Saltley Reformatory

Alfred Neale - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1109
Age:	12 (born January 1883)
Whence received:	Bilston Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	4 ft 3¾ ins
Particular marks:	2 ink dots on left forearm, mole on back
State of health:	Fair ['Good' crossed out]
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	15 November 1895
Late residence:	290 Bilston Road, Wolverhampton
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy (ordered to attend the Wolverhampton Day Industrial School)
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a watch and chain, value £6
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	8 November 1895; F A Homer and S B Cole; Bilston Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	not
Sentence:	5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (10 July 1895)
Length:	1 day in cell and 6 strokes
For what:	Stealing a lady's watch
Father's name:	William Mullaney (step-father)
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	Sarah Ann Mullaney
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Step-father good, mother not good to children
Character of parents	Not stated
Parents' wages:	Not stated
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	290 Bilston Road, Wolverhampton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Stephen B Cole

Notes:

24 July 1900 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Neale was licensed to go out and work for Messers Jones, Bayliss, and Bayliss, Wolverhampton

14 November 1900 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

8 December 1903 The Reformatory Committee Log book report records receipt of a letter from Neale, South Africa

12 April 1904 The Log book report records receipt of a letter from Neale, Agra

No. in Admissions Register:	516
Age:	14
Whence received:	Birmingham Borough Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Scar on forehead
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	29 July 1874 5 years
Late residence:	34 court 3 house Lower Tower Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Filing pearl buttons
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 10 lbs of iron
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence, by who and court:	9 July 1874, Moor Street Police Court, T C S Kynnersley
Where imprisoned:	Borough Prison, Birmingham
Sentence:	21 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	One
Length:	7 days
For what:	Sleeping out
Father's name:	James Brookes
Occupation:	Pearl button bottomer
Mother's name:	Harriet Brookes
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Kind
Character of parents	Father drunken; mother steady and industrious
Parents' wages:	Father 26s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not stated
Parents address:	34 court 3 house Lower Tower Street, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

12 January 1881 Heard of doing well. Working for Mr Harper, High Street, West Bromwich. Father lives 87 Hatchett Street, Birmingham

John Kemp - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	354
Date of admission:	20 June 1867
Whence received:	Birmingham
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fair
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?	-
Particular marks:	Scar on belly and left thigh
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	Not
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	34 Hatchett Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	File grinder
Schools attended:	St Stephen's
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a watch
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	31 May 1867
Where convicted:	Moor Street
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	21 days prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Stealing a table cloth (14 days); stealing a chemise (3 days and whipping)
Father's name:	Dead
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Mary Ann Kemp
Occupation:	-
Residence:	34 Hatchett Street, Birmingham
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

1 June 1867 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 1 June 1867 p.2 col.4: STEALING A WATCH. John Kemp (14), living at Hatchett Street, file grinder, was charged with stealing a watch, the property of Thomas Brittain, 205, Summer Lane, shopkeeper. The watch was stolen from off a mantel on the prosecutor's premises. The prisoner was not detected in the act, but he was seen with other boys near to the house shortly before the robbery, and he afterwards offered the watch in pledge at the shop of Mr. Isaac Soloman. Prisoner, in reply to questions put to him by Mr. Soloman, said the watch belonged to his father. He was requested to fetch his father, and he presently returned with a woman, whom he said was his mother; but in the meantime the prosecutor had fortunately called at the shop to give information of the robbery, and he then identified the watch. The prisoner now said that the watch was given him to pawn by another boy. The police stated that the accused had been three times convicted of felony. The Stipendiary passed a sentence of 21 days' imprisonment, and five years' confinement in a reformatory.

John William Cooper - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	854
Age:	12
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Dark
Eyes colour:	Dark hazel
Height:	4 ft 10¾ ins
Particular marks:	Left arm been broken
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	3 August 1887
Late residence:	10 Blackhorse Lane, Hanley
Parish he belongs to:	Hanley
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing pigeons
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	4 July 1887; John Warner and Thomas Bickley; Hanley Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	Nil
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Richard Cooper
Occupation:	Potter
Mother's name:	Margaret Cooper
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Father fair, mother a drunken
Parents' wages:	25s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s 6d per week
Parents address:	10 Black Horse Lane, Hanley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	H Windle, Chief Constable, Hanley
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

5 July 1887 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 5 July 1887 p.7 col.4: AN UNCOMFORTABLE HOME. - At the Borough Police Court. yesterday, John William Cooper (12) was charged with having stolen two pigeons, value 1s., the property of two lads named George Clewlow and John Neville. - The prisoner, who resides with his parents in Black Horse Lane, pleaded guilty to the charges, and appealed to the magistrates to send him to a reformatory for five years, stating that he was ill-used by his brother, and his home was altogether so uncomfortable that he had no pleasure except in getting away from it. - Mr. C. Heath, officer of the Charity Organisation Society, informed the Court that the prisoner was totally neglected by his parents; in fact, be could not attend a Sunday school because of his ragged condition. - The magistrates said it would be better for the lad if he was removed from the influences of such a home as he seemed to possess, and they accordingly sent him to prison for a month, to be afterwards detained in a reformatory for four years. - The prisoner thanked their worships for having acceded to his request to be removed from the control of his parents.

