John Lundy - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 76 |
| Date of admission: | 24 July 1855 |
| Weekly payments: | - |
| Age: | 14 |
| Education: | Good |
| Previous employment: | Gun finisher |
| Crimes, how often and in what prison: | 4 |
| Training in reformatory: | 25 May 1857 |
| When left reformatory: | Shoemaker |
| Parentage and family: | Both living |
| Residence: | Slaney Street, Birmingham |
| Trade of father: | Labourer |
| With whom the boy is placed: | Transferred to Mount St Bernard’s reformatory |
| Address: | - |
| Trade: | - |
Notes:
| [No date] Committed by Birmingham Recorder for 2½ years. |
| 9 May 1857 It was noted in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 9 May 1857 p.3 col.5 that: a boy named John Lundy was charged with absconding from Saltley Reformatory, and the case being proved, he was sent back again. |
| 22 December 1858 Interestingly, there is an advert for the medical skills of a Mr Airey in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 22 Dec 1858 p.3 foot of col.5 which includes: TESTIMONIALS. – Mr John Lundy [presumably the boy’s father], 30 Slaney Street. – “I have suffered for four days from the Tic and the Pain in my Head and Face. I have had no sleep at nights. I have been perfectly cured by Mr Airey in one minute.� |
| 4 April 1857 In the Reformatory Minute book is recorded: 423. Resolved: that an application be made to the Secretary of State for the dismissal of Elkington [boy 83], Wright [boy 77], Lundy, Brookes [boy 61], Dempsey [boy 86], and Campton [boy 54], and that Elkington and Wright be allowed to go to the masters who have applied to take them as apprentices; that Lundy and Brookes be placed under the care of Mr Pawson, who promised to find them work; and that Campton and Dempsey be assisted to emigrate. |
| 3 June 1857 In a list of ˜disposals", the Minute Book reports that Lundy has been removed to Mount St Bernards Reformatory [At Mount St Bernard Abbey, Leicestershire, which dealt with Catholic boys]. |
Henry Tomkinson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 433 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | Stafford County Prison |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Dark |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Hazel |
| Visage: | Long |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 14 October 1870 4 years |
| Late residence: | Leek, Staffordshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Leek |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Silk worker |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Stealing plums |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 14 September 1870, Leek Petty Sessions, Joshua Brough and John Brough |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison (hard labour), 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Isaac Tomkinson |
| Occupation: | Slater |
| Mother's name: | Jane Tomkinson |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not good – father drunken |
| Character of parents | Nothing known against them |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Probably 1s per week |
| Parents address: | Isaac Tomkinson, slater, Cross Street, Leek |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 17 September 1870 There is a short report of the offence in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 17 September 1870 p.7 col.3: STEALING PLUMS.-Elijah Biddulph and Henry Tomkinson were charged with stealing plums from trees belonging to Mr. Shaw, of Spring Cottage. Biddulph was fined 5s. 3d. and costs, in default fourteen days' imprisonment. Tomkinson was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and afterwards to be sent to a reformatory for three years. |
| 4 June 1876 In a letter to the school from C Tipper [boy 469] it says …I have seen W Smith and H Tomkinson too… Tomkinson is labouring for a bricklayer… |
Joseph Church - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 888 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Wakefield |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 11½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut on left cheek |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 16 July 1888 |
| Late residence: | Helens Yard, Doncaster |
| Parish he belongs to: | Doncaster |
| Customary work and mode of life: | At school |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a syringe from a garden |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Not known |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 7 July 1888; W W Warde-Aldam and A Shurrock; West Riding Police Court Doncaster |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Wakefield |
| Sentence: | 10 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 4 |
| Length: | 1) 6 strokes; 2) 3 days; 3) 6 strokes; 4) 1 month |
| For what: | 1) Stealing a barrow; 2) stealing apples; 3)stealing a sliced loaf; 4) stealing 5 handkerchiefs |
| Father's name: | William Church |
| Occupation: | Bricklayer |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Church |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not known |
| Character of parents | Not known |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not known |
