Saltley Reformatory

Henry Manby Flower - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1207
Age:	15 (born 2 September 1884)
Whence received:	Margate Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	5 ft 1¾ ins
Particular marks:	None
State of health:	Fair
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	26 August 1899
Late residence:	-
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Employed in an office but absconded with money entrusted to him and afterwards obtained employment as a page in a boarding house. His parents and friends advertised and used every endeavour to discover his whereabouts, but failed to obtain a clue. He pleaded that he was an orphan and thus was believed at Margate to be so. When ill soon after admission here, he stated that his father and mother were living at Battersea, London.
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a gold watch and chain and a half-sovereign
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	18 August 1899; G M Macfarlane and H T Pearce; Margate Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	-
For what:	Stealing 2 watches
Father's name:	Henry Flower
Occupation:	Stone mason
Mother's name:	Mary Flower
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	56 Kerseley Street, Bridge Road, Battersea, London
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	James H Clegg, Chief Constable, Margate

Notes:

26 August 1899 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Thanet Advertiser Saturday 26 August 1899 p.8 col.3: PAGE BOY'S EXTENSIVE THEFTS. - At the Borough Police Court on Friday last, Henry Manley Flower [middle name given this], a page boy, was charged (on remand) with stealing a gold watch and chain, a sovereign purse, and a half sovereign in money, value £40, the property of James Hendey Allen. Prosecutor, a commercial traveller, was staying at the Severn House Hotel, Dalby-square, and he missed the articles mentioned from his dressing table when he awoke at 5 a.m. on the 6th inst. It was afterwards found that prisoner, who had been employed in the house, had disappeared, and he was subsequently apprehended at Newhaven. A previous conviction for theft was proved against him, and he was ordered to be sent to a reformatory for three years.

29 August 1899 Two days after admission the Medical Officer reported: Pneumonia and pleurisy, much better by 6 September

11 March 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Flower was licensed to go out and work for Mr Brown, Trinity Road, Wandsworth

11 March 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Flower was licensed to go out and work for the Foreman, Plumbers Dept, P O Buildings, Battersea

17 August 1902 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

14 October 1902 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, London

10 February 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, London

14 April 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, Reading

11 August 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, Woking, Surrey

9 February 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, Woking, Surrey

12 April 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, Woking

9 August 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, Longmoor Camp, Hampshire

13 December 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Flower, Dublin

No. in Admissions Register:	402
Age:	12
Whence received:	Birmingham Gaol
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Scars and mole on body
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	14 April 1869 5 years
Late residence:	Royal Oak, Duddeston Mill Road, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Filer
Whether illegitimate:	No
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:	1 April 1869, T C S Kynnersley, Moor Street
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Borough Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	2
Length:	(1) 7 days, (2) 3 days and whipped
For what:	(1) throwing stones, (2) stealing meat
Father's name:	William Dudley
Occupation:	Locksmith
Mother's name:	Priscilla Dudley
Occupation:	Beerhouse keeper
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	30s [per week]
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	G Glossop
Person making this return:	T C S K [Kynnersley]

Notes:

2 April 1869 There is a report of the offence in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Friday 2 April 1869 p.3 col.2: STEALING CLOGS. -William Dudley (12), labourer, Duddeston Road, Joseph Hughes (14), labourer, 4 court, Tanter Street, and Edward Jordan (10), Lichfield Street, were charged with stealing two pairs of clogs, value 4s. 8d., the property of William Hancox, clog maker, Coleshill Street, and George Kingston (75), fish hawker, was charged with receiving the same, well knowing them to have been stolen. The prisoner Dudley was seen on the previous evening to break a pane of glass in prosecutor's window, and take the clogs in question. He was shortly afterwards apprehended by Police-constable Brown, to whom he made statements which led to the arrest of the other prisoners. At the station, the officer found a novel in Dudley's pocket, entitled "The Forty Thieves," and another called "Jack the Highwayman." Dudley, who received a bad character from his mother, was sentenced to 14 days' imprisonment, and at the close of that term to be sent to a reformatory for five years. The other prisoners were discharged, after having been severely reprimanded.

