Saltley Reformatory

William Cheetham aka Goodman - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	973
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	5 ft 0 ins
Particular marks:	Opacity of both eyes
State of health:	Yes
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	6 October 1891
Late residence:	16 Lower High Street, Wednesbury
Parish he belongs to:	Wednesbury
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Very imperfectly (defective eyesight)
Writes:	Very imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing pears from a fruiterer's shop
Circumstances which may have led to it:	The boy is evidentally criminally disposed
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	23 September 1891; N C A Neville; Wolverhampton Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	14 days hard labour in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	3
Length:	1) 9 strokes; 2) fined 15s including costs; 3) 10 days in prison and 5 years reformatory (refused, on account of eyesight)
For what:	1) Stealing 2s 6d from a till; 4 charges of felony; obtaining money by false pretences
Father's name:	James Cheatham (step-father)
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Elizabeth Cheatham
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Failed utterly to control him, even if they attempted it
Character of parents	Reported good
Parents' wages:	Not known
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not assessed
Parents address:	16 Lower High Street, Wednesbury
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):
Person making this return:

Notes:

8 December 1891 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report notes that: A new boy (W Cheatham) absconded on the 27th of October but was recaptured in Saltley within a few hours of his going

24 January 1894 The Medical Officer reported: Ticks [?] and rheumatism

5 July 1894 Discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary, on account of emigrating to Canada, along with Hicklin [boy 978]. They left Liverpool for Melbourne, Quebec, on this date

9 October 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Cheatham, Wednesbury

Isaac Rotchell - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1229
Age:	12 (born 3 December 1887)
Whence received:	Cannock Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Mottled brown
Height:	4 ft 5 ins
Particular marks:	Boil mark back of neck, 2 vacc. marks left arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	22 May 1900
Late residence:	Cecil Street, Chadsmoor, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy. Police report - this boy has been 3 times convicted of larceny and on each occasion has taken other lads with him to commit offences
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Offence:	Being found on premises for an unlawful purpose
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	21 May 1900; W Olverson and T D Bamsted; Cannock Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	Detained at Saltley until 16 years of age
Previous committals:
Number:	3
Length:	1) (21 June 1897) fined; 2) (28 March 1898) birched; 3) (28 March 1898) birched
For what:	1) Stealing chickens; 2) larceny; 3) stealing pens
Father's name:	Edmund Rotchell
Occupation:	Miner
Mother's name:	Sarah Rotchell
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:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Inspector of Police, Cannock
Person making this return:	E A Orton

Notes:

26 June 1897 A previous offence was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 26 June 1897 p.9 col.2: BAD BOYS. George Betton, Isaac Rotchell, Harry Dawkins, and George Brookes, small boys, of Chadsmoor, were charged with stealing chickens the property of Eliza Simbrook of Shoal Hill. The chickens were valued at 2/- The chickens were small ones and the owner fed them and shortly afterwards missed them. Officers Dean and Johnson went after the boys and their mischievous conduct is best given in the words of Rotchell who said when charged he and Brooke went into the field and drove the chickens out on the common. Dawkins was watching that nobody came out of the house; Betton was on the Common close by. I picked up three chickens and put them in a brown paper bag. I afterwards gave Dawkins and Brooks one apiece and kept one myself. When we got where Betton was Dawkins put his chick on the Common, I picked it up and gave it to Betton. Me and Brooks pulled his in bits and threw it in a bush on the Common. I turned mine out against Caddicks at Chadsmoor, and it went into a garden. The other boys admitted that this was true. One of the lads had had a good thrashing from his parents, it appeared, the three other were fined 10/- each, including costs, and Betton was ordered to receive six strokes administered by the strong arm of P.S. Burgess. If they all had had 12 strokes it would have done them good.

