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David Ling - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register: 317
Date of admission: 21 October 1865
Whence received: Birmingham Gaol
By whom brought: -
On what terms: -
Friends interested in him: -
Description:
Height: -
Figure: -
Complexion: Fresh
Hair colour: Dark Brown
Eyes colour: Grey
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: 2 moles on body
Cutaneous disorder? No
Scrofulous or consumptive? No
Subject to fits? No
Age last birthday: 14
Illegitimate? -
Birthday: -
Birth place: -
Has resided: At Nineveh, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to: Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life: None
Schools attended: -
By whom and where employed: -
State of education:
Reads: Not at all
Writes: Not at all
Cyphers: -
General ability: -
Offence: Intent to commit a felony
Circumstances which may have led to it: -
Date of sentence: 23 September 1865
Where convicted: Moor Street before F J Welch and W Halliday
Who prosecuted: -
Where imprisoned: -
Sentence: 1 month prison (hard labour), 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions: One: 2 days and whipped
Father's name: David Ling
Occupation: Locksmith
Residence: Dyers Buildings, Soho, Birmingham
Mother's name: Elizabeth Ling
Occupation: None
Residence: -
Father's character: -
Mother's character: -
Parents dead? -
Survivor married again? -
Parents' treatment of child: Good
Character of parents Honest, sober, and industrious but in poor circumstances. Has 4 children at home
Parents' wages: 20s a week
Amount parents agree to pay: Consents to pay 1s per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):       -
Relatives to communicate with: -
Person making this return: -
Estimate of character on admission: -
Character on discharge: -
When and how left the Reformatory: 23 Mar 1867 - Absconded


Notes:

25 September 1865 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 25 September 1865 p.7 col.4: YOUTHFUL BURGLARY.--David Ling boy 315] and George May [surname given thus], aged respectively fourteen and thirteen, were charged with breaking into the house of Joseph Wathouse, a working man, in Bacchus Lane. Early this morning May was found in one of the outhouses, and Ling was discovered beneath the bed where lay Mrs. Wathouse. Both lads bore a bad character. Ling having been previously convicted, Ling was sentenced to a month, and May to twenty-one days' imprisonment, both to be sent to a reformatory at the expiration of their sentences.
 
24 November 1866 Absconded with 320 [Henry Hassall] early in morning, through the negligence of R Crisp, the workman in charge at the time
 
6 March 1867 Captured by the police and brought back
 
23 March 1867 Absconded
 
2 January 1870 Heard of doing well in Birmingham

 

William Wood - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register: 608
Age: 11
Whence received: Stafford Gaol
Description:
Complexion: -
Hair colour: -
Eyes colour: -
Visage: -
Particular marks: Nil
State of health: Good
Able-bodied? Yes
Date of admission: 3 June 1878
Late residence: Cheadle
Parish he belongs to: Cheadle
Customary work and mode of life: None
Whether illegitimate: No
State of education:
Reads: Imperfectly
Writes: Imperfectly
Offence: Stealing parsley
Circumstances which may have led to it: Bad companions
Date of sentence, by whom and court: 3 May 1878; J C Phillips and A S Bolton; Cheadle Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned: H M Prison, Stafford
Sentence: 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number: 1
Length: 1 month
For what: Garden reading
Father's name: William Wood
Occupation: Miner
Mother's name: Louisa Wood
Occupation: -
Parents dead? No
Survivor married again? -
Parents' treatment of child: Good
Character of parents Good
Parents' wages: Average about 14s per week
Amount parents agree to pay: There is a large family and badly off - on the parish. They are scarcely able to pay anything
Parents address: Black Lane, Oakamoor Road, Cheadle
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):            Superintendent William, Leek, Staffordshire
Person making this return: Charles J Hagg, Clerk to the Justices


Notes:

2 January 1881 Absconded in the afternoon
 
24 May 1881 Letter from Police Sergeant at Cheadle to say that he has heard nothing of W Wood but that he would still prosecute his enquiries
 
10 June [1881] Letter from Sergeant Harding to say that Wood has been seen. I have written to the constable(?) and also to Wood's mother
 
 15 June [1881] W Wood readmitted
 
 25 May 1882 Absconded between 10 and 11 o'clock a.m. and recaptured the same evening at 11 o'clock
 
12 February 1883 Absconded from kitchen... [cannot read, too faint]
 
... Recaptured... [too faint to read]

