Saltley Reformatory

George Greenhill - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1298
Age:	14 (born 18 April 1887)
Whence received:	Birmingham Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Sandy brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Height:	4 ft 8 ins
Particular marks:	Cut mark between eyes; slight rupture right side; 3 times vaccinated
State of health:	Fair
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	12 February 1902
Late residence:	18 Overend Street, West Bromwich
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Wandering about the country
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Larceny of a dead fowl
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Seems a vicious lad
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	3 February 1902; Messers Hill and Leadbetter; Birmingham Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Workhouse
Sentence:	4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	6
Length:	Birched or imprisoned
For what:	1) Assaulting a female; 2) stealing rabbits; 3) stealing cake; 4) stealing lamps; 5) stealing sweets; 6) sleeping out
Father's name:	Richard Greenhill
Occupation:	Wagoner
Mother's name:	Matilda Greenhill
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Unknown
Character of parents	Unknown
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	18 Overend Street, West Bromwich
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent of Police, West Bromwich
Person making this return:	Inspector Hall

Notes:

17 October 1901 A previous offence was reported in the Birmingham Mail Thursday 17 October 1901 p.2 col.3: THE SHOPKEEPERS' TERROR. YOUNG HOOLIGANS IN JAMAICA ROW The Stipendiary thinks stern measures are required to check what is becoming known as the shopkeepers' terror. A gang of young Hooligans entered a shop in Jamaica Row on Tuesday, and created a disturbance. They threatened the woman behind the counter, and when Amy Smith, who keeps a draper's shop next door, went to her assistance, they attacked Smith in turn. It is said that one lad - George Greenhill (14), of West Bromwich - threw a four-pound weight at her, striking her in the side and disabling her. He also struck her on the ankle with another weight. Greenhill appeared before Mr. Colmore this morning, charged with the assault, and it transpired that he had been previously sent to the workhouse for another offence. The Stipendiary said stern measures were evidently required to protect shopkeepers, and. on the application of Police-constable Peake (16A), granted a remand until Monday.

There was a brief report of the sentence in the Birmingham Mail Monday 21 October 1901 p.3 col.5: A YOUNG RUFFIAN WELL PUNISHED. The Stipendiary this morning dealt sharply with the lad George Greenhill (14), of West Bromwich, who was remanded last week on a charge of assaulting Amy Smith in a shop in Jamaica Row. On Tuesday night a gang youths, of whom prisoner was one, entered the shop and proceeded to help themselves to everything they could lay their hands upon. The girl came out of the cash office, and prisoner seized a 4lb. weight and threw it at her. It caught her on the side and hurt her severely. .Meanwhile the other lads escaped. Picking up a 2lb. weight, prisoner threw it at the prosecutrix, striking her on the ankle. Prisoner had been in trouble before, and was now sentenced to three months' hard labour.

16 March 1905 Discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary on account of emigrating to Richmond, Quebec, Canada, along with Shave [boy 1294] and Llewellyn [boy1312]

No. in Admissions Register:	114
Date of admission:	24 September 1857
Whence received:	Birmingham Borough Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	Committed
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
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:	Small mark on right shoulder
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	8
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	Not known
Has resided:	36 or 99 Holliday Street, Birmingham
Parish to which he belongs:	Not known
Customary work and mode of life:	Nothing
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Knows alphabet
Writes:	Nil
Cyphers:	-
General ability	-
Offence:	Stealing a rule
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	11 September 1857
Where convicted:	Moor Street, Birmingham before J S Kynnersley, Esq
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Where imprisoned:	-
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	Abraham Barnes
Occupation:	at foundry
Residence:	36 Holliday Street, Birmingham
Mother's name:	Alice Barnes
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Not known
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Not known
Character of parents:	-
Parents' wages:	Not known
Weekly amount parents will pay:	19d
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	D Meadon, Governor, Birmingyham Borough Gaol
Estimate of character on admission	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

14 September 1857 There is a report of his crime in Aris's Birmingham Gazette Monday 14 September 1857 p.4 col.5: A boy only eight years of age, named Samuel Barnes, was charged with burglary. This precocious young thief, it appeared, planned and effected a breakage into the workshop of Mr Bennett, in Holliday Street. Several panes of glass were removed from a window, and by this means the boy succeeded in getting into the shop, where he was found concealed under a bench, with a two-foot rule, the property of Mr Bennett, concealed in his bosom. When apprehended he began to cry, and said he would never do such a thing again. A fortnight ago the shop was entered in a similar manner, and the boy had been twice before detected in robberies in the same neighbourhood. - He was remanded for a few days, in order that enquiries might be made, with a view to his admission into a Reformatory School.

