Saltley Reformatory

Martin Kilgallon - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	303
Date of admission:	13 June 1865
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:
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:	Cut on right arm
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	Yes
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Temple Street, Bilston
Parish he belongs to:	Bilston
Customary work and mode of life:	At a forge
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a dagger
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	30 May 1865
Where convicted:	Bilston before I Spooner, Stipendiary Magistrate
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	14 days, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Stealing a cap
Father's name:	Martin Kilgallon
Occupation:	Labourer
Residence:	7 court, Jackson's Yard, Temple Street, Bilston
Mother's name:	Catherine Kilgallan
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	17s a week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Parents say they are not able to pay anything
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Hugh McCrea, Bilston
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:

31 May 1865 There is a short report of the crime in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 31 May 1865 p.5 col.5: A young thief, named Martin Kilgollen [surname spelled thus], who has been before the Bench on two or three previous occasions, was charged with having stolen a dagger from the caravan of a travelling dealer in hardware goods, named John Boyle, better known as "Cheap John." The case was clearly proved, and as the prisoner had been already convicted of felony, the Stipendiary sentenced him to fourteen days' imprisonment, and afterwards to be sent to a reformatory for five years.

3 July 1869 Licensed

Thomas Alfred Tarlington - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	484
Age:	10
Whence received:	Stafford County Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	19 April 1873 5 years
Late residence:	Enville
Parish he belongs to:	Bobbington
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	Yes
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing a watch
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Drunkenness of father
Date of sentence, by who and court:	31 March 1873, Brierley Hill Petty Sessions, H O Firestone and H Smith
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	21 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	One
Length:	48 hours and birched
For what:	Stealing a concertina
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Sarah Elizabeth Tarlington
Occupation:	Single woman
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Bad
Character of parents	Bad
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	None
Parents address:	Six Ashes, Bobbington, Bridgnorth
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	H McCrea, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

5 April 1873 There is a report of the theft in the County Advertiser and Herald for Staffordshire and Worcestershire Saturday 5 April 1873 p.8 col.3: STEALING A WATCH. -- Thomas Alfred Tarlington (9) was charged with stealing a watch, value 15s., the property of John Bason, Six Ashes. Henry Edward Farley said he saw the prisoner go into the house of Thomas Patchett, on Saturday last. Ann Meredith said she left the prisoner in Patchett's garden, about eleven o'clock. She did not see him go into the house She missed the watch produced at one o'clock. John Bason said the watch produced belonged to him. He left it in Mrs. Meredith's care. Police Constable Ledbury said he found the watch in the prisoner's mother's garden, at Six Ashes. On charging the prisoner be admitted having takes the watch out of the house. The prisoner was committed to the House of Correction for three weeks, with hard labour, and at the expiration of that term ordered to be sent to a reformatory school for five years.

David Turner - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	858
Age:	10
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 3¼ ins
Particular marks:	Cut back of left fore finger
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Medium
Date of admission:	12 October 1887
Late residence:	Summer House, Gospel End Street, Sedgley
Parish he belongs to:	Sedgley
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 4 sheaves of wheat
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	12 September 1887; B Whitehouse; Sedgley Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	1 month
For what:	Stealing a pigeon
Father's name:	David Turner
Occupation:	Charcoal burner
Mother's name:	Rachael Turner
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Well treated
Character of parents	Fsther is an idle drunken man. He has had 3 months, 2 months, and 3 months for neglect of family. Also convicted for assault, drunkenness, and threats. Nothing known against mother
Parents' wages:	Father has no work. Family receive parish relief. The father about two years ago fractured his arm in two places and has not been able to follow regular employment since
Amount parents agree to pay:	Can pay nothing
Parents address:	Gospel End Street, Sedgley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

13 September 1887 There was a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 13 September 1887 p.8 col.6: SEDGLEY. - A YOUTHFUL THIEF. - At the Police Court, yesterday before Mr. Benjamin Whitehouse, David Fisher (11) [surname given thus], of Gospel End Street, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and to be afterwards detained in a reformatory for five years, for stealing four sheaves of wheat belonging to a farmer named Edward Morgan. It was stated that the prisoner was incorrigible, and gave the police a great deal of trouble. Mr. Whitehouse said the prisoner had been previously convicted of felony, and the proper place for him was a reformatory.