Thomas Mycock aka Thomas Weaver - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	394
Date of admission:	3 February 1869
Whence received:	Stafford Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Light
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?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Burn mark left arm and chest
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Ipstones, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Ipstones
Customary work and mode of life:	Collier
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a hammer
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Neglect by mother and stepfather
Date of sentence:	20 January 1869
Where convicted:	Leek Petty Sessions
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days prison (hard labour), 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	John Mycock (stepfather)
Occupation:	Sawyer
Residence:	Ipstones, near Cheadle, Staffordshire
Mother's name:	Hannah Mycock
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Drunken
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Very bad
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	4s a day when at work
Amount parents agree to pay:	Stepfather declines to pay anything – says he cannot
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	C Williams, Leek
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

23 January 1869 There is a short report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 23 January 1869 p.7 col.4: LARCENY.- Thomas Mycock. alias Weaver, was brought up on remand, charged with stealing a hammer, value 6d., the property of Ralph Redfern. of Ipstones. The case was remanded from Thursday last, for the purpose of making inquiries as to the lad's being placed in a reformatory, and a satisfactory answer had in the meantime been received. The boy pleaded guilty, and was committed to prison for fourteen days, with hard labour, and then ordered to be sent to the Saltley Reformatory School, near Birmingham, for three years.

John Beddows - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	953
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light
Eyes colour:	Blue
Height:	4 ft 8½ ins
Particular marks:	Two blue dots back of right forearm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	22 September 1890
Late residence:	14 Compton Street, Brickkiln Street, Wolverhampton
Parish he belongs to:	Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	Caster for Mr Bates, Ablow Street, Wolverhampton
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a currant cake from a shop
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control, etc
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	23 August 1890; C A Newnham and C Neil; Wolverhampton Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	3
Length:	1) 1 day, 6 strokes; 2) 3 days, 12 strokes; 3) 3 days, 12 strokes
For what:	1) Stealing cake from shop; 2) stealing eggs; 3) stealing silk handkerchief
Father's name:	Joseph Beddows
Occupation:	Labourer for Corporation
Mother's name:	Amelia Beddows
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	No attempt to control him
Character of parents	Fasther reported "suspicious". Mother nothing reported
Parents' wages:	17s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	14 Compton Street, Brickkiln Street, Wolverhampton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Major Hay, Chief constable, Wolverhampton
Person making this return:

Notes:

18 December 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Beddows was licensed to work for Mr S Jones 22 Little Brickkiln Street, Wolverhampton

17 November 1894 Discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, having first enlisted in the Worcestershire Militia, and then joining the Regulars

30 May 1900 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Beddows, soldier, India

Percy Brayne - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1208
Age:	10 years 10 months
Whence received:	Wellington Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh, deeply freckled
Hair colour:	Dark
Eyes colour:	Brown (mottled)
Height:	4 ft 2 ins
Particular marks:	Long scar top of head, birth marks left knee and front right shoulder
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	20 September 1899
Late residence:	c/o Mr Picken, Little Ireland Street, High Street, Wellington, Shropshire
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy
Whether illegitimate:	Yes
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	-
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Incorrigible - ran away from Emigration Home. Greatest difficulty to retain him in the Workhouse.Many people tried to help him, and many petty thefts traced to him
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	18 September 1899; Sir Charles Soames and H Shephard; Wellington Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (27 February 1899)
Length:	-
For what:	Stealing a lamp
Father's name:	James Picken (Guardian) and his wife Emma Picken, housewife
Occupation:	Bricklayer
Mother's name:	Emma Brayne
Occupation:	Servant, living at Bolton Lane
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Little Ireland Street, High Street, Wellington, Shropshire
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Clerk to the Justices, Wellington

Notes:

4 March 1899 A previous offence was reported in the Wellington Journal Saturday 4 March 1899 p.2 col.7: A WITNESS REPRIMANDED. - Percy Brayne, aged 11, was summoned for stealing a lamp of the value of 3s. 6d., the property of George Davies, carrier, Teague's Bridge. Prosecutor left his cart in New Street, with the lamp, and missed the latter on his return to the vehicle. - Thomas Purslow, rag and bone gatherer, Watling Street. Wellington, said he purchased the lamp from the defendant for 3d. - In answer to the chairman the witness said he did not think the lamp was worth more than 3d. when taken to him. He gave the lad the amount he asked for. On hearing that Davies had lost the lamp he told someone who knew him that he could have it back. - Mr. Shepard considered the witness was guilty of a serious act in buying the lamp from so young a boy. If there were no receivers, he said, there would be very few thieves. - Witness: I did not know the value of it, the lamp was covered with dirt, and he said he had found it in the road. - Mr. Shepard: Well, you know the value of it now, and let me tell you that If ever you come before me under similar circumstances you will be more severely dealt with than you are likely to be to-day. - Police-constable Matthews said the defendant admitted to him that he had taken the lamp from the prosecutor's cart. The lad had given him considerable trouble in other ways. - Mr. Carrans said he knew that the lad who attended the Catholic School had been excused by the Government Inspector in regard to the examinations, The father of the was bound over to bring him up for judgment when called upon. The Bench marked their disapprobation of Purslow's conduct in the matter by disallowing his fee for giving evidence.

