Richard Green - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1293 |
| Age: | 15 (born 6 February 1886) |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | 5 ft 0¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | Left forearm - JT, heart, anchor, M, and several other ink marks; middle finger ink marked; left leg scalded above ankle; abcess scar right side of neck |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 9 January 1902 |
| Late residence: | 10 Duncalfe Street, Walsall |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Has been an associate of thieves for the past 3 or 4 years |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Stealing 62 lbs of lead |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 3 January 1902; W E Blythe; Walsall Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford Prison |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | - |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Thomas Green |
| Occupation: | Bricklayer |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Green |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Respectable |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not yet assessed |
| Parents address: | 10 Duncalfe Street, Walsall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Chief Constable, Walsall |
| Person making this return: | G H Ballance, Acting Chief Constable, Walsall |
| Notes: | |
| 14 May 1898 A previous offence was reported in the Walsall Advertiser Saturday 14 May 1898 p.5 col.7: THE BIRCH ROD. Richard Green (11), 4 court, Duncalfe Street, and George Somerfield (10), 5 court, Wisemore, were charged with stealing a boy's overcoat, value 8s., belonging to Zillah Brittle, of 67, Jessel Road, on the 3rd inst. - Prosecutrix deposed that she sent her son to the St. Andrew's School at the Birchills, and that he was then wearing the coat. He returned without it and witness informed the police. - David Tolley, boy, of 27, Penkridge Street, spoke to having met Somerfleld with another boy. Somerfield took him to a yard in Stafford Street, and showing him the coat, which was wrapped in some brown paper, mentioned that he had tried to pawn but could not. - John Pridmore, assistant to Mr. Holyland, pawnbroker, deposed that Green offered the coat in pledge, but as the sleeves had been cut out witness refused to accept it. - The prisoners were arrested by Detective Smith, and Somerfield, pointing to Green, said: "It was you who stole the coat," but Green rejoined "No, it was you who fetched it out of the schools in Hollyhedge Lane." - Green was ordered a birching of eight strokes, and Somerfield, who is younger than Green, one of six strokes. | |
| 4 January 1902 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Walsall Advertiser Saturday 4 January 1902 p.8 col.5: YOUNG LEAD THIEVES. Three boys named John Osbourne, Skating Rink Yard; Richard Green, 10. Duncalfe Street; and Albert Smith, were charged with stealing 62lbs of lead from Drew's old mill, Mill Lane, Butts, the property of Mrs H. A. Cooke, of Aldridge. - On January 1st Police- constable Woolley (60) saw the defendants carrying a quantity of lead in Mill Lane, and as they ran away on seeing him he pursued them and caught Osbourne, who told him that they had stolen the lead from Drew's mill. - Each of the prisoners pleaded guilty. Osbourne and Smith were let off on their parents entering into recognisances for their future good behaviour, but Green was sent to a reformatory for four years, there being a record against him. | |
| 20 April 1904 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the Home Secretary, on account of enlisting in the Worcester Regiment | |
| 11 October 1904 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Green, Aldershot | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 392 |
| Date of admission: | 23 December 1868 |
| 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? | Neither |
| Particular marks: | - |
| Cutaneous disorder? | No |
| Scrofulous or consumptive? | No |
| Subject to fits? | No |
| Age last birthday: | 11 |
| Illegitimate? | - |
| Birthday: | - |
| Birth place: | - |
| Has resided: | Leek |
| Parish he belongs to: | Leek |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Hawking brushes |
| Schools attended: | - |
| By whom and where employed: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | None |
| Cyphers: | - |
| General ability: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing £15 10s from a dwelling |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | The loss of his parents |
| Date of sentence: | 9 December 1868 |
| Where convicted: | Leek |
| Who prosecuted: | - |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 14 days prison (hard labour), 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals and convictions: | None |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Residence: | - |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Residence: | - |
| Father's character: | - |
| Mother's character: | - |
| Parents dead? | Both |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| 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: | - |
Notes:
| 12 December 1868 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 12 December 1868 p.5 col.4: A YOUTHFUL OFFENDER. -David Ball, of Leek, aged eleven years, was brought up on remand charged with stealing £l5 10s. from the dwelling-house of Henry Featherstone. at Alstonefield. on the 2nd inst. The boy has no parents living, and his step-mother state! that he had repeatedly run away. About three weeks had elapsed since he last left home, and he was heard at Alstonefleld being in the employ of a chimney-sweep named William Johnson. His master went to Mr. Featherstone's home for the purpose of sweeping the chimney early on the morning of the 2nd inst., and the boy picked up the bag containing the money which was in the room and which Mrs. Featherstone thought she had taken upstairs with her the previous night. The boy was subsequently apprehended and confessed he had taken the money, which was all found upon him. The magistrates ordered him to be imprisoned for 14 days, and at the end of that time to be sent to a reformatory for four years. |
George Hayward - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 500 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Scar top of forehead |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 7 February 1874 5 years |
| Late residence: | 1 court Wheeler Street, Lozells, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Printing |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing 20s |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 19 January 1874, Birmingham Police Court, T C S Kynnersley |
| Where imprisoned: | Borough Prison, Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 21 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None known |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | James Lowe (stepfather) |
| Occupation: | Gold and silver roller |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Lowe |
| Occupation: | Laundress |
| Parents dead? | Own father |
| Survivor married again? | Yes |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Said he was ill-treated by stepfather |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | 30s per week by father |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not stated |
