Saltley Reformatory

Stephen Lyon - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	418
Age:	14
Whence received:	Birmingham Borough Gaol
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Moles on left cheek
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	14 January 1870 5 years -
Late residence:	Great Colmore Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Labourer
Whether illegitimate:	Not
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 3 pork pies, 6 cakes and 2 pounds of pigs pudding
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by who and court:	15 December 1869, Moor Street Police Court,, T C S Kynnersley Esq
Where imprisoned:	Borough Prison
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	6 weeks hard labour
For what:	Stealing fruit from a garden
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Lyon
Occupation:	No occupation
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Not
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	None – kept by son
Amount parents agree to pay:	Too poor to pay
Parents address:	Great Colmore Street, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	G Glossop
Person making this return:	T C S K [Kynnersley]

Notes:

8 March 1875 Employed at Mr Yewdale's, Factor

Frederick Tunnicliffe - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	282
Date of admission:	16 August 1864
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Sallow
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Greyish
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Tolerable
Able-bodied?	-
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	No
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Spiceal Street, Uttoxeter
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a pocketful of green peas
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Entire absence of proper home, discipline, and example
Date of sentence:	3 August 1864
Where convicted:	Uttoxeter
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	Frederick Tunnicliffe
Occupation:	Sweep and pot seller
Residence:	Spiceal Street, Uttoxeter
Mother's name:	Ann Tunnicliffe
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Bad
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Unprincipled and brutal
Character of parents	Father been several times in prison, as also other members of the family
Parents' wages:	Uncertain
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Ellis Crisp, Uttoxeter
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	A A Flint, Clerk to the Justices
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

12 January 1861 There is a report of his father being summoned, with others, for employing boys to climb up chimneys in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 12 January 1861 p.7 col.4: John Scott, of Teanford. near Cheadle, Frederick Tunnicliffe and William Tunnicliffe, of Uttoxeter, and William Lammln and John O'Donnell of Cheadle, all chimney sweeps, were summoned by Peter Hall (an agent of the Association for the Prevention Climbing Boys) for employing hoys under 14 years of age to ascend chimneys for the purpose of sweeping them, contrary to law. Mr. Hall, however. abstained from pressing for convictions upon condition that the defendant Scott paid the sum of £1 to the Association for the Prevention of Climbing Boys and the costs. The magistrates, therefore, after cautioning the defendants, dismissed the charges against them. [The father and son were both summoned for breaking this law again, after the son's sojourn at Saltley, as reported in the Derby Mercury Wednesday 21 October 1868 p.6 col.4]

3 May 1862 His father was again in trouble with the law, as reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 3 May 1862 p.6 col.6: CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. - Frederick Tunnicliff, a chimney sweep, was charged with overdriving his horse, on the 23rd ult., and was fined in the mitigated penalty of 1s and 12s 6d costs. The defendant refused to pay the amount, and in default was committed to the house of correction for fourteen days.

25 February 1863 Again his father caught the attention of the police, as reported in the Derby Mercury Wednesday 5 February 1863 p.2 col.6: Frederick Tunnicliffe was summoned for passing through the toll-gate at Dove-bridge, near Uttoxeter, on the Derby road, without paying the toll and with the intention of defrauding the toll proprietor. To make the matter (which was clearly proved) worse, the defendant came before the bench in a state of semi-intoxication, and was taken care of in the lock-up for a short period on this account. The bench recommended defendant in the first instance to pay the costs and settle the matter, but this course was not to his taste, and the only alternative was a fine of 5s. and costs, which he paid.

