Saltley Reformatory

Thomas James Parsons - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1063
Age:	12 (born 13 April 1881)
Whence received:	Coventry Police
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	4 ft 6¾ ins
Particular marks:	Forefinger on left hand crushed; cut on lip and left side of chin
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	13 April 1894
Late residence:	2 Days Lane, Coventry
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Errand boy
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Offence:	Larceny of 5s from a till
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	7 April 1894; J Marriott and J W Hanklin; Coventry Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Workhouse, until a Reformatory School is found
Sentence:	5 years at a Reformatory (Saltley)
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (1 March 1894)
Length:	-
For what:	Larceny from a till
Father's name:	James Parsons
Occupation:	Cycle machinist
Mother's name:	Emma Parsons
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:	2 Days Lane, Coventry
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Inspector Shelley, Coventry City Police

Notes:

2 March 1894 A previous offence was reported in the Coventry Herald Friday 2 March 1894 p.8 col.6: STEALING FROM TILL. - Thomas James Parsons, 2, Day's-lane, and Sidney Frank Smith, 112, Far Gosford-street, juveniles, were charged with stealing, on the 27th inst., from a till at 70, Canterbury-street, the sum of 7s. 9d., belonging to Mr. J. G. Morgan. - It was alleged that Mr. Morgan had several times missed money from his shop till, and he placed the matter in the hands of the police. On Tuesday 7s. 9d. was missing. Police-constable Imber investigated the matter and went to South-street schools, where he questioned Smith upon whom he found 1s. Smith said he had had more money but had given some away, and that it had been given to him by Parsons. He also stated that Parsons arranged to rob the till at Mr. Morgan's shop, and that he gave him 2s. 6d. of the proceeds, acquaintance named Farrell 3s., and kept the remainder. He afterwards saw Parsons, who said he received the money found upon him - 2s. - Smith, whom he stated conducted the robbery. Prisoners were confronted and they incriminated each other. He had been unable to find Farrell who, he understood, had absconded. - The lads pleaded not guilty, and each told the Bench that it was his companion and not he who took the money. - Mr. Morgan asked the Bench not to deal severely with the prisoners, although he had been a considerable loser by the robberies. In the last fortnight the shop had been robbed four times, and on Saturday the till was 10s. short. - The Bench under the circumstances discharged the lads on their parents being bound over to produce them when required.

7 April 1894 The crime that sent him to Coventry was reported in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Saturday 7 April 1894 p.3 col.3: JUVENILE THIEVING IN COVENTRY. Thomas James Parsons was charged, at the Coventry City Police Court this morning, with stealing on April 4th, from a till in the shop, No. 18, New Brook Street, 5s., the money of William Henry Nelson, huckster. Parsons is a lad 13 years of age, and some six weeks ago was implicated in a charge of stealing money from the shop till of Mr. J. G. Morgan, tobacconist, Canterbury Street. The magistrates were Aid. Marriott and Mr. F. W. Franklin. Mrs. E. A. Nelson said that between four and five o'clock on Wednesday afternoon she missed about 5s. from the shop till, and had seen the prisoner hanging about the place, he having been to buy some sweets at dinner time and afterwards. She had some reason to suspect his designs, and so made a communication to the police. Detective-officer Imber said he went to the prisoner's home the previous morning, accused him of the robbery, and he denied it with the remark that he had only been in the shop once, Mrs. Nelson, however, identified him as having been in the place three times on the Wednesday. Later he said "I did have the money," and explained that he took it out of the till when no one was in the shop. A portion of the money, he said, he had given to his brother, and also observed, "You can't prove the case against me. No one was there to see me." From the brother witness eventually receive 3s. 7d. The lad had been to the Opera House on Wednesday night. Mr. Gray said that when the prisoner was let off on a previous occasion he boasted of his exploit. Till robberies were becoming very frequent, and he thought it advisable, with a view to stopping it, that the lad should be sent to a reformatory. The lad's father said he had done his best lo dissuade him from evil practices, but Alderman Marriott said it did not appear to have had much effect. Mr. Gray reiterated that even boys who had been birched went back to their old habits. The Bench committed the lad to a reformatory for five years, ordering him to be detained at the Workhouse until a school was found for him. Alderman Marriott also administered caution to the younger brother, and commented on the utter neglect that appeared to have been displayed in regard to the two lads by their father.

