Charles William Waterhouse - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 672 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 2 July 1881 |
| Late residence: | 9 Rochdale Road, Manchester |
| Parish he belongs to: | St Oswalds, Manchester |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Moulding in iron works. Can do something at shoemaking. Also has carried parcels for passengers at railway station |
| Whether illegitimate: | Not known |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Well |
| Writes: | Well |
| Offence: | Stealing money |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Parental neglect and tramping across the country with no fixed abode or employment |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 30 May 1881; Joshua Brough and John Brough; Leek Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Not known |
| Length: | Several years in an indutrial school |
| For what: | Begging |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Betsey Waterhouse |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | Not known |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Treated badly. Deserted by mother |
| Character of parents | Not known, but mother's desertion is against her character |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Father dead, mother's revenue unknown |
| Parents address: | Aunt's address - Mrs Emily Dearden, 9 Filston Place, Rochdale Road, Manchester |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | |
| Person making this return: | |
Notes:
| An addional note in the Admissions Register says: The boy was charged with an elderly man with stealing from the person. Both were convicted. The money was actually stolen by the boy, as he says at the instance of the elder, on whom the money was found.. They are strangers, tramping about but had not been together many days. |
James Joseph Ingram - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
Image by permission of the Library of Birmingham. MS 244/6/2.
| No. in Admissions Register: | 924 |
| Age: | 13¾ |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | 4 ft 4¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 22 August 1889 |
| Late residence: | West Cannock Street (Mount Street), Hednesford |
| Parish he belongs to: | Hednesford |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Very imperfectly |
| Writes: | Very imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing growing peas |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Inefficient parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 22 July 1889; F C Perry and G T Hartley; Penkridge |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 5 |
| Length: | 1) 6 strokes; 2) 12 strokes; 3) fined 1s; 4) fined 3s 6d; 5) fined 1s 6d |
| For what: | 1) stealing coal; 2) stealing money; 3) wilful damage; 4) wilful damage; 5) wilful damage |
| Father's name: | Thomas Ingram |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Hannah Ingram |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Should say that they failed utterly to control him, even if they ever attempted it |
| Character of parents | Reported good |
| Parents' wages: | Father 5s to 6s [per week? Not stated]. He is deformed |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not reported |
| Parents address: | Mount Street, Hednesford |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | '– |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 25 March 1889 There is a report of the remand hearing for a previous offence in the Lichfield Mercury Friday 29 March 1889 p.8 col.4: HEDNESFORD. STEALING MONEY. - Three boys, named William Haycock, Benjamin Brookes, and Joseph Ingram [first name given thus], who reside with their parents at Hednesford, were arrested on Tuesday for stealing 3s 7d. belonging to Joseph Brooks, miner, West Cannock Street, father of Benjamin Brooks. On Monday, the boys stole the money while prosecutor was at work. They hid 1s 4d of the money, the rest being spent principally in tobacco, marbles, pies, cocoanuts, pigs pudding, &c. Proceedings were taken, and they were bailed out till Monday week, when they will appear at the Cannock sitting of the magistrates. In the same paper of 12 April 1889 p.7 col.7 Brookes was sentenced to 6 strokes from a birch rod, and Ingram and Haycock 12 strokes each | |
| 10 May 1889 There is a report of another previous offence in the Lichfield Mercury Friday 10 May 1889 p.8 col.5: DESTROYING A FENCE. - Benjamin Brookes and J. Ingram, two boys, of Hednesford, were charged on a summons with breaking a post and pulling up a fence. - Scot Enny, a boy, said he saw Brookes and Ingram pulling up the fence on a Monday evening, three weeks ago. - Defendants said the fence was loose. - William Pickering, farmer, and a tenant of the Cannock Conduit Trustees, deposed that he saw the boys on the 15th of April. They ware pulling up the fence. The Chairman said that Brookes was a very bad boy and they hardly knew how to deal with him. He would have to pay damage 1s, fine 1s, and costs 10s 3d, and Ingram would be fined the same amount. | |
| 27 July 1889 There is a report of the crime that sent him to Saltley in the Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 27 July 1889 p.5 col.4: THEFTS BY LADS. - Benjamin Brooks (11), and James Thomas lngram (12) [surname given as thus], two little boys from Hednesford, were charged with stealing a quantity of growing peas, value 6d., the property of Frederick Smart, on July 14, at Mount Street, Hednesford. Prosecutor, a joiner, deposed to missing the peas on Sunday morning, the 14th, and George Morgan, miner, of the same place, said he saw the lads cross a field and a number of gardens into the garden of the prosecutor, whose peas they proceeded to pluck. He could not get at them because there was a quick hedge between. - Mr. Perry said one of the boys had been before the magistrates three times previously, and the other twice. The parents seemed to have neglected their duty. The boys were sent to gaol for one month each, and to a reformatory for three years afterwards. The parents had probably to thank themselves for the disgrace thus brought upon them. | |
