Saltley Reformatory

Dick Turner - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions register:	117
Date of admission:	17 October 1857
Whence received:	Stafford County Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	Committed
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Red
Eyes colour:	Light grey
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	No
Particular marks:	Cut on the left thumb
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	Not during the last 3 years
Age last birthday:	11
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	West Bromwich
Has resided:	West Bromwich
Parish to which he belongs:	West Bromwich
Customary work and mode of life:	Various
Schools attended:	Sunday School
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	A little
Writes:	Nil
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing 35s from his mother
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	3 October 1857
Where convicted:	West Bromwich Petty Sessions before T Bagnall
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Where imprisoned:	-
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	-
Occupation	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Jane Turner
Occupation:	Small shopkeeper
Residence:	Walsall Street, West Bromwich
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	Lives with a jobbing bricklayer
Parents dead?	Father dead
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents:	Honest and upright
Parents' wages:	-
Weekly amount parents will pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	John B Hibbert, Chief of Police, West Bromwich
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory	16 Oct 1860 - discharged into the care of his mother on expiration of term

Notes:

7 October 1857 There is a short report of his offence in the Birmingham Journal Wednesday 7 October 1857 p.3 col.4: THE CHARGE OF ROBBING A MOTHER. - This matter has been fully mentioned in the Journal, and on Saturday last the culprit, Turner, a little red-haired urchin, was sent to Stafford for a fortnight, and after that will be sent for three years to the Saltley Reformatory. Although but eleven years of age this is the second time he has robbed his parent; in the present case taking 35s from her box, he gave away a guinea to other boys, and this has been restored to Mrs Turner, a widow with five children. [This item is repeated on p.11 col.6 of the same edition of the paper]

1 March 1858 Sharp lad. Name on Good Conduct List

16 October 1860 returned to his mother

October 1861 heard from a neighbour that he was going on fairly

November 1862 doubtful but not convicted

1 January 1864 Improving

Richard Porter - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	900
Age:	12
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 6 ins
Particular marks:	Blue spot left arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	15 January 1889
Late residence:	13 Pinfold Street, Darlaston
Parish he belongs to:	Darlaston
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing chestnuts
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	2 January 1889; N C A Neville; Wolverhampton Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Richard Porter
Occupation:	Miner
Mother's name:	Sarah Porter
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	13 Pinfold Street, Darlaston
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent J T Holland, Police, Wednesbury
Person making this return:	N C A Neville, Stipendiary Magistrate, Wolverhampton

Notes:

2 January 1889 There is a report of the crime in the Wolverhampton Express and Star Wednesbury 2 January 1889 p.3 col.6: THEFT. Richard Porter (13), and James Ash (12), both of Darlaston, were charged with stealing a quantity of chestnuts, value 2d., the property of John Lowe, of Wednesbury, on the 1st. inst. - The charge having been proved, it was stated that the parents of Porter had been summoned more than once for not sending him to school. - The Stipendiary said that parents often made their children thieves by not sending them to school. Addressing Porter, the Stipendiary him that he had had every chance except that his parents had not done their duty towards him There was only one thing that could be done with him, and that was that he should be seat to sent to prison for 14 days without hard labour, and afterwards. be sent to a reformatory for five years. The charge against Ash was held for two months.

6 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza

26 May 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Porter was licensed to go out and work for Mr Richard Lees, Catherines Cross, Darlaston

1 March 1893 Whilst still out on licence Porter committed a crime, reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 1 March 1893 p.7 col.6: WEDNESBURY. IMPUDENT TILL ROBBERY. - At the Police Court, yesterday - before Messrs. R. Williams and G. S. Guy - James Ash (16), Moxley, and Richard Porter (17), Catherine's Cross, were charged with stealing 20s. from .the shop of George Henry Jones, pawnbroker, Holyhead Road, Wednesbury. On Wednesday, the 15th ult., the youths went into the shop . and asked for change for a shilling. The assistant told them that she could not give the change and turned away, : but hearing a noise in the shop she went back and saw Ash watching, and Porter lying full length on the counter with his hand in the till, which had been drawn out. She shouted, and the boys ran away, but they were traced and apprehended by Police-constable McNairnie. - They pleaded . guilty, Ash stating that- Porter gave him only 3s. of the money. Five previous convictions were on record against Ash, and Porter was said to be under sentence of detention at a reformatory, but to be out on license. - The accused were sentenced to three months' imprisonment each, with hard labour.