28 December 1898 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Parsons was licensed to go out and work for Mr Bishop, butcher, Earl Street, Coventry

6 April 1899 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

8 August 1899 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Parsons, Atherstone

8 October 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Parsons [no location given, but if he was in South Africa then, the Boer War was underway]

14 October 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Parsons, South Africa

No. in Admissions Register:	621
Age:	13
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Freckled
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	Long
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	30 September 1878
Late residence:	Princes End
Parish he belongs to:	Tipton
Customary work and mode of life:	Pit Bank
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing a watch
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	30 August 1878; W H Rodgers and F A Horner; Bilston Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	George Bennett
Occupation:	Striker
Mother's name:	Betsey Bennett
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest, sober, health good
Parents' wages:	15s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week
Parents address:	Brickiln Street, Princes End, Tipton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Hugh McCrea, Chief Superintendent, Bilston
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

23 May 1883 Leaves for Liverpool. Emigrates next day for Quebec.

James Holmes (1) - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	395
Date of admission:	25 February 1869
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	No
Had cow or small pox?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Burn mark left arm and chest
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Leek
Parish he belongs to:	Leek
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 a pair of boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Neglect by mother and stepfather
Date of sentence:	11 February 1869
Where convicted:	Leek Petty Sessions
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison (hard labour), 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Mary Holmes
Occupation:	Charwoman
Residence:	West Street, Leek
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Boy says ‘well'
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	Lives partly by begging, and is thought to have encouraged the boy to steal
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	C Williams, Leek
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

13 February 1869 There is a short report of the offence in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 13 February 1869 p.5 col.4: A JUVENILE THIEF.- On Thursday, a lad named James Holmes was charged before Messrs. Brough and Sleigh, charged with stealing a pair of boots, value 4s. 6d., the property of George Everton, Leicester. Prosecutor kept a stall in the Leek market, and the prisoner had purloined the boots from thence. He was sent to prison for fourteen days, to be sent to a reformatory for three years at the expiration of that term.

Arthur Simpson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	644
Age:	12
Whence received:	Stafford Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Visage:
Particular marks:	-Bruise mark over tight eyebrow
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	24 June 1880
Late residence:	Hanley, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Hanley
Customary work and mode of life:	Goes to school
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	25 May 1880; C Adams and H Carslidge; Hanley Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	14 days
For what:	Stealing raisins
Father's name:	John Simpson
Occupation:	Labourer, iron works
Mother's name:	Caroline Simpson
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Neglected
Character of parents	Mother has been convicted for receiving goods from children. Nothing known against father
Parents' wages:	12s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	6d per week
Parents address:	16 Herbert Street, Hanley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Herbert Windle, Chief Constable, Hanley
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

29 May 1880 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 29 May 1880 p.6 col.2: Incorrigible Young Thieves.-Letitia Simpson, fourteen, and Arthur Simpson, twelve, brother and sister, the children of John Simpson, underhand puddler, Herbert-street, were charged with stealing two pairs of boots and other articles, the property of various tradesmen in the town. The prisoners had been to gaol for theft previously, and the Chief Constable stated that they had been carrying on a career of crime ever since they were discharged from gaol, and that it took the police all their time to watch them.-Detective Dennis said that having had his eye upon the children for some time past, he on Monday saw them near the shop of Mr. Cotterill, Stafford-street, and then remove to the shop of Mr. McGee, in the same street. The officer concealed himself for a short time, and watched the prisoners. He saw the female snatch at several pairs of boots that hung outside the shop, and she ultimately succeeded in getting a pair off the hook, and they walked off with them. On bringing them to the police station and searching them, he found the pawnticket of a pair of boots which had been pledged on Saturday, and which the boy said he stole from the shop of Mr. Cotterill on that day.-The prisoners pleaded guilty, and the girl was sentenced to two months' imprisonment, and ordered to be sent to a reformatory for three years afterwards; and the boy was sent to gaol for one month, and ordered to be sent to a reformatory for five years.

Arthur Harper - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	809
Age:	12
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	-
Particular marks:	None
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	11 May 1886
Late residence:	32 Marsh Street, Longton
Parish he belongs to:	Longton
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard II
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard II
Offence:	Stealing 3 eggs
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	12 April 1886; C M Williamson and Joseph Chard; Longton Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 4 years at Saltley (until 16, 28 September 1889)
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Philip Harper
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Susannah Harper
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Satisfactory
Character of parents	Character good. Health indifferent
Parents' wages:	Mother is a widow and has no means of subsistence, except from a son who earns 2s per day when in work
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nil
Parents address:	32 Marsh Street, Longton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Joseph Evans, Superintendent of Police, Longton
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

23 June 1887 The Medical Officer reported: Opthalmia

6 October 1887 The Medical Officer reported: Fracture of the fibula (right) and rupture of extensor hallucis ligament. Put leg in splint per Dr Frost. Doing well by 15 October

8 November 1887 The Reformatory Committee Log Book reports: The health of the boys has been as usual (excellent), the services of the Doctor not having been needed except in the case of a fractured bone (A Harper), which is now put right again.

31 August 1888 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that Harper was licensed to go out and work for Mr Birks, Market Street, Longton

28 September 1889 Sentence expired. Discharged whilst out on licence

18 October 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Harper, Longton

10 February 1891 The Log book report records receipt of a letter from Harper, Longton