24 October 1863 Late the same year, the father was again in trouble, as reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 24 October 1863 p.5 col.2: Frederick Tunnicliffe, hawker, of Uttoxeter, was charged with assaulting the wife of Mr. T. Allin, grocer, of Longton, in the street on the night previous. It appeared that Mr. Allin and his wife were passing along the street, and before them were the prisoner and two girls, when they overtook them prisoner struck Mrs. Allin a severe blow on the cheek without the slightest provocation. He was also charged with setting a dog at police-constable Shaw. The officer was on duty in Market-street, a little before twelve o'clock on the same night, when he saw the prisoner, who had a dog of the bull and terrier breed with him; he set it on the officer, who had to defend himself against it. He was sent to the house of correction with hard labour for one month for the first offence, and was fined 10s. and costs, or in default, one month to the house of correction for the second. [There are several other newspaper reports of the father's mideeds both before and after those shown here]

5 August 1864 The crime that took the boy to Saltley is reported in the Derbyshire Advertiser and Journal Friday 5 August 1864 p.8 col.5: Frederick Tunnicliffe, of Uttoxeter, sweep, about 14 years old. was brought before the Bench charged with stealing a quantity of peas from a field on the forest, the property of Mr. Ferneyhough. The prisoner was caught in the act at early hour on the 2nd inst. by police-constable Harvey. The well- known character of the prisoner, and that of his parents, and the consequent improbability of any improvement while subject to such contaminating influences induced the Bench to order him to be sent for three years to a reformatory after a preliminary imprisonment of 14 days at Stafford. Henry Clarke, a groom,

14 January 1867 Licensed

December 1868 Doing well at Uttoxeter [The Reformatory was ill-informed as in October, father and son were charged under the Climbing Boys' Act, the father for using a younger son, Afred, to climb up chimneys to clean them, and Frederick for assisting in this].

January 1870 Doing well at Uttoxeter [and again the Reformatory was advised erroneously of Tunnicliffe's progress, as he had been sentenced to three month's imprisonment for stealing soot]

Herbert Turton - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	892
Age:	10 years 9 months
Whence received:	H M Prison Wakefield
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Sandy
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 4 ins
Particular marks:	Blue dot left wrist
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	6 October 1888
Late residence:	11 Oxford Square, Barnsley
Parish he belongs to:	Barnsley
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a knife, coat, etc, from an office
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	1 October 1888; F H Taylor and H Piggott; West Riding Police court Barnsley
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Wakefield
Sentence:	6 strokes birch rod, 7 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	6 strokes
For what:	Stealing haddocks and cigars
Father's name:	George Turton
Occupation:	Collier
Mother's name:
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Not known
Character of parents	Not known
Parents' wages:	Not known
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not known
Parents address:	11 Oxford Square, Barnsley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	James Kane, Superintendent of Police, Barnsley
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

22 January 1887 A previous offence was reported in the Barnsley Chronicle Saturday 22 January 1887 p.6 col.3: ANOTHER OF THE YOUTHFUL BAND OF PILFERERS. - Herbert Turton, a boy of eight or nine years old, was charged with stealing three dried haddocks from the shop of John Bradley, fishmonger, Sheffield- road Barnsley, on Friday last. - Mrs. Bradley said on Friday last there was some dried haddock exposed for sale in her shop. When she came in to light the gas she missed three haddocks weighing about a pound and a half. - John Townend, the same lad who gave evidence in the previous case, said that on Friday last he saw the prisoner go up to Bradley's window, put his hand inside, and take some dried fish out. He ate some of the fish and gave some to witness and to a lad named Wilkinson. - P.C. Crossland said he apprehended the prisoner on Friday night last and charged him with stealing the fish, and he admitted that he took it. - To have six strokes with a birch rod - and, added Mr. Dyson : Take off his clothes and make it smart.

