Saltley Reformatory

John Samuel Latham - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	420
Age:	13
Date of admission:	3 February 1870
Whence received	Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Visage	-
Particular marks:
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of reception and term:	3 February 1870, 5 years
Late residence	Wednesfield Heath
Parish to which he belongs	Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	At a forge
Whether illegitimate
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Obtaining money by false pretences
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence and which court:	3 January 1870, Staffordshire Quarter Sessions
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Where imprisoned	County Prison [Stafford]
Previous committals
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father name:	Robert Latham
Occupation:	Book traveller
Mother's name:	Ann (stepmother)
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Treatment of child:	Boy says his stepmother did treat him well
Character of parents:	Honest, sober and health good
Parents' wages:	12s to 15s per week
Weekly amount parents will pay:	Don't think he ought to be called upon for more than 1s per week; has nine children
Their present residence and post address:	Inkerman Street, Wednesfield Heath Wolverhampton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	H McCrea, Bilston
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

8 January 1870 There is a brief report of the offence in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 8 January 1870 p.6 col.6: John Samuel Latham, 13, forge boy, pleaded guilty to obtaining one shilling by false pretences, from Edward Diggery, at Heath Town, on the 19th of October, and was sentenced to be imprisoned for one month, and afterwards sent to a reformatory for five years.

A similar but separate crime is reported in the same paper, on p.7, col.2: John Latham, aged 13, to obtaining 1s by false pretences from Emma Delves by false pretences on October 16th, 1869. Prisoner has this week been tried at the Stafford Sessions and sent to a reformatory. On that account prisoner was now sent to prison in this case for one day.

John Williams - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	68
Date of admission:	1 April 1855
Weekly payments:	1s order from the court on his father
Age:	12
Education:	None
Previous employment:	Carpet weaver
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	2 (including Worcester gaol?)
Training in reformatory:	-
When left reformatory:	14 Feb 1865 - emigrated to South Africa
Parentage and family:	Father and Mother living
Residence:	Ludlow(?)
Trade of father:	-
With whom the boy is placed:	-
Address:	-
Trade:	-

Notes:

20 January 1855 In a detailed report of the initial proceedings of John Williams trial, the Hereford Times of Saturday 20 January 1855 p.9 col.2 says: EXTRAORDINARY CASE. – A boy about 12 years of age, named John Williams, was brought up under remand charged with stealing £6 6s 4d, on Thursday last, from the dwelling of his father, John Williams, a resident of Old Gate Fee, Ludlow. The case proved to be one of the most inhuman and disgusting ever heard here. The unfortunate lad charged at the bar had been liberated from Worcester Gaol, where he had undergone a month’s imprisonment in addition to having been whipped for felony. Since his liberation from Worcester the youth seems to have been vagabondising about the country; sometimes with his mother at Kidderminster (recently deserted by a man to whom she had borne two children since quitting the abode of her husband), and sometimes lurking about Ludlow, occasionally sleeping in hovels and outhouses. On Thursday the youth was in Ludlow, and by his own confession went into his father’s bedroom, burst open the old man’s box, and stole the above amount or thereabouts. He was pursued, and on Friday captured at Cleobury Mortimer. In addition to the prisoner’s admission, a piece of coin was identified by the prosecutor. The boy’s excuse for committing the robbery was that he had been sent by his mother, who is very badly off; and to this he added, that his father treated him most cruelly, feeding on horse and donkey flesh, whilst he feasted himself on beef and mutton. It will scarcely be credited that two of “the hams” of an old warn-out donkey were found hung up in the house drying, as if they were bacon. Some bacon was also found (as described by P S Jones) which was totally unfit for human food, in fact it seemed to be Questioned whether a dog would eat it. The old man (though he denied that he fared better than his son) admitted that he killed the donkey, and dried it in the manner we have already described; and as to the bacon, he said that it had been indifferently cured. Prosecutor, though possessed of the money mentioned above, admitted that his bed consisted of straw and rags. When questioned by the Mayor why he had not sent the poor boy to school, he stated that he could not spare him, as he had no-one else to cook for him, and that the lad absented himself until he was starved, and then returned to him. – The Superintendent said that such was not the case, for a short time ago the poor boy was nearly starved to death, and when the defendant knew that the boy had been in custody he fetched him away to prevent his being taken to the Union. – The Bench said they had no alternative; the boy must be sent to gaol to await his trial at our forthcoming Borough Sessions. - The Mayor intimated that no doubt the boy would be sent to some reformatory school, where he would have an opportunity of amending his ways - The donkey hams have been since very properly buried.

