Saltley Reformatory

Robert Knight - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	936
Age:	12 years 1 month (birthday 11 September)
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 4 ins
Particular marks:	Anchor right forearm; 2 blue dots, a cross, and B back of right forearm; part of an anchor back of right hand
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	29 October 1889
Late residence:	20 Compton Street, Wolverhampton
Parish he belongs to:	Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	-
Offence:	Stealing money (7s 10d) from an office, and a horse and cart from Exchange Street
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	30 September 1889; J G Wright and John Marston; Wolverhampton
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2 (24 November 1888; 30 July 1889)
Length:	1) Remanded and discharged; 2) 6 strokes birch rod
For what:	1) Vagrancy; 2) stealing a pair of shoes
Father's name:	Robert Knight
Occupation:	Brickmaker
Mother's name:	Prudence Knight
Occupation:	Charwoman
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Father deserted his family 10 years ago, Mother reported good
Parents' wages:	Mother 6s or 7s weekly
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	20 Compton Street, Wolverhampton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

30 July 1889 There is a report of a previous offence in the Wolverhampton Express and Star Tuesday 30 July 1889 p.3 col.3: FOUR LITTLE BOY& Leonard Adams (12), of 78, Temple-street; Robert Howard (11), of 25, Church-lane; Robert Knight (13) of Great Compton-street and Thomas Owen (11) were charged with stealing a pair of shoes, value 1s. 8d, from Tyler's boot shop in Victoria-street, on the 20th of July. - One of the defendants knocked down the boots and they all ran away with them, and afterwards sold them to another boy for 5d. - Detective Martin said the parents of Adams lived in East-street, while the children were left to look after themselves at 75, Temple-street [house number given different from one given above]. All the boys attended the Day Industrial School. - Mr. Turton: "Which is no good to them." - Adams was sentenced to a month's imprisonment, and afterwards to five years to a reformatory. The other boys were sentenced to six stroked of the birch.

1 October 1889 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Tuesday 1 October 1889 p.6 col.8: EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDINGS BY BOYS . - Robert Knight (12) 20, Compton Street; Edwin Steer (11); Bromley Street; Richard Howard (11), Pool Street, all day Industrial School boys, were charged at the same Court with stealing a horse and trap, the property of Mr. Upton of Pendeford; and further with breaking into the office of Mr. Enoch Howard, cooper, Green Lane, Wolverhampton, and stealing 7s. 10d. and a bridle and reins. - On Friday Mr. Upton drove to Wolverhampton and engaged a boy to hold his horse. On his return the horse and trap had vanished, and according to the admission of some of the boys they broke into Mr. Howard's office, and then drove to Dudley, Cannock, and Birmingham. purchasing food with the stolen money. On Saturday night they drove the horse and cart into Mr. Howard's yard, and were given into custody. - They were now sentenced to a month's hard labour, and ordered to be confined in a reformatory for five years.

7 April 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Conjunctivitis and ulcer of cornea. Cured of ulcer by 14 May but now had conjunctivitis of other eye. Convalescent by 30 June

12 December 1893 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records: One of the inmates, Robert Knight, our chief shoemaker boy, wishes to go to Chicago. He is a Wolverhampton boy. His father has long resided in America, and his mother, who died a few months ago in the Staffs Asylum, was the person with whom he was living prior to coming here. I should be sorry to see this lad go back to Wolverhampton, and I think that if the Committee could see their way it would be a good thing to send him out. The boy afterwards withdrew this request

26 January 1894 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Knight was licensed to go out and work for Mr A Johnson 165 Devon Street, Saltley

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

John Richards - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1192
Age:	13 (born 20 March 1884)
Whence received:	Cardiff Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 10½ ins
Particular marks:	Scar left side of head
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	19 November 1898
Late residence:	7 Palmerston Road, Cadoxton, Barry, Glamorgan
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Farm work
Whether illegitimate:	Not known
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing tools
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Seems a vicious lad
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	11 November 1898; L Wood; Barry Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Cardiff
Sentence:	10 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	3
Length:	-
For what:	1) Stealing a brooch; 2) stealing apples; 3) being concerned with other youths in the killing of a sheep
Father's name:	Joseph Richards
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Brother working for Mr Thomas, Little Coalbrook Farm, Cadoxton, and living at Pont-y-pwdyn Street, Abertillery
Character of parents	Not known (Superintendent of Police says doubtful)
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	J Howard, Governor, H M Prison Cardiff

Notes:

12 November 1898 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the South Wales Daily News Saturday 12 November 1898 p.5 col.6: BURGLARIOUS YOUTHS AT BARRY. CASES BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES. At Barry Dock Police Court yesterday, before Mr Lewellen Wood and Mr John London, two cases were beard in which youths were brought before the court for theft and burglary. In the first case Wm. Harvey (11), George R. Stedfall (10), W. R. Griffiths (10), John Richards (13), and Frederick Banks (14) were charged with stealing from an outhouse a. hammer and several other tools, together with a quantity of potatoes. The lads were caught by P.C. Mendus near a brickyard at Cadoxton cooking the potatoes, and the tools were in their possession. The first three were ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod, whilst the two last-named, who had been previously convicted, were sent to prison for 10 days, at the expiration of which time they will be detained in a. reformatory for five years.

