Saltley Reformatory

Alfred James Foster - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	975
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Black
Eyes colour:	Dark brown
Height:	4 ft 10 ins
Particular marks:	Nil
State of health:	Good, but thin and pale
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	13 November 1891
Late residence:	Lyndhurst Street, Burslem
Parish he belongs to:	Stoke on Trent
Customary work and mode of life:	Potter
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 2
Offence:	Stealing money
Circumstances which may have led to it:	The police state that the boy is beyond the parents' control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	17 October 1891; F Hughes and James Maddock; Burslem Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	Fined 2s 6d
For what:	Throwing stones
Father's name:	Josiah Foster
Occupation:	Potter
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	Reported by police as of good character
Parents' wages:	Average 22s 6d per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Lyndhurst Street, Burslem
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

12 December 1891 The Medical Officer reported: Punctured wound of foot, better by 22 December

30 October 1894 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Foster was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Dale Hall Colliery, Burslem

5 November 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

9 October 1900 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Foster, South Africa [the Boer War was taking place at this time]

7 June 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Foster, Field Force, South Africa

Henry Arthur Gregory - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1231
Age:	15 (born 30 March 1885)
Whence received:	Nottingham, County Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Blue mottled
Height:	4 ft 9½ ins
Particular marks:	Hair far back on forehead; big toe joint on left foot large; small long scar inside of right calf
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	30 May 1900
Late residence:	3 Canal Street, Ilkeston, Derbyshire
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Colliery work. A bad lad and ringleader of a gang of thieves
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Maliciously throwing stones at a passenger train on the Midland Railway with intent to injure and endanger the safety of passengers therein
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	30 May 1900; A Heyman and E W Penfold
Where imprisoned:	Not
Sentence:	Detained at Saltley until the age of 19 years
Previous committals:
Number:	6
Length:	1) Birched; 2) birched; 3) birched; 4) fined; 5) fined; 6) fined
For what:	1) Larceny; 2) larceny; 3) larceny; 4) larceny; 5) wilful damage; 6) larceny
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Susan Gregory
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither (so far as known)
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Not good
Character of parents	Father deserted family and went to America. Mother's character not good - drunken
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Mother lives at Canal Street, Ilkeston
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent of Police, Nottinghamshire
Person making this return:	Superintendent W Harrop

Notes:

21 July 1899 A previous offence was briefly reported in the Sheffield Independent Friday 21 July 1899 p.6 col.6: Henry Arthur Gregory, aged 14, was charged with stealing two live pigeons, worth 2s., belonging; lo Mrs. Butt, of Mill House, Mill street, Ilkeston, on Sunday. There were two previous convictions for theft against the defendant, and both times he had been birched. He was now fined 10s. and 12s. 6d. costs, or 14 days.

24 May 1900 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Nottingham Journal Thursday 24 May 1900 p.8 cols.4-5: Well-deserved Punishment. - Though the parents of two boys wept and wailed in the corridors of the court when the lads were respectively ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod. and to be remanded to the workhouse with the view, probably, of sending him to a reformatory, punishment was never better merited. - The charge was that three Ilkeston boys - Samuel Henby, 13, Henry Arthur Gregory, 15, and Allen Sisson, 13 - had been amusing themselves by pelting stones at the windows of passing passenger trains at Cossall. Numerous complaints had been received, and the Midland Railway detailed some of their detectives to inquire into the matter. One of the stones thrown by the lads broke the window of a carriage, and narrowly missed the head of a passenger. The case against Henby, whose previous character was good, was withdrawn, and he gave evidence against the other two. Both Gregory and Sisson had bad records, and Sisson was ordered to receive six strokes with the birch rod, whilst Gregory was remanded to the workhouse for a week, to be seen what shall be done with him. It would be as well while Sisson's back is still smarting, and while Gregory is still an inmate of the workhouse, to give them newspaper reports to read of the hundreds of cases in which engine drivers and passengers have been blinded for life or dangerously wounded by missiles flung in a cruel spirit of mischief at passing trains.