3 October 1857 ran home to Birmingham

26 July 1858 up to this date he has gone on and is going on well

11 January 1859 taken ill of scarlet fever and taken to the Queen's hospital, Birmingham

21 September 1862 discharged. Went home.

8 July 1863 called at the School. Is working for J Willis, Ladywood Lane

1 January 1864 heard of working for his father. Conduct fair

2 March 1864 Mr Tanner sent the word that he had been in prison in 1863

Arthur Hewitt - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	633
Age:	13
Whence received:	Warwick Gaol
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Visage:	Nose plain
Particular marks:	Slight scar centre of forehead; 1 scar right eyebrow; 2 moles right side; 1 mole left breast
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission:	20 December 1879
Late residence:	-
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	A little
Writes:	A little
Offence:	Stealing 2 pigeons valued at 2s
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	6 December 1879; J Marriatt; City Police Court Coventry
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	William Hewitt
Occupation:	Carpenter formerly - now in Warwick Union [workhouse]
Mother's name:	Emma Hewitt
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Mother's address 5 court 1 house Chauntry Place, Coventry
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-
When and how left reformatory:	25 Apr 1883 - Emigrated to Quebec, Canada

Notes:

10 December 1879 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Coventry Times Wednesday 10 December 1879 p.6 col.1: A RAID AMONGST THE PIGEONS. - Arthur Hewitt, 5c., Chauntry-place, juvenile, and William Owen, 5c., Chauntry-place, cotton spinner, were charged with stealing, on the 1st inst., from a slaughterhouse in Bishop-street, two pigeons, value 2s., the property of Henry Bausor; also with stealing on the 2nd inst., from a pigeon cote at the back of Nos. 1 and 2, Swanswell-terrace, four pigeons, value 10s., the property of William Windridge ; also with stealing, on the 2nd inst., from a hovel at the back of the Ivy Cottage, King William-street, one pigeon, value 2s., the property of Tnomas Gill. - The cases against Owen were taken first. - Henry Bausor and William Windridge gave evidence to prove that the pigeons were stolen from their premises on the 2nd inst.. Walter Newsome, poultry dealer, Smithford-street, said that he bought seven pigeons for 4s from two youths, one apparently about 18 years of age and the other about 14. The only question he asked the youths was whether the pigeons were their own. He knew neither their names nor addresses, and he did not take sufficient notice of them to identify them. Lots of people came to him to sell pigeons - Sometimes two or three in a day. - The Bench warned the witness as to what he bought, and who he bought from, in the future, or he would get himself into serious trouble. In acting as he had done he was laying himself open to be charged as a receiver of stolen property. As far the Bench could judge it was a gross and dangerous piece of neglect on the witness's part to act as he had done, and if he continued this line of conduct, he would probably find himself before them on a very serious charge. - In further examination witness said Police-sergeant Golby came to him and asked him whether he had bought any pigeons, and he said he had not. The sergeant went away. - In answer to the Bench, the witness said he denied that he had bought the pigeons because he did not think - until he had told his mother that the sergeant had been, and his mother told him that he had better tell the policeman. The witness went to look for Sergeant Golby, but could not find him, and afterwards his little sister went to the Police-station, and asked Mr. Golby to come down to the shop. When he came, witness's mother saw him, but witness did not. - Police-sergeant. Golby said he received information of the robbery on Tuesday. From what he heard he went to Mr. Newsome's shop at about half-past three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. The witness had heard that the pigeons had been offered for sale at Payne's poultry shop, but Mr. Payne had refused to buy them. The witness asked Mr. Newsome whether he had bought any pigeons that day or the day before. Newsome replied that he had not. The witness told him that there were eight pigeons missing, and described them to him. At about a quarter to five o'clock a little girl went to the Police-station, and told the witness that Mr. Newsome wanted to see him. He went to the shop, and in the presence of the last witness Mrs. Newsome began to question him as to what they were to do supposing that anyone came to them to sell pigeons, and whether, if they bought any birds that were afterwards found to be stolen property, their money would be returned to them. The witness told her that if any pigeons were brought which they suspected to have been stolen, they must detain the birds, ascertain the name and address of the vendor, and communicate with the police authorities. He was then about to walk away, when Mrs. Newsome called him back, and told him that her son had bought some pigeons that afternoon. The witness asked, "Then what made him deny it to me?" and both Mrs. Newsome and her son replied, that it was because they did not think they were the stolen pigeons, and they added that they did not even then think they were, as they were all young birds. The witness told them that one of the stolen pigeons was ten years old. The pigeons were then produced, and the witness took possession of them, as he felt certain that they were the missing birds. On Thursday night he apprehended Owen, who admitted that he and Hewitt stole the pigeons, sold them at Newsome's fish shop, and shared the money. - The charge of stealing one pigeon, the property of Mr. Gilt was not proceeded with. - The prisoner elected to be summarily dealt with, and pleaded guilty. - Hewitt was then placed in the dock, and the evidence in the first case was repeated.- The prisoner pleaded guilty. - The Bench said the case was one of the worst that had ever come before them, and sentenced Hewitt to 14 days' imprisonment, with hard labour, and ordered him to be afterwards detained in a reformatory for four years. - On the first charge Owen was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and on the second to three months' imprisonment. with hard labour, the second period to commence at the expiration of the first. - Addressing the witness Newsome, the Bench said it had been a matter for a great deal of consideration with them whether or not they should order his apprehension as a receiver. To say the least of it, he had been very culpable indeed. They had however refrained from taking such an extreme step; but they might tell him that, nevertheless, this case . would tell against him if ever he were placed in the same position again. They advised him to be careful of whom he bought pigeons in the future and said that if at any time he had any suspicions the better plan for him to adopt would be to communicate with the police at once, and to take such notice of the persons who offered for sale as would enable him to identify them afterwards. They cautioned him not to repeat such conduct as he had been guilty of in the box that morning, in denying that he saw Golby on the second occasion that he called, and not to again refrain from giving up property if he knew or suspected that it had been stolen.

