Saltley Reformatory

Robert Howard - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	938
Age:	11½ (birthday 13 April)
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 3¼ ins
Particular marks:	Long scar left cheek; cross(?) back of right wrist; another and 4 blue dots back of left arm, base of wrist
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	29 October 1889
Late residence:	Poole 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
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad parental example
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	30 September 1889; J Wright and J Martston; Wolverhampton Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (30 July 1889)
Length:	1 day and 6 strokes
For what:	Stealing shoes from a shop
Father's name:	Samuel Howard
Occupation:	Cooper
Mother's name:	Margaret Howard
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Parents are both drunken and neglect their children
Character of parents	Drunken
Parents' wages:	30s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Poole 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) [first name given thus], 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.

17 November 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Howard was licensed to work for Mr J Cope, George Street, Tamworth

12 December 1893 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Howard, Tamworth

3 February 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Howard, Tamworth

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

William Jennings - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1194
Age:	14 (born 8 August 1884)
Whence received:	Birmingham Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	4 ft 8½ ins
Particular marks:	Mole top of left shoulder
State of health:	Good (says he has fits)
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	5 December 1898
Late residence:	Emigration Homes, St Lukes Road, Whitchurch, Shropshire
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Farm work (was sent to Emigration Homes by Police Court Missioner at Shrewsbury)
Whether illegitimate:	Yes
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Larceny of 6s from the matron of the Homes
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	26 November 1898; T S Fallows; Birmingham Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	10 days in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (Shrewsbury Petty Sessions)
Length:	-
For what:	Stealing horse hair
Father's name:	Charles Jackson
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Ann Jackson nee Jennings
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	The father of the boy is a man named Charles Dare, who regularly paid 2s 6d towards the boy's support until he was 13 years of age
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	8 Castle Hill, Whitchurch, Shropshire
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	W Winfield, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

14 May 1898 Two previous offences were reported in the Whitchurch Herald Saturday 14 May 1898 p.8 cols.2-3: LARCENY, William Jennings (13), William Buchanan (14). and Herbert William Carman (15), were charged with stealing one pound of horsehair, the property of the London and North-Western Railway Co., on 5th inst. - George Jackson, Castle Hill, stepfather of Jennings; and Mrs Carman, mother to the eldest defendant, appeared. Joseph Clive, carter, Whitchurch (in reply to the Deputy-Clerk) said the hair was on the shelf in the stables at the railway station, and on 6th May he missed it. The defendants had been hanging about the station daily. Police-Sergt. Jones deposed that on 7th May he received information from Mr Nicholson, stationmaster, and, after inquiries, arrested the defendants. It appeared from the evidence that when the three were standing at the station, Carman said "Here's the ragman, what about the hair?" and that the other two went for it, the ragman giving the three boys ½d. each. All pleaded guilty to stealing the hair, and Mrs Carman said she would try to get her son sent to a ship. George Jackson said his stepson had had fits two years back. William Buchanan and William Jennings were further charged with stealing fifteen tennis balls (value 6s. 9d.) the property of the Whitchurch Lawn Tennis Club. Job Garner, groundsman of the Tennis Club, said that on 3rd May he put 32 tennis-balls in the pavilion and locked it up. On 7th May he found that two boards had been broken away, and he missed six new tennis balls and nine old ones. The five balls produced were of the same make as those stolen. Police-Sergt. Jones said he arrested the defendants on 7th May. On Buchanan he found the four balls produced. Buchanan said : "Yes, we took them from the tennis-ground. Me and Jennings took four each." Jennings's step-father gave him one tennis-ball. Police-Supt. Edge said there had been complaints about these two lads daily. Buchanan had been previously convicted for stealing a watch and chain. All the defendants desired to be dealt with summarily. George Jackson said he could do no good with Jennings, and agreed to sending him away. The Deputy-Clerk asked Buchanan if he would go into a home, to which Buchanan replied : "I should have to go." Mr H. Cann, Lichfield Diocesan C.E.T.S. Police Court Missionary, said if the Magistrates would postpone the matter for a fortnight he would try to get Carman and Jennings into a training ship. There was a difficulty about Buchanan who had already been convicted, and was not therefore eligible. But he might try to get him into a home. Defendants were then bound over to appear on 27th inst.