 

Isaiah Webster - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register: 876
Age: 15 today (6 March 1888)
Whence received: H M Prison Stafford
Description:  
Complexion: Fresh
Hair colour: Brown
Eyes colour: Brown
Height: 4 ft 8¼ ins
Particular marks: Mole on right cheek
State of health: Good
Able-bodied? Slender
Date of admission: 6 March 1888
Late residence: 3 Green Lane, Walsall
Parish he belongs to: Walsall
Customary work and mode of life: None
Whether illegitimate: No
State of education:  
Reads: Imperfectly
Writes: Imperfectly
Offence: Stealing 5 pigeons from a dwelling house
Circumstances which may have led to it: Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court: 12 February 1888; J H Smith and J Wright; Walsall Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned: H M Prison Stafford
Sentence: 21 days in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:  
Number: Nil (not actually convicted, but long known as a companion of convicted thieves and entirely beyond parental control
Length: -
For what: -
Father's name: Isaiah Webster
Occupation: Chain maker
Mother's name: Sarah Webster
Occupation: -
Parents dead? Neither
Survivor married again? -
Parents' treatment of child: Well treated
Character of parents Good. Father is an invalid and unable to work
Parents' wages: Mother supports family
Amount parents agree to pay: -
Parents address: 3 Green Lane, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments): Christopher Taylor, Chief Constable, Walsall
Person making this return: Christopher Taylor, Chief Constable, Walsall
   
Notes:
   
18 February 1888 There is a report of the crime in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 18 February 1888 p.8 col.2: WALSALL POLICE COURT. MONDAY. - Before the MAYOR (J. Lindop, Esqr.), J. Brewer, B. Beebee, E. Bliss, and J. H. Smith, Esqrs. SHOP ROBBERY. - Thomas McNeale (16), Church Street, and Isaiah Webster (14), court in Green Lane, were charged with stealing three pigeons, the property of Henry Whittaker, value 4s., on the 8th inst. They were further charged with breaking the shop window of James Atkins, Upper Green Lane, and stealing a box of starch, a box of Epsom salts, and a bottle of ginger beer, value 9d. - James Atkins deposed that he heard the sound of breaking a window, and had been taken from the window. He swore that the Epsom salt box produced was his property. George Blanton deposed that on the morning of the alleged robbery he saw Webster and McNeale with a bottle of ginger ale. - Detective-officer Nicholls deposed that he apprehended prisoners on the other charge, and they were identified by Blanton as having been the boys he had seen about. - He charged them with stealing the ginger beer, starch, and salts. McNeale said nothing ; but Webster said "We only had the ginger beer, we left the starch on the window sill." - Prisoners, in reply to the charge. pleaded guilty. - As to the pigeons, the prisoners pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing them also. - The evidence showed that the pigeons were missed on Tuesday, and were offered on the following day for sale. - Webster's mother, a very respectable looking woman, said that during the last few weeks her son had got into bad habits, she believed, through the influence of McNeate. - Prisoners were remanded until Wednesday. [A little further down the same column it is reported that McNeale was given 14 days imprisonment and Webster to 21 days in prison and 4 years in a reformatory]
   
27 August 1891 The Medical Officer reported: Ulcer of palate, probably tubercular. On 16 October the MO stated that he was unlikely to improve at present
   
4 December 1891 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Webster was licensed to go out and work for Messers Kendrick and Son, Walsall
   
9 February 1892 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report notes that: Webster, one of the boys on licence, is under treatment for lupus at the Walsall Infirmary. His term of detention expires on the 5th of March, so that the best thing to be done is to let him stay where he is
   
5 March 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst out on licence

John Beardsley - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register: 1132
Age: 13 born (1 April 1883)
Whence received: H M Prison Nottingham
Description:  
Complexion: Sallow
Hair colour: Light brown
Eyes colour: Iron grey
Height: 4 ft 7 ins
Particular marks: 3 ink marks left forearm
State of health: Good
Able-bodied? Yes
Date of admission: 21 April 1896
Late residence: 4 Finch Street, Nottingham
Parish he belongs to: -
Customary work and mode of life: Nil
Whether illegitimate: No
State of education:  
Reads: Not at all
Writes: Not at all
Offence: Larceny
Circumstances which may have led to it: School Board officer reports - A very bad boy. Sleeps out at night and stays away from home for a week at a time. Keeps bad company. A thorough truant in Standard 1
Date of sentence, by whom and court: 1 April 1896; T Hill and W Beardstaff; Nottingham Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned: Nottingham Prison
Sentence: 21 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:  
Number: 3
Length: 1) Birched; 2) birched; 3) birched
For what: 1) House breaking; 2) setting fire to a haystack; 3) stealing oranges
Father's name: James Beardsley
Occupation: Gas stoker
Mother's name: Lily Beardsley (step-mother)
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: 4 Finch Street, Nottingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):              -
Person making this return: Coroner, H M Prison Nottingham
   
