Saltley Reformatory

Mark Tremble - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	64
Date of admission:	18 January 1855
Weekly payments:	-
Age:	14
Education:	Good
Previous employment:	Lamp maker
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	5
Training in reformatory:	-
When left reformatory:	Garden
Parentage and family:	Father and Mother living
Residence:	Vale St. [Birmingham]
Trade of father:	Labourer
With whom the boy is placed:	-
Address:	-
Trade:	-

Notes:

[No date] Committed by Mr Recorder Hill at January Sessions to 14 days in the Borough Gaol and 3 years at the Saltley Reformatory.

4 April 1856 Absconded with William Burns [boy 25] and Samuel Campton [boy 54]

13 June 1856 Caught in Coventry and returned to the Reformatory. A report in the Coventry Herald Friday 20 June 1856 p.4 col.5 says: The two other boys Mark Tremble and William Burns who had left the Asylum in company with Compton, were remanded to give time to communicate with the Birmingham authorities, that they might be fetched back.

4 April 1857 In the Reformatory Minute book is recorded: 425.Mr Humphreys reported that Rooney [boy 63] and Tremble had absconded this day after attempting to pass bad money at a shop in the neighbourhood, and that the man who called at the school kept the halfcrown, and the charge against the boys can be proved.

426. Resolved: that information be sent to Mr Stephens at the Police Courts, and that proceedings be taken against Rooney and Tremble, also against Carlton [boy 91], Taylor [boy 87 or 88], Collins [boy 100], and Hughes [boy 70], who absconded on the 1st of April.

3 June 1857 The Minute Book listed those boys who have absconded and are still at large, including Tremble.

John Nash - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	894
Age:	12
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 4½ ins
Particular marks:	Burn mark over right breast
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	21 November 1888
Late residence:	14 Brook Street, Longport
Parish he belongs to:	Tunstall
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing 3 jackets
Circumstances which may have led to it:	"Bad company"
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	22 October 1888; J Ridgway and J Walton Bishop; Hanley Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	-
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	John Nash
Occupation:	Blacksmith
Mother's name:	Emma Nash
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	Parents honest and healthy, but drunken
Parents' wages:	24s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	14 Brook Street, Longport
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Arthur Hill, Chief Superintendent, Burslem
Person making this return:	John Braddock, Stipendiary's Assistant Clerk

Notes:

5 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza

18 May 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Nash was licensed to go out and work for Mr Knowles, Mount Pleasant, Yardley Wood

19 July 1893 Re-admitted to the School from on licence

20 November 1893 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley

11 December 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Chatham

30 April 1895 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, Chatham

10 December 1895 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Malta

11 August 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, Malta

13 October 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, Malta

8 December 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, Malta

13 June 1899 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, India

10 April 1900 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Nash, Jhansi, India

Joseph Lane - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1150
Age:	13 (born 9 May 1883)
Whence received:	Tipton
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Light grey
Height:	4 ft 7 ins
Particular marks:	Mole right breast bone; cut bridge of nose
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	10 March 1897
Late residence:	1 Wood Street, Tipton
Parish he belongs to:	Tipton
Customary work and mode of life:	Various - many different places
Whether illegitimate:
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Stealing pigeons
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Neglected at home and bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	8 March 1897; W W Doughty and D Hipkins; Tipton Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	2 days in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	1) (20 April 1896) 1 day, 6 strokes; 2) (27 April 1896) 1 day
For what:	1) Breaking into offices; 2) stealing pigeons
Father's name:	Thomas Lane
Occupation:	Collier
Mother's name:	Martha Lane
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Father good, mother's whereabouts unknown. Left her husband and children about 5 years ago
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	1 Wood Street, Tipton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

8 October 1900 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Lane was licensed to go out and work for the Managers, Engineering Works, Tipton

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

12 April 1904 The Reformatory Committee Log book report records receipt of a letter from Lane, the Bermudas

No. in Admissions Register:	391
Date of admission:	15 December 1868
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?	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	-
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	Not
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Burton
Parish he belongs to:	Burton
Customary work and mode of life:	Waiter at a spirit vaults
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing wine and spirits
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	1 December 1868
Where convicted:	Burton Petty Sessions
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison (hard labour), 2 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	James Comery
Occupation:	Maltster
Residence:	Castle Gresley Bewery, Burton
Mother's name:	Sarah Comery
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Honest, sober, and in good circumstances
Parents' wages:	20s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s 8d or 2s per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Henry Burton, Staperhill, Burton
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