| Parents address: | Helens Yard, Doncaster |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | W Black, Superintendent of Police, Doncaster |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 6 June 1887 A previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph Monday 6 June 1887 p.3 col.1: AN ENTERPRISING BOY AT DONCASTER. - On Saturday a boy named Joseph Church, aged 9, living in Milner's yard, Doncaster, was charged at the West Riding Court with stealing a wheelbarrow, value 10s., the property of William Trout, gardener, Hexthorpe, on the 31st ult. It appears that prosecutor has a garden at Hexthorpe, and on the day named Church took a wheelbarrow from the premises. then went to two adjoining gardens, and filled the wheelbarrow with onions, which he made up into bunches and sold in the town. The officer who apprehended the boy said had given the borough police a considerable amount of trouble. A few days ago he took a horse and cart belonging to a local fruiterer and drove out of town, and had got about two miles away when he was stopped and taken back. The magistrates ordered him to receive six strokes with a birch rod. | |
| 15 November 1887 A second previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Independent Tuesday 15 November 1887 p.3 col.4: WHOLESALE ROBBERIES BY BOYS AT DONCASTER. - At the Doncaster Borough Police Court yesterday, day, the Mayor presiding, a series of charges were preferred against a number of youths, showing that a systematic theft of fruit has taken place in the Market place, Doncaster, for several weeks past. In the first case Harry Buckley, Harry Charlton, Robert Yardley, and Herbert Attrey were charged with stealing apples and pears of the value of 5s.; in the second case Harry Buckley, Robert Yardley, James Head, Joseph Church, Herbert Attrey, and Fred Attrey were charged with having stolen a similar quantity of fruit to a like extent the following week; and the same boys, and Herbert Horan were further charged with having stolen fruit, of the value of 1s., last Friday. According to the evidence, a market gardener, named Robert Holmes, of Owston Ferry, was in the habit of bringing a cart, laden with fruit, every week to Doncaster market. He arrived on a Friday night ready for the early morning sales on Saturday. In the meantime the conveyance stood in the open market, the fruit being covered with tarpaulin. A boy, named John Noble, explained - after being charged with felony - how the fruit was stolen. The defendant Buckley told a number of lads, who were playing in the Market place, that he knew where they could get some apples, at the same time saying that the man who owned them was lame, and could not run after them. The boy showed where the apples and pears were kept, and his playmates at once mounted the cart and helped themselves. This they repeated on two Fridays in succession, taking altogether about ten pecks of apples and pears. The matter being reported to the Chief Constable an officer was stationed in the Market place in private clothes. He witnessed the proceedings on the latter occasion, and arrested one of the boys, getting the names of others afterwards. - The magistrates thought the fact of the carts being left in the open market was a temptation. - The complainant said the same thing was done by other market gardeners. - The Magistrates' Clerk said he understood the same sort of thing was done in markets all over the country, and even at Covent Garden. - Mr. Bentley, J. P., said he had resided for some time at Covent Garden, and he knew that special watchmen were appointed there In answer to the clerk, the complainant said it was expected that the police would look after the carts during the night previous to the opening of the Saturday morning market. Mr. Bentley said some of the market gardeners put their carts in the hotel yards. The complainant : More are robbed in the hotel yards than in the market. (Laughter.) The defendants were all ordered to receive a number of strokes with the birch rod, in the presence of their parents. | |
| 7 February 1888 A third previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph Monday 7 February 1888 p.7 col.4: ALLEGED THEFT BY BOYS AT DONCASTER. - Yesterday, at the Borough Court, Doncaster, Joseph Church, aged 10, was charged with stealing a spice loaf, the property of Mr. H. Oliver, confectioner, There was a tea party in the British school, and the boy went in and stole a loaf. He and another boy then went to a dining-room in Scot lane, where they got some coffee and ate nearly all the cake. Sergeant Thompson then arrived and apprehended them. The prisoner was remanded.12 March 1888 A fourth previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Evening Telegraph Monday 12 March 1888 p.4 col.2: JUVENILE CRIMINALS AND HOW TO PUNISH THEM. - To-day, at the Doncaster Borough Court, a boy 10 years old named Joseph Church, who has been previously before the court for petty larcenies, was charged with stealing six handkerchiefs, the property of Henry W. Beverley, draper, Market place, on the 9th inst. - Prosecutor expressed his disinclination to prosecute inasmuch as the boy's parents had done their utmost to prevent his getting into mischief. - The offence was admitted. - The Clerk (Mr. Fisher) said the question was what the magistrates should