6 October 1888 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Barnsley Independent Saturday 6 October 1888 p.6 cols.5-6: YOUTHFUL BURGLARS IN WELLINGTON STREET. - Herbert Turton and William Bell, both youngsters, were charged with entering the office of Samuel M. Neatby, a timber merchant, in Wellington street, and stealing therefrom 7½d. in money, a knife, an overcoat, a seal, a pencil, three old coins, a magnifying glass, and a tape measure. - Mr. Kane, in opening the case, said that Mr. Neatby stated that In breaking into his place the lads had done damage to the extent of £30 by injuring the fittings of the office.- Mr. Neatby, on being called, said that on Friday last, in consequence of information received, he went to his office and saw that the articles in question had been taken. They were worth 15s. Nearly the whole of the fittings of the office and pounds worth of stationery were so damaged as to be almost worthless. His private desk had been battered in with a hammer (produced). A mahogany desk upstairs, a chest of drawers, a new silver- plated gig lamp, and many other articles had been completely wrecked. The total damage would be about £30. - Samuel Jones, a lad about twelve years old, said he saw the two prisoners near to Guest's shop on Thursday last. Turton gave him that coat (produced) to pawn. He told him that if he would get 1s. 6d. on it he would give him 3d. He went inside but they would not have it so he came outside and gave it back to Turton. He did not know where the coat went to after. - Sarah Jane Armitage, wife of William Armitage, Theatre Royal yard, said that Mr. Neatby's place was near her house. On Thursday, September 23rd, she saw the two prisoners, go over the wall. She told them to come off the wall and not go over there. In spite what se said they went over the wall to Mr. Neatby's office. - P. C. Gaythorpe said that in consequence of information received on Friday morning about eight o'clock h apprehended the two prisoners. He took them to Westgate Police station and charged them together with breaking and entering Mr. Neatby's office, in Wellington street, Barnsley, and stealing the articles in question. On charging them Bell said, "Yes, he broke them with them hammers. I took the knife, the seal, the pencil, and two old coins. Turton took the magnifying glass, the tape, and a coat. We all three got some of the money." The witness further added that when he went to school to apprehend Bell, the master said he hoped he should never see him again, as he was such a bad lad that he was ruining the whole of the lads in the school. He did not know whether Turton ever did go to school. - The Bench ordered each lad to receive six strokes with the birch rod, then to go to Wakefield for seven days, and then to a reformatory for five years.
14 May 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Turton was licensed to go out and work for Mr Marshall, Monk Bretton Colliery, Barnsley

18 April 1893 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records that Turton absconded whilst out on licence

5 October 1893 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

30 April 1895 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Turton, Barnsley

11 August 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Turton, Kildare, Ireland

John Roberts - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1148
Age:	13 years 10 months (born 23 April 1883)
Whence received:	Shrewsbury Gaol
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	5 ft 3½ ins
Particular marks:	Large cut scar forehead; small mole upper right arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Not of a robust nature
Date of admission:	24 February 1897
Late residence:	Wrexham Union [workhouse]
Parish he belongs to:	Wrexham
Customary work and mode of life:	Nil
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a watch and £1
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	15 February 1897; R E Egerton; Wrexham Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Shrewsbury
Sentence:	10 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	Birched
For what:	Larceny
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Both. Boy's father deserted family 7 years ago, reported dead. Mother for a time cohabited with a man called Peter Finchell, who, upon the mother's death took the boy to the workhouse
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Not known, see above
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Governor, H M Prison Shrewsbury

Notes:

10 June 1899 Discharged from Saltley by Order of Home Secretary, on account of emigrating. Left Liverpool on 11 June on board SS Tainui to Winnepeg

George Madeley - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	364
Date of admission:	24 September 1867
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?	Neither
Particular marks:	None
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	Not
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Bradley, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Haughton
Customary work and mode of life:	Bricklaying and farmwork
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing 17s
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	24 August 1867
Where convicted:	Stafford before J H Webb and W J Locker
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	1 month prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	George Madeley
Occupation:	Bricklayer
Residence:	Bradley near Stafford
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Honest, sober
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes, Margaret Madeley
Parents' treatment of child:	Boy says badly
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Not known. Is a jobbing bricklayer in a small way
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s 6d per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Mr Crisp, Stafford
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

26 August 1867 There is a short report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 26 August 1867 p.3 col.5: George Madeley, a lad, thirteen years of age, pleaded guilty to stealing 17s., the moneys of Samuel Lees, at Bradley. The Hon, and Rev. A C. Talbot, who was acquainted with the circumstances of the prisoner's family, said the kindest thing that could be done was to send him to gaol, for one month and to a reformatory for five years afterward, which was the sentence of the Bench.