26 January 1855 More information about the boy’s father’s provision of food was revealed in the Leicester Journal Friday 26 January 1855 p.4 col3: …The accused also stated that his father made him eat horseflesh, and that there was some in the house then. After hearing this statement the constable, accompanied by Superintendant Jones, searched old William’s dwelling, and found the two hind legs of an ass, salted and hung up to dry; they were smoked similar to hams of bacon. The officers took possession of the donkey meat, conveyed it to the gaol, and when the prisoner was asked what it was, he replied, “It’s part of our old donkey father killed and pickled; that’s what we eat; father pickled horses tongues in a bucket, and boils horses livers for us.” The prisoner added, “He bought that ‘hos’ the shaft run through, and was killed on the road leading to the Sheet, about four months ago; he pickled that, and made me eat it.” There was also found in William’s bedroom four sides of carrion, having the appearance of pig’s flesh smoke-dried, but unfit for human food. The bread in the house was found to consist of bean meal and potatoes. The affair having become known, a crowd of persons congregated round the old man’s dwelling, and had it not been for the interference of the police, they would soon have demolished the premises.

14 December 1855 In the Reformatory Minute book it is recorder that: Mr McCorkindale [a would-be colonist] attended the committee and explained his views with reference to the proposed emigration to Natal, and it was agreed that the following boys be allowed to go to Natal on the necessary consents being obtained, viz. Williams (aged 14), Manning (aged 14) [boy 28], Devaney (aged 15 next May) [boy 57], Peechey (aged 16 next July) [boy 69], Hopcraft (aged 13 next May) [boy 65], Hook (aged 14) [boy 74).

The President undertook to write to the Home Secretary for his consent to the arrangement as far as concerned the boys detained under the Youthful Offenders Act, or by conditional pardon, and Mr Morgan engaged to deliver the letter personally at the Home Office.

Mr Ellis produced the consents of the boys’ parents.

Mr McCorkindale explained to the boys in the presence of the Committee the terms of their engagement and all signified their assent.

Resolved: that proper Indentures be prepared and that £8 be paid Mr McCorkindale for outfit and passage money for each boy.

22 December 1855 In the Minute Book it is recorded that: the President laid before the Committee the consent of the Home Secretary for the emigration to Natal of the four boys detained under sentence.

14 February 1856 The Minute Book records that: all the boys … except Devaney had sailed with Mr McCorkindale in the brig Portia for Natal on November 4th instant, the necessary consents from the Government and Parents having been first obtained. They were accompanied by Alfred John Taylor [boy 83], a well-educated boy, who had been committed at the Worcester Sessions a [few?] days previously, and by James Hines, who was selected instead of Devaney.

Mr Ratcliff inspected the vessel before the boys joined, and afterwards visited them on board, where they all expressed gratitude for the kind treatment in the Institution, and for the opportunity afforded them to emigrate. They all evinced much courage and determination to do well in their future career.

11 August 1857 The Minute Book notes a letter from Mr McCorkindale: Dunbar 10 April 1857. Sir, I have the satisfaction of informing you that all the boys from the Saltley School are well, tho’ not with the circumstances which I will fully explain next post, or you may get explained by a copy of my letter from the Rev’d Sidney Turner Redhill will put you in possession of why they left my employ. I have now been round the country twice to look after them and their interests and find everything as I could wish, all that I hear from their employers tends to assure me of their rapid and, I trust, steady improvement in morals. I do not doubt but all will write to Saltley or to their friends. I send however, an account of what each is doing, as far as I know.

John Williams is with me and I can trust him with any master; a boy of his years ought to manage; he is a very good lad and has been since the time of landing…

[Click here for more information about Mr McCorkindale and the purpose of the trip to Natal]

George Alfred Perkins - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	864
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Light hazel
Height:	5 ft 0¼ ins
Particular marks:	-
State of health:
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission:	21 November 1887
Late residence:	90 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 a tame rabbit
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Has been in the habit of sleeping out for the last 4 years and is a companion of bad characters
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	31 October 1887; H Smith and H A Payne; Brierley Hill Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	21 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Alfred Perkins
Occupation:	Coachman
Mother's name:	Margaret Perkins
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	"Good"
Parents' wages:	21s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	3s 6d per week
Parents address:	30 Level Street, Brierley Hill
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent 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: George Alfred Perkins (14), Level Street, was charged with stealing a rabbit, the property of Thomas Kay, Mill Street, on the 14th ult. The rabbit was missed from prosecutor's house, and prisoner was arrested. When charged by Police-constable Yates, prisoner said "Yes, I did steal the rabbit." The defendant had been living away from his father for two months. He was sent to Stafford for twenty-one days, and afterwards to a reformatory for three years.