do with a confirmed thief at 10 years of age. - The mother said he had been a better boy since he was whipped in accordance with the magistrates' order. He had attended school, and thought if they allowed him to go out on Friday he would behave himself. He had not been out long before a policeman came and said that he had stolen some handkerchiefs. - The Clerk asked if he had been bad from childhood. The mother said he had been a deal of trouble. - Mr. R. G. Clerk asked if the boy was quite right. - The mother said that some persons said he was and others said he was not. - Mr. Clark said on Saturday the boy did not seem to be troubled about the charge, but he was very anxious about his dinner. - The Prosecutor said from what he could learn the boy had been a thief from childhood. If there was such a thing as kleptomania, the boy had it in its worst form. The parents were respectable, and he did not wish to prosecute. - The Clerk said if the boy was a kleptomaniac, was he to go about the world thieving? He did not see what the Bench could do but send him to prison. - Mr. R. E. Clark said he understood that when children were sent to prison they were kept in school, and not allowed to come in contact with ordinary prisoners. - The Mayor said the Bench had decided to send the boy to prison for a month, as they thought it would be the best thing under the circumstances. They hoped it would the means of checking him. | |
| 9 July 1888 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Sheffield Independent Monday 9 July 1888 p.3 col.3: A CONFIRMED JUVENILE THIEF AT DONCASTER. - At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, on Saturday, Joseph Church, aged 10 years, and living with his parents in West Laithgate, Doncaster, was charged with having stolen a garden syringe, of the value of 7s. 6d., belonging to Thomas Kelsey, of Doncaster. The boy was seen showing a syringe to some people in the street, and when asked how he came into possession of it he said he got it out of a garden on the Bentley road. The syringe was. identified as belonging to the prosecutor, and evidence was forthcoming as to how it had been stolen out of a greenhouse on the Balby road. Major Sturrock, the chairman, said the boy appeared to be a confirmed thief. There had been four cases of felony against him since June, 1887 - for stealing a wheelbarrow, some apples, and a spice loaf, for which he was given strokes from the birch rod, and, later on, for stealing handkerchiefs he was imprisoned for one month. It was impossible to suppose that the birch rod, or even imprisonment, would do such a boy any good. He would now be imprisoned for ten days, and afterwards would have to go to a reformatory for five years. | |
| 5 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza | |
| 10 February 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Church was licensed to go out and work for Mr Atkin, Nether Road, Doncaster | |
| June 1893 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
Edward Foster - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1144 |
| Age: | 15 (19 April 1881) |
| Whence received: | Coventry Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Sallow |
| Hair colour: | Dark |
| Eyes colour: | Light grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 11 ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar on left cheek and lower jaw |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 12 January 1897 |
| Late residence: | 10 court 3 house Gosford Street, Coventry |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | - |
| Writes: | - |
| Offence: | Larceny of a pair of boots from outside a shop |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control. Appears to be mentally deficient (somewhat "daft") |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 7 January 1897; A T Tomson and John Bill; Coventry Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | Detained at Saltley until 19 years of age |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) Fined 10s and costs; 2) fined 10s value of goods |
| For what: | 1) Larceny of paper from warehouse; 2) larceny of pears, etc |
| Father's name: | John Holland Foster |
| Occupation: | Iron turner |
| Mother's name: | Harriet Foster |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Appears good |
| Character of parents | Reported good |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not yet assessed |
| Parents address: | 10 court 3 house Gosford Street, Coventry |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | James Shelley, Police Inspector |
| Notes: | |
