Saltley Reformatory

Samuel Lawton - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	648
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	-
Hair colour:	-
Eyes colour:	-
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission:	6 September 1880
Late residence:	Hanley, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Hanley
Customary work and mode of life:	Barman at a hotel
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing money
Circumstances which may have led to it:	=
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	3 August 1880; B Boothroyd and J Warner; Hanley Summary Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	William Lawton
Occupation:	Artificial fruit maker
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Lawton
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest, not very sober, health not very good
Parents' wages:	20s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Offers 1s 6d per week
Parents address:	William Lawton, 2 Mersey Street, Hanley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Herbert Windle, Hanley
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

31 July 1880 There is a good report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser 31 July 1880 p.6 col.3: Extensive Robberies from Licensed Premises. - Samuel Lawton, an apprentice to Mr. Anthony Warrillow, landlord the Dolphin, was charged with stealing 2s. 2d., the money of his employer; and two respectably-dressed youths, named Thomas Kearns, saggar maker, Etruria-road and Frederick Bates, fireman, Rose-street, Northwood, were charged with inciting the before-mentioned prisoner to commit thefts.-Mr. Richardson (instructed by Mr. Sword) was for the prosecution; and Mr. Paine defended Kearns and Bates. - The prosecution proposed to take the cases separately, so that who, it was understood would plead guilty, could be put in the box and give evidence against the other two prisoners. Lawton, it was said, was a very intelligent, sharp boy, but unfortunately some months ago, under a pretext which the two other prisoners made to him to the effect that they were very hard up, was induced first of all to supply them with drink without charging for it, and very shortly afterwards he also commenced the practice of not only plying them with beer but with money, Lawton alleges that having once committed himself the prisoners held him in terrorem, and for fear of exposure had been to some extent coerced to continue in the practice. The thing had been going on to such a length that he (Mr. Richardson) should think the prosecutor must have been robbed of £100. The prosecutor stated that the prisoner Lawton been an apprentice to him for two years, and it was his duty to serve the customers behind the bar, and never to supply drink credit. About eight months age, from something made known to him, his suspicion was aroused as to the honesty of the boy. As a consequence he had a conversation with him and prisoner then admitted that he had served a person with drink, and when the individual had offered payment had given his money back and besides. The boy, however, appealed to be forgiven, and he (witness) forgave him. On the 9th of the present month, from something else told him by a man named Spilsbury respecting the prisoner, he had Lawton given into custody. - lnspector Wall said that in consequence of a statement made to him by Lawton he arrested the other two prisoners. When the three were together he charged with stealing 2s., which he admitted; and when he informed Keams and Bates that they would be charged with inciting Lawton to commit theft, Kearns said he had had no money from Lawton, but he had had drink. Bites made no reply Witness said to Lawton, "You have made a statement to me about prisoners' receiving moneys from you several times a day during the last twelve months; is it true?" and the reply was "Yes." - The case was remanded until next Tuesday for the attendance of.Spilsbury, who had been subpcenaed, but did not appear, and for whose apprehension a warrant was now issued.

The following week there was a very lengthy report in the Staffordshire Sentinel Wednesday 4 August 1880 p.3 col.4 of the trial of Kearns and Bates at which Lawton was a witness and received his sentence, which sent him to Saltley

29 May [no year given] 6 strokes on the hands for handling another boy in an indecent manner

1 November 1883 Licensed to Mr Gilman of Hanley

3 August 1896 Lawton paid a visit to the school today. Is still with Mr Gilman, tailor and hosier, Victoria House, Market Square, Hanley

Lloyd Thomas - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	36
Date of admission:	9 July 1853
Weekly payments:	-
Age:	12
Education:	Indifferent
Previous employment:	None
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	Various prisons, 8
Training in reformatory:	Farm labourer-
When left reformatory:	4 June 1854
Parentage and family:	Both dead
Residence:	-
Trade of father:	-
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:- … Lloyd Thomas, aged ten, imprisoned four times, committed the last time in April for three months, said – I was punished for knocking at the wall. I was taken before the Governor, and was sentenced to three days in the strait jacket, fourteen nights without bed and gas before ten o’clock, and three days bread and water. It was about the 15th of May. I was put into the strait jacket just after breakfast, and taken off just after supper, for three days successively. This was about a month after I went into the gaol. I had one of the collars on, but could walk about my cell. – [Some difficulty arose as to the date given by the boy, and Captain Williams remarked that the punishment of this boy, and also of the boy previously examined [William Burns, boy 25], were not entered in the punishment book].

