Saltley Reformatory

Daniel Vale - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	251
Date of admission:	1 April 1863
Whence received:	Birmingham
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?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Small scars on face
Cutaneous disorder?	Yes
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	3 court Ruston Street North, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Caster
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing ½ lb of cigars
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	19 March 1863
Where convicted:	Moor Street, before T C S Kynnersley
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Stealing fruit from a garden
Father's name:	Daniel Vale
Occupation:	Caster
Residence:	3 court Ruston Street North, Birmingham
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	A proportionate order to be made
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	T C S Kynnersley
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	22 Jan 1865 - emigrated to Canada

Notes:

1 September 1860 There is a lengthy report of a case of a woman who died while making her way home in which the boy was a witness, in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 1 September 1860 p.5 col.6. headed AWFUL INSTANCE OF SUDDEN DEATH.

20 August 1862 There is a report of his previous offence in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 20 August 1862 p.2 col.5: GARDEN ROBBING. - A lad named Daniel Vale, residing in Ruston Street North, was charged with having stolen a quantity of apples from the garden of Mr. J. H. Baker, solicitor, Francis Street, Edgbaston. It appeared from the evidence of Eliza Price, a domestic servant in the employment of the prosecutor, that shortly after two o'clock on the afternoon of the previous day she saw the prisoner, and two or three other boys, in her master's garden. As 'soon as they saw her they ran away in the direction of the Hagley Road. Upon examining the trees the witness missed a quantity of apples from them. In the evening the prisoner went again to the garden, and upon leaving, with some iron which he had stolen from a summer arbour, lie was caught by a man named Thomas Bright, who had been set to watch. The prisoner was committed to the House of Correction, with hard labour, for twenty-one days.

21 March 1863 There is a report of the offence which sent him to the Reformatory in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 21 March 1863 p.6 col.6: CAPTURE OF A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES. - Five lads, named Benjamin Smith, Morville Street; Alfred Warburton, Tennant Street: William Coton, Charles Henry Street: Daniel Vale, Ruston street North : and Edward Perks, Washington Street, were charged with having stolen a quantity of cigars, from the shop of Mr. Breley, tobacconist, 29, Cherry Street. The young thieves, it seems, sneaked into the prosecutor's shop on the previous afternoon, and pocketed a number of cigars from the counter and were about to take a box from the window, when the prosecutor ran into the shop, and locked the front door. Vale had been previously convicted. He was now ordered to be imprisoned for fourteen days, and at the expiration of that term sent to the reformatory school for five years. Coton. Smith, Warburton. and Perks, were ordered to be imprisoned for three days, and to be well whipped.

19 November 1863 Sent to the Queen's Hospital with scarlet fever

10 January 1864 Attempted to abscond in the night by getting the key out of Mr Cook's pocket, with Yates [boy 183]

22 January 1865 Emigrated to Canada

January 1866 A soldier at Sharncliffe. Good [character]

Daniel Bettany - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	906
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 5½ ins
Particular marks:	None
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	7 February 1889
Late residence:	5 Albert Street, Burslem
Parish he belongs to:	Burslem
Customary work and mode of life:	Has worked as a potter for Mr Ouslam, Pack Horse Lane, Burslem
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all (Standard 1
Writes:	Not at all (Standard 1
Offence:	Stealing money (2s 6d)
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Father seems to be a drunken senseless fellow
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	8 January 1889; H C Greenwood; Burslem Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Samuel Bettany
Occupation:	Potter
Mother's name:	Martha Bettany
Occupation:	Potter
Parents dead?
Survivor married again?	Neither
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	Father 18s per week, mother 5s
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not assessed
Parents address:	13 Albert Street, Burslem
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent C Hill, Burslem
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

