Saltley Reformatory

George Lane - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Registers:	556
Age:	12
Whence received:	Birmingham Borough Prison
Description:
Complexion:	-
Hair colour:	-
Eyes colour:	-
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission and term:	19 September 1876 5 years
Late residence:	Gem Street School, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Absconding
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by who and court:	6 September 1876, T C S Kynnersley
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Borough Prison
Sentence:	14 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	(To Industrial School)
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	William Price (stepfather)
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Mary Ann Price
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Own father
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Not known
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Saltley Road, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-
When and how left reformatory	He absconded and his sentence expired on 18 Sep 1881

Notes:

7 September 1876 The hearing that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Thursday 7 September 1876 P.6 col.5: ABSCONDING FROM GEM STREET SCHOOL. - Two youths, named George Lane and Christopher Stanton, were brought up charged with absconding from Gem Street Industrial School. Lane, who had absconded on previous occasions within the past twelve months, was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, and afterwards to be kept in a reformatory for five years. The other prisoner was remanded.

18 September [1881] Sentence expired while at large

Charles Taylor - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	309
Date of admission:	24 July 1865
Whence received:	Birmingham Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Mole on left eyebrow
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	None
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	back of 24 Friston Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing purse and card case from his master
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	11 July 1865
Where convicted:	Moor Street before T C S Kynnersley
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	William Taylor
Occupation:	Bricklayer
Residence:	back of 24 Friston Street, Birmingham
Mother's name:	Jane Taylor
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Not
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest, sober, healthy. Wife and 4 children at home
Parents' wages:	25s per week, and one son 6s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	G Glossop
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	T C S Kynnersley
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

12 July 1865 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 12 July 1865 p.6 col.2: A JUVENILE THIEF.-Charles Taylor (12), errand boy, Friston Street, was charged with stealing a pearl card case, value 6s. 6d., the property of W. Stephenson, dealer in fancy goods. Worcester Street. A number of articles were missed on Monday, and suspicion was attached to the prisoner, who was in the employment of the prosecutor as an errand boy. He was charged with stealing the case, and. after some hesitation, acknowledged his guilt, stating that he had concealed it in a chimney, where it was afterwards found. The prisoner had previously robbed the prosecutor, who had forgiven him, and received him again into his employment. Mr. Kynnersley sentenced the prisoner to fourteen days' imprisonment, and, at the expiration of that period, to be sent to a reformatory school for five years.

August 1871 Called at the school. Doing well as a bricklayer

John Morris - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	862
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Light grey
Height:	4 ft 4¼ ins
Particular marks:	Large cut mark back of right wrist
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	21 November 1887
Late residence:	5 court 3 house Level Street, Brierley Hill
Parish he belongs to:	Brierley Hill
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, 3rd Standard
Writes:	Imperfectly, 3rd Standard
Offence:	Stealing pigeons
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company. (An associate of bad characters, he has committed several petty thefts)
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	31 October 1887; H Smith and H A Paynes; Brierley Hill Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	21 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (but also twice charged with stealing pigeons and discharged)
Length:	6 strokes with a birch rod
For what:	Wilful damage
Father's name:	Joseph Morris
Occupation:	Puddler
Mother's name:	Mary Ann Morris (step-mother)
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	"Good"
Parents' wages:	About 16s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week
Parents address:	5 court 3 house Level Street, Brierley Hill
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	John Woolaston, Brierley Hill
Person making this return:

Notes:

5 November 1887 There is a report of the crime in the County Express Saturday 5 November 1887 p.6 col.3: STEALING PIGEONS. - John Morris (14) and Walter Young (14), both of Level Street, were charged with breaking into a pen and stealing therefrom four pigeons, of the value of 2s. 6d. on the 20th ult., the property of Henry Holds. The complainant said that the pen was all right at six o'clock on the night of the 20th ult., and on the Friday morning he found the pen broken open and four pigeons missing. - Police-sergeant Connelly said that he arrested Morris and charged him with stealing four pigeons. He replied, "Yes, I had only two pigeons and Young had the other two." - Young was further charged with stealing two rabbits, the property of John Hicklin, in May last, value 4s. - Francis Dukes said that on the 21st May last the defendant came to his house, about six o'clock in the morning, and sold him two rabbits for 1s. 4d. - Police-constable Yates said that when he charged him with stealing the rabbits he said "Yes, I only had one." - Defendants pleaded that they were sent to steal the rabbits by the witness Dukes. They were sent to prison for twenty-one days, and afterwards for three years in a reformatory school. The Bench censured the man Dukes, remarking that he might have been in the dock himself.

25 October 1890 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that Morris was licensed to go out and work for Mr James Price, Brierley Hill

20 November 1890 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst out on licence

14 April 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Brierley Hill

11 August 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Walsall

9 December 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Bloxwich, Walsall

Joseph Wykes - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1118
Age:	15 (born 26 July 1880)
Whence received:	Staffordshire County Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark
Eyes colour:	Light blue or grey
Height:	4 ft 11¾ ins
Particular marks:	Large scar left side of head; 2 cuts on face; rather deaf
State of health:	Good (rather deaf)
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	9 January 1896
Late residence:	19 Well Street, Tunstall
Parish he belongs to:	Tunstall
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	House breaking
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	31 December 1895; Lord Hatherton; Staffordshire Quarter Sessions
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Joseph Gregory (step-father)
Occupation:	Fitter
Mother's name:	Edna Gregory
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	19 Well Street, Tunstall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Matthew F Blakiston, Clerk of the Peace

Notes:

6 December 1895 The remand hearing for the crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Friday 6 December 1896 p.8 col.6: TUNSTALL. YOUTHFUL SHOPBREAKERS. - At the Stipendiary's Court. yesterday, Joseph Wykes (15), Frank .Meacham (14), Henry Wykes (13), and Joseph Owen (12) were charged with breaking and entering the shop of Emma Clarke, tobacconist, High Street, and stealing a quantity of tobacco and cigars, value 15s. It was stated that the shop was entered between nine and ten o'clock on the night of the 3rd inst., and the tobacco and cigars stolen, and on the prisoners being arrested the same night a portion of the stolen property was found upon them. The prisoners were committed for trial at the sessions.

