Saltley Reformatory

Frank Harrison - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	942
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	5 ft 0 ins
Particular marks:	A large wart back of right hand
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	9 November 1889
Late residence:	47 Green Lane, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Has been employed at both brass and iron casting
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a live fowl from a stables
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Inefficient parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	28 October 1889; S Russell and J Brewer; Walsall Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Joseph Harrison
Occupation:	Watchman
Mother's name:	Matilda
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Believed to be good
Character of parents	Unknown
Parents' wages:	Unknown
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not assessed
Parents address:	Green Lane, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

2 November 1889 The crime was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 2 November 1889 p.8 col.1: FOWL STEALING.- Frank Harrison (16), Green Lane, and William Perry (l 4), Dudley Street, were charged with stealing a fowl, value 2s., the property of David Johnson, on the 27th inst. - Prosecutor deposed that he saw prisoners near his house, and was shortly afterwards told that they were in his fowl-pen. On going out he saw them going away, Harrison having a fowl with him. He followed them, and Harrison was stopped by a person on the road, and was taken to the station. Afterwards Perry was apprehended, and was identified by him as the other person who had been in the pen. - Ann Maria Green, a little girl living near prosecutor's house. deposed that she saw them go in the shed after the fowl produced. Harrison fetched the fowl out and Perry held the bag open for him to put it in. - Prisoners both pleaded guilty, and Harrison received a bad character from Detective-sergeant Cliffe. - Perry's father gave him a very good character, and said that he was a regular and good working lad. - Harrison was sent to gaol for fourteen days and to a reformatory for three years. Perry was discharged under the First Offenders Act, on his father being bound for his good behaviour for six months.

8 October 1892 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Harrison was licensed to work for Mr Enson, George Street, Walsall

8 November 1892 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley,

11 December 1894 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Harrison, Walsall

6 October 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Harrison, Walsall

William Dyson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1198
Age:	15 (born 2 April 1883)
Whence received:	-
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	5 ft 2 ins
Particular marks:	Arms - love, hearts, tree, and flags, 2 anchors; 3 shamrocks; square and dots
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes. Says that he has been in the hospital and asylum
Date of admission:	28 March 1899
Late residence:	62 Eversley Road, Small Heath, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	St Andrew's, Small Heath
Customary work and mode of life:	Too idle to work
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 9 bottle brushes
Circumstances which may have led to it:	A member of a gang of thieves (Talfourd Street Gang)
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	15 March 1899; J H Stone; Birmingham Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	7
Length:	1) fined 10s 6d or 14 days; 2) 6s or 7 days; 3) 10s 6d or 14 days; 4) 7 days; 5) 12s or 3 days; 6) 15s or 7 days; 7) 1 month
For what:	1) Stealing salmon; 2) wilful damage; 3) stealing brass taps; 4) stealing; 5) stealing; 6) stealing; 7) stealing brass tap
Father's name:	Thomas Dyson
Occupation:	Foreman labourer
Mother's name:	Caroline Dyson
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Not stated
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	62 Eversley Road, Small Heath, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	W Winfield

Notes:

3 December 1901 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Dyson was licensed to go out and work for Messers Cooper and Young, Spring Hill, Birmingham

1 January 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Dyson was re-licensed to go out and work for Brown & Marshalls, Saltley

27 March 1902 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	470
Age:	14
Whence received:	Hull
Description:
Complexion:	Fair
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Visage:	Broad
Particular marks:	Scar on nose
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	23 April 1872 5 years
Late residence:	Stanford Place, Hessle Road, Hull
Parish he belongs to:	Hessle, Hull
Customary work and mode of life:	Mash and black making
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 1s
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad companions
Date of sentence, by who and court:	27 March 1872, Hull Police Court, J H Travis
Where imprisoned:	Hull Borough Prison
Sentence:	28 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father’s name:	George Dinsdale
Occupation:	Deal carrier
Mother's name:	Sarah Dinsdale
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents’ treatment of child:	Kind
Character of parents	Good as far as known
Parents’ wages:	17s 6d per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s per week
Parents address:	Victoria Terrace, Stanford Place, Hessle Road, Hull
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

28 March 1872 There is a brief report of the offence in the Eastern Morning News Thursday 28 March 1872 p.4 col.6: G. W. Dinsdale, a youth, was charged on remand with stealing a shilling, the property of his mother, Sarah Dinsdale. He was ordered to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour for thirty days, and then to be sent to a Reformatory.

