Saltley Reformatory

James Isaac Spooner - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	804
Age:	14
Whence received:	-
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 5 ins
Particular marks:	Mole on right nipple
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	19 February 1886
Late residence:	14 Mount Street, Winson Green, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Labouring
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, 3rd Standard
Writes:	Imperfectly, 3rd Standard
Offence:	Stealing a glass dish and 95 cigars
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Associating with bad companions
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	5 February 1886; J Jaffray and William Holladay; Birmingham Police court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	14 days hard labour
For what:	Stealing a bag containing spooling, yarns, etc
Father's name:	Charles Frederick Spooner
Occupation:	Hawker
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Spooner
Occupation:	Charwoman
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Fairly respectable, etc
Parents' wages:	Father earns about 10s weekly; mother about 5s weekly
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not yet assessed
Parents address:	14 Mount Street, Winson Green, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent Wilcox, Council House, Birmingham
Person making this return:	M Elliott, Clerk to the Visiting Justices, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

8 February 1886 The crime was reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 8 February 1886 p.7 col.5: SHOPBREAKING. - Charles Smith (19), basket maker, Ford Street; William Henry Hewitt 118), rope spinner, Bright Place, Lees Street, and James Isaac Spooner (14), errand boy, 14, Mount Street, Lodge Road, were charged with stealing three boxes of cigars, a quantity of nuts and sweets, and a glass dish, value 15s., the property of Joseph Parramore, tobacconist, 113, Soho Road, on the night of the 28th ult. - The elder prisoner removed a pane of glass from the prosecutor's window by cutting the putty and framework away, and with the assistance of the other two prisoners the above-named goods were abstracted and carried away. Prisoners were arrested on the following day, when some of the stolen property was found on each of them. - Having been previously convicted, they were now sentenced. - Spooner to fourteen days' imprisonment and five years in a reformatory, and Smith and Hewitt to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.

9 March 1886 4 pm Absconded from 6 Acre [name of field?] whilst in charge of Squires. 10 pm readmitted. Caught by Mr Blake at Mount Street, Winson Green

14 March 1889 Formally discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating to Canada, along with Salt [boy 787] and Fowler [boy 857]

9 December 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Spooner, Darlington, Ontario, Canada

Samuel Parrock - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1059
Age:	15 (born 24 October 1879)
Whence received:	Aston
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Speckled brown and grey
Height:	4 ft 11 ins
Particular marks:	Fore part of left leg badly burned; scar on right leg; dot on left arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	16 February 1894
Late residence:	14 Whitehead Road, Aston, near Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Aston
Customary work and mode of life:	Brass polisher
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Well
Writes:	Well
Offence:	Stealing a silk handkerchief, value 3s
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	12 February 1894; H G Reid and G J Brodie; Aston Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Aston Workhouse
Sentence:
Previous committals:	Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Fanny Parrock
Occupation:	Dressmaker
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Not stated
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	14 Whitehead Road, Aston
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	James Rowlands, 12 February 1894

Notes:

13 February 1894 There was a brief report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 13 February 1894 p.7 col.2: Joseph Parrock (15) [first name given thus], a polisher, living with his mother at Whitehead Road, was charged with stealing a silk handkerchief, belonging to his mother. The lad received a bad character from his mother. and in order, as Mr. Hill said, to save him. from ruin, he was sent to s industrial school until he attained the age of nineteen

9 November 1896 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Parrock was licensed to go out and work for Messers Granger and Smith, tailors, Albert Street, Birmingham

24 October 1897 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

11 December 1900 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Parrock, Birmingham

No. in Admissions Register:	523
Age:	14
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	Round
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	23 October 1874 5 years
Late residence:	Stoke upon Trent
Parish he belongs to:	Stoke upon Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Butcher
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a cigar holder
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by who and court:	26 September 1874, Hanley Petty Sessions, E Bodley and H Cartlidge
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Dead
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Dead
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Both
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

21 September 1874 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel Monday 21 September 1874 p.2 col.4: A PARISH APPRENTICE.-Frederick Benbow, a ragged boy, about fourteen, was charged with stealing a cigar-holder, from the shop of William Spencer, tobacconist. -The prosecutor's son said the prisoner and another came into the shop on Saturday afternoon, and inquired for some meerschaum cigar-holders. They were shown some, but these being too small, they were shown some larger ones. In the meantime, the prisoner put the cigar-holder in his pocket.- lt was explained that the boy was a parish apprentice, who had been bound to Mr. Keates, pork- butcher. - The Bench sent the boy to gaol for a month, and ordered him to be kept in a reformatory for five years.