Charles Walker - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	872
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	5 ft 2 ins
Particular marks:	Stroke on both forearms
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	24 January 1888
Late residence:	122 Park Road, Hockley, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Burnisher
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 2 pairs of boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Out of work and bad companions
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	4 January 1888
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	21 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	1) 7 days; 2) fined and discharged
For what:	1) Wilful damage; 2) Wilful damage
Father's name:	William Walker
Occupation:	Jeweller's porter
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Step-mother's treatment is bad. Father is kind. Left home to live with sister 2 years ago
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	25s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not yet assessed
Parents address:	Father's address not known
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	M Elliott, Clerk to the Justices, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

30 September 1889 The Reformatory Committee Log Book reports that Walker was licensed to go out and work in Budbrooke, Warwick

10 December 1889 Discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of his having enlisted in the military

19 August 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Walker, soldier, Fermoy, Ireland

George Thomas Barrar - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1128
Age:	11 (born 11 April 1884)
Whence received:	Newcastle under Lyme
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	5 ft 2¼ ins
Particular marks:	None
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	26 March 1896
Late residence:	13 Hick Street, Newcastle under Lyme
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Breaking into a stall and stealing sweets value 9s from a covered market
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	12 March 1896; H Mosley and J Hand; Newcastle under Lyme
Where imprisoned:	Not
Sentence:	5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	4
Length:	1) (10 July 1893); 2) (27 December 1893); 3) (7 January 1894); 4) (7 January 1896)
For what:	1) Wilful damage; 2) wilful damage; 3) stealing sweets; 4) stealing scrap iron
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Emme S Barrar
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Police report - nothing known against mother, except that she is now living in adultery
Parents' wages:	Nil
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	13 Hick Street, Newcastle under Lyme
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	George Taylor, Chief Constable

Notes:

24 July 1900 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Barrar was licensed to go out and work for Mr W Scott, 27 Well Street, Newcastle under Lyme

11 March 1901 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

15 July 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Barrar, Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire

12 August 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Barrar, Newcastle, Staffordshire

9 December 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Barrar, Newcastle, Staffordshire

6 October 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Barrar, Newcastle, Staffordshire

No. in Admissions Register:	190
Date of admission:	30 October 1860
Whence received:	Stafford 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?	-
Use of all limbs?	-
Had cow or small pox?	-
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	-
Scrofulous or consumptive?	-
Subject to fits?	-
Age last birthday:	15
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Bilston
Parish to which he belongs:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:
State of education:
Reads:	None
Writes:	None
Cyphers:
General ability:
Offence:	Lodging in an outhouse etc without visible means of living
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Want of parental care and falling into bad company
Date of sentence:	16 October 1860
Where convicted:	Bilston
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison, 2 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Two (2 months and 3 months)
Father's name:	Hugh Callagan
Occupation:	Bricklayer's labourer
Residence:	2 court, Hangmans Row, Bilston
Mother's name:	Margaret Callagan
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Kind, but like that of the lowest class of Irish
Character of parents	Nothing known against their character. Appear to be healthy.
Parents' wages:	Father 15s a week (neighbours say)
Amount parents agree to pay:	Magistrates think 2s a week, but they have 4 children under 9 years old and another is expected. Father refused information.
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	Hugh McCrea, Superintendent of Police, Bilston
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	5 Jun 1862 - Emigrated to Canada

Notes:

13 June 1860 There is a report of a previous crime in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 13 June 1860 p.5 cols.2-3: STEALING BRASSES.-Yesterday, at the Police Court, Michael Dooley, Owen Callaghan, and John Leighton, three boys, were charged with stealing brasses, the property of Messrs. Cadman and Dodd, from an engine house at Rough Hills. James Phillips, engineer to Jones and Murcott, stated that he was passing the engine house on Wednesday afternoon, and saw Callaghan playing outside the place. Suspecting something was wrong he looked in both the other prisoners came out. Witness searched the place and found a number of brasses detached from the engine and laid upon the boiler, as if for the purpose of being away,-Charles Simmons corroborated the previous witness.-James Dodd, part owner of the engine said he took Callaghan into custody. The prisoner told him they were going to sell the brasses to Davies, the marine store dealer.- Dooley, who was apprehended by Police Constable Bennett, admitted to that officer that he and his companions bad sold some more brasses to Davies on the previous day for 4d per lb. The prisoners elected to be summarily dealt with. Mr. Fletcher, in passing sentence, commented upon the past career of the prisoners, Dooley having before been convicted five times, Leighton and Callaghan three times each. They were now sentenced to three months imprisonment with hard labour.

17 October 1860 There is a brief account of his offence in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 17 October 1860 p.5 col.6: Owen Callaghan, convicted of having been found in a hovel, was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, and afterwards to two years' confinement in the Reformatory, Saltley, having been several times previously before the Magistrates.

14 January 1861 Absconded with Merryman [boy 192]

5 March 1861 It is recorded in the Reformatory Minute Book that: 758. Mr Humphreys reported that Callaghan [boy 190] and Merryman [boy 192] absconded on the 14th January and have been since seen at Willenhall, but that Major McKnight had not yet been able to trace them.

2 April 1861 The Minute Book states: 769. Mr Humphreys reported that the boy Callaghan, who absconded some time since was brought from Bilston a fortnight since [March 11]

16 July 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 794. On reading Minute 758 Mt Humphreys reported that Callagan had been recovered after absconding, but not Merryman

5 June 1862 Emigrated to Canada

6 August 1862 Heard from him. Working for a farmer, Mr Leach, Caledon East, Upper Canada, earning £16 a year and everything found.

November 1863 Heard from him [possibly still working for a farmer, this line has ditto instead of words, so is ambiguous] earning £24 a year and going on well.