3 December 1868 There is a report of the crime in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 3 December 1868 p.4 col.5: ROBBERY BY SERVANTS.-George Hackett, a young man, and Mark Comery, a youth fourteen years of age, whose parents reside at Castle Gresley, were brought up in custody charged with stealing, on the 29th of November, one pint of whisky, two bottles of port wine, quantity of rum, and half-a-pound of tea, the property of Mr. W. H. Hodson, their employer. The prisoners pleaded guilty. Prosecutor deposed : Prisoners were my servants. On Sunday last, about half-past two o'clock, I sent Comery to draw the kitchen ale. Thinking him a long time away I left my dining room and went to the vaults. I stepped lightly along the hall and quickly opened the vaults' door, when I saw Comery with a glass in his left hand and a jug in the other. The jug he put amongst some others on a shelf behind him, and I found that it was full of rum. I immediately sent for the police, and having my suspicions of Hackett also he was detained until the officer arrived. The officer afterwards showed me two bottles of port wine, one bottle of whisky, small bottle of rum, and half a pound of tea, which I identified as my property.-Police constable Marshall, sworn, said : Last Sunday afternoon I was sent for to Mr. Hodson's house, and searched the premises at his request. I first found a bottle of port wine in the ashes pit, and subsequently in the same place another bottle of port wine, a bottle of whisky, and half-a-pound of tea, and in Hackett's box I found a small bottle of rum. I charged the prisoners with stealing that property. Hackett denied all but the one bottle of wine, and said, "The whisky Mark knows about." Mark denied it, but afterwards owned to being in the vaults when Hackett fetched the whisky, and took the bottle of rum to Hackett's box about a week ago.-Prisoners declined asking any questions. Mr. Hodson requested the Bench to deal leniently with the prisoners. In answer to the Bench, Mr. Hodson said that the youth had been guilty of a like offence several times previously. Hackett was sentenced to six calendar months imprisonment; and, with respect to Mark Comery, the Bench said they felt, under the circumstances, that the best thing they could do would be to send him to prison for fourteen days and to a reformatory afterwards for two years.

4 February 1869 His father was summoned a few weeks later for non-payment of maintenance. This is reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 4 February 1869 p.4 col.5: THE REFORMATORY ACT. -James Comery, maltster, employed at Messrs. Beard's brewery, Castle Gresley, was summoned to show cause why he should not pay something towards the maintenance of his son, Mark Cornery, now an inhabitant of Saltley Reformatory. The youth in question wee sent to the reformatory for stealing liquors from Mr. Higgott Hodson, wine and spirit merchant, Burton, and his confinement extends to the 14th of December, 1870.-Mr. Superintendent Oswell, who was instructed in this and several other cases by the Rev. Sydney Turner, inspector of reformatories, said that Comery obtained 18s weekly wages, and in conformity with instructions from Mr. Turner he applied for an order of a penny in every shilling the father earned.- Cornery said that his average wages were only 16s. per week; but the Magistrates considered the application a very liberal one, and made an order for the payment of 1s. 6d. per week.

28 August 1869 Absconded - brought back, or rather came back 26 August

28 August 1869 There is a short report about the return in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 28 August 1869 p.7 col.3: DESERTERS.- Mark Comery, of Castle Gresley (committed by the Burton Bench for stealing spirits belonging to his master, about twelve months ago), and John Haslam, 16, of Gould's Green, West Bromwich. were brought up as runaways from the Saltley Reformatory. They escaped on Monday, came to Burton, and gave themselves up to the police this morning. They were ordered to be taken back to the Reformatory.