10 June 1890 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records that Perkins was discharged early from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of his emigrating to Canada, along with Williams [boy 845] and Newman [boy 840]

19 August 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Qu'Appelle, Manitoba, Canada

14 April 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Qu'Appelle, Manitoba, Canada

10 August 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of another letter from Perkins, Qu'Appelle, Manitoba, Canada

13 October 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Hayward, Manitoba

9 February 1892 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Hayward, Manitoba, Canada

12 December 1893 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Fort Qu'Appelle, Manitoba, Canada

26 April 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Haywood, Fort Qu'Appelle, Manitoba, Canada

12 February 1895 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Fort Qu'Appelle, Canada

8 December 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Indian Head, Manitoba

8 February 1898 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Ontario. (Thanks for letter, with enclosure. Good season. Doing well)

27 April 1898 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Manitoba

14 June 1898 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Manitoba

11 April 1899 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Perkins, Indian Head, Manitoba

Robert Johnson aka Casson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1120
Age:	12 (born 10 April 1883)
Whence received:	Walsall Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Sallow
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 8¾ ins
Particular marks:	Cut on left thumb; cut wrist left hand; cut bottom lip
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Mental and bodily power rather weak
Date of admission:	31 January 1896
Late residence:	18 Wolverhampton Road, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Nil
Whether illegitimate:	Yes
State of education:
Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Larceny
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Chief Constable says that in his opinion that the lad has not been properly attended to by his step-father and mother
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	29 January 1896; B Beebee and R J Jupp; Walsall Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Not
Sentence:	5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil (but 11 November last year [1895] was before the court on 3 charges of larceny and shop breaking. Case was adjourned. He again got into bad company and was sleeping out at night)
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	John Johnson (step-father)
Occupation:	Carpenter
Mother's name:	Mart Ann Johnson
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?
Parents' treatment of child:	See Chief constable's report
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Not stated
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	18 Wolverhampton Road, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Christopher Taylor, Chief Constable
Person making this return:	C Taylor, Chief Constable

Notes:

16 November 1895 A previous offence was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 16 November 1895 p.8 col.1: YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. - Thomas Newton (14), no fixed home, and Robert Johnson (12), Dudley Street, were charged with breaking into a shop in Blue Lane, on Monday, November 4th, and stealing therefrom a quantity of fireworks, value 7s. - John Bradbury, of 291, Blue Lane East, stated that on Monday, November 4th, he was in charge of his father's shop in Blue Lane. In the evening he locked up the shop and left all safe. When he left there was a large quantity of fireworks in the window. On the following morning he went to the shop, and found that the window had been broken and about 7s. worth of fireworks stolen. - Thomas Rathbone, 5, Checketts Street, stated that on Tuesday, the 5th inst., he saw the two prisoners in Checketts Street. Newton showed him about 40 or 50 crackers, and said that they had some more. - Johnson said that they were walking down Wolverhampton Street about twelve o'clock on the Monday night in question, when Newton put a tin on his hand, put his handkerchief over it, and broke a window. - Newton: If I did it, I should do it a better way than that - (laughter). - William Winter, Blue Lane West, also stated that Newton showed him a large quantity of fireworks. - Inspector Cliffe stated that he arrested the two prisoners on Saturday last. He cautioned and charged them. Johnson said, "I'll tell you the truth. Newton broke the window, and I had some of the things." - Newton : Johnson does not know what he is saying half his time. - Inspector Cliffe (continuing) stated that Newton said, "If I get reformatory school, I'll knock you out " - (laughter). - Newton : I did not. I said that l would break his nose - (laughter). - In reply to the magistrates, Inspector Cliffe stated that from inquiries he had made he found that both the lads were in the habit of sleeping out. - The Chief Constable (Mr. Taylor) said that there were convictions against Newton. It had been his intention to subpoena the father of the lad Newton, but no trace of him could be found. - Mr. Loxton (to Newton): Have you anything to say why you should not be sent to a reformatory school? - Newton: I should like to go. Continuing, he said that his father had deserted him for the last six months. - The case against Johnson was adjourned for eight weeks for good behaviour, and Newton was sent to a reformatory school for four years.

