Saltley Reformatory

Walter Cox - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	934
Age:	12
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	4 ft 6½ ins
Particular marks:	Small mole top of left shoulder
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	22 October 1889
Late residence:	Paddock Lane, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing cigarettes
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	2 October 1889; W E Blyth and Samuel Russell; Walsall Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	21 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None (police report: has been before the magistrates two or three times for larceny but not convicted)
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	William Cox
Occupation:	Stone mason
Mother's name:	Annie Cox
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Not stated
Parents' treatment of child:	Nothing reported
Character of parents	Nothing reported
Parents' wages:	Police report - father is engaged with a contractor in walls but his address and earnings are unknown to anybody here
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not assessed
Parents address:	Paddock Lane, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

17 August 1889 A previous offence was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 17 August 1889 p.8 col.2: AN ALLEGED UNLAWFUL PURPOSE. - Joseph Careless, Farringdon Street, Joseph Whittick, Dudley Street, and Walter Cox, Paddock Lane, were charged with being found in the hay loft at the Windmill Tavern on the previous night. - Prisoners pleaded guilty, and evidence was given that frequently persons had slept there, and that many things had been missed. These boys had not been caught before, and it could not be said that they had ever taken anything. - Adjourned for a month, on their promise of good behaviour in future.

24 August 1889 Another previous offence was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 24 August 1889 p.5 col.6: CHARGE OF STEALING A SHILLING. - Two lads named Ernest Husted, Regent Street, and Walter Cox, Paddock [Lane], were charged with stealing a shilling, the money of Mary Drury, Bloxwich Road. - John Drury deposed that on Thursday he was sent on an errand for some meat, and on his return he dropped the shilling, which was picked up by one of the prisoners. - Police-constable Smith deposed that he was on duty in Cannon Street, when he was told by the lad that he had lost the shilling, and gave prisoners into custody. When he charged them with the offence, they denied it, but the shilling was found upon them. - Remanded for a week. The following week, the same paper p.8 col.1 reported that Husted was deemed the perpetrator, reprimanded and discharged. The case against cox was dismissed.

5 October 1889 The crime was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 5 October 1889 p.5 col.3: MORE JUVENILE OFFENDERS. - Walter Cox (13), Paddock Lane and Ernest Westley (19), Eldon Street, were charged with breaking and entering the shop of Isaiah Hyde and stealing 5s. worth of cigarettes, on the 29th September. - Louisa Hyde deposed that her husband had a tobacconist shop in Queen Street. On Saturday night the window was all right, but on Sunday, when she got up, she found that a pane had been taken out and the window was upset. A box of and some loose cigarettes were missing, as well as some pipes and matches. The things were worth about 5s. - Walter Nockton, Pleck Road,, deposed that he saw the prisoners at half-past seven on Sunday morning, in Queen Street. They were smoking, and Cox told him that he had punched a window and that Westley had taken some cigarettes and hidden them. - Detective-officer Pritchard deposed that he apprehended prisoners. Westley said that Cox had a hook and got the putty from the window, so that he could pull it out, and that they then took the cigarettes. Westley further said that bigger boys took the cigarettes from them at the Tips, where they stayed all night. - In reply to the Bench, the Chief Constable said that Cox had been previously charged, and was utterly uncontrolled. The other boy had not been charged before. - Westley was discharged under the First Offenders' Act, on his father entering into a bond that he should be of good behaviour for six months. Cox was sent to gaol for 21 days, and ordered to go to a reformatory for five years.