18 March 2891 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that Turner was licensed to go out and work for Mr Brevitt, Sedgley

19 May 1891 Readmitted to the School from on licence in consequence of unsatisfactory conduct

11 October 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley

12 December 1893 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Turner, Wolverhampton

14 August 1894 The Log book report records receipt of a letter from Turner, Lichfield

Samuel Coates - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1114
Age:	9 yrs 8 months (born 14 April 1886)
Whence received:	Chesterfield Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Light grey
Height:	3 ft 10 ins
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission:	9 December 1895
Late residence:	Barker Lane, Brampton, Chesterfield
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Schoolboy
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing money (15s) from a till
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	9 December 1895; A C Locke and W B Robinson; Chesterfield Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Not
Sentence:	5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (2 December 1895)
Length:	6 strokes with birch rod
For what:	Stealing 5s from a till
Father's name:	William Coates
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	Emma Coates
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:	Barker Lane, Brampton, Chesterfield
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	Edward Emery, Chief Constable, Chesterfield

Notes:

3 December 1895 A previous offence was reported in the Derbyshire Courier Tuesday 3 December p.10 col.1: THEFT BY BOYS : A MOTHER SENT TO GAOL FOR RECEIVING THE STOLEN PROPERTY. - On Monday, at the Chesterfield Borough Police Court, before the Mayor (Councillor A. C. Locke), Aid. E. Woodhead, and Mr. P. H. Chandler, Alfred Coates. Barker lane, and Francis Cooper, Barker lane, were charged by Frederick George, with stealing, on the 28th November, silver coins amounting to 20s., and Mary Cooper was charged with receiving from Francis Cooper the sum of 7s. 3d., she well knowing the same to have been stolen. - The prosecutor said he was a pork butcher in Chatsworth road, Brampton. On the evening of Thursday there were a number of silver coins in the till. He left the shop for a moment, and on returning to turn the lights out and take the money out of the till, nearly all the sliver, amounting to at least 20s.. was missing. From what he afterwards heard, he gave the two defendants into custody. - Gertrude Needham, a little girl, living in Brewery yard, Brampton, said she was near Mr. George's shop on Thursday night from half-past nine to ten. She saw the defendants looking through the window. - P.C. Moore said on Friday morning he went to the Brampton Board Schools and questioned the boy Coates as to where he was on the night before. He replied that he was down Brampton. When he (witness) said he wanted him to go with him. he began to cry. and said he had not taken any money. He added that on Thursday night he saw a boy going down Brampton with some money. He asked the lad where the money was, and he took him to a closet where the lad lived. On a ledge underneath the seat he found 4s. 6½d. He then went to Cooper's house. At first the lad denied anything about the money. He (witness) then told him he would have to go with him, and he began to cry. and said he had given his mother the money. She was present, and produced 7s. 3d. in silver from her pocket. She said the boy had told her he had found the money. On the way to the Police-station Coates said he had taken his boots and stockings off, and crept into the shop and taken the money. - Both the boys pleaded guilty, and their fathers said they did rot know anything about the affair. - The Mayor said the Bench had decided to order the boys six strokes of the birch rod each, to be administered by P.c. Fisher. The Bench thought parents should take greater care of their children, and not allow them to be out so late at night. Parents who allowed their children to be out till nine, ten. and eleven o'clock were greatly to blame for the mischief they got into. The lads should be kept under stricter control. - The charge against Mary Cooper was then gone into. - P.c. Fisher said on Friday noon he went to the defendant's house and asked Mrs. Cooper if her son had brought any money home the night before. She replied that he had not. She said the boy had given her no money at all. The boy then came in, and witness threatened to take him to the police station he said he had given his mother the money on the previous night. The defendant then burst out laughing, and fetched 7s. 3d. out of her pocket. - Inspector Evans said he heard Moore ask the defendant if her son had given her any money, and she replied that he had not. Witness then asked her if she had seen the boy with any money and she said she had not. He afterwards saw the woman produce 7s 3d. - The defendant pleaded not guilty, and said she had no idea the money had been stolen. The little lad. before he went to school, gave her the money, and asked her to keep it for him. He said he had found it down Brampton. She said she would keep it until his father came home. She did not see anything of the money on Thursday night. - The Mayer said the Bench had come to the conclusion that she was guilty. A parent, knowing a child had been guilty of stealing, and acting in this way, was more blameworthy than in the case of a grown- up person taking money. Parents should bring their children up to do what was right, and not encourage them in what was wrong. The Bench had decided to send her to prison for one month's hard labour.
14 December 1895 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Derbyshire Courier Saturday 14 December 1895 p.7 col.4: TWO INCORRIGIBLE BOYS. - Alfred Coates (9) Barker Lane, and Fred Cooper (11). Barker Lane, the two lads who last week received six strokes of the birch rod at the bands of P.c. Fisher, for robbing the till of Mr. George's shop, in Chatsworth Road, were again brought before the Mayor (Aid. A. C. Locke), Aid. Robinson, Aid. E. Woodhead, and Councillor Douglas, at the Borough Police Court, on Monday, charged with stealing on the 5th Instant certain coins, amounting to 5s., the property of Thomas Hinch, West Bars. - Martha Ann Hinch, wife of the prosecutor, a pork butcher, said on Thursday night, at ten minutes to eight, she noticed in the till half a-crown, a shilling, and three or four sixpences. There was no one in the shop for ten minutes after that time Her attention was then called by someone outside to the till, which she saw had been drawn out. All the silver was gone, but the copper was left. Either 5s. or 5s. 6d., she could not tell exactly which, had been taken. - Inspector Evans said from "information received" he went in search of the two prisoners, and found them in the theatre. He said to them "Give me that money you took from Mr. Hinch's pork shop," and Cooper gave him a half crown, a sixpence, and a farthing, and Coates gave him a shilling and a sixpence. Coates said "I took the money." (and pointing to Cooper), "he told to go." Cooper said, "I held his boots across the road while he fetched it.'' - On being formally charged, the lads pleaded guilty. - The Mayor: We consider it advisable, Mrs. Coates, to send your boy to a reformatory. Mrs. Coates: I cannot say anything; punish him the way you think best. - The Mayor: Do you think if the other boy was parted from him you could keep your boy under control. - Mrs. Coates: I can try, and that will show willing. - Aid. Robinson : Has he been a bad boy? - Mrs. Coates: No, only for about the last three months. - Mrs. Cooper: My lad had been a good lad until about three mouths ago, when they got together - the best lad I have had. - Aid. Robinson (to Mrs. Coates): I very sorry for you, but it will be better for you and better for the lad to let him go to a reformatory. - The Mayor : We have decided to send the two lads to Saltley Reformatory for five years.