25 November 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Jennings was licensed to go out and work for Mr H G Farmer, Atterton, Nuneaton

1 April 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Jennings was re-licensed to go out and work for Mr Cotterill, Ash Hall Farm, Whitchurch

4 December 1902 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

27 October 1904 A couple of years after leaving Saltley he was in trouble again, as reported in the <i>Birmingham Mail Thursday 27 October 1904 p.4 col.5: ALLEGED CYCLE THEFT AT SPARKHILL. REFORMATORY BOY'S SCARF-PIN. William Jennings, alias Jackson (21), farm labourer, Castle Hill, Whitchurch, Salop, was brought up at Acock's Green charged with stealing a bicycle, valued £5., the property of Frank Greenway Fairfield, music instrument dealer, Stratford Road, Sparkhill. - The machine was sent to be repaired at the shop of Edward H. Penzer, of 370, Stratford Road, on the 24th inst., and on the morning of the 26th Mr. Penzer, hearing a noise in his shop, discovered the door open. He then saw the prisoner wheeling the bicycle along the Stratford Road in the direction of Birmingham. Mr. Penzer went after him, and, on being asked what he was doing with the machine, prisoner replied that he had hired it, and that it had come from. Jones's," but did not say where the shop was. Sergeant Colbourne received the prisoner in custody, and at the lock-up the accused, m answer to the charge, said he should say nothing. - lnspector Howard applied for an adjournment to enable the police to make enquiries into the prisoners antecedents, aa he had admitted being an inmate of the Saltley Reformatory School three years ago, and had in his possession a gold scarf-pin. - Prisoner said he would rather the magistrates dealt with him at once. The scarf-pin, he said, had been sent to him on the 8th of August, on his birthday, by "a woman in Wales. - He was remanded in custody. [A few days later he was sentenced to six months’ hard labour in gaol, as reported in the Birmingham Mail Monday 31 October 1904 p.3 col.4]

No. in Admissions Register:	57
Date of admission:	16 September 1854
Weekly payments:	-
Age:	15
Education:	Indifferent
Previous employment:	Glass blower
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	Various, 4
Training in reformatory:	-
When left reformatory:	17 September 1856
Parentage and family:	-
Residence:	-
Trade of father:	-
With whom the boy is placed:	Mr McCorkindale [a would-be colonist], with who he is apprenticed for 3½ years and is gone with his master to Port Natal in the brig
Address:	-
Trade:	-

Notes:

11 September 1854 A brief report of his crime in Aris's Birmingham Gazette 11 September 1854, p.1, col.4 says George Devaney, aged 15, for stealing 4½d and a key, the property of Mary Ann McCarty, and 4d, the monies of John Barton, to be imprisoned fourteen days, and sent for two years to Saltley.

14 December 1855 In the Reformatory Minute book it is recorder that: Mr McCorkindale [a would-be colonist] attended the committee and explained his views with reference to the proposed emigration to Natal, and it was agreed that the following boys be allowed to go to Natal on the necessary consents being obtained, viz. Williams (aged 14) [boy 68], Manning (aged 14) [boy 28], Devaney (aged 15 next May) [boy 57], Peechey (aged 16 next July) [boy 69], Hopcraft (aged 13 next May) [boy 65], Hook (aged 14) [boy 74).

The President undertook to write to the Home Secretary for his consent to the arrangement as far as concerned the boys detained under the Youthful Offenders Act, or by conditional pardon, and Mr Morgan engaged to deliver the letter personally at the Home Office.

Mr Ellis produced the consents of the boys’ parents.

Mr McCorkindale explained to the boys in the presence of the Committee the terms of their engagement and all signified their assent.

Resolved: that proper Indentures be prepared and that £8 be paid Mr McCorkindale for outfit and passage money for each boy.

22 December 1855 In the Minute Book it is recorded that: the President laid before the Committee the consent of the Home Secretary for the emigration to Natal of the four boys detained under sentence.

14 February 1856 The Minute Book records that: all the boys … except Devaney had sailed with Mr McCorkindale in the brig Portia for Natal on November 4th instant, the necessary consents from the Government and Parents having been first obtained. They were accompanied by Alfred John Taylor [boy 83], a well-educated boy, who had been committed at the Worcester Sessions a [few?] days previously, and by James Hines, who was selected instead of Devaney. [Devaney’s mother would not allow him to leave the country]

Mr Ratcliff inspected the vessel before the boys joined, and afterwards visited them on board, where they all expressed gratitude for the kind treatment in the Institution, and for the opportunity afforded them to emigrate. They all evinced much courage and determination to do well in their future career.