| 6 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza | |
| 11 August 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Ingram was licensed to work for Mr Bursted, The Foundry, Hednesford | |
| 21 August 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| 10 December 1895 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Ingram, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Shrewsbury | |
John Kirk - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1180 |
| Age: | 12 (born 25 January 1886) |
| Whence received: | Rotherham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Sallow |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 7 ins |
| Particular marks: | 2 recent vacc. marks |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 26 July 1898 |
| Late residence: | Greasbrough Road, Rotherham |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Stealing gold watch, silver pendant, and chain |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Police report - thorough bad lad. Irregular attendance at school, beyond control of parents. The lad was developing into a common thief and ought to be placed under strict discipline |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 4 July 1898; E Hickmoll and G Wragg; Rotherham Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | Detained in Workhouse |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) (26 August 1895) 6 strokes; 2) (14 October 1897) 6 strokes |
| For what: | 1) Stealing boots; 2) stealing boots |
| Father's name: | Robert Kirk |
| Occupation: | Plate layer at a colliery |
| Mother's name: | Ann Kirk |
| Occupation: | Nil |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not stated |
| Character of parents | Both belong to respectable working class, decent people |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 144 Greasbrough Road, Rotherham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | F Parker Rhodes, Justices' Clerk, 7 July 1898 |
| Notes: | |
| 15 October 1897 A previous offence was reported in the Sheffield Independent Friday 15 October 1897 p.7 col.2: STEALING BOOTS AT the Rotherham Borough Police Court, before the Mayor (Alderman G. Noall and Alderman T. Woodhouse, two boys. John Alfred Judge, aged 12, and John Kirk, aged 11, were charged with stealing a pair of boots, valued at 3s. 9d., the property of Mr A. S. Brittain, pawnbroker, Henry street. On October 9th the two lads and another boy named Alfred Atkinson played truant from school. When near the prosecutor's shop, Judge took a pair of boots from a peg in the doorway. He gave them to Kirk, and the three lads then ran away. They afterwards tried to pawn them at the shop of Mr. Hydes, Effingham street but suspicions being aroused the police were sent for. The youngest boy, Atkinson, was called as a witness, and each of the defendants were ordered to receive six strokes of the birch rod. | |
| 5 July 1898 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Sheffield Independent Tuesday 5 July 1898 p.8 col.3: A YOUNG THIEF AT ROTHERHAM. At the Rotherham Borough Police Court, before Ald. George Wragg and Mr. E. Hickmott, John Kirk, 13, of Greasbro' road. was charged with stealing one dozen silk handkerchiefs, a clock, and two mufflers on June 27th, and a gold watch, chain, and pendant, on June 30th, the property of James Wm. Bloom, auctioneer, at Rotherham, and Thomas William Kirk, 14, was charged with receiving the watch and pendant, knowing them to have been stolen on June 30th. - Mr Gichard defended. - The prosecutor, who is a travelling auctioneer, had a tent in Drummond street. The stolen handkerchiefs had been pawned at the shops of John Eaton and Sons, Church street, on June 27th, and William Turner, Bridgegate, on June 29th. The articles were missed by the prosecutor, and he gave information to Police-constable Cook, who apprehended the prisoners. John Kirk was sent to a reformatory for five years, and Thomas William Kirk dealt with under the First Offenders' Act. | |
| 18 November 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Kirk was licensed to go out and work for Mr Bewley, 21 Westgate, Rotherham | |
| 1 January 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Kirk was re-licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Aldwarke Colliery, Rotherham | |
| 1 April 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Kirk was re-licensed to go out and work for Mr Barraclough, Main Colliery, Rotherham | |
| 3 July 1903 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 9 February 1903 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Kirk, Pontefract | |
| 14 June 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Kirk, Pontefract | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 558 |
| Age: | 11 |
| Whence received: | Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Dark |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 4 October 1876 5 years |
| Late residence: | Longton |
| Parish he belongs to: | Longton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Potting |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Stealing pies |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Neglect of parents |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 4 September 1876, Longton Petty Sessions, R H Hawley and J H Goddard |