9 February 1900 There is a small newspaper clipping concerning his mother attached to the Admissions Register from the Birmingham Daily Post Friday 9 February 1900 p.8 col.2: A WOMAN CHARGED WITH BIGAMY. - Annie Richards, married of Timberdine, Worcester, was charged with committing bigamy with William Osborne, a haulier, of Cadoxton, Cardiff, on March 22. 1899. Prisoner first pleaded guilty, but afterwards expressed a desire to withdraw her plea. The Hon. R. Coventry prosecuted, and. Mr. Harrison defended. - It was stated that the accused formerly lived at Cadoxton with her husband, and having been absent four years, returned, and represented herself to be a widow. .She was employed by Osborne as his housekeeper, and afterwards he went through a form of marriage with her. Later he discovered that her husband was still alive. but they continued to live together for some time. until the prisoner left him, and returned to her first husband. - Prisoner was found guilty, with a strong recommendation to mercy, and sentence was deferred.

10 December 1901 The Medical Officer reported: Acute bursitis, better by 14 December

6 January 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Richards was licensed to go out and work for Mr Thomas, Cadoxton, Barry, Glamorgan. Later in the same year another report gave the address as Little Colebrook, Barry

5 February 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report notes that Richards left his employer without permission, and was thought to be heading for Barry

1 April 1902 The Register records Richards as now working for Mr Crosier(?), Cadoxton, Barry

1 July 1902 The Register records Richards as now working for Mr Howells, Colebrook Farm, Cadoxton, Barry

1 October 1902 The Register records Richards as now working for Mr Thomas, Little Colebrook, Barry

10 February 1903 The Log Book report records Richards as working in Caerphilly

14 April 1903 The Log Book report records Richards as working in Llanbradock, South Wales

10 June 1903 The Log Book report records Richards as working in Cowbridge, Glamorgan

6 October 1903 The Log Book report records Richards as having left his employ and believed to be heading for Cadoxton, near Barry

18 November 1903 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

12 April 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Richards, Plymouth

11 October 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Richards, Plymouth

13 December 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Richards, Devonport

No. in Admissions Register:	457
Age:	10
Whence received:	Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	None
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	26 October 1871 5 years
Late residence:	Longton
Parish he belongs to:	Longton
Customary work and mode of life:	Potting
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 6¾d
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by who and court:	26 September 1871, Longton Petty Sessions, J Green and J Hulse
Where imprisoned:	Stafford County Prison
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Dean
Occupation:	Charwoman
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest, sober, and healthy
Parents' wages:	Uncertain
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Parents address:	Clayton Street, Longton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

James Moss - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	680
Age:	13
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Sallow
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Visage:	Oval
Particular marks:	Pigeon breast
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	6 December 1881
Late residence:	64 Staniforth Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Filer
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	No education
Writes:	-
Offence:	Stealing 1s
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Associating with bad companions
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	23 November 1881; T C S Kynnersley; Birmingham Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	7 days
For what:	Stealing £1
Father's name:	Thomas Moss
Occupation:	Gun barrel welder
Mother's name:	Jane Moss
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	Boy thinks his father earns 25s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	No order made
Parents address:	64 Staniforth Street, Birmingham c/o Mr Davis
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Arthur Tinklar, Governor, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

none

William Webster - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	258
Date of admission:	27 June 1863
Whence received:	Walsall Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fair
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?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Scar on right cheek
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	11
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Marsh Lane, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Caster; of idle habits
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing his mother's wedding ring
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Father dead, is beyond his mother's control
Date of sentence:	15 June 1863
Where convicted:	Walsall, before G Stephens and J W Newman
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	-
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Maria Webster
Occupation:
Residence:	Marsh Lane, Walsall
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	J W Cater
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J W Cater
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	26 Jun 1867 - discharged at expiration of term?

Notes:

20 June 1863 There is a report of the crime in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 20 June 1863 p.4 col.1: A PRODIGAL SON.-William Webster, a lad about twelve years of age, was charged with stealing a gold ring, the property of his mother, Maria Webster. It appeared that, on Monday, the 8th inst, she missed her ring, and charged the lad - who had pledged some other articles-with stealing the ring. He denied taking it; but, subsequently, he admitted having taken it, and pledged it, at Mr. Mold's, for 3s. 6d. Mr. Mold's assistant said the ring had not been pledged by the prisoner, as it was pledged in the name of Ann Alcock, and, had it been brought by himself, it would not have been entered in a female's name. He pleaded guilty. The mother said the boy was her only son, and was a very good boy till he got into bad company, and since then he would not settle to work, and had robbed her of money and articles. He had also gone to parties and borrowed money, and she, in order to prevent him being proceeded against by other people, had repaid the money. She however, being a widow, was unable to supply him with more money. The Bench sojourned the case for eight days, for the purpose of affording time for the police to ascertain whether or not the prisoner could be got .into a reformatory.

26 June 1867 Discharged

7 January 1868 Called at the school. Is on the Ganges training ship

September 1870 Gone to sea