19 November 1875 Licensed

6 December 1875 There is a letter from the boy [wording and spelling as given]: Dear Sir, as you required me to right once a month I have got a situation at the North Eastern Railway Station and my employer is Mr Stroier and would you be kind enough to send me the leave paper. We have had a officer down hear tonight from the police station to know if our address was right. I hope I shall be able to stay as I like very well. Yours respectfully, G W Dinsdale, 6 Ansley Terrace, Spring Street, Hull, December 6th 1875.

8 December 1875 There is also a letter from the police in Hull: Sir, In reply to your letter of the 3rd inst I beg to inform you the lad "Dinsdale" is employed as an engine cleaner at the North Eastern Railway Station here. His foreman is named Mr Strowyer. Dinsdale's father resides at No.6 Ansley Terrace, Spring Street, in this parish. He has been recommended to let you know of any change of residence. I am sir, your obedient servant, Steven(?) Cook

Rowland Morris - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	226
Date of admission:	8 September 1861
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Light
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Dark
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?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	11
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Binns Bank, Burslem
Parish he belongs to:	Burslem
Customary work and mode of life:	Begging
Schools attended:	None
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	None
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a coat
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Sent by his parents to beg
Date of sentence:	19 August 1861
Where convicted:	Hanley, E J Ridgway and W Brownfield
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	21 days prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	Morris Morris
Occupation:	Tailor
Residence:	26 Globe Street, Dale Hall, Burslem
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Morris (stepmother)
Occupation:	-
Residence:	26 Globe Street, Dale Hall, Burslem
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest and sober. Health not good.
Parents' wages:	10s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	G Povey, Burslem
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J R Rose, Stoke
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	8 September 1865 Discharged on expiration of term

Notes:

24 August 1861 There is a brief report of his offence in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 24 August 1861 p.7 col.4: COMMITTAL TO A REFORMATORY.-Rowland Morris, a sadly neglected child, eleven years of age, pleaded guilty to a charge of stealing a coat of the value of £l, the property of Samuel Dale. He was sentenced to 21 days' imprisonment, and it was ordered that at the end of that time he be sent to a reformatory for four years.

31 August 1861 There is a report of his father being on trial for neglect of his family in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 31 August 1861 p.7 col.2: DESERTION OF A CHILD.- Maurice Morris, tailor, formerly living in Longton, was charged by Mr. Higgins, the relieving officer of Stoke parish, with leaving his child chargeable to the parish. The child had been chargeable since the 23rd February and the defendant was not met with until Monday, when he applied to Mr. Joseph Boulton, the relieving officer of Burslem, for medical relief. His antecedents being known, he was transferred Mr. Boulton to the custody the police. It was stated that the defendant had nine children, one of whom was transported, whilst efforts were being made to get a second into a reformatory; that some others were no better than town Arabs; and that the defendant was at the present time cohabiting with a woman who had had several illegitimate children by him. Mr. Rose censured the fellow's profligate and heartless conduct, and sent him to prison for twenty-one days.

8 September 1865 Discharged

January 1866 Burslem. Doing well

December 1868 Longton. Doing well

George White - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	347
Date of admission:	4 January 1867
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Perfect vision?	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	-
Particular marks:	Moles on left wrist
Cutaneous disorder?	Not
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	Not since infancy
Age last birthday:	11
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Wolverhampton
Parish he belongs to:	Wolverhampton
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 2d
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	14 December 1866
Where convicted:	Wolverhampton before I Spooner
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	21 days prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	George White
Occupation:	Cabman
Residence:	Tower Street, Wolverhampton
Mother's name:	Ellen White
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Honest but drunken
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest and sober. Health good
Parents' wages:	Said to be 12s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week. Has seven other children
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Captain Segrave, Wolverhampton
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J C Ward
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

19 December 1866 There is a report of the crime in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 19 December 1866 p.5 col.3: COMMITTAL TO A REFORMATORY.-George White 11 years of age. was charged with stealing 2d. from a till in a shop occupied by Sarah Clarke, news agent, Snow Hill. It appeared that the prisoner had only a week previous been brought before the Stipendiary Magistrate on a similar charge, but in consequence of his youth, and his promise never to steal again, was discharged with a caution. On the following Thursday, however, he was noticed by a young woman, named Priscilla Leadbeater, deliberately walk into the shop of the prosecutrix, and take something from the till behind the counter. She prevented him leaving, and called to Mrs. Clarke, who took 2d.. which he had stolen, from his boot. He was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment, and at the expiration of that time to be sent to a Reformatory for five years.