| Where imprisoned: | Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 6 strokes |
| For what: | Stealing jewelry |
| Father's name: | John Davenport |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Mother's name: | Hannah Davenport |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Father drunken |
| Parents' wages: | 24s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | 2s per week |
| Parents address: | Locketts Lane, Longton, Staffordshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 9 September 1876 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 9 September 1876 p.6 col.1: JUVENILE DELINQUENTS. - Four boys named William Rowbotham, John Davenport. Herbert Meigh, and Samuel Davenport, eleven and twelve years of age, were charged with stealing a quantity of tape of the value of 3s.and two pork pies of the value of 4d. Hannah Maria Wakefield, wife of John Wakefield, refreshment house keeper, Stafford-street, stated that on the afternoon of Friday she laid a tray of pork pies on her counter, and covered them over with newspaper. She went out of the shop, and thinking she heard some one there shortly afterwards, she returned and found one of the Davenports in the shop. He asked for something that he knew she did not keep. She told him to be off. as she new he was after something that did not belong to him. She discovered when he had gone that two pies were missing. The other defendants, as well as some other boys were with him. About a quarter of an hour afterwards Rowbottom entered the shop. and was about taking a sponge cake from the window. when she put in an appearance. She caught him and detained him until a police officer arrived, after which the other hoys were taken in custody. More than once she had been robbed by them. - Hannah Wild, shopkeeper, Marsh-street, stated that on Thursday some boys came into her shop. One of them was Samuel Davenport, who asked for some cakes. While she was getting the cakes two bundles of tape were taken from the counter. P.S. Harding testified that when he had arrested Rowbottom he went in search of the other boys. When he had seized the four of them he questioned Rowbottom as to who was with him when the pies were stolen. He said both the Davenports were with him, and one of them took a pie. Samuel Davenport said Meigh was one of the party and that Rowbotton took the tape. Frequent complaints had been made to the police of a gang of juvenile thieves, of whom the prisoners were the ringleaders. - Both the Davenports had previously been convicted of felony, and in addition to being imprisoned one day had been flagged. Their father, who appeared, said he thought a month's imprisonment would do his boys good, as he could not manage them. Upon being told by the clerk that if his sons were sent to a reformatory he would have to contribute towards their maintenance. Davenport said he did not wish them to be sent there. Each of the sons of the the last named were sent to a reformatory, to remain there until they attain the age of sixteen; Rowbottom and Meigh were each ordered to receive twelve strokes with a birch rod. |
| 10 October 1876 His father was soon summoned for failure to pay maintenance on his two sons, as reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel Tuesday 10 October 1876 p.4 col.1: John Davenport, collier, whose two sons were sent to a Reformatory some weeks age for having stolen some tape, was summoned to show cause why should not contribute towards their maintenance. An order of 2s was made in respect of each child. |
| 24 April 1881 Davenport writes to say that he is going on alright (see letters} [not attached to Admissions Register] |
| 29 April 1881 Writes to say that his father has set him up in a business of his own |
| 25 May 1881 Received a letter from Sol [Samuel] in which he says he is doing satisfactory. He is a good correspondent. Wrote to him to say that I received such good news with a great deal of pleasure |
| 2 June 1881 Writes from 2 Sutherland Place, Longton. Is doing well |
| 3 August 1881 Sent express |
William Henry Mills - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 366 |
| Date of admission: | 1 October 1867 |
| Whence received: | Warwick Gaol |
| By whom brought: | - |
| On what terms: | - |
| Friends interested in him: | - |
| Description: | |
| Height: | 4 ft 7 ins |
| Figure: | Slender |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Hazel |
| Perfect vision? | Yes |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Sound intellect? | Yes |
| Use of all limbs? | Yes |
| Had cow or small pox? | Cowpox |
| Particular marks: | Scar left side of forehead |
| Cutaneous disorder? | No |
| Scrofulous or consumptive? | No |
| Subject to fits? | No |
| Age last birthday: | 12 |
| Illegitimate? | - |
| Birthday: | - |
| Birth place: | - |
| Has resided: | Aston [now a suburb of Birmingham] |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Schools attended: | - |
| By whom and where employed: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Cyphers: | - |
| General ability: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing cigars |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence: | 11 September 1867 |
| Where convicted: | Aston before S L Lloyd and C Ratcliff |
| Who prosecuted: | - |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 21 days prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals and convictions: | Four |
| Father's name: | William Mills |
| Occupation: | Pump maker |
| Residence: | Cottage Place, Villa Street, Aston, Birmingham |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Mills |
| Occupation: | - |
| Residence: | - |
| Father's character: | Good |