19 May 1900 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Cannock Chase Courier Saturday 19 May 1900 p.8 col.4: A "BROTH OF A BOY" AT CHADSMOOR. Isaac Rotchell and Harry Tudor, both about 12 years of age, were charged with being on premises for an unlawful purpose on the 9th inst. - The boys were in Chadsmoor National school and George Bird of Cannock Road, at 7 p.m., heard a noise in the school which was then supposed to be vacant, so far as boys were concerned, and he called to his assistance George Edgington and they had a run around the place and found one of the defendants who had bolted, had vaulted over a low wall. A cupboard had been forced open. The boys were handed over to the cleaner George Chilton. - Officer Johnson found that some one had entered the school by the window as there was fresh dust on the window cill. He noticed that the cupboard had been forced open. He apprehended the accused and charged the boys. The lad Rotchell said it was Tudor, and Tudor said it was Rotchell who got through the window and it appeared that one got in the school first and unlocked the door and allowed his comrade to enter. They said they had been playing marbles in the school. - Inspector Burgees said the boy Rotchell had been three times convicted of larceny and it appeared that he had led a fresh boy into trouble every time. It appeared the boy was taken to the Workhouse for safety and he broke out from there and had to be re-arrested - in fact Rotchell appeared to be a "broth of a boy." - Mr Wolverson spoke seriously to the boy's relative who intimated that he did not stay out late at night. - Mrs Tudor said her lad had been misled by the other boy and his father had severely punished him and that being so the Bench said if she paid the costs Tudor would be discharged. In the case of Rotchell he was remanded for a week at Cannock when probably a different atmosphere than Chadsoor will be found for him, if circumstances are favourable. If that be so it will probably be a relief, if only it acts as a preventative with regard to other boys.

10 October 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Rotchell was licensed to go out and work for the Mr Brough, West Cannock Colliery

19 September 1903 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Rotchell was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, West Cannock Colliery

30 December 1903 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	602
Age:	13
Whence received:	Stafford Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Hazel
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission:	15 April 1878
Late residence:	Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Tube factory
Whether illegitimate:
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing tobacco
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	15 March 1878; W H Rodgers and J Loveridge; Bilston Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Stafford Prison
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	6 days
For what:	Stealing brushes
Father's name:	James Fallon
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest, sober, good health
Parents' wages:	20s per week. 7 children, 2 only work
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s per week
Parents address:	Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Hugh McCrea, Chief Superintendent of Police, Bilston, Staffordshire
Person making this return:	John william Hall, Justices Clerk, Bilston, 5 April 1878

Notes:

12 January 1878 There is a short report of his previous offence in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 12 January 1878 p.3 col.3: JUVENILE OFFENDER. -William Fallon (12), of Bull's Head Yard, was charged with stealing two shoe brushes. value 2s., the property of Clement Westbury, Upper Ruahall Street, on the 4th of January.-The prisoner, who pleaded guilty, went into prosecutor's shop, took the two brushes, and went away with them.-To be imprisoned for six days

25 May 1881 Placed in the cell and received two meals of bread and water for impertinence to Mr Day...

1 June 1881 Confirmed this day at Aston Church by the Bishop of Worcester

23 July 1881 Placed in the cell for one night and had bread and water for breakfast the next morning for impertinence to Mr Taylor

2 November 1881 Licensed to work for Mr Grice 3 court Blue House West, Walsall

28 November 1881 Fallon writes this day and informs me that he is earning from 6s to 8s per week. His address is 31 Ditch Street, Wallsall, Staffs

15 December 1882 Fallon writes to say that he has left Mr Grice and is employed by Messers Russell Brothers, Bradford Tube Works, Walsall

Henry Parker - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	203
Date of admission:	26 January 1861
Whence received:	Walsall Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Vaccinated
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	In George Hotel Yard, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Vagrant
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing an iron weight
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Parental neglect
Date of sentence:	14 January 1861
Where convicted:	Walsall Police Court
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	Walsall Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions	three (larceny and vagrancy)
Father's name:	James Parker
Occupation:	Waiter
Residence:	George Hotel Yard, Walsall
Mother's name:	Ann Parker
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	Drunken
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Neglected
Character of parents	Indifferent
Parents' wages:	13s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s a week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	J W Cater, Police Officer, Walsall
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	J W Cater, Police Officer, Walsall
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