15 December 1887 The Medical Officer reported: Feverish sore throat, to stay indoors. Better the next day

13 December 1889 The Medical Officer reported: Abscess in ear. Improving by 16 December

6 February 1890 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza

4 June 1890 Absconded from the School with Cutts [boy 903], Wilkes [boy 868], and Buxton [boy 887]. Noted in the Reformatory Committee Log Book report of 10 June 1890 as still at large.

Later in the same report it states that Cooper was supposed to be one of four boys who was scheduled to emigrate to Canada, but his parents had refused permission. The report surmises that: ...it is probable that the parents' refusal to consent was the cause of his becoming unsettled

2 August 1891 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley

James Morris - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1110
Age:	14 (born 2 June 1881)
Whence received:	Penkridge Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	5 ft 2½ ins
Particular marks:	Scar on left wrist; scar above left knee; 5 vacc. marks left arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	19 November 1895
Late residence:	Mill Street, Penkridge
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	For several years past this boy has been a pest to society. He is one of a gang who is always in trouble (police report)
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Larceny
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Father dead, mother has no control over boy
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	18 November 1895; Lord Hatherton; Penkridge Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Not
Sentence:	Detained at Saltley for 3 years 7 months [until 18 years of age]
Previous committals:
Number:	(29 February 1892)
Length:	6 strokes
For what:	Setting fire to a shed
Father's name:	James Morris
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Sarah Morris
Occupation:	Charwoman
Parents dead?	Father (6 years)
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Very poor
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not stated
Parents address:	Mill Street, Penkridge
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	John Simkin, Assistant Clerk to Justices

Notes:

5 March 1892 A previous offence was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 5 March 1892 p.8 col.6: A MISCHIEVOUS URCHIN AT PENRKRIDGE. HE DOES DAMAGE 'TO THE TUNE' OF £20. James Morris (10) of Penkridge, was charged with stealing milk from a cow, and also with setting fire to a barn, by which damage to the extent of £20 was done. - Ernest Wetherall, aged eleven, went with the defendant to Mr Dukes field for the purpose of sliding, but they entered a barn and there found a horse and some cows, one of which the defendant milked. He afterwards struck a match for the purpose of lighting a cigar which they had, .and threw it down so that it caught the straw. They tried to extinguish it but they could not do so, and they therefore ran away. - Officer Bennett, on the 20th of February visited the lad at the luggage shed, and he then said he purchased a box of matches and some cigars at the cigar shop. When they lighted the cigars in the barn the fire ignited the straw and they could not extinguish it. - A witness stated that while running by he observed the boys milking the cows in their hand and drinking the milk. - The Chairman, addressing the mother who was present, and who carried a baby : Did you know your lad smoked cigars? The mother replied in the negative. She had already punished the lad. - Ordered to receive six strokes of the birch rod.


23 November 1895 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 23 November 1895 p.8 col.1: WICKED BOYS AT PENKRIDGE. Frederick Thurstance and James Morris, who both stated that they were 14 years old, only Thurstance was much smaller, were charged with stealing some bread and cheese, the property of Patrick Murphy from a hut at Wolgarston on October 30th. - According to the evidence of Patrick he and two other Irishmen occupied a hut at the farm in question, and here they placed their food. He left the hut and hid the key where his mates would be able to find it and went to work, but when he returned his cheese value 8d and some bread value 2d the property of Michael McGhie had disappeared. - A small boy named Bernard Lowe was with the defendants, and he stated that he did got go inside the hut but he saw the other defendants go in and take the bread and cheese, while one of them felt In the pocket of a jacket and took out a pipe and tobacco which he appropriated. They then went along the road and sat on a heap of stones and eat the bread and cheese. Witness resided with his mother, Mrs Winzer. - The other defendants whimpered and one of them said this witness joined them in eating the bread and cheese. It was he also who first pointed out the key to them. - Lord Hatherton reminded this witness that he was in company with the lads and he ought to have left them. - The Bench ordered Thurstance to receive ten stokes of the birch, and Morris to be sent to Saltley Reformatory for three years and a half. - At the close of the court Mrs Winzer complained that she had been threatened by Mrs Morris the lads mother, but this appeared to be rather a storm in a tea cup and after some remarks from his Lordship stating that witnesses would be protected, the parties left the Court.

3 March 1899 Discharged from Saltley by Order of the home Secretary, on account of enlisting in the Grenadier Guards

13 August 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Field force, South Africa [the Boer War was underway at this time]

9 December 1902 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Aldershot

14 April 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Aldershot

8 December 1903 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Morris, Aldershot