25 April 1883 Leaves for Liverpool. Emigrates tomorrow for Quebec on board the Circassian

Edward Russell - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	623
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	Oval
Particular marks:	Pockmarked slightly
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	12 October 1878
Late residence:	-
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	labourer
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	No
Writes:	No
Offence:	Stealing a coat and concertina
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not stated
Date of sentence, by who and court:	14 September 1878
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Joseph Russel [surname spelled thus]
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Not stated
Parents' wages:	Boy can give no information
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not known
Parents address:	4 Garibaldi Terrace, Hawk Street, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

18 April 1881 Received 12 strokes upon the posterior stealing carrots from a storeroom in the farm buildings

1 February 1882 Licensed this day to Mr Harper of 127 Cattell Road, Birmingham

Frederick Haddleton - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	788
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	Round
Particular marks:	Face freckled, several scars on forehead
State of health:	Yes
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	23 November 1885
Late residence:	13 Hartington Road or Place, Asylum Road, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Nil
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 3 fowls value 7s 6d
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad companionship
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	3 November 1885; F S Bolton and A Cooper; Aston Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	21 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	7 days hard labour
For what:	30 June 1885 stealing a live chicken. Was also charged with stealing 10 pigeons and 3 fowls from the same prosecutor at different times, but was discharged without punishment. His mother said he was lazy. He is known as an associate of thieves
Father's name:	Frederick Haddleton
Occupation:	Nailmaker
Mother's name:	Emily Haddleton
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Not known
Amount parents agree to pay:	No proposal made
Parents address:	13 Hartington Road or Place, Asylum Road, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent Walker, Aston
Person making this return:	M Elliott

Notes:

4 July 1885 A previous offence was reported in the Birmingham and Aston Chronicle Saturday 4 July 1885 p.5 col.4: A JUVENILE THIEF. A boy named Frederick Haddleton (15), brass-caster, Asylum-street, Birmingham, was charged on remand with the theft of a chicken at premises at 301. Albert-road, on the 22nd ult., the property of Frank Biggs, excise-officer. - Sarah Unite, married woman, Albert-road, who had charge of the prosecutor's house, deposed to missing one chicken, similar to that now produced, on Tuesday the 23rd ult., from among those kept in the garden at the back of the house. - Caroline wife of Charles Huband, furniture-maker, 1, High-street, Aston, stated that she bought the chicken (produced) from the prisoner on Monday morning last, giving him fourpence for it. - The Bench considered the offence fully proved and sent the lad to prison for seven days with hard labour.