27 May 1893 After completing his sentence, Porter was re-admitted to the School

14 January 1894 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley

William Thomas Barton - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1156
Age:	12 (born 20 November 1884)
Whence received:	Dudley Borough
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Sandy
Eyes colour:	Light grey
Height:	4 ft 5½ ins
Particular marks:	Scar under left ear
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	11 June 1897
Late residence:	-
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Whether illegitimate:	Yes
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Offence:	Larceny
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	11 June 1897; F W Cook and J Williscroft; Dudley
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	6 strokes with birch
For what:	Stealing boots
Father's name:	William Barton
Occupation:	Shoemaker
Mother's name:	Susannah Barton
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Both good
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	1 Red Hills, Dudley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Alfred W Barradale

Notes:

24 November 1900 The Medical Officer reported: Rheumatism. By 4 December had severe pain in joints, improved somewhat by turn of year, but on 23 January 1901 was sent away

12 February 1901 The Reformatory Committee Log book reports thus: One boy (W Barton) ill in bed at the time of the last Committee meeting [December 1901], suffering muscular rheumatism, made very slow progress towards recovery, and upon Doctor Brown's recommendation he was removed in a cab to the home of an aunt living in Dudley. I sent our Farm Bailiff to Dudley to see him and he reports very little improvement.

9 April 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Barton was licensed to go out and work for Mr Slater, King Street, Dudley. The Log Book confirmed that he had recovered sufficiently to be able to do so

10 June 1902 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	220
Date of admission:	28 May 1861
Whence received:	Wiltshire Reformatory School
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Sallow
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Quite
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	-
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	15
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Wroughton near Swindon
Parish he belongs to:	Wroughton
Customary work and mode of life:	Farm labour
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Very fairly
Writes:	Moderately
Cyphers: [Numbers]
General ability:	-
Offence:	Setting fire to farm buildings
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Mischievous disposition
Date of sentence:	10 March 1861
Where convicted:	Devizes
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	Salisbury
Sentence:	1 month prison, 5 years at Warminster Reformatory School
Previous committals and convictions:	-
Father's name:	John Coster
Occupation:	Labourer
Residence:	Wroughton, Swindon
Mother's name:	Kate Coster
Occupation:	Labourer
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Nothing known against them
Mother's character:	Nothing known against them
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	10s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	Rev Arthur Fane, Boyton House, Heytesbury, Wiltshire
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	16 Dec 1861 - Enlisted in Royal Artillery

Notes:

3 March 1859 There is a report of the crime which sent him to the Wiltshire Reformatory in the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette Thursday 3 March 1859 p.3 col.5: Extraordinary Case of Arson.-William Coster, alias William Spaish, a lad 16 years of age, was charged with having caused the numerous fires which have lately taken place at Wroughton. Mr. Browne appeared for the prosecution. Mrs. Ann Bedford deposed that she was widow, and occupied a mill and some land at Wroughton, and that the prisoner was in her employ on the 31st January last. About 8 o'clock at night, a stable which was in her occupation was set on fire; it was set on fire inside, and it must have been by some person from her yard, there being no entrance to the stable except from the yard. At the same time, a straw rick was set on fire; it was 50 yards from the stable, and there was a thatched cow-house between the places. The rick was entirely consumed. The fires were extinguished about 10 o'clock. Her men had then left to get some refreshment; and about 12 o'clock a skilling attached to a cart-house was discovered to be on fire; that fire was put out in a few minutes. She remained up till two o'clock, when, thinking all was safe, she told the men to leave; and immediately after they went out, she saw a potato-house at the back of her dwelling, on fire. The prisoner was with the other men all night, and left tbe house when they did. On Tuesday the first February, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the same skilling and cart-house as were on fire over night, were again fired. The next day a skilling near the road was set on fire about 7 o'clock in the evening. No other fire took place until the 12th February, when a skilling near the road was on fire about o'clock. On the 14th February, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the wagon house and shed in a field near her premises were fired, and wholly consumed; and the next day, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the cart-house adjoining the mill was fired; and between 6 and 7 o'clock some premises belonging to Mr. Spackman, and to which her goods had been removed, were set on fire, and a very extensive conflagration ensued. On the 14th February it appeared that the prisoner took a horse of Mrs. Bedford's and went to Swindon for the fire-engine, as soon as the fire broke out; and afterwards, when in company with a boy, he pulled some matches out of his jacket pocket and broke them up, and threw them into a hedge (where they were afterwards found), saying as he did so, if the police did search him, and found the matches on him, they would say as he did it. Numerous witnesses were examined to prove the prisoner's connection with the fires, and the prisoner admitted that he had caused all the fires, except setting fire to the straw rick. He was committed for trial at the next assizes. [The same newspaper has a report on his trial at the Assizes, with a few additional details. See the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette Thursday 17 March 1859 p.4 cols.4-5]