7 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza

28 August 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Cox was licensed to work for Mr Kent, Olton, near Birmingham

21 October 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

9 February 1897 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cox, Leicester. (Nearly completed learning the trade of a mason. Doing well)

William Powles - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1190
Age:	15 (born 11 October 1883)
Whence received:	Birmingham Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	4 ft 9 ins
Particular marks:	See Form of Particulars [provides the information used in the Admissions Register - not available]
State of health:	Fair - mother says he is consumptive. Prison doctor says not.
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	17 November 1898
Late residence:	40 court 4 house Hospital Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Brass worker
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Upon premises with intent to steal
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company (has had a brother in Leeds Reformatory
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	4 November 1898; J M Colmore; Birmingham Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	1) fined; 2) fined
For what:	1) Stealing caps; 2) stealing cigarettes
Father's name:	Henry Powles
Occupation:	Toolmaker
Mother's name:	Lucy Powles
Occupation:	Saddle stitcher
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Father suffers from rheumatism
Parents' wages:	Father about 19s weekly, mother about 13s
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	40 court 4 house Hospital Street, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	W Winfield, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

1 August 1900 The Medical Officer reported: Psoriasis, doing well by 3 August

20 September 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Powles was licensed to go out and work for Mr Chelston, Gooch Street, Birmingham

16 November 1901 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	169
Date of admission:	23 April 1860
Whence received:	Birmingham Borough Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark 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?	Yes
Particular marks:	Moles and scars on body
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	9 court 6 house Fordrough Street, Birmingham
Parish to which he belongs:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Seal maker
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing one pound of bacon
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	10 April 1860
Where convicted:	Moor Street
Where imprisoned:	Borough Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Larceny; firing a pistol in the street
Father's name:	William Dawes
Occupation:	Bellhanger and locksmith
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Mary Dawes
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Seems a poor harmless man
Mother's character:	She was with the boy when he stole the bacon and appeared to be 'covering him' with her basket
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	On an average, 17s per week
Amount parents agree tp pay:	1s per week. Father has bad health and 8 children, one blind and another a cripple
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	T C S Kymmersley, Esq.,
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:

Notes:

11 April 1860 There is a report of his crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 11 April 1860 p.2 col.6: THE CHARGE OF STEALING A PIECE OF BACON. - A lad previously convicted. named Henry Dawes, living in Fordrough Street, was brought up on remand from the previous day, charged with stealing a piece of bacon, value 1s., the property of Mr Walford, bacon curer, Dale End. It seems the prosecutor has a stall in the Market Hall for the sale of bacon, &c. On Ssturday evening the shopman saw the prisoner take a piece of bacon weighing about a pound from the stall, and walk off with it. The man followed, and caught him with the stolen article in his possession. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, and at the expiraton of that term to be sent to a Reformatory School for five years. Mr Kynnersley ordered that the parents might he summoned to contribute towards the maintenance of the prisoner.

18 April 1863 Let out on leave to work for Mr William Braddock, smith, Sherborne Road, Sherlock Street, Birmingham

5 October 1863 Note from Cooper Bros and Cox, Islington Foundry, 11-14 Ryland Street North, Birmingham: Henry Dawes has been in our employ some months. Has behaved well.

8 October 1863 Called at the school. Not in good health but earning an honest living.

August 1866 Doing well

October 1867 Doing well

January 1868 In the 32nd Light Infantry

Patrick Moran - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	176
Date of admission:	9 July 1860
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	-
Hair colour:	-
Eyes colour:	-
Perfect vision?	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Sound intellect?	-
Use of all limbs?	-
Had cow or small pox?	-
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	-
Scrofulous or consumptive?	-
Subject to fits?	-
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Littles Lane, Wolverhampton
Parish to which he belongs:	Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	In a nail factory
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:
State of education:
Reads:	Nil
Writes:	Nil
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a jacket from a shop door
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Out of work and bad company
Date of sentence:	18 April 1860
Where convicted:	Wolverhampton
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	21 days prison, 4 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	stealing a loaf (1 day in prison)
Father's name:	Anthony Moran
Occupation:	Collier
Residence:	10 court Littles Lane, Wolverhampton
Mother's name:	Winifred Moran
Occupation:	Sells penny papers
Residence:	10 court Littles Lane, Wolverhampton
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Father's health very bad, can't use his left arm and has done no work for 2 years
Parents wages:	Father nothing; mother 4s or 5s a week at times – receive 4 loaves from the parish and have 5 other children, eldest 7 years old
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	John Owen, Snow Hill, Wolverhampton
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

20 June 1860 There is a very brief report of the crime in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser, Wednesday 20 June 1860, p.4, col.6: ROBBERY FROM A SHOP DOOR..- Martin M'Evoy [boy 175, surname spelled thus], Patrick Moran [boy 176], and Thomas Tunny [boy 177], three well-known young thieves, were convicted at the Borough Police Court, on Monday last, of stealing a coat from the shop door of William Henry Laxton, clothier, Darlington-street, and sentenced to twenty-one days' imprisonment each, to be afterwards sent for four years to a reformatory.

