Saltley Reformatory

William Walkerdine - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	273
Date of admission:	31 March 1864
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?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Vaccinated
Particular marks:	None
Cutaneous disorder?	Not
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Burslem
Parish he belongs to:	Burslem
Customary work and mode of life:	Errand boy
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing £3 from his master
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad example of parents
Date of sentence:	10 March 1864
Where convicted:	Tunstall before J R Rose
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	21 days, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	Sampson Walkerdine
Occupation:	Bricklayer
Residence:	Burslem
Mother's name:	Ann Walkerdine
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Bad
Parents' wages:	24s a week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Thomas Povey, Burslem
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J R Rose, Stoke on Trent
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	30 Mar 1868 - discharged on expiration of term

Notes:

12 March 1864 There is a report of the crime, which involved other members of his family, in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 12 March 1864 p.7 col.4: OFFICE ROBBERT.-William Waterdine surname spelled thus], a lad of 13. was charged with stealing a purse, two sovereigns, and two half-sovereigns from the office of Mr. Ralph Wood, joiner, Waterloo-road, Burslem. The prisoner, who pleaded guilty, was occasionally employed by Mr. Wood, and must have seen him deposit the purse and money in the chest in the office. The prisoner being suspected of other thefts, and, as was clear, subjected to evil influences at home, was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment preparatory to being sent to a reformatory for four years.-Samuel Waterdine, Ann Waterdine, and Sampson Waterdine, the father, mother, and. brother of the prisoner, were next charged with aiding and abetting in the robbery. The lad was called upon to give evidence, when he stated that he bought a watch for 7s., a pistol for 2s. 6d.. spent some of the money, and the rest he gave to his mother, telling her that he had found it. The watch he afterwards gave to his father, and his mother burnt the purse. Evidence was given to show that the three prisoners had denied all knowledge of the money or watch; but the watch and 16s. were found upon the son by Police-sergeant Harding, and a sum of money upon the mother. Altogether the police succeeded in recovering £1 18s. 2d. in cash, the watch, and pistol. The prisoners denied all knowledge of the money having been stolen. Mr. Rose considered all three guilty (the mother evidently being the worst), and sentenced them to two months' imprisonment each in the house of correction. The money found and other property purchased with the stolen cash was ordered to be handed over to Mr. Wood.

30 March 1868 Discharged

24 December 1868 Called at the school and stayed three days. Evidently doing well

January 1870 ditto, ditto

November 1870 ditto, ditto

William Swindall - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	920
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	5 ft 0¼ ins
Particular marks:	Lost 3rd and 4th fingers of left hand
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	9 June 1889
Late residence:	4 Fleet Street, Burton on Trent
Parish he belongs to:	Burton on Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Has been employed on a boat for 3 years and subsequently worked at Murray's Brickyard, Burton, nearly nine months
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing a bag from a baker's shop
Circumstances which may have led to it:	His father is an old poacher, has had 9 months
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	3 May 1889; C Navison and T Turner; Burton on Trent
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	1) 14 days; 2) 1 month
For what:	1) Receiving stolen pigeons; 2) stealing a coat
Father's name:	John Swindall
Occupation:	Brick maker
Mother's name:	Ann Swindall
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?
Parents' treatment of child:	Boy says they "treated him well"
Character of parents	Police give a bad report of both
Parents' wages:	Father 15s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	There are 4 other children, 2 of whom are younger
Parents address:	4 Fleet Street, Burton on Trent
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

16 August 1888 There is a previous offence reported in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 16 August 1888 p.7 col.1: STEALING PlGEONS. - Thomas Gould and Wm. Swindall, two lads, were charged with stealing six pigeons, value 6s 6d, the property of Thomas Roberts, a labourer, of Canal Street, on the 6th inst. - Prosecutor gave evidence to the effect that on the day named be saw nine pigeons safe in a pen at the bottom of his garden. The door of the pen had been closed, but not locked. On going to the pen the next morning he found it in the same state, but on looking inside he discovered that six of the birds had gone. Two came back on the 8th, but he did not see the others until he was sent for by Police-constable Buggy, when he saw them at Swindall's house. - Police-constable Buggy deposed to going to Swindall's house on the 8th inst., and finding there the four pigeons produced. - Swindall, in answer to the charge, said: "I bought the pigeons off Tommy Gould." - Subsequently both prisoners made several contradictory statements. On being asked what they had to say both prisoners admitted they had taken the pigeons, and as they elected to be summarily dealt with a sentence of one month's imprisonment with hard labour was passed on each.