19 November 1902 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Gregory was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Kilburn Pit, Ilkeston

29 March 1904 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

9 August 1904 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Gregory, Ilkeston, Derbyshire

No. in Admissions Register:	93
Date of admission:	24 May 1856
Weekly payments:	-
Age:	13
Education:	Reads and writes
Previous employment:	Tin plate worker
Crimes, how often and in what prison:	Three – 2, 3, and 5 years?
Training in reformatory:	31 March 1857 [absconded with 81 (Thomas Earp) and.84 (Thomas Harris)]
When left reformatory:	Labourer
Parentage and family:	Father dead, step-father and mother living
Residence:	58 Church Street, formerly 34 Lower Suffolk? Street, Birmingham
Trade of father:	Hawker
With whom the boy is placed:	-
Address:	-
Trade:	-

Notes:

19 April 1856 There is a very brief report in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 19 April 1856 p.11 col.6: James Farrell, filer, for stealing a shawl, the property of Joseph Shillitoe, six weeks [in prison] and two years at Saltley Reformatory

21 March 1857 A piece in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 21 March 1857 gave details of a crime committed after Farrell had absconded from the Reformatory: STEALING A COAT AT HANDSWORTH. - THOMAS EARP [boy 81], 16, closer, THOMAS HARRIS [boy 84], 15, tailor, and JAMES FARRELL, 15, tailor, were indicted for stealing on the 3rd of March, 1857, at the parish of Handsworth, one coat, the property of John Jones. Mr. Holroyd conducted the prosecution; the prisoners were undefended. Earp was found guilty ; the other prisoners were acquitted. One of the witnesses, Mr. Ellis, master of the Saltley Reformatory School, said that the prisoners had been inmates of the school, and that on Sunday, the 1st of March, they absconded. Mr. Ellis also said that since he had been master of the school he had issued 250 tickets of leave of seven days each, and that not three per cent, of that number had been abused. Two previous convictions were proved against Earp, and sentence deferred. At the close of the case hit Lordship asked Mr. Ellis whether he could take back Harris and Farrell to the reformatory school. Mr. Ellis replied that he should be happy to do so, but the regulations of the establishment would not admit of it, and that Mr. Adderley bad expressed his conviction that boys who had absconded ought not to be taken back. His Lordship said it would be a great pity to send the boys out upon the world again, upon which Mr. Hill expressed the pleasure it would give him to communicate with Mr. Adderley upon the subject, and his Lordship accepted the offer of Mr. Hill, after learning from the lads that they were willing to back to the reformatory school and remain in the gaol until Saturday.

25 March 1857 An item in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 25 March 1857 p.7 col.3 gave a slightly different account of the verdict on the coat stealing: THOMAS EARP, a youth who had been twice previously convicted, and had absconded from the Saltley Reformatory School, inducing two smaller boys to accompany him, and had now been convicted of felony for the third time, was sentenced to three months with hard labour. As to the two boys whom he had induced to accompany him, the learned Judge said he should make intercession to get them re-admitted into the establishment, and if that could not be done they must be given up to their parents.

James Parker - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	187
Date of admission:	24 October 1860
Whence received:	Walsall Gaol
By whom brought:	Police officer
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	Stout
Complexion:	Light
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
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:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	George Hotel Yard
Parish to which he belongs:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	Vagrant
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Larceny
Circumstances which may have led to it:	The parents not exercising proper control over the boy
Date of sentence:	11 October 1860
Where convicted:	Walsall
Where imprisoned:	Walsall Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison, 3 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Four
Father's name:	James Parker
Occupation:	Waiter
Residence:	George Hotel Yard, Walsall
Mother's name:	Ann Parker
Occupation:	None
Residence:	George Hotel Yard, Walsall
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Neglected
Character of parents	Supposed to be given to drink
Parents' wages:	13s a week, has four other children
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	W Cater, Superintendent of Police
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	6 Apr 1863 - Emigrated to Canada

Notes:

Brother to Henry Parker [boy 203]

13 October 1860 There is a short report of his trial and conviction in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 13 October 1860, p.4, col.2: A WEAKNESS FOR TARTS. - Mr M Coates, of Digbeth, charged a boy named James Parker with stealing two tarts from his shop on Friday last. A witness who could prove the offence was not present, and Mr Coates solicited a remand for a week until the witness should be summoned to attend. The application was granted. Mr, Coates said he would not be so much disposed to press the charge, had it not been that it was not the first time he bad been plundered by the prisoner at the bar.