6 August 1860 Absconded after breakfast this morning. Supposed to have gone to Wolverhampton races.

16 October 1860 Apprehended at Wolverhampton and fetched back on 18 Oct.

17 October 1860 A brief account of his capture is in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 17 October 1860 p.4 col.6: RUNAWAYS FROM SALTLEY REFORMATORY. - Yesterday, at the Borough Police Office, two boys, named Joseph Evans [boy 134] and Patrick Moran, were charged with having absconded from the Reformatory School at Saltley. They had been apprehended in this town by Police Officer Marlow, and it appeared that Evans had been committed from West Bromwich and Moran from Wolverhampton. They were remanded until tomorrow (Thursday), in order that the authorities at the Reformatory might be communicated with.

3 August 1861 Attempted to abscond but was caught by the guardian in the lanes.

10 March 1862 Absconded with 5 others.

13 March 1862 Brought back from Willenhall.

15 June 1862 Absconded during the night with 211 [Henry Lawless] and 234 [George Billingham]

1 September 1862 Brought back from Wolverhampton

3 September 1862 There is a report of his being before the court after he was caught in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 3 September 1862 p.4 col.4: ABSCONDING FROM SALTLEY REFORMATORY.-At the Borough Police Court, Monday last, before the Mayor G. L. Underbill, Esq. and B. Hicklin, Esq.. Patrick Moran, a youth who had been committed from this town to .Saltley Reformatory, was charged with having absconded from that institution, Inspector Thomas said this was the third time he had absconded. It appears that when the prisoner saw Mr. Thomas coming to apprehend him made a bold attempt to escape, getting on to the house-top, running along the roof, and dropping at last a distance of ten feet into the yard of a Mr. Harriman. Here he very narrowly escaped injury. A bulldog was at large in the yard, and we are informed that Mr. Harriman states that if he had not been present when Moran descended into his yard the dog would very probably have torn the lad in pieces. The Bench made an order for the prisoner to be returned to the Reformatory.

17 February 1864 Licensed to work for Mr Ramsey, tailor, Stafford Street, Wolverhampton

January 1865 Not reconvicted but not in regular work

January 1866 Working at nail factory. Doing well.

January 1867 Working at nail factory. Doing well.

October 1867 Working at nail factory. Doing well.

27 December 1867 Working at a galvanizing works, Springfield, Wolverhampton. Good [character].

6 January 1868 Working at a galvanizing works, Springfield, Wolverhampton. Good.

William Webb - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	358
Date of admission:	12 July 1867
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light 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?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	Not
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	Not
Age last birthday:	11
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Longton
Parish he belongs to:	Longton
Customary work and mode of life:	Potting
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	His own vicious propensities
Date of sentence:	12 June 1867
Where convicted:	Longton Petty Sessions
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	1 month prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	Dead
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Mary Webb
Occupation:	No occupation
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest, sober, and good health
Parents' wages:	Pay from parish and some of her children
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	G Garnham Longton
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

15 June 1867 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 15 June 1867 p.7 col.4: A PAINFUL CASE -William Webb, a lad of 13, was charged by his mother, Mary Ann Webb. with stealing a pair of boots. The poor mother, a decent-looking woman, is a widow with seven children, and is in the receipt of parochial relief. She stated that the prisoner was idle, and was in the habit of robbing her of all that he could lay hands upon, including the children's scanty clothing. There appearing to be no chance of reforming the young rascal at home. Mr. Davis committed him to prison for a month, with a view of sending him to a reformatory for four years.

20 September 1868 Absconded

[No date] Brought back

24 August 1869 Absconded again

14 October 1869 Brought back