Brother to James Parker boy [187]

8 December 1860 There is a short report of a previous offence in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 8 December 1860 p.4 col.2: ANOTHER OF THE PARKERS. - Mr William Miller charged a small boy named Henry Parker with wilfully breaking his window and stealing therefrom a pork pie. The boy pleaded guilty, and was ordered to be imprisoned for seven days in the borough's gaol. This lad is brother to Parker who was sent for three years to a reformatory some time ago.

19 January 1861 There is a report of his offence in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 19 January 1861 p.4 cols.3-4: WHAT'S TO BE DONE WITH THE CHILDREN? - Henry Parker, John Green, Henry Carpenter, and James Baker, were each charged with stealing a weight, the property of Mr. Clerk. Prisoners were all boys, the oldest not being, apparently, more than fifteen years of age, whilst the youngest might pass for nine or ten. Mr. Clerk was sworn, and deposed to being told by police constable Ward, on Saturday last that he had lost a weight. He could swear to the weight produced. It was a half a pound weight. Within the last month he had lost several weights. Ward, deposed that on Saturday evening, about six o'clock, he was on. duty in Goodall Street, when he received information that the prisoners had stolen a weight. He took them into custody, and on the way to the police station one of them gave him the weight, and all of them acknowledged participating in the theft. He then informed Mr Clerk of the robbery. Mr. Cater stated that Carpenter and Parker, especially the latter, were known to the police. He also spoke to the great annoyance and loss which the depredations of such lads as those in the dock, caused to the shopkeepers. Parker's brother was now in Saltley Reformatory. The parents of Green, Carpenter, and Baker wished their children sent to a reformatory, but were unable to pay for them. The Bench dismissed Baker, and the others were remanded until Thursday to give time for enquiries to be made with a view to their admission into a reformatory.

In the same newspaper, same page col.4, there is a follow-up: WHAT IS DONE WITH THE CHILDREN.- Henry Parker, John Green, and Henry Carpenter, remanded from Monday last, were again brought up, and formally sentenced to fourteen days imprisonment, after which Parker and Carpenter to be sent to the Saltley Reformatory for three years, and Green for the same period to the school frigate, lying off Liverpool [the Akbar training ship]; the parents of each to pay 1s. per week towards the maintenance of the children.

15 December 1862 Allowed to go home a fortnight, not being well

23 June 1863 Doctor certified him to be in constitutional bad health and advised his return to his friends. He was let out on licence to work for his father

4 October 1863 Received a good report from Mr Cater

December 1866 Still doing well

January 1868 On merchant service

Albert Orton - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	717
Age:	12 years 11 months
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Light grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	20 March 1883
Late residence:	High Street, Coventry Road, Coleshill, Warwickshire
Parish he belongs to:	Coleshill
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 21s from an uncle
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not being used to parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	28 February 1883; R F T Croxall; Coleshill Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	21 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	Birched
For what:	Stealing a chicken
Father's name:	Reuben Shepherd (step-father)
Occupation:	Navvy
Mother's name:	Ellen Shepherd
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Yes, to Shepherd
Parents' treatment of child:	Cruelly - boy says his mother has frequently thrown knives at him
Character of parents	Doubtful
Parents' wages:	Step-father earns 20s per week, mother nil
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	High Street, Coventry Road, Coleshill, Warwickshire
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