8 December 1900 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	119
Date of admission:	21 October 1857
Whence received:	Westminster House of Correction
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	Committed
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fair
Hair colour:	Red
Eyes colour:	Brown
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Cowpox
Particular marks:	Scar on the right thigh
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	15
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	21 Trafalgar Street, Hammersmith
Parish to which he belongs:	Hammersmith
Customary work and mode of life:	Has been a plasterers boy
Schools attended:	Hammersmith Ragged School (6 months)
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Very imperfectly
Writes:	Very imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing 20 lbs of horse hair
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	22 June 1857
Where convicted:	Clerkenwell Session House before R Pashley
Sentence:	4 calendar months in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Where imprisoned:	-
Previous committals and convictions	Stealing bread (14 days in prison); stealing bread and iron (3 calendar months); stealing wine (3 calendar months); throwing stones (7 days); stealing composition pipes (3 days and whipping)
Fathers name:	Henry Brown
Occupation	Bricklayers labourer
Residence:	21 Trafalgar Street, Hammersmith
Mothers name:	Mary Brown
Occupation:	Washerwoman
Residence:	2 Hope Place, Mile End Road, London
Fathers character:	Indifferent
Mothers character:	Good
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Mother kind, father unkind
Character of parents:	Father drinks
Parents' wages:	Average about £1 per week
Weekly amount parents will pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	Charles Cheetham, Governor, Westminster House of Correction
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

13 June 1857 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the West London Observer Saturday 13 June 1857 p.2 col.2-3: Destructive Young Thieves. - On Tuesday, Henry Pennefather, aged 12, Henry Brown, 13, William West, 14, and William Lewis, 15, who have frequently been in custody and summarily convicted for petty thefts, were brought before Mr Ingham, charged with being concerned in the following destructive robbery.