9 May 1889 There is a report of the crime in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 9 May 1889 p.7 col.2: ALLEGED ROBBERY BY BOYS. - Three boys, named William Swindall, of Fleet Street, Frederick Lowndes, of James Street, and Henry Walters, of Branstone Road were charged with stealing two sacks and a bag, of the value of 1s. 6d., the property of William Emmerson, on the 25th ult. - Police-constable Pilliner met the prisoners in the street, and suspecting the sacks they were carrying were stolen, questioned them on the matter. He arrested Lowndes, but the others ran away, although they were subsequently apprehended. - Superintendent Gilbride now informed the Bench that the prisoner Walters was wanted by the Lichfield police on a similar charge, and a desire had been expressed that he should be sent to an industrial school. - The magistrates at once discharged Walters, on the understanding that Supt. Gilbride should hand him over to the Lichfield authorities. The case against the other two prisoners was proceeded with. - William Emmerson deposed to missing the bags, which he said were worth about 1s. - William Henry Walters was then called as a witness for the prosecution, and he deposed that on the day in question he met the other two boys in the Market Place. They went to Swindall's house and fetched two bags, after which they went to Emmerson's and fetched the articles mentioned in the charge. - Previous convictions were recorded against both prisoners, and they were sentenced to one month's imprisonment and four years in a reformatory.

27 June 1889 His father was soon in trouble for not paying the 1s 6d per week required for the maintenance of his son at Saltley. There is a very brief report of this in the Burton Chronicle Thursday 27 June 1889 p.7 col.2

12 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza

5 March 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Swindall was licensed to go out and work for J T Sharpe, Russell Street, Burton on Trent

2 June 1893 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst out on licence

24 April 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Swindell [spelled Swindle in the Log Book], Nottingham

Walter Selwood - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1176
Age:	15 (born 17 January 1883)
Whence received:	Tipton
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	4 ft 9½ ins
Particular marks:	Scar palm of right hand; several scars on legs, especially right knee
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	11 June 1898
Late residence:	-
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Been used to travelling on boats on canals to Warwick, London, etc
Whether illegitimate:	Not known
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Offence:	Stealing 40 lbs of iron
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	6 June 1898; C N Barrows and W W Doughty; Tipton Police Court
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Law [Courts?]
Sentence:	7 days imprisonment, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	1
For what:	1) Stealing money from a shop (21 months ago); 2) stealing iron (15 months ago)
Father's name:	Henry Selwood
Occupation:	Boatman
Mother's name:	Mary Jane Selwood
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Both "steady"
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	42 Pikehelve Street, Golds Green, Tipton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	W Winfield, 8 June 1898

Notes:

11 June 1898 There is a report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Dudley Herald Saturday 11 June 1898 p.11 col.5: STEALING IRON. - John Heath (18). New Road, Great Bridge, and Arthur Rouse and Walter Selwood, Gold's Green, were charged with stealing 40ibs. of iron, the property of Messrs Roberts and Cooper, Great Bridge. - Henry Shorthouse gave evidence as to seeing the defendants et the work, and to finding some iron which they had hidden. - P.C. Smith said that when he arrested Rouse he said Sellwood and Heath were both with him. - Heath and Rouse were fined 10s 6d each. and Sellwood was sent to a Reformatory for three years.

11 April 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Selwood was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Russell's Tube Works, Wednesbury

10 June 1901 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	415
Age:	15 or 16
Whence received:	Birmingham Gaol
Description:
Complexion:	-
Hair colour:	-
Eyes colour:	-
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission and term:	6 September 1869 5 years
Late residence:	118 Loveday Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Filer
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a purse and 19s from person
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by who and court:	7 July 1869, Borough Sessions, the Recorder
Where imprisoned:	Borough Prison
Sentence:	2 months prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	1) 10 days, 2) 6 months
For what:	1) Stealing half pint wine(?), 2) pocket picking
Father's name:	William Dalloway
Occupation:	File cutter
Mother's name:	Ann Dalloway
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest and sober
Parents' wages:	15s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	42 Loveday Street, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	G Glossop
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