20 February 1861 There is a report of a crime committed while he was in the Wiltshire Reformatory School in the Frome Times Wednesday 20 February 1861 p.4 cols.4-5: ALARMING FIRE. - On Saturday night last , about half-past nine o'clock a fire broke out a Wilts Reformatory School. The fire originated in two very large straw ricks, which, being close to a wooden building, and a brisk wind blowing at the time, the latter building in which 12 of the boys were sleeping, soon became ignited; and but for the exertions of a number of persons who had arrived, and who at once set about removing the wooden buildings, the conflagration must have inevitably extended to the house and school. The boys confined in the Reformatory worked with a will, and were successful in saving their bedding and furniture. The origin of the fire was no doubt the act of an incendiary. William Coster, who was an inmate of the Reformatory, having been committed for arson at Wroughton, was apprehended by Superintendent Abbott, who, with his men, were soon on the spot, and there appears to be little doubt of Coster's guilt, and it is known he was the cause of great destruction by arson before his detection at Wroughton. [Although brought up at the Wiltshire Assizes, he was acquitted. There is a detailed report of that trial in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal Saturday 30 March 1861 p.6 col.4]

4 June 1861 The Minute Book stated: 785. On reading Minute 750 it was reported that Martin [boy 154] had been sent to the Wiltshire Reformatory in exchange for Coster.[boy 220]

16 July 1861 The Minute Book reported: 800. Resolved: that Booth [boy 140] and Coster [boy 220] be allowed to enlist.

8 October 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 809. On reading Minute 800 it was reported that Booth and Coster are below the standard for enlisting.

16 December 1861 Enlisted in the Royal Artillery

George Marshall - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	605
Age:	14
Whence received:	-
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	Oval
Particular marks:	Scar on throat
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	15 April 1878
Late residence:	Key Hill, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Rope making
Whether illegitimate:
State of education:
Reads:	No
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 2 shirts
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not stated
Date of sentence, by who and court:	26 March 1878; T Kynnersley; Birmingham
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Prison
Sentence:	21 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	30 January 1878 2 days and whipped; 2 February 1878 21 days
For what:	Stealing sweetmeats; stealing a pair of boots
Father's name:	Edmund Marshall
Occupation:	Iron bedstead maker
Mother's name:	Emma Marshall
Occupation:	Charwoman
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Out of work
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Key Hill, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	D Meadon, H M Prison, Birmingham
When and how left reformatory:	30 Apr 1882 Discharged after serving 4 of his 5 year sentence

Notes:

27 March 1878 There is a report of the boy's crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 27 March 1878 p.6 col.4: DISHONEST BOYS.- George Marshall (13), ropemaker, Key Hill; James W. Swan (13), jeweller, Great Hampton Street; and Samuel Booth (14), Lee Street, Lodge Road, were charged with stealing two shirts from a clothes-line in Icknield Street East. - Marshall was stated to have been a very bad lad, and he was sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment and five years in a reformatory; and the other two lads were discharged with a caution, their parents promising to look better after them in future.

1 June 1881 Confirmed this day at Aston Church by the Bishop of Worcester

19 April 1882 Left for Liverpool. Will embark on 20th (tomorrow) for Quebec, in company with Brown [boy 632] and Stout [boy 569]

30 April 1882 Discharged