3 March 1883 There is a report of the crime in the Coleshill Chronicle Saturday 3 Narch p.5 col.5: A JUVENILE THIEF. - Albert Orton, aged 13 years, was charged with stealing twenty- one shillings, at Coleshill, on 26th Jan. - Joe Orton said he lived at Coleshill, and lodged at defendant's mother's, and was the boy's uncle. On Friday morning, 26th Jan., he put the money on the table downstairs before going to his work to pay for his lodgings and board, 21s. in silver. He heard nothing more of it until his sister asked about it. He saw the boy had a watch, and in reply to questions, he said he bought it off Mr. Henry Leeson. He asked him where he got the money from, and he made no answer. He (witness) did so, because the money was missed. - Helen Shepherd, wife of Reuben Shepherd, and the boy's mother, said she asked her brother about the money on the 30th Jan., as she wanted it. From information received, and having her suspicions, she took prisoner to the police station on 31st Jan., and gave him in charge. The boy kept saying he knew nothing about the money. - Henry Leeson, watchmaker, Coleshill, said on the 27th Jan. the boy came and bought the watch produced, and he gave him a chain. lie appeared to have about twenty shillings in silver in his hand. He paid for the watch and took it.- Sergt. Walker said on the 31st Jan., defendant was given in custody by his mother, charged with stealing twenty-one shillings. He took it dawn in writing, read it over to him, and cautioned him. He said "I took the money, bought a watch at Leeson's with part of it, and spent the other in sweets and stuff." There was no money on him. - The boy elected to have the casa dealt with here, and pleading guilty, was committed for 21 days, with such labour as he is able to undergo, and three years in a Reformatory. - The case had been adjourned from 7th Feb., with that view.

14 April 1883 About a month later, the step-father was summoned for failing to pay towards the maintenance of the boy in Saltley. The is reported in the Coleshill Chronicle of Saturday 14 April 1883 p.5 col.2: ORDER ON A STEP-FATHER. - Sup'. Yardley applied for an order upon Reuben Shepherd, of Coleshill, labourer, to contribute towards the support of his step-son, Albert Orton, aged 13, now placed In the Saltley Reformatory, as recently reported in these columns. On Shepherd speaking of it as a hardship on him, the Chairman said he might have been spared it, had he brought up the boy properly. Shepherd replied that he was not allowed to have the child, as he wished to do when he married his mother, or he would not be where he is now. The boy had only lived with him since residing in Coleshill, and then he was kept away the greater part of the time by his mother's relations and others. - Sergt. Walker said he saw the pay clerk at the Shusteke Reservoir Works on Tuesday, and he told him, Shepherd was earning 3s. 9d. per day. He had four children living at home, besides his step-son now in the Reformatory, the superintendent of which had intimated that a contribution of one shilling per week would satisfy the authorities in the present instance. The boy would be kept at that institution until the 19th of March, 1886, i.e. until he is sixteen of age. An order of 1s. per week was made upon Shepherd until that time ; or imprisonment would follow neglect.

28 February 1885 Two years later, the step-father was again summoned, as reported in the Coleshill Chronicle Saturday 28 February 1885 p.5 col.5: FATHER AND STEPSON. Reuben Shepherd, of Coleshill, labourer, was summoned by Joseph Yardley, Superintendent of Police, Acock's Green, for £1 13s., arrears in an order to pay 1s. per week towards the maintenance of his stepchild, Albert Orton, in the Saltley Reformatory, up to 14th Feb. inst. - Defendant did not appear; and Sergt. Walker having deposed that he served the summons on defendant's wife on the 18th Feb., Ellen Shepherd came forward and said she was the mother of the boy. She acknowledged receiving the summons, but stated that, owing to her husband being unable to get employment near home, he had gone away, seeking for work. He got on a job at Nuneaton, but she had not seen or heard from him since he left Coleshill, and did not know his address. The Bench ordered the case to be adjourned for fourteen days, and told Mrs. Shepherd her husband must attend himself on that day (11th March), or a warrant would issue, and he would be taken into custody. [At the follow-up hearing on 14th March it was learned that the arrears had been paid by voluntary contributions, through a Miss Watson, and the case was dropped]

10 March 1886 Licensed to work for Mr Johnson, Bordesley Green, Birmingham

19 March 1886 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley while on licence