Thomas Smith - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1103 |
| Age: | 14 (born 22 August 1881) |
| Whence received: | Stafford Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | 5 ft 5½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar right side of right eye |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 28 August 1895 |
| Late residence: | Lichfield Road, Stafford |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil |
| Whether illegitimate: | Yes - born out of wedlock, mother and father married since |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing apples |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Boy has been in care of grandmother |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 22 August 1895; B P Wright and F Greatrex; Stafford Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (30 August 1893) |
| Length: | 6 strokes |
| For what: | Stealing tobacco pouches |
| Father's name: | Thomas Emery |
| Occupation: | Tailor |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Emery |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Father of idle habits, mother good |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | - |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | C H Twyman |
| Notes: | |
| 24 August 1895 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 24 August 1895 p.7 col.6: APPLE STEALING. - Thomas Smith (14), Copes Building, and Samuel Sharples (16), Mill Bank, were charged with stealing a quantity of apples, the property of Mr. J. F. Wileman, on August 18. - Defendants both pleaded guilty. - It appeared that the boys were seen in the vicinity of Mr. Wileman's garden on August 18. Sharpies was up an apple tree and Smith was keeping watch. They went into an adjoining field to eat the fruit, and while there P.C. Tucker was sent for and they were arrested. - The magistrates fined Sharples 5s., and cautioned him to behave better in future. Unfortunately, Smith had been convicted previously. He had no parents, and the Bench considered it would be relieving his grandmother of a great burden if they sent him to a reformatory school for five years. This they decided to do. | |
| 16 February 1897 The Medical Officer reported: Ulcer on leg | |
| 26 April 1900 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the Home Secretary on account of emigrating. Left Liverpool on board the SS Parisian for Qu'Appelle, Canada. Arrived safely at Montreal | |
| 31 July 1900 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Smith, Qu'Appelle, Canada | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 455 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | Stafford Gaol |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Pale |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 5 October 1871 5 years |
| Late residence: | Wednesbury |
| Parish he belongs to: | Wednesbury |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Forge boy |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Stealing 2d |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 5 September 1871, Wednesbury Police Court, I Spooner, Stipendiary Magistrate |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 14 days |
| For what: | Stealing trousers |
| Father’s name: | Hezekiah Brant |
| Occupation: | Gas fitting maker |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Brant |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents’ treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents’ wages: | 20s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 1s per week |
| Parents address: | The Vicarage, Wednesbury |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | J T Holland, Wednesbury |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 30 August 1871 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 30 August 1871 p.3 col.6: PRECOCITY IN CRIME .- At the Police Court, yesterday, Uriah Brant, a boy of about 12 or 13 years of age, was charged with having stolen 2d. and two cakes from Ellen Sarah Tibbitts, aged 8, daughter of parents living at New Town. On Monday night, the child was sent to her father's lodge and her mother's club, and while standing at Spring Head, counting some money which had been entrusted to her, the prisoner snatched 2d. and two cakes from her, and ran off. A gentleman captured him, how- ever, and, after taking him some distance towards the station, boxed his ears, gave him. a kick, and let him go. An hour or two later, he was apprehended by Police-constable Stanton, It was stated that he had previously been before the Magistrates for breaking into an office. He was remanded for a week. |
| 12 August 1875 Licensed to work at Kildick's Colliery, Pleck, Walsall. Lives 46 Vicarage, Wednesbury |
| 5 December 1875 Still at work at Kildick's |
| 5 June 1876 Called at the school. Is now employed at Lloyd's Pit, Hill Top. |
Robert Jones [459] - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 459 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 13 November 1871 5 years |
| Late residence: | Hanley |
| Parish he belongs to: | Hanley |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Collier |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a watch |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 12 September 1871, Hanley Petty Sessions, J Stephenson and J G Walker |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 2 months prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father’s name: | Richard Jones |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents’ treatment of child: | Bad by mother – father not living with her |
| Character of parents | Father steady man, mother bad character |
| Parents’ wages: | 27s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 2s per week |