| Mother's character: | Good |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | - |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not decided |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Relatives to communicate with: | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Estimate of character on admission: | - |
| Character on discharge: | - |
| When and how left the Reformatory: | - |
Notes:
| 23 November 1865 A previous offence was reported in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Thursday 23 November 1865 p.6 col.1: PETTY THEFT. -William Henry Mills, 12, silversmith, Cottage Place, Villa Street, was charged with stealing sixpence from a boy named Thomas Lyndon, residing in Farm Street. It seems that Lyndon's mother sent him on some errand with the sixpence to buy some articles. On the way the prisoner met the boy, and took the money from him. The prisoner's mother gave her son a very bad character. He was remanded until Wednesday next. |
| 29 January 1866 As well as the offences he committed himself, he too was a victim of crime. It is reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 29 January 1866 p.5 col.2: THEFTS FROM LADS. - About noon on Saturday, a little boy, nine years of age, named Frank Green, was stopped in Staniforth Street, by a respectable-looking young man, about twenty-two years of age, who, under the pretence of wrapping up 2s 10½d which the lad had in his hand, ran away with it. Later on the same day a sovereign was obtained by similar means from a child named William Henry Mills, whilst in Farm Street. In this case the theft was committed by a young man answering the same description as the one in the last case. |
| 22 July 1867 A few months before the offence which sent him to Saltley, another offence was reported in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Monday 23 November 1867 p.6 col.2: A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES.- Henry Bates (11), engraver, 63, Icknield Street East, was charged with stealing £3. 10s. from the safe in the warehouse of Mr. Oliver J. Pedley, Great Hampton Street; and Jos. Laws (11), enameller, Bramston Street ; Thos. Howell (14), pearl button maker, 33, Bridge Street West; William Henry Mills, 12, Cottage Place, Villa Street; John Bennett (l3),brassfounder, Hunter's Vale; and Henry Darby (13), jeweller, 45, Key Hill, were charged with receiving part of the same knowing it to have been stolen; and William Hayes (17), slater, Vine Cottages, Villa Street, was charged with garroting Joseph Laws, and stealing from his person £1. 0s. 6d., which, too, was part of the sum stolen by Bates. On Thursday last the above sum of money was missed from a safe in the prosecutor's premises, and from inquiries that were made it was found that the prisoner Bates had stolen it. After having done so he got mixed up with the other prisoners, and gave them the greater part of the money. Laws happened to get the greatest share, which disappointed Hayes to such an extent that he garrotted him and took it from him. The youngsters were delighted at being possessed of so much money, and purchased some new clothing, whilst others took a " trip" over to Wolverhampton and back, -Mr. Jaffray discharged Hayes, as the evidence against him was incomplete, remarking that probably he was the worst of the lot. Bates, he said, was evidently a bad boy, and the Bench would have to consider what should be done with him, so he would be remanded for a week. With regard to the others, there was such an enormous system of lying amongst them, that the Bench felt disposed to give them time to get back to the truth. Probably a week's prison fare would show them the necessity of telling the truth. They would be remanded for a week, and during that time they could make up a story which must be the truth, and they must stick to it. Mr. Jaffrey then remanded the accused until Saturday next. |
| 14 September 1867 There was a report of the crime that sent the boy to Saltley in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 14 September 1867 p.8 col.2: A GANG OF INCORRIGIBLE YOUNG THIEVES.-On Wednesday, at the Aston Petty Sessions, before Messrs. E. S. Evans, C. Ratcliff, and S. S. Lloyd, five boys-named Alfred Downes, James Feeney, Joseph William Laws, Andrew Holsten, and William Henry Mills-were charged with having stolen a bundle of cigars, of the value of 8s. 6d., from the shop of B. Aldu, tobacconist, Hunter's Lane. The prisoners, who are well-known young thieves, sent one of their number into prosecutor's shop, where he assisted himself to the bundle of cigars and some pipes. Adjourning to a favourite retreat, they divided the cigars amongst them according to their usual fashion, and congratulated themselves at the clever manner in which they had accomplished the theft and avoided detection. Unfortunately for them, however, another boy who saw the theft gave information, and the cigars being missed by the prosecutor, the police were communicated with, and they were apprehended. There was a second charge against Downes, Laws, and Feeney for stealing three caps from a school at the Lozells, and they pleaded guilty to this as to the other charge. All five of the prisoners were under fourteen years of age, but though so young, Downes had been three times previously in custody for robbery, Mills four times, and Laws once, and were, in appearance, hardened young ruffians, having evidently commenced their career of crime at a very tender age. With the view of reforming the three-if possible-the Magistrates sentenced Downes, Mills, and Feeney each to three weeks' imprisonment, with a whipping at the end of that period, five years' confinement in a Reformatory. Holsten and Laws, not having been convicted before, were each sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, with a whipping. |