of whiskey |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad companions |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 21 November 1884; T C S Kynnersley; Police Court Birmingham |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Nil |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Thomas Ward |
| Occupation: | Striker |
| Mother's name: | Catherine Ward |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Naither |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Fair |
| Character of parents | Fair |
| Parents' wages: | Father earns about £1 per week, mother nil |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not assessed |
| Parents address: | back of Turner's fruit shop, Great Lister Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Wilcox, Council House, Birmingham |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 21 November 1884 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Mail Friday 21 November 1884 p.2 col.4: YOUNG ROGUES. Thomas Ward (15) and Edward Welsh (16), both living Hospital Street, and William Leo (16). lodging-house, Lawrence Street, were charged with stealing a bottle of whisky, the property of Mr. E. Cartwright, wine and spirit merchant, Snow Hill. - Prisoners took the bottle from delivery cart which was standing outside the prosecutor's shop and made off with it. Sergeant Gardiner took the prisoner Lee into custody shortly afterwards on a charge of stealing a loaf of bread from a shop in Hospital Street. He then found that the prisoner was the worse for drink. Having heard of the theft of the whisky, he charged him with that offence also. Gardiner then went in search of the other prisoners, and met Ward, who was also drunk, in Constitution Hill. He was carrying the bottle. He ran away, and broke the bottle against a cart wheel. He was captured, and Welsh was taken into custody as he was walking up Snow Hill in company with his mother, who had found him in the street drunk. - Prisoners admitted the theft, and were sentenced - Lee to three months' imprisonment, Welsh to six weeks, and Ward to 14 days' imprisonment, with five years' detention in a reformatory. | |
| 23 June 1887 Medical officer reports: Neuralgia | |
| 15 April 1888 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that Ward was lcensed to go out and work for Philip Smith, Windsor Street, Birmingham, on 19 March | |
| 31 July 1888 Readmitted to the School from on licence, on account of being unwell | |
| 8 September 1888 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that Ward was again licensed to go out and work for Philip Smith, Windsor Street, Birmingham | |
| 11 April 1889 Formally discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating to Canada, along with Bishop [boy 831] and Littleton [boy 818] | |
| 6 August 1889 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ward, via Mr Donaldson [the Reformatory's agent dealing with emigrants to Canada], Toronto | |