| Parents address: | 34 Albert Street, Northwood, Hanley |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | J Alexander, Hanley |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 6 April 1875 Licensed |
| 7 December 1875 Working at Bowles' foundry, Hanley - earns 14s per week. This is confirmed in a letter from the Hanley Chief Constable: Dear Sir - Robert Jones - Enquiries have been made respecting this boy, and I find that he is working at Mr Bowles' Foundry and earning 14s per week. He has been there for the last month, and previous thereto was employed at Mr Merton's(?). Yours truly, Herbert Windle, CC |
Richard Stevens - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 654 |
| Age: | 9 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Scar right side of chin |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 30 October 1880 |
| Late residence: | Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | 3rd Standard |
| Writes: | 3rd Standard |
| Offence: | Attempt to steal 6 printed cards |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 18 October 1880; T C S Kynnersley; Birmingham Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | Birmingham Prison |
| Sentence: | 14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | Stealing 9d |
| Father's name: | William Stevens |
| Occupation: | Umbrella maker |
| Mother's name: | Fanny Stevens |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 9 court 6 house Darwin Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 19 October 1880 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Tuesdat 19 October 1880 p.6 col.5: BREAKING INTO A SCHOOL. - Richard Stephens and William Watson, boys of about twelve years of age, and living in a court in Darwin Street, were charged with breaking into St. John's -National Schools, Darwin Street, Deritend, with intent to commit a felony. - The evidence showed that about three o'clock on Saturday afternoon the boys broke into the school, and completely destroyed almost everything it contained. They pulled a large number of cards from which the children were taught from the walls, and tore them into shreds; took the copy-books from the cupboards, and served them in a similar manner; destroyed the picture frames; upturned the tables, and, not being able to open its drawers, smashed them, and strewed the books over the floor. There also was a piano in the room, and to this they used a hammer, with which they broke open the fretwork, smashed the outside of the keys, and twisted the inside wires in every form. The instrument, which was worth about; £20 was completely destroyed. - In answer to the charge made to them by Police-constable Loach, who arrested them, the boys admitted the offence, and said they wrecked the things because they could not find any money. - Prisoners pleaded guilty; and Stephens, who had been previously convicted, was ordered to be sent to gaol for fourteen days, and afterwards to a reformatory school for five years; and Watson was remanded for a week, with a view of sending him to an industrial school. |
| There is a newspaper clipping attached to the Admissions Register from an unidentified newspaper: BAD COMPANIONS. - Richard Stephens (17)[surname spelled thus], 12 Mount Terrace, Moseley, and Henry Edward Baker (13), 3 Brighton Terrace, Balsall Heath, were charged with stealing a quantity of eggs from a cart in Edwardes Street, the property of Josiah Owen, egg merchant, Montgomery Street. - On the 14th. inst., the prisoners took the eggs from a cart belonging to the prosecutor, which was standing outside a shop in Edwardes Street. - Baker's father stated that his son was a good lad until he fell in with bad companions. - The magistrates ordered Baker to receive six strokes with the birch rod. Stephens, who had been previously convicted, was sent to gaol for two months with hard labour. |
Enoch Roberts - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 848 |
| Age: | 13 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Dark grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 6 ins |
| Particular marks: | Burn mark back of left hand |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Slender |
| Date of admission: | 17 May 1887 |
| Late residence: | 32 Bag Street, Burslem |
| Parish he belongs to: | Burslem |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing iron and brass |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 19 April 1887; H C Greenwood; Burslem Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 14 days hard labour |
| For what: | Stealing boots |
| Father's name: | William Roberts |
| Occupation: | Printer |
| Mother's name: | Mary Ann Roberts |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | Father at present earns little or no wages owing to slackness of trade. A large family to support |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Nothing at present |
| Parents address: | 32 Bag Street, Burslem, Stoke on Trent |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Arthur Hill, Chief Superintendent of Police, Burslem |
| Person making this return: | John Craddock, Assistant Clerk to Stipendiary Magistrate, Magistrates' Offices, Burslem |
| Notes: | |
| 11 January 1890 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Roberts was licensed to go out and work for the Dale Hall Pottery Company, Burslem | |
| 10 June 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Roberts, Burslem | |
| 9 June 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Roberts, Wigan | |
| 13 October 1891 The Log Book report notes that the conduct of Roberts whilst out on licence has been bad | |
| 16 May 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley while out on licence | |