9 September 1899 There is a report of the offence which sent him to Saltley in the Wellington Journal Saturday 9 September 1899 p.3 col.5: AN INCORRIGIBLE YOUTH - Percy Brayne, aged 11, was charged on remand with breaking into the house of Mr. Edward Lawrence, Sunfleld House, Wellington, and stealing therefrom the sum of 2s 8d. - Jessie Heyward said she had charge of the prosecutor's house while he and his wife were from home. On the 22nd ult. she went there in the evening, and found everything in proper order. The next morning however she found that the schoolroom window had been broken, and the back door open. Several other doors were also unfastened. A missionary box was smashed and its contents were gone. - Charles Kern, Regent Street, Wellington, said on the 23rd August he was near Mr. Lawrence's house, and there met defendant, who showed him some silver coins and asked If Mr. Lawrence was away from home. - Police-constable Matthews gave evidence of arresting the boy, and receiving from him an admission of his guilt. - Sergeant Cooper said that various complaints had been made about the conduct of the boy, who, a short time ago, was found in Messrs. Hilton's shop without being able to give any explanation for being there. He had pocketed a bottle and candle because there was nothing handier to take. - Prosecutor said he did not often ask for the punishment of anyone, but believed that for the good of the public and for the boy's own sake nothing better could be done than send him to a reformatory. The way In which he got into his house showed that he was no fool. He was a fair specimen of the youths who troubled his neighbourhood nearly every Sunday afternoon, whose language was so vile that his wife dare out allow the children to go on the lawn. - The Rev. T. Owen said he had known the lad ever since he had come into the parish. He was utterly incorrigible, and had run away from a school at Birmingham. - It was also mentioned that Brayne had been previously convicted for larceny. - He was remanded to the workhouse until arrangements were made for his removal to a reformatory.

15 September 1899 There is a newspaper clipping attached to the Admissions Register noted the boy's adventures from his remand until sentence was pronounced. The clipping was from the Birmingham Daily Post Friday 15 September 1899 p.5 col.3: A BOY'S SENSATIONAL ESCAPADES. The Master of Wellington Workhouse (Mr. F. W. Frost) told a remarkable story at a meeting of the Board of Guardians, yesterday, respecting the conduct of Percy Brayne (11). who was sent to the workhouse about a week ago. pending the completion of arrangements for his reception in a reformatory school, as punishment for breaking into Lunfield [misprint for Sunfield] House Boarding School. Wellington. The lad is an orphan, and lived with a labouring man at Wellington, by whom he was kindly treated. Some time ago the boy was sent to an industrial school in Birmingham, but ran away after being detained tor two days. About a month ago he ransacked a railway booking-office near Wellington, and during the absence of Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence in Ireland broke into the boarding-school referred to. When brought before the Wellington justices he was described as incorrigible. Mr. Frost said the lad could climb a wall like a cat. The morning after his admission he absconded, but was brought back the same evening, and locked in a bedroom. A little later he escaped, attired only in his shirt. He got through the window on to the ledge, climbed down a pipe. scaled a wail 6ft. 6in. high, and got into the town. He was again brought back, but escaped next day. He was brought back again, locked in one of the wards, but broke off the lock. He was about to leave the building when observed by an officer, and secured. - One Guardian suggested that the boy should be chained to an able-bodied inmate. - Eventually Mr. Frost consented to keen the lad until Monday. when he will be brought before the Wellington magistrates.
There is a short report of the sentencing session [although the sentence is not actually stated!] in the Wellington Journal Saturday 23 September 1899 p.5 col.6

8 September 1903 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the Home Secretary on account of his enlisting in the Band of the East Kent Regiment

8 December 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Brayne, Dover

14 June 1904 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Brayne, Dover