1 December 1860 There is a report of his father being summoned for non-payment of maintenance for his son in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 1 December 1860 p.7 col.6: SUPPORT OF CHILDREN IN REFORMATORIES BY PARENTS. - James Parker appeared in answer to a summons charging him with having neglected to contribute to the support of his son. who was some weeks ago committed to the Saltley Reformatory for three years. Mr. Chief Superintendent Cater intimated that he had received instructions from the Home Office to take the present proceedings, and he put in his authority with the necessary proofs. Mr. Day, ex-Mayor, told defendant that he had recently visited the reformatory in question, and there found the inmates to be so well treated in every respect, that he thought parents whose children were there ought to lie glad to contribute to their support. The children were well cared for. and their moral and religious welfare was looked after. The bench ordered defendant to pay 1s. per week.

6 April 1863 Emigrated to Canada

7 September 1863 Heard of as of vagrant habits and idle, doubtful character

November 1864 Has returned to England. Called at the school. Dirty and lazy looking

November 1866 Doubtful [character]

William Wilkinson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	719
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Cut on left side of nose; large burn on left arm
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	23 April 1883
Late residence:	4 Worcester Wharf, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Gas tube maker
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing 7 brushes and 8 brooches
Circumstances which may have led to it:	To raise money
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	10 April 1883; J D Goodman and J Lowe
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	14 days hard labour in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Thomas Edwards (step-father)
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Not known
Character of parents	Fairly respectable
Parents' wages:	Step-father earns 21s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	Worcester Wharf, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Superintendent Wilcox, Birmingham
Person making this return:	A Tinkler, Governor, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