21 October 1870 Licensed

Thomas Malkin - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	342
Date of admission:	11 September 1866
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Perfect vision?	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Smallpox
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	11
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Hanley
Parish he belongs to:	Stoke on Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Potting
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Not
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	21 August 1866
Where convicted:	Burslem
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	21 days prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	One
Father's name:	Thomas Malkin
Occupation:	Potter
Residence:	Bucknall Road, Hanley
Mother's name:	Ann Malkin
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Has been convicted of crime
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Has been in gaol. Sober and in good health
Parents' wages:	25s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Michael Stuart, Hanley
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	10 Sep 1870 - Discharged on expiration of sentence

Notes:

25 August 1866 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 25 August 1866 p.7 col.3: THEFT FROM THE BURSLEM BATHS.- Thomas Malkin, a lad, was charged with stealing a pair boots at Burslem, belonging to John Collinson, and David Harding with receiving them knowing them to be stolen. The lads were bathing at the Burslem baths, when Malkin according to his own admission took the boots from under a bench, and sold them to Harding for twopence. It appeared from the statement of Police-sergeant Williscroft. that Harding, who was defended by Mr. A. Tennant, had given a straightforward account of the purchase, and without the slightest concealment. As to the prisoner Malkin, it appeared that notwithstanding his youth be had been in custody for pocket-picking, but it was to be feared his present position was the result of home influences, his father being a returned convict. Under these circumstances Mr. Davis decided upon sending him to a reformatory for four years, after undergoing a term of 21 days' imprisonment. Harding was cautioned and discharged.

26 January 1867 After he had been sent to the Reformatory, other members of his family were charged with widespread thefts from churches. This is reported in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 26 January 1867 p.4 col.6: THE RECENT ROBBERIES OF CHURCHES AND CHAPELS.- Our readers in North Staffordshire do not need to be reminded that during the past few months scarcely a week has elapsed in which we have not had to record the fact that one or more churches or chapels in the district had been entered during the night time and plundered of surplices, table covers, pulpit cloths, and other similar articles. We shall probably be within the limit if we say that at least twenty places of worship have been thus sacrilegiously visited, but notwithstanding, no clue to the offenders was obtained until a few days since, when, if we are rightly informed, a person in an humble station of life called on a neighbour in Bucknall road, Hanley, and found her cutting up a surplice. She at once, with commendable alacrity, gave information to the police, and inquiries set on foot by Superintendent Baker led to the apprehension of a man named Thomas Malkin, Ann Malkin his wife, William Malkin his son, and Mary Ann Malkin his daughter. Malkin and his family were living, at the time of their apprehension, in a state of utter wretchedness and destitution, in a house on "the Rocks," near the Bucknall road, and either in their house, or some house in the immediate neighbourhood, the police, on making search, discovered a large number of gowns, surplices, table covers, window blinds, and other textile fabrics, which in most cases had been cut up in order to afford facility for disposing of them. The theory of the prosecution is that Malkin's youngest child was employed to dispose of the stolen property, and when the prisoners were brought before the magistrates at Hanley, on Monday, she was tendered as a witness against them. It appeared, however, that she was ignorant, of the nature of an oath, and she was therefore sent to the Workhouse to be instructed, and the prisoners were remanded for a week. Since the apprehension of the prisoners, Superintendent Baker and Sergeant Johns have been making diligent inquiries with a view to the identification of the property which has been recovered, and they have already ascertained that it includes fabrics stolen from Keele Church; the Independent Chapel, Burslem ; the Wesleyan Chapel, Etruria ; and the New Connexion Chapel, Stoke. Malkin was some years since a member of the Wesleyan body, but was expelled for bad conduct. He afterwards fell into the hands of justice and was sentenced to four years' penal servitude. [There is a long, detailed, follow-up report in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 9 February 1867 p.8 cols.3-4]

10 September 1870 Discharged

January 1871 Heard of in prison

15 June 1871 He was in trouble again, as reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Thursday 15 June 1871 p.6 col.4: ROBBERY AT THE IVY HOUSE COLLIERY.- On Tuesday, at the Borough Court, Thomas Malkin, aged 17, who, a short time ago came out of a reformatory, was charged with breaking into the office of the Ivy House Colliery. He was caught in the office at mid-day on the 10th inst. by Mr. Pointon, the manager. He had forced open the door, and had ransacked the drawers, from which he had taken postage stamps of the value of 2s. 6d. He was committed for trial.