18 January 1896 The hearing for the previous offence was resumed, as reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 18 January 1896 p.7 col.2: A NEGLECTED LAD. - Robert Johnson, alias Cassan (13), Bridgman Street, was brought up on remand on three charges of larceny -The case was gone into three months ago, and the boy was then put on his good behaviour. - Police-constable Pritchard now stated that he had warned prisoner's step-father to attend the court, but he said that he should not do so. He (the step father) gave the boy a bad character, but witness did not think that he took much interest in him. The boy, in answer to questions by the magistrates, stated that he had no work, and had never had any. When he went home on Tuesday night he could not get in, and at two o'clock in the morning, when ne went again, his father refused to admit him. - The step-father John Johnson, then came into court, and stated that he could not control the boy, asking that he should be sent to an industrial school. He denied that he turned the lad away from home that morning. He never saw the boy, who was a big lying lad, and was constantly disgracing him. He could not be bothered with the boy. - Mr. Lindop : Can you expect him to be any better than he is after the way you have neglected him? - Witness : Yes, I have not neglected him. - The mother said that the boy had got into bad company. He was not quite right in his intellect. She did not want the boy sent away, as he was her only child. She had looked after him as well as she could, but her husband did not torn over his money to her, so that she could not buy new clothes for him. She did not think that her husband took any interest in the lad. - Mr. Beebee: I think that the lad has been shamefully neglected. - The mother said that she was willing to take the lad out of the town, and support him, even if she had to leave her husband to do so. - The magistrates expressed their opinion that the lad had been shamefully neglected, and was to be pitied. The case would be adjourned for eight weeks, the magistrates hoping that at the end of that time there would be a great improvement in the boy.

1 February 1896 The offence which finally sent him to Saltley was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 1 February 1896 p.7 col.2: Robert Johnson (14) and Samson Perkins (11), both of 19, Wolverhampton Street, were charged with stealing an ounce weight, value 6d.. the property of Elizabeth Rogers, of 93, Long Street. - The Chief Constable said that Johnson had been before the court several times, and on the last occasion the mother said that she would take the lad out of the town, but she had not done so. It was only fair to Mrs. Rogers to say that she did not wish to prosecute, but he thought it was a case which should be brought before the magistrates. - Complainant stated that on Friday last the two boys came into the shop and asked the price of a gross of matches. When they went out she missed the weight. On Tuesday last both boys came in again, and she asked them where the weight was. At first they said they did not know, but eventually Perkins went and fetched it for her. - Sergeant Willetts stated that he arrested the prisoner on Tuesday night. He charged prisoners. Perkins answered, "Johnson took it and put it in my pocket." Johnson replied, "Perkins took it." - Both prisoners pleaded guilty. - Johnson had been before the court on several previous occasions, but it was the first time Perkins had been in trouble. - The father of the lad Perkins was bound over in the sum of £5 for his son's good behaviour for six months, and Johnson was sent to a reformatory school for five years.

28 August 1899 The Medical Officer reported: Gastroenteritis - so ill the doctor was visiting twice a day. Johnson's condition worsened, and he died on 2 September at 1.15 am

2 September 1899 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records: I regret to have to report that one boy (R Johnson) died from gastro-enteritis after a week's illness. The purging and sickness was assessed on the third day, but brain trouble supervened. He was a boy of weak intellect.

No. in Admissions Register:	31
Date of admission:	3 June 1853
Weekly payments:	-
Age:	12
Education:	Indifferent
Previous employment:	None
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	Birmingham, 3
Training in reformatory:	Farm labour
When left reformatory:	April 1854
Parentage and family:	Father living
Residence:	-
Trade of father:	Brick labourer
With whom the boy is placed:	-
Address:	-
Trade:	-

Notes:

12 September 1853 In an extensive report of an inquiry into brutal treatment in Birmingham Gaol in Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, Monday 12 September 1853 p.6 col.3, is the following: …boys from the Reformatory School were then examined as to the state of discipline at the time they were in the gaol:- … John Burke, aged twelve, who had been imprisoned twice, the first time for a month before last Christmas, and the last time the Monday after Easter, for two months said – I was never punished with the strait jacket, but the first time I was punished was by having my bed taken from me till ten o’clock for three nights, and being without a bed at all for three nights more. The last time I had my bed taken from me for a fortnight. The boy in the next cell to mine rapped on the wall. The warder came in and said it was me. Brown and Cotterill took my gruel off me, because my can was a little dirty at the top. They gave me nothing in its place. When my bread was taken from me for three nights I sat on my stool and leaned my head on the table, and slept that way. It was Brown who told me to put my bed outside the cell, but I do not know who it was that kept it.