8 July 1869 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Thursday 8 July 1869 p.5 col.3: ROBBERY FROM THE PERSON IN BULL STREET.- John Dalloway (16), filer, and William Aston, were indicted for stealing at Birmingham, on the 12th June, a purse and other articles and 19s., the goods and moneys of Mrs. Sarah Baron.-Mr. Buszard prosecuted.-Prosecutrix was standing at a shop window on the 12th June, when a number of boys walked up beside her, amongst whom were the two prisoners. One of them was seen to take something from a satchel which Mrs. Baron was carrying, and on being acquainted of the fact, she discovered that she had lost her purse. The prisoners ran away, but were soon afterwards apprehended.-The jury found them guilty, and they were sentenced to two months' imprisonment each, at the expiration of which they are to be sent to a reformatory for five years.

9 April 1873 Licensed to work for Mr Adkins, Gunmaker. Lives at 42 Loveday Street

3 April 1874 Reported as ill and unsteady

13 June 1874 Heard of his being sentenced to 7 years prison service for larceny at Liverpool on 22 May last.

James Merryman - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	192
Date of admission:	23 November 1860
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?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Not apparent
Particular marks:	Burn on right leg
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Hanley
Parish to which he belongs:	Stoke upon Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Forge lad at ironworks
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a pair of boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	1 November 1860
Where convicted:	Longton
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	21 days prison, 4 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Vagrancy (14 days)
Father's name:	Michael Merryman
Occupation:	Bricklayer's labourer
Residence:	MilesBank, Hanley, Potteries
Mother's name:	Mary Merryman
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	14s a week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Ought to pay 1s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Samuel Cole, Hanley
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J R Rose, Magistrates' Clerk, Hanley
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

[Surname written as Maryman in Admissions Register]

3 November 1860 There is a report of his crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 3 November 1860 p.6 col.3: STEALING BOOTS. - Joseph Merriman [first name given thus], 14, was charged, and pleaded guilty to stealing a pair of boots, value 8s, the property of Henry France, bootmaker, Lamb Street, Hanley. The boots were missed from the prosecutor's shop on the 17th of October, and two days later they were taken to be pledged at Mr Holmes' pawnshop, Burslem, but as he could give no satisfactory account as to how he obtained them, he was given into custody. He was sentenced to be imprisoned for twenty-one days, and then to be sent to a Reformatory for three years [Admissions Register says 4 years].

14 January 1861 Absconded with Callagan [boy 190]

2 April 1861 The Reformatory Minute Book reported that: 770. Resolved: that Mr Humphreys be requested to communicate with the magistrates at Hanley respecting the boy Merryman.

16 July 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 794. On reading Minute 758 Mt Humphreys reported that Callagan had been recovered after absconding, but not Merryman.

8 October 1861 The Minute book recorded: 806. On reading Minute 794, The Superintendent reported that Merryman had been taken into custody at Longton and brought back yesterday [the Admissions Register noted that he was: brought back by the Hanley police in a miserable state of rags and ill looks]. The Committee examined the boy.

It was resolved: that the Superintendent: be instructed to take Merryman before the Magistrates at Aston for punishment for absconding...

9 October 1861 Given in charge to the police to be presented for absconding. Magistrates declared themselves unable to commit him to prison on account of the information being laid after 6 months from the time of the offence.

5 November 1861 The Minute book recorded: 818. The Superintendent reported that the Magistrates at Erdington took a technical objection to committing Merriman to prison, and that he is now at Saltley.

Resolved: that application be made for transferring him to the Akbar.[a training ship reformatory at Liverpool]

8 November 1861 Ran off from his work and was caught by farmer Handiman. Sent him to Erdington and followed there. The magistrates remanded him to the next meeting for me to get his original commitment from Stafford.

14 November 1861 Committed to Warwick Gaol for 6 months.

3 December 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 833. The Superintendent reported that Merriman ran away again and had been committed to Warwick House of Correction for six weeks for absconding.

25 December 1861 Brought back from Warwick. Was very discontented and disordered.

13 January 1862 Ill using the other lads, etc, until January 13th when he went off through the sitting room window with the connivance of the servants.