John Holiday - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	210
Date of admission:	15 Mar 1861
Whence received:	Walsall Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	-
Hair colour:	-
Eyes colour:	-
Perfect vision?	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	-
Particular marks:	None
Cutaneous disorder?	No, only ringworm on his neck
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Dudley Street, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Vagrant
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Vagrancy
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	28 Feb 1861
Where convicted:	Walsall Police Court
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	14 days prison, 2 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Fathers name:	George Holiday (stepfather)
Occupation:	Drover
Residence:	4 court, Dudley Street, Walsall,
Mother's name:	Sarah Williams
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Fathers character:	-
Mothers character:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Yes, as above
Parents treatment of child:	Not known
Character of parents	Not known
Parents wages:	Not known
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	J W Cater, Police Officer, Walsall
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J W Cater
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

[H Brace, J Day prosecuted]

2 March 1861 There is a report of his offence in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 2 March 1861 p.4 col.2: THE CHILDREN AGAIN.- Henry Lawley [boy 211] and John Holliday [boy 210], two boys, were charged by Police Constable No. 17, with sleeping in Mr. Crapper's lime kiln, last night. The constable stated that he found the lads asleep in the dangerous position mentioned, with their hair singed and clothes scorched. Lawley's mother was in court, and stated that she had been a widow for some years, and that her son was a very bad boy, who ran away from home without any cause, and preferred idling about the country to working. Holliday's mother was sent for, and she gave a similar account of her son; it being perfectly evident that both lads had acquired such an amount of vice as to destroy everything like parental influence upon them. The Bench remanded the boys till Thursday, and ordered the chief constable to make application, in the mean time, for their admission into the Saltley Reformatory.

14 Mar 1863 Returned to his friends. Character and expectation good

Aug 1863 Called at the school - nicely dressed. Said he was following his trade (tailoring) in Walsall

Jul 1864 Called at the school - nicely dressed. Said he was following his trade (tailoring) in Walsall

Oct 1865 Convicted at Montgomery - house breaking

28 October 1865 He fell into crime again. There is a report, in Welsh, in Baner ac Anserau Cymru Saturday 28 October 1865 p.5 col.1: Cyhuddwyd Samuel Davies, gôf, a John Holliday, o dori i mewn i d? Mr. William Jones, Guilsfield, a ladratta amryw nwyddau oddiyno. Dedfrydwydhwy I saith I mlynedd a benyd-wasanaeth. [Samuel Davies, blacksmith and John Holliday were accused of breaking in to the house of Mr William Jones, Guilsfield [Montgomershire], and stealing a variety of goods from there. They were sentenced to seven years penal servitude. Translation courtesy of hanes teulu, RootsChat Welsh Forum].

Joseph Siddalls - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	532
Age:	13
Whence received:	Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Cut on left cheek
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	8 March 1875 5 years
Late residence:	Burton on Trent
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Brickmaking
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing a muffler
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Neglect of parents
Date of sentence, by who and court:	9 February 1875, Burton Petty Sessions, R Tomlinson and C J Clay
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Joseph Siddalls
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	Emma Siddalls
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Suspected, intemperate. Health good
Parents' wages:	19s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week
Parents address:	Fleet Street, Burton on Trent
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

11 February 1875 There is a report in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 11 February 1875 p.5 cols 5-6; A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES.- Charles Hardy and Joseph Slater, two boys, were charged with stealing a muffler, value 2s. 6d., on the 4th inst., the property of Thomas Sharpe; and William Jackson, Joseph Slater, and Joseph Siddals, three boys, were charged with stealing a muffler. value 2s. 6d., on the 6th inst., the property of Thomas Sharpe. All the prisoners pleaded guilty. Mr. Wilson appeared for Jackson. On Saturday night the three last named prisoners were seen by a young man named Horne standing near the prosecutor's shop. After a time Siddals handed something to Jackson, and they walked away. The prosecutor had been attracted to his shop door by hearing a noise, and, seeing that a muffler had gone from the door, went into the street. The prisoners then ran away, and Jackson threw the muffler into the Congregational Chapel yard. The prosecutor pursued Jackson. and ultimately found him concealed in a waggon in Messrs. Allsopp and Sons' yard. The other prisoners were apprehended on Sunday morning by Sergeant Gilbride. Slater was apprehended at his home, and the officer noticed on his first entrance into the house that he was wearing a muffler. Before his actual apprehension he went upstairs and when he came down again he was minus the muffler. The officer, supposing that it had been stolen, made the boy go upstairs again and point out to him where he had put it, and it was then found concealed in a box. On examining it, the officer found that it had been torn into two parts, and on questioning Slater he admitted that a boy named Hardy had taken it from Mr. Sharpe's shop. Hardy was then arrested, and he produced the other half of the muffler. Slater, Jackson, and Siddals were charged with the robbery of the second scarf, and Jackson in answer said, "I came into the market after leaving work, and I met the other two prisoners. Slater said to us, 'let us go down High Street : I know a shop where we can get something from : darkie and I got a muffler from there last Wednesday.' We all three went down High Street and went to Mr. Sharpe's shop door, and Slater gave me the muffler. I saw a man coming, and I ran away and threw it into the chapel yard." -- The Bench, after questioning the parents of the boys, considered that the best and kindest thing they could do was to send each boy to gaol for a month, and order them, at the expiration of that time, to be kept in a reformatory for five years. The prisoners left the court howling and crying piteously.