Sergeant Macqualter, of the T Division, stated that about quarter past nine o'clock on Monday night, he received information that a stable belonging to Mr Edward Batten Walmsley, a gentleman, residing in the Lower Mall, Hammersmith, had been broken into, and a large quantity of horse hair cut from the inside of a carriage and also from a phaeton. He also found that a pair of carriage lamps had been broken to pieces, and the brass fittings taken from them. He apprehended West and Lewis that morning, and they admitted that they had stolen the horse hair with the other two prisoners, and that they had sold it at a marine store dealer's, named Kiddall, in King Street, Hammersmith. Witness went to Mr Kiddall, to enquire about the horse hair, and he denied having purchased any. At the station, Lewis persisted in his statement and told Mr Kiddall he bought it and gave them the money. Mr Kiddall again denied the accusation, and attended the court to confirm his statement. Since then, Lewis declared that he had sold the horse hair at Bolton's, another marine store dealer, in Hammersmith, and not at Mr Kiddall's. Witness had made enquiries at Bolton's and other marine store dealers, but he could not discover the horse hair. A great deal of damage has been done to the carriage and phaeton, as the lining has been completely cut away for the horse hair to be extracted.

Jupp, a constable of the T Division, apprehended Pennefather and Brown, and the former prisoner said they spent the money in beer.

Edward Walmsley, the son of the prosecutor, said that he saw that the stable was secure about seven o'clock on Monday evening. Their boy discovered the robbery early that morning. Nearly the whole of the horse hair inside the carriage had been carried away. He should say that at least 20 lbs had been stolen. They had since called in Mr Miller, the coach builder of Hammersmith, and he had stated that it would cost £12 to repair the damage the prisoners had done.

The prisoner West said they had broken into the stables before six o'clock, and also that they bought some victuals with the money.

Thomas Chalk said he lived at No.16 George Street, Hammersmith, near Mr Walmsley's stables. Between nine and ten o'clock on Monday night he saw the prisoners go into the coach house at the side of the stable. Witnesses wife had previously seen Lewis carry away a basket of horse hair. Lewis afterwards came out, and witness told him he would get into trouble for taking the horse hair. Lewis opened the door and then the other prisoners came out. They all went away, and witness went in pursuit of a constable and gave information of the robbery.

Lewis said they had no home and went to the stable to sleep.

Mr Ingham: Are the prisoners known?

Sergeant Macqualter: O, yes, sir. They have been in custody several times, more especially the prisoner Lewis.

Mr Andrew (the chief usher): They have all been whipped sir. Lewis has been sentenced to a reformatory asylum, but from an accidental circumstance he was not removed at the expiration of his imprisonment.

Mr Ingham: I shall remand them for a week, to ascertain if the property can be found.

The prisoners, who treated the matter with the greatest indifference, were then locked up.

27 June 1857 A short report of their sentences was given in the West London Observer Saturday 27 June 1857 p.2 col.2: The Destructive Young Thieves. - On Tuesday, the four boys, named William Lewis, 15, William West, 14, Henry Brown, 13, and Henry Pennefather, 12, were indicted at the Middlesex Sessions, before Mr Pashley QC, for stealing 20lbs of horse hair, the property of Edward Bolton Walmsley. They pleaded guilty.

Foulsham, and officer of the Westminster House of Coirrection, proved that Lewis had been committed to that prison five times; West seven times; Pennefather six times; and Brown twice.

The Assistant Judge sentenced each of them to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for four months, and then to be detained in a reformatory institution for four years.

1 August 1858 name on Good Conduct List

6 November 1859 absconded with West and Pennefather [boys 120 and 121] early in morning through dormitory window. Caught the same evening at Hammersmith and brought back 16 November

9 November 1859 The Reformatory Minute Book reports: 618. Mr Humphreys reported that Wm West [boy 121], Henry Brown, and William Pennyfather [boy 120] (all London boys) had absconded on Sunday last, and that J Evans [boy 134], who absconded on 3rd September had not been found. Steps are being taken for their recovery.

6 September 1860 The Minute Book contains this: 709. Mr Morgan reported that Brown had made an application to Mr Humphreys to be permitted to enlist.

Resolved: that application be made for his discharge on his enlistment.

10 September 1860 absconded with Kellan [boy 127] just as it grew dark under pretence of fetching clothes off the line in the field

4 October 1860 The Minute Book records: 716. On reading Minute 709, Mr Humphreys reported that Brown had absconded.

3 November 1861 William West [boy 121] wrote saying he was steadily at work in Hammersmith

November 1862 Mr Morgan informed me that he had been convicted in Manchester