4 January 1896 The sentencing was heard at the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions and reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Friday 6 December 1896 p.8 col.6: JUVENILE DELINQUENTS AT TUNSTALL. Joseph Wykes, 15, Frank Meachem, 15, Henry Wykes, 13, and Joseph Owen, 12, all on bail, pleaded guilty to breaking and entering, on December 3, 1895, at Tunstall, a shop in the occupation of Emma Clarke, and stealing a quantity of tobacco, cigarettes, and matches. Frank Meacham and Joseph Owen further pleaded guilty to breaking and entering a shop in the occupation of Arthur Bickley, on November 28, 1895, at Tunstall, and stealing six slippers. Meacham also pleaded guilty to a previous conviction for felony in November, 1892. Joseph Wykes and Frank Meacham were sent to a reformatory for three years, and Henry Wykes and Joseph Owen were sentenced to one day's imprisonment and ordered to receive ten strokes each with the birch rod. The two older boys were ordered by the Court to be detained in a workhouse ten days until a reformatory school was found for them.

6 January 1897 The Medical Officer reported: Apnoea

20 December 1898 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Wykes was licensed to go out and work for Mr James Plant, High Carr Colliery, Tunstall

20 December 1898 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	337
Date of admission:	26 June 1866
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Perfect vision?	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Newcastle, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Newcastle, Staffordshire
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing money, 16s 8d
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	26 March 1866
Where convicted:	Newcastle
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	3 months prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	John Bullock
Occupation:	Painter
Residence:	Newcastle under Lyme
Mother's name:	Eliza Bullock
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Not
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Character good, but father's health so bad that he cannot work
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	28 May 1868 - Emigrated to Canada

Notes:

31 March 1866 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 31 March 1866 p.7 col.5: ROBBERIES BY A GANG OF JUVENILES.-Henry Hinchley. 12. Samuel Keene, 17. Joseph Meaden, 14. and William Bullock, 15 years old, were charged with having stolen 16s. 8d. and two basins from the shop of Thomas Lovatt, china dealer, Liverpool-road, on the 3rd of March. The prisoners pleaded guilty, and confessed that, about half-past ten o'clock on the night in question, Hinchley took off his boots and, while the others were watching, went into the shop and took ore of the basins containing silver, with which they ran away. After dividing the money, they threw the basin over a wall near the Vine. Liverpool-road. They then returned to the shop, and Hinchley went in again, and fetched the basin containing coppers. That basin they threw into a garden in Hassell Street. Prosecutor said he believed that the two basins contained altogether about. £2 2s. Sergeant Lea. who gave evidence as to a confession made by Bullock, and assented to by the other prisoners, said that Bullock told him he could keep him writing for a fortnight If he would write down all the offences he and his companions had committed. Superintendent Williams said that amongst the thefts to which the prisoners confessed, and which, from enquiries, he found had been committed within the past two or three weeks, were the following:- They had stolen 2s. 6d. from a shop In the Liverpool Road; 10s. from the shop of Mr. Jenkinson, draper, Liverpool Road ; a box of figs from the shop of Mr. Birks, grocer; a bottle of wine from the shop of Mr. Lawton, near the Old Church Gates; a bottle of rum from Hughes's vaults. Bridge Street; a bottle of sweets from the shop of Mr. Randles, Ironmarket; three boxes of sardines from Mr. Watson's shop, Ironmarket; two loaves of bread from the shop of Mrs. Sulivan, Merrial Street; 1½ lb. of pig puddings from Mr. Rhead's, Bridge Street; a bottle of pickled onions from Mr. Wright's. Lower Street; some "chittlins" from the shop of Mr. Eardley, Bridge Street; two oranges from a greengrocer's shop in Church-street (in which they intended committing further robbery, hut they were overheard while making their arrangements); two pigeons from Mr Bayley's; a bottle of Everton toffy from Mr. Highfield's, Red Lion Square; £1 2s. from the office of Mr. Leech, at the coal wharf in the Liverpool Road. On Friday the prisoners made another attempt to rob Mr. Leech, who, however, had kept watch and caught the thieves. Hinchley had in his possession when taken into custody a loaded pistol. Superintendent Williams added that the same youth, although only 12 years of age, had purchased a watch at the shop of Mr. John Williams, jeweller, for £1 2s., the proceeds of one of the robberies. Mr. John Williams was sent for, and the Mayor told him that he was not justified in selling a watch to such a small boy without making any inquiries. Mr. Williams said that the lad who came to the shop said his father had sent him for the watch in the window marked 22s., and he did not think there was anything suspicious about it. After a conversation upon the subject it was explained that Hinchley had not fetched the watch himself, but that he had sent another and a larger boy to purchase it for him, which altered the appearance of the transaction in the estimation of the Bench. Mr. Williams took back the watch, and handed the 22s. to Mr. Leech, from whom it had been stolen. Keene was sent to gaol for six months under the Criminal Justice Act. The other three were sentenced under the Juvenile Offenders' Act-Buxton [must be a misprint for Bullock], Meaden, and Hinchley to three months' imprisonment, the latter two to be once whipped and to be sent to a reformatory for three years.

28 May 1868 Emigrated to Canada

October 1870 Heard of doing well