9 January 1889 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel Wednesday 9 January 1889 p.3 col.6: AN ARTFUL DODGER SMARTLY CAUGHT. - Daniel Bettany (15), 5, Albert-street, Burslem, was charged in custody with stealing half-a-crown, belonging to Gilbert Crossley, milk-seller, Norton Green, this morning. - Prosecutor said he was selling milk in Burslem, and prisoner offered to go round with him. He had a pony and cart. When in Amicable-street he had occasion to give change. He received half-a-crown, from which he was to give 1s. 6d. change, and placed the coin on the side-board of the cart. Prisoner whipped it up and ran off with it, whereupon he gave information to the police. - The statement as to the theft was corroborated by the woman to whom the change was being given. - Police-sergeant Oakden said the robbery was reported to him at nine o'clock this morning, and, having got a description of the offender, visited the works of Mr. Oulsnam, where found prisoner. He told him he suspected him of robbing prosecutor, and the reply was that he had not done so. Witness asked him to turn out all his money, and he produced 3½d., with the remark that that was all he had. Witness then searched him, and in his trousers pocket was a shilling; another coin of the same value being in the lining of his waistcoat. He afterwards said his father gave him the money, and when confronted by the prosecutor, exclaimed, that he did not commit the robbery. - The Stipendiary, commenting on the case, said prisoner was apparently a bad lad. He was already under sureties to appear for sentence if called upon for stealing garters in September last, and since then had been in custody for stealing money The barefaced manner in which prisoner had robbed the old man compelled him send him to a reformatory for five years, previous to commencing which term would be sent to gaol for a month. Upon hearing the decision the prisoner attempted to strike prosecutor, but was promptly stopped and removed.

31 May 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Bettany was licensed to go out and work for Henry Alcock and Co, Stoke on Trent

6 February 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

Josiah Jones - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1162
Age:	11 (born 16 April 1886)
Whence received:	Cannock
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 9¾ ins
Particular marks:	Scar left forearm outer, scar right thigh, scar low left breast
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	21 September 1897
Late residence:	Bridgtown, Cannock
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 4
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 4
Offence:	Larceny (stealing money)
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	20 September 1897; Lord Hatherton. H Wolverson, and E A Foden; Penkridge
Where imprisoned:	Cannock Police Station
Sentence:	1 day imprisonment, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (26 October 1896)
Length:	Ordered to be bound over
For what:	Stealing a pony at Cannock
Father's name:	John Jones
Occupation:	Sinker
Mother's name:	Emma Jones
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:	Walsall Road, Bridgtown, Cannock
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Ernest Alfred Orton

Notes:

31 October 1896 A previous offence was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 31 October 1896 p.8 cols.2-3: PRECOCIOUS BOYS. THEY DESERVE TO BE WELL WHIPPED. Josiah Jones (10), and William Mitchell (9), were charged with horse stealing at Cannock, on Oct 14th. - Henry Hughes said he had a cob at ley in a field in the occupation of Mr Geo Gallatley and from information received he went to the field and found it gone. It was all right at six o'clock in the morning. Later on he went again in consequence of what James Rainey told him and he found the animal there greatly bruised and scratched. - James Rainey went to Hatherton and in the Poplar Lane found the boys with the pony of which Jones had hold. It was returned to the field, and he handed the boys over to P S Gibbs. - P S Gibbs proved the apprehension of the boys, and Jones said they took the cob from the field and rode it about Hatherton. - It appeared the boys little knew the risk they were running by their conduct and Lord Hatherton asked the Officer if the boys had been punished by their parents. - The Officer said Jones was a very bad boy He had slept out the night before the affair and his parents hardly knew what to do with him. His father had whipped him. - The mothers of the lads appeared and Lord Hatherton asked where their fathers were, and it was stated that they were at work. - The boys were ordered to sit down for a time and after the cases had been disposed of they were ordered before the Bench, and a lesson was read to them by his Lordship, and they were discharged.

25 September 1897 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 25 September 1897 p.8 col.5: UNMANAGEABLE Josiah Jones. of Bridgtown, who was brought up in custody, was now charged with stealing a sovereign from a little girl named Stollard. - The facts of this case will be remembered. They are to the effect that the little girl was sent by her mother to her father at the Walk Mill Wharf for some money. He placed the coin in a purse and handed it to the little girl. As she was passing by the side of the reservoir towards Littlewood the boy took the purse from her, appropriated the money and threw away the purse. The little girl called out and as the boy was going away he was headed by some men and the money was recovered and the boy was given in custody on the following day. - Mr. J.W. Aston, who appeared for the defence, asked the Bench not to send the lad to a reformatory. The statement of the boy was to the effect that he handed the money back to the girl. The father was a very respectable and he would be glad if the Bench could see their way clear to order the boy some other punishment instead of sending him to a reformatory. No violence had been used to the girl and the father would promise to look after the boy very carefully in future. - The father was called forward and said the boy was a good lad except on some occasions when a mania appeared to come over him, which it did at the change of the moon. In reply to Mr Barrett the father added that the lad had once been charged with stealing a horse; while he had appropriated money belonging to himself which he had handed him to pay rent with,: for which he had severely punished him. He had also complained to the police about the conduct of the lad He had also been from home at night. - In reply to Mr Aston, Mr Barrett knew the father as a respectable man. - The Chairman after consulting with his colleagues said the Bench apparently had no alternative but to order the boy to be sent to a reformatory for five years.