| Parents address: | 4 or 5 King Alfred's Place, Broad Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 20 January 1874 There is a brief report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 20 January 1874 p.6 col.5: ROBBING A FATHER-IN-LAW. - George Hayward (14), painter, King Alfred's Place, was charged with stealing a sovereign belonging to his father-in-law, James Lowe, with whom he lived. The sovereign was taken from a bag containing fourteen sovereigns. - The prisoner was sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment and five years' detention in a .Reformatory. |
John Robinson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 524 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | Walsall |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Eaten with vermin |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 9 December 1874 5 years |
| Late residence: | 21 Regent Street, Walsall |
| Parish he belongs to: | Walsall |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Hawking pigs puddings |
| Whether illegitimate: | Not |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Vagrancy |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Neglect |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 30 November 1874, Walsall Police Court, T Chickley |
| Where imprisoned: | Walsall |
| Sentence: | 10 days prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Dead |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Ann Robinson |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Neglected |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s per week |
| Parents address: | 21 Rycroft Street, Walsall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | J W Cater, Walsall |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 28 November 1874 There is a report of the hearing in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 28 November 1874 p.3 col.4: VAGRANCY. - The three boys John Robinson, Joseph Robinson, and Frederick Westman. were brought up, on remand. for vagrancy, by sleeping in a workshop belonging to Mr. Russell, in Freer-street. -The mothers of the boys now attended. and both stated that the lads were bad lads and would not stay at their work. Mrs. Wetsman also stated that she had told him last Tuesday not to return unless he get a place.-The Mayor remarked that it was one of the most shocking things he ever heard of, and Mr. Brewer said that if she had been a parent to the lad she would have gone with him and taken care of him, instead of turning him out all night at such an important period of his life.-The Mayor said the boys must be remanded until Friday, with a view to getting them into a reformatory. |
| 5 December 1874 There is a report of the sentencing in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 5 December 1874 p.4 col.1: VAGRANCY BY BOYS.-The three boys, John Robinson, Joseph Robinson, and Patrick Westman, were again brought up, on remand from Friday.- Mr. Chief-Superintendent Cater reported that he had answers from two Protestant Reformatory schools and from one Catholic school that all three boys could be admitted to those institutions.- Westman was ordered to be handed over to a person in Birmingham. who agreed to look after him and find him work. The other two boys were ordered to be imprisoned for ten days and then to go to the Reformatories for five years, and that the parents must pay 1s. a week for each. |
| 18 July 1887 Fallon [boy 602] reports that John Robinson is doing well, working for Walker Bros, galvanizers, Pleck Road, Walsall |
James Russell - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 783 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Light brown |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Blue cut on bridge of nose |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Slender |
| Date of admission: | 22 October 1885 |
| Late residence: | 11 Ordish Street, Burton on Trent |
| Parish he belongs to: | Burton on Trent |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a hammer |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 22 September 1885; G W Peach; Burton on Trent Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, then Saltley until aged 16 (in 3 years) |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | Whipped |
| For what: | Stealing a candle |
| Father's name: | Elija Russell |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Ellen Russell |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Well treated |
| Character of parents | Honest, sober, in good health |
| Parents' wages: | 30s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s per week |
| Parents address: | 11 Ordish Street, Burton on Trent |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Gilbride, Police Station, Burton on Trent |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 24 September 1885 There is a report of the crime in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 24 September 1885 p.3 col.2: THEFT BY BOYS. - Two boys, James Russell (13), and Thomas Gould (13), were charged with stealing a hammer on the 21st. instant, the property of Samuel Upton. of 75 Shobnall Road. It seems. that the prosecutor is an origins driver, and on the day in question himself and family were from home. In the course of the afternoon William, Toplies, a watchman at Merrs. Allsopp and Sons, saw the prisoners enter the back premises of the prosecutor,. and in a few minutes. Gould came out with a hammer in his hand, and on seeing Toplies he put It under his coat. On being asked what he wag doing be said he had taken the hammer from the top of a tub. - The prisoners. pleaded guilty stealing the hemmer, and as both of them have been convicted twice previously they were sent to prison for a month, and alter that time they were ordered to be detained in a reformatory until they were sixteen years of age. Gould's mother was present in court, and she cried bitterly on hearing the sentence. | |
| 5 November 1885 The boy's father was soon in trouble for not paying his son's maintenance, as reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 5 November 1885 p.3 col.6: MAINTENANCE OF CHILDREN IN REFORMATORIES. - Elijah Russell, railway employé of Ordish Street, and Thomas Gould, cooper, of Canal Street, were brought up for orders to be made upon them to pay a certain weekly towards the maintenance of their boys, who are in the Saltley reformatory, near Birmingham. - Russell offered to pay 1s. per week, and Gould 2s., and the Bench accepted these terms. | |
| 20 November 1885 Medical officer reports: Vaccinated successfully | |
| 30 December 1885 Medical officer reports: Rupture and Erythemia of legs. Ordered to bed and to be isolated. Milk diet and medicine. Next day diagnosed with erysipelas. | |
| 8 December 1886 Medical officer reports: Sycosis (skin disease) and psoriasis. During the past two months the School has been visited twice a week, and each boy kept under observation. Recovery was slow, psoriasis declared cured on 10 February, but eczema still remained on 26 February. By 13 April 1887 he was very nearly convalescent | |
| 5 December 1887 Medical officer reports: Eczema capitis. Ordered oil | |
| 23 September 1888 The Register of Boys on licence reports that Russell has been licensed to go out and work for the Kottingham Cooperage Co, Burton on Trent | |
| 1 October 1888 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst on licence | |
| 10 December 1889 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Russell, Burton | |