7 November 1885 There is a very lengthy report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Birmingham and Aston Chronicle Saturday 7 November 1885 p.4 cols.5-6: PIGEON AND FOWL STEALING. A WITNESS SEVERELY REPRIMANDED. Frederick Haddleton (15), striker, Asylum-street, Birmingham, was charged with stealing from the premises in Thimble Mill-lane, Aston, between the 25th and 28th ult., ten pigeons, value 10s., the property of James Cutler, beerhouse-keeper, Thimblemill-lane, Aston. - Thomas Phillips, cruet-stand maker, Gladstone-street, Aston. was also charged with the same offence. - The prosecutor said he missed the pigeons in question between the dates above mentioned. He had several times noticed the prisoners and other lads prowling about the premises. - Mary Bonell,, wife of William Bonell, 154, Bracebridge-street, said she bought two pigeons from Haddleton on Tuesday and Wednesday last, one on each day. Witness gave him threepence for the one and fourpence for the other. She was not aware they had been stolen. - Michael Simons, poultry-dealer. 43, High. Street, Aston New Town said he bought one pigeon (produced) from the prisoner Phillips on Thursday the 29th ult , for the sum of 3d. - P.C. Hudson deposed to receiving the prisoner Haddleton into custody on Friday afternoon on another charge. From a statement he then made. witness apprehended Phillips the same afternoon, and charged them both with the theft of ten pigeons, the property of the prosecutor. Phillips denied the offence, but Haddleton said he (Phillips) knew he had taken one of the pigeon home with him. Middleton said the pigeon he had taken he had sold to a man named "Charlie." Witness locked the lads up the same evening.-Haddleton was further charged with stealing three fowls, also the property of Mr. Cutler, between the 25th and 26th September, value 7s. There was a third charge against Haddleton of stealing three pigeons, also Mr. Cutler's property. - Evidence was first taken in the matter of the fowls. The prosecutor gave evidence very similar to that given by him in the previous case. He said he had lost a large number of fowls during the summer but had never thought Haddleton was a dishonest lad. Witness identified the fowls (produced) by certain marks upon them. - George Barker, butcher 34, Gerrard-street, Aston, said he managed a shop for the American Meat Company at 340 Newtown-row. He deposed to buying the three fowls (produced) between two or three months ago. He was positive as to the time, because they were little chickens when he purchased them for the prisoner. Witness gave his 1s. 3d. for one of the fowls, but he could not be certain as to the prices of the rest. Witness had bought six fowls from the prisoner altogether. The prisoner had no orders from him to get fowls for him, and came of his own accord. - The witness's statement as to the time when he bought the fowls and their appearance excited some surprise, as it did not in any way tally with the time that prosecutor had missed the fowls, which was on the 25th or 26th September. The fowls were produced and although one or two of them appeared to be much older, he maintained that they were not more than three months old. P.C. Hodson deposed that on the 30th ult., he visited the last witness's house in Gerrard-street where he found eighteen fowls. Witness took possession of eight, and subsequently charged the prisoner with stealing three fowls the property of Mr. Cutler. The lad denied the offence, saying he could bring forward the owners of all the fowls he had sold. - Mr. Cutler explained to the Bench the presence of the eighteen fowls in his premises by the fact that his father was a farmer in Shropshire and was accustomed te send him fowls. - P.C. Hodson added that the remaining five fowls had been identified as stolen property. As for the three pigeons, prisoner had been caught in the act of stealing them. - lt appeared from a statement of Superintendent Walker that Haddleton had been already convicted of fowl-stealing, and had been sent to prison for seven days. - Haddleton's mother, who was in court, said he was a pretty good boy, but they could not get him to go to work. Mr. Hill said under these circumstances they thought it best for him to a reformatory for five years, and they hoped it would make a man of him. He would in the first case be sent to prison for twenty-one days. - Philip's father, said there was not an honester lad in the world than his boy. and if he lost him, he would lose his right arm. - Mr. Hill said it was a bad case, but in consideration of what the father had said, they would inflict a fine of 5s., with costs, which amounted to 19s. 6d. - The father asked for time to pay, which was granted. - Mr Hill then addressing the witness Barker, said he believed what he had stated to be a tissue of falsehoods and he might ne thankful that he appeared in the witness box and not in the dock. On the man attempting to speak, Mr Hill told him sternly to go away and hide his shameful face. The witness at once retired without any unnecessary delay, followed by the eyes of all present.

29 March 1888 Formally discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating to Canada along with Kempson [boy 779] and Lines [boy 768]

5 April 1888 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Haddleton, on board ship at London