30 October 1897 His father was in trouble as reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 30 October 1897 p.8 col.2: IN A REFORMATORY. Mr Superintendent Barratt applied for an order against John Jones, a sinker, of Bridgtown, to contribute 2/- weekly towards his son, an inmate of the Saltley Reformatory. The lad it will be remembered was sent to the Reformatory on the charge of stealing a sovereign from a little girl. He had been in trouble previously. The father had offered 1/ weekly but the Bench now made an order for 2/ weekly and 9/6 costs.

7 March 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Jones was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Shepley Mills Linoleum Co, Lancashire

19 September 1902 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	473
Age:	13
Whence received:	Walsall
Description:
Complexion:	Fair
Hair colour:	Auburn
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Upon left thigh
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	31 August 1872
Late residence:	25 Whitehouse Street, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Chain making
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	-
Offence:	Fowl stealing
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by who and court:	23 August 1872, Walsall Police Court
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	10 days prison (hard labour), 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None known
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father’s name:	Thomas Courtney
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Mary Courtney
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents’ treatment of child:	Well
Character of parents	Father drunken
Parents’ wages:	30s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s per week
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Mr Cater
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

24 August 1872 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Saturday 24 August 1872 p.7 col.5: JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. - On Thursday, at the Guildhall, Arthur Jones, aged 14; who on Monday was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, to be followed by.3 years' detention in a reformatory, for stealing pigeons, the property of Mr. B. Hodgson, was brought up on remand, charged with having, along with William Courtenay, aged 13, stolen four game fowls, the property of .Mr. Washbourne, and three tame rabbits, the property of Mr. J. Hildick, Stafford Street. They were each sentenced to a nominal term of imprisonment for each offence;. an order being. also made that Courtenay should be sent to a reformatory. There was a further charge against them of stealing rabbits, the property of Mr. Lucas, Dudley Street, but It was not gone into.

15 May 1873 Transferred to St Bernard's [another reformatory, in Leicestershire]

William Martin - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	154
Date of admission:	26 June 1859
Whence received:	Birmingham Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	Under committal
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	Good
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Cow pox-
Particular marks:	Cuts on eye and lip
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	12
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Birmingham
Parish to which he belongs:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	-
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	None
Writes:	None
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Being in a place of public resort ‘with intent to commit a felony
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	15 June 1859
Where convicted:	Moor Street
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	William Martin
Occupation:	Hawker
Residence:	4 court, Balloon Street, Walmer Lane [later became Lancaster Street], Birmingham
Mother's name:	Hannah Martin
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Not known
Character of parents:	-
Parents' wages:	Not known
Amount parents agree to pay:	2 shillings 6 pence per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	D Meandon, Borough Gaol, birmingham
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	28 May 1861 Transferred to the Wilts[hire] Reformatory

Notes:

18 June 1859 There is a report of his offence in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 18 June 1859 p.11 col.3: ATTEMPTING TO PICK POCKETS. - Three miserable-looking lads were placed in the dock on charges of attempting to pick pockets on Friday… The other prisoners were two tagged shoeless urchins, named William Martin, aged thirteen, living in Balloon Street, and Daniel Higgins, aged ten, living in Loveday Street. They were seen by Detective Edwards at the same time and place as the preceding prisoner, making subdry attempts to pick the waistcoat pockets of two or three scholars of King Edward's School, and also of other persons. While doing so, the little vagabonds, who had evidently been well-trained, actually looked smilingly into the faces of their intended victims, and Edwards at last caught the younger prisoner with his hand in a young gentleman's waistcoat pocket. The prisoners were remanded till next day, and Edwards was directed to procure the attendance of their parents.

8 January 1861 The Reformatory Minute Book reported: 750. On the recommendation of the Superintendent it was decided that an endeavour be made to transfer William Martin from this Institution to the Akbar [a training ship in Liverpool] or some other reformatory.

28 May 1861 Transferred to the Wilts Reformatory to be further from his Birmingham acquaintances

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

June 1864 Called at the school after leaving Warminster