Alexander Mountford - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	561
Age:	14
Whence received:	Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	27 October 1876 3 years
Late residence:	Bucknall
Parish he belongs to:	Stoke on Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Baking
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a pair of boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by who and court:	27 September 1876, Hanley Petty Sessions, B Boothroy and T Piddock
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	One
Length:	3 days and whipping
For what:	Stealing iron
Father's name:	Elijah Mountford
Occupation:	Engine tester
Mother's name:	Julia Ann Mountford
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	4s 6d per day
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not willing to pay anything – ought to pay 1s 6d per week
Parents address:	near Red Lion, Bucknall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

Brother to Samuel, boy 519

29 January 1876 On the same day, and reported in the same newspaper the boy's father and brother appeared in the same courtroom, for different offences. The two offences were in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 29 January 1876 p.6 col.1: Elijah Mountford was charged with being drunk and with assaulting P.C. Taylor at Norton. He was fined 10s. for each offence. Excise Cask… COAL PICKING. - Three boys named Alexander Mountford, David Johnson, and Thomas Barlow were charged with with stealing a quantity of coal, of the value of 3d., the property of the Chatterley Iron Company.-P. S. McRory said that, on Wednesday morning, the 12th inst., he caught the defendants picking coal, at the Mossfield Colliery, Bucknall. They had large lumps of good coal, some of them weighing 20 lbs. On previous occasions, he had caught the defendants at the same thing, and had let them go with a caution. So much coal had been taken away in this manner that it was absolutely necessary to put a stop to the practice. - Mr. Ridgway said he did not know a worse practice than for parents to bring their children up to such thievish practices.- The fathers of the children were ordered to be bound over and to pay the costs.

30 September 1876 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 30 September 1876 p.6 col.3: ROBBERY OF BOOTS BY A BOY.-Alexander Mountford, a boy, was charged with stealing pair of shoes, valued at 17s. 6d., the property of Ralph Mayer, Lamb street -Mr. Chief Constable Windle said the prisoner had given the police a great deal of trouble. They had no end writing to do about him. His mother had been the means of keeping him away. As soon as the police ascertained his whereabouts in one town and his friends knew of it, he was removed to another. Prisoner had a brother in the Industrial School, and his father was fined a short time ago for harbouring the brother. Alexander was ultimately apprehended at Nantwich.-Mr. Richardson, who appeared to prosecute, said that in May he appeared against a boy named Ward, who was then charged with stealing the boots. The boy was bound over in consequence of his statement, and ordered to appear when called upon. Mr. Richardson said he had had a conversation with the Chief Constable, and it was thought advisable, for the ends of justice, that the charge against Ward should lie withdrawn, as the case could only brought home to the prisoner through the evidence of Ward.-Richard Ward, Bucknall, deposed to the boy asking him to pawn the boots on the 3rd of May. Prisoner said he had attempted to pawn them that morning, but could not, being told that he was too young. Prisoner fetched the boots from a cabin at Botteslow. Witness attempted to pawn the boots at Mrs. Greenwood's pawnshop, Piccadilly, but an officer was sent for.-P C. Rabbit stated that he apprehended Ward at Mrs. Greenwood's shop on the 3rd May. He stated that the boots were given to him by prisoner, whom he pointed out in the street to witness.- The prisoner mother said her boy had not been right since he was bitten by a dog some years back. He, however, was not out of the house on the day of the robbery -Prisoner pleaded not guilty.-Chief-Constable Windle said that the surroundings of the lad were not of such a nature as would encourage him to become a credit to society. He thought the best thing that could be done would be to send him to a reformatory.- Prisoner was committed to Stafford gaol for a month, subsequently to be sent to a reformatory for three years.

Thomas Wilders - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	409
Age:	14
Whence received:	Stafford Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	6 August 1869 3 years
Late residence:	Burton on Trent
Parish he belongs to:	Burton on Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Tailor – apprenticed from workhouse
Whether illegitimate:	Not
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing currants
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by who and court:	6 July 1869, Burton on Trent Petty Sessions, before C de Lyon and S Tomlinson Esqs
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley [note, this differs from the 3 years written above]
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	21 days
For what:	Similar offence
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Both
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

8 July 1869 There is a report of the offence in the Burton Chronicle, Thursday 8 July 1869 p.4 col.5: AN INCORRIGIBLE THIEF.-Thomas Wilders, a youth apprenticed by the Guardians to a tailor in this town, was brought up in custody and charged with stealing half-a-pound of red currants from the garden of Mr. Thomas Tebbetts Blaxley, White Hart Hotel. The evidence went to show that on Sunday afternoon last Mr. Blaxley found prisoner against his garden eating something: he charged him with stealing currants, but the young thief denied it, whereupon Mr. Blaxley put his hands into the lad's pockets and found the currants. Prisoner declined to give his name, and he was handed over to the police. There was a previous conviction recorded against the prisoner for stealing a cake from Mr. Whittingham's shop in Station Street; and to-day the Magistrates sentenced him to one month imprisonment and three years confinement in a Reformatory.