21 September 1885 Wilkinson was involved in a drowning, as reported in the Coleshill Chronicle Saturday 26 September 1885 p.8 cols. 3-4: SAD CASE OF DROWNING. At noon on Tuesday last, 23rd inst., an inquest was held at Hams Hall, Lea Marston, before Dr. C. W. Iliffe, Coroner, on view of the body of Thomas Malpass, aged 16, of the Saltley Reformatory School, who was drowned in the pool, in Hams Park, on the previous day, under the following distressing circumstances. The jury, selected by Lord Norton, comprised Richard Williams, Henry Brighouse, Charles Showell, Samuel Statham, John Capewell, Samuel Scattergood, James Ollerhead, Robert Wimbush, John Keeling, Richard Cox, George Daken Townsend, and Edward Mercer - the whole being employed on the estate with the exception of Mr. Keeling (who was chosen foreman) and Mr. Townsend. Having viewed the spot where the fatality occurred, and also the body, which had been removed to the fire engine house connected with the Hall, the following evidence was taken: - Harry F. Fish, the recently-appointed superintendent of the Saltley Reformatory, identified deceased as Thomas Malpass, aged 16; his father's name being Thomas Malpass, of Marsh-street, Hanley. Deceased was admitted to that institution on 12th June, 1884, and consequently had been an inmate a year and three months. - William Wilkinson, 17, another boy at the Saltley Reformatory, deposed that on the previous morning, Monday, 21st inst., the whole of the school (about seventy) left Saltley Station by the 10.25 train, and arrived at Forge Mills, in order to spend the day in Hams Park, at the invitation of Lord Norton. About three o'clock some of them proceeded to the pool in the park to bathe, deceased, who could not swim, being one of the number. His lordship had said to them "All those boys who can swim, hold up your hands." The deceased, Thos. Malpass, held up his hand with others, and then they went to the pool, and undressed, and deceased pitched in. He (witness) thought be was only acting, as he was stroking his face with water, as they frequently did when first going in. Seeing deceased was in danger, Ford then went in to the rescue, but was exhausted. Another boy named Sayers, then went in, and deceased grasped him, and he (witness) saw both were in danger, and plunged in and rescued Sayers with considerable difficulty. Malpass then went down. He (Wilkinson) tried again to get him to the bank, but failed. He gave an alarm, and ultimately he was got out of the water, but he was dead. - ln reply to the Coroner, Mr Fish said deceased was not subject to fits, so far as he could ascertain. It was also stated that the water was rather cold, but there was no current, it being a dammed up pool. - Arthur Settles, labour master at Saltley Reformatory, sworn, said he was in charge of the boys on the previous day. He was on the bank side, and saw them undress and get in; six or seven boys were in the water together. He noticed that deceased and those who attempted to rescue him were in danger, but as he (Settles) could not swim himself, he thought it would only be adding to the danger if he got into the water, especially as he could not see the bottom. He reached a stick to deceased, and saw Sayers was also in danger, and so attended to him. The water was said to be 5 feet 2 inches at the time, and all the boys said they could not bottom it. - William Sayers, who seemed much affected, deposed that he did his best to save his school-fellow, as he could swim himself. Deceased, however, caught hold of him round the neck, and he was nearly drowned himseif. - Lord Norton having spoken especially of the gallant action of Sayers, and of the other boys who did all they possibly could to save their companion the learned Coroner summed up in his usual feeling manner. He said it was another of those sad instances in which the bright and happy prospects of the morning are blighted before the close of day. He urged the necessity of young people learning to swim; and remarked that he did not think blame was attached to the labour-master, or to anyone else, as Settle's not being able to swim might have increased the danger, had he rushed into the water, not being acquainted with the depth. Death undoubtedly arose from asphyxia, brought about by accidental drowning, at a quarter-past three p.m. on 21st Sept., at a pool in Lord Norton's park in the parish of Lea Marston. - To this the jurymen unanimously agreed. - Sayers (who was a long time coming to, but the efforts of Dr. Wall and others were ultimately repaid) was awarded 5s. for his gallantry, and Ford 2s. 6d. Wilkinson, however, and the old man William Thompson, who got deceased out of the water, seemed both to be overlooked for their risk and trouble in the matter. - We believe the expenses attending the funeral were defrayed by his lordship. A most unusual circumstance occurred in connection with the foregoing inquest, and which, as it has given rise to general discussion in Coleshill and the neighbourhood, had become an open secret and therefore may be noticed in our columns. Acting on the Coroner's warrant, our local police officers, in the execution of their duty, had summoned Messrs. E. Watson, W. Stroud, J. Booth, J. Burton, A. Bush, G. Walthew, J. Penn, H. A. Shepherd, J. C. Tuckley, and C. E. Chamberlain, all residents of, and the majority being tradesmen in, Coleshill, to serve as jurymen. All proceeded to Hams at the time ordered, but on arriving at and near to the park, they were peremptorily told to return, as Lord Norton would have no Coleshill men there or on the jury, but residents in Lea Marston only. This mandate excited considerable surprise and indignation, and was regarded as a decided snub, to say the least, to the Coleshill gentlemen. - On mentioning the matter to his lordship the following day, he wished us to say, in explanation, that he was not aware the Colesnill jurymen had arrived at the park; that he considered a simple case, as this unfortunate accident was, could be decided by those near at hand, without tradesmen from Coleshill leaving their businesses and engagements to attend an inquest at that distance from home; and so far as a " snub" was considered, certainly none was intended, and the Lea Marston people might have regarded the preference given to Coleshill in the same light. - We understand that nine of the ten Coleshill men summoned received the legal fee at the hands of Sergt. Walker (in addition to the twelve empanelled), the amount, 9s., being refunded to him by Lord Norton.

10 January 1887 The Reformatory Committee Log Book records that Wilkinson was licensed to be let out to work for Messrs Allday and Onion, Birmingham

22 April 1887 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst on licence

20 September 1887 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Wilkinson in Birmingham

19 August 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Wilkinson, Emerson, Manitoba, Canada