| 3 October 1896 A previous offence was reported in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Saturday 3 October 1896 p.3 col.4: IMPUDENT GARDEN THEFTS IN COVENTRY. POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS. The garden in the Park of Councillor S. Corbett, was recently the scene of a series of depredations by a number of youths. The sequel to such depredations was forthcoming at the City Police Court this morning. The magistrates on the Bench were Alderman J. Marriott (chairman), Mr. F. W. Franklin, Mr. R. Choules, and Mr. R. Hill. There were five defendants, their names being as follows: Edward Foster, 10 court, Far Gosford Street; Joseph Shirley, Henry Street; Frank Bourn. 56, Greyfriars Lane; William Walton. 22, Leicester Street; and Arthur Milliner. 64, Bond Street, They were charged with stealing pears and grapes of the value of 5s., the property of Mr. S. Corbett. whilst there was also a charge against Fred Wilson, 6 house, 13 court, St. John Street, stealing growing potatoes, valued 6d., from a garden in the possession of the New Beeston Cycle Company. Mr. Maddocks prosecuted on behalf of the Park Gardens Association. - Mr. Maddocks stated, in opening the case, that a witness named Smith was in Cheylesmore about twenty minutes to six on the previous Friday, when he saw a number of youths and men go into Mr. Corbett's garden. He sent for Mr. Corbett junior, and on the latter's arrival about twenty boys and youths were found in the garden doing great damage to the fruit trees. They had broken into the greenhouse, took away about 200 bunches grapes, knocked off the trees apples and pears, trampled all over the garden, and when Mr. Corbett jun. came rushed away. He was only able to catch Walton and Foster. - Walter Smith, carpenter and joiner, testified to seeing the defendants in Mr. Corbett's garden on the 25th ult. He asked them what they were doing there, and they replied, "What have you got to do with it? " He sent for Mr. B. Corbett, jun. The defendants had bundles of grapes in their possession, and . one of them threw a bunch at him. Shirley had grapes in his possession. - Mr. S. Corbett, jun., told the Bench that about 150 bunches of grapes had been stolen from his father's garden. Damage had been done to the extent of about £5. - Park-constable James had Walton and Foster handed over to him by Mr. S. Corbett, jun. Both had pears in their possession. - Shirley denied going into the garden, but Smith, recalled, said he saw him inside when he (witness) rushed into the garden. - Ald. Marriott said the Bench considered the case was one of the most gross of reckless and wilful damage that had been brought into that court. Each lad would have to pay 10s. fine, 5s. damage, and the expenses - 28s. in all, or go to gaol for 14 days. | |
| 7 January 1897 A report of the crime that sent him to Saltley was printed in the Coventry Evening Telegraph Thursday 7 January 1897 p.3 col.4: THREE REFORMATORY CANDIDATES. Three boys stood in a row charged with stealing a pair of boots. The boys were William Burton, 1c. 3h., Much Park Street; William Frederick Beasley, 84. East Street, and Edward Foster, 10c 3h., Gosford Street. Robert William Ferguson, assistant to Messrs. Cash and Company, Smithford Street, proved the loss of the boots from outside the shop. A smart errand boy, David Hitchins, working at Midland Clothing Company, opposite to Messrs. Cash's, saw the three prisoners round the boot shop. Foster took a pair, and the prisoners went off along Market Street. Witness went and informed Messrs. Cash's people. Information was given to the pawnbrokers in the city. and when Burton entered the shop of Mr. Hewitt, Well Street, the assistant there was ready for him. The assistant in question, Walter Scott, saw that the soles of the boots had been rubbed in the mud, and that it was a suspicious offer. So he detained the boots and Burton, also Beasley, who had come into the shop to see how Burton was getting on. Police-constable Ellis was sent for, and the two boys were taken into custody with the result, that Foster was soon traced. The Chief Constable was sorry to have to give all three prisoners a bad character, all having been previously before the Court. This was. only one of a series of robberies to which all three had conformed, including the taking of 30s from a woman's pocket. The Bench ordered each to be sent to a reformatory until nineteen years of age. | |
| 27 January 1897 The Medical Officer reported: Strain to leg | |
| 19 April 1900 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 432 |
| Age: | 10 |
| Whence received: | Derby County Prison |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | - |
| Hair colour: | - |
| Eyes colour: | - |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission and term: | 15 September 1870 5 years |
| Late residence: | Wirksworth, Derbyshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | - |
| Writes: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing 11 pears |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 23 August 1870, Wirksworth Petty Sessions, A Arkwright and R B Barrows |
| Where imprisoned: | Derby |
| Sentence: | 14 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | - |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| 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:
| 27 August 1870 There is a report of the crime in the Derbyshire Courier Saturday 27 August 1870 p.7 col.8: STEALING FRUIT.- William Clough and Samuel Allen, both aged ten years, of Wirksworth, were charged with stealing from a garden, the property of Michael Mason. of Wirksworth. on the 19lh inst.-The prisoners pleaded guilty, and Clough was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, afterwards to be sent to a reformatory for five years. and the other defendant was sentenced to 14 daya' imprisonment. |
| 27 August 1875 Licensed and returned to parents - John Clough, Dale Street, Wirksworth, Derbyshire |