Notes:
   
26 September 1894 A previous offence was reported in the Nottingham Evening Post Wednesday 26 September 1894 p.3 col.2: THE STACK FIRE AT CARLTON. - Samuel Hibbert and John Beardsley, boys of Carlton, were charged with setting fire to a hay stack, the property of Mr. John Lewin, of South Cliff-road, Carlton, on Monday night. Mr. Whittingham defended Hibbert. Mr. Lewin deposed that the stack was his property, and that the damage done by fire was £30, in addition to the damage done by water. P.c. Topham said he sent for the fire brigade, and noticed Beardsley among the crowd. Beardsley confessed that he and Hibbert were smoking cigarettes near the stack and set it on fire. They tried to put it out with their caps. Then they became frightened and ran away. Hibbert made a similar statement to him. The sentenced them to six strokes of the birch rod.
   
24 February 1897 The Medical Officer reported: Injury to foot
   
1 April 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Beardsley was licensed to go out and work for Mr T H Parr, 155 Mansfield Road, Nottingham
   
20 April 1901 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley
No. in Admissions Register: 323
Date of admission: 15 January 1866
Whence received: Stafford
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? Yes
Had cow or small pox? Cowpox
Particular marks: -
Cutaneous disorder? No
Scrofulous or consumptive? Not
Subject to fits? Not
Age last birthday: 14
Illegitimate? -
Birthday: -
Birth place: -
Has resided: Burton on Trent
Parish he belongs to: Barkby, Leicestershire
Customary work and mode of life: Jagger
Schools attended: -
By whom and where employed: -
State of education:
Reads: Imperfectly
Writes: Imperfectly
Cyphers: -
General ability: -
Offence: Stealing brass
Circumstances which may have led to it: Bad company
Date of sentence: 14 November 1865
Where convicted: Burton before C W Lyon and W Worthington
Who prosecuted: -
Where imprisoned: -
Sentence: 2 months prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions: Stealing money (2 months)
Father's name: Henry Carnall
Occupation: Labourer at brewery (Bass)
Residence: 22 New Street, Burton on Trent
Mother's name: Ann Carnall
Occupation: -
Residence: -
Father's character: -
Mother's character: -
Parents dead? -
Survivor married again? -
Parents' treatment of child: Good
Character of parents Good. Health good
Parents' wages: 15s per week
Amount parents agree to pay: Not more than they can be made
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):               Superintendent Keith
Relatives to communicate with: -
Person making this return: W Fulford
Estimate of character on admission: -
Character on discharge: -
When and how left the Reformatory: -


Notes:

15 October 1864 His previous offence was reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 15 October 1864 p.7 col.5: A DISHONEST SERVANT. -Henry Carnal, a youth aged 12, in the employ of Mr. Edwin Roe, grocer, &c., Moor street, was charged with misappropriating the sum of 10s. The prisoner's duty was to deliver bread to his master's customers, to receive the money, and hand it over on his return. Lately the prosecutor's suspicions were aroused, and an enquiry was made, which led to the discovery that the lad had for a long time been in the habit of selling bread and appropriating the money to his own use. On the Sunday previous Mr. Roe caught him in the cellar, and found a quantity of tobacco in his pocket. The prisoner was sentence to two months' imprisonment.
 
18 November 1865 The crime was reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 18 November 1865 p.7 col.4: AN INCORRIGIBLE. - Henry Carnell. a youth about thirteen years of age was charged with stealing a brass ornament from a bridle belonging to Mr Patrick, farmer, of Linbrook The Bench sentenced the prisoner who had been previously convicted, to two calendar months' imprisonment, and at the expiration of that period to be sent to Saltley Reformatory for three years.
 
14 January 1869 Discharged
 
January 1871 Doing well in Birmingham. Apprenticed to a small builder
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