Saltley Reformatory

Edward James Radcliffe - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1259
Age:	15 (born 14 April 1885)
Whence received:	Rhyl Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Sky blue
Height:	4 ft 7½ ins
Particular marks:	Scar front of right leg, scar over right eyebrow
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	5 February 1901
Late residence:	6 Ernest Street, Rhyl
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Errand boy
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Larceny of £1 4s 6d
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Of a thieving disposition. Police report - bad character. Several complaints for stealing and pilfering. both parents bear an excellent character
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	31 January 1901; R M Hugh Jones; Rhyl Petty Sessions;
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	-
For what:	Stealing money
Father's name:	John Radcliffe
Occupation:	Carter (LNWR)
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	21s weekly
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not yet assessed
Parents address:	6 Ernest Street, Rhyl
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Inspector Pearson, Rhyl
Person making this return:	R M Hugh Jones

Notes:

24 November 1900 A previous offence was reported in the Rhyl Record and Advertiser Saturday 24 November 1900 p.5 col.3: A DISHONEST RHYL ERRAND BOY. Edward James Radcliffe, son of John Radcliffe, carter, Rhyl, was brought up charged with stealing certain money from Messrs. Foulkes and Son, wine merchants, Rhyl. - Mr. John Frederick William Foulkes said that in consequence of complaints about missing money he placed a marked 5s. piece and a shilling in the desk in the office. Prisoner, who had been in his employ for some months as errand boy, had occasion to go to the office to attend to the fire. On Monday he unlocked the desk, and a few minutes later missed the coins from it. He had previously sent the boy from the store to the office to attend to the fire. Later he sent the boy to the store, and then opened the desk and found 6s. missing. From the suspicion he had he sent for the inspector of the police, and he, in the presence of the inspector, told the boy that the officer was there to search him. The inspector induced the boy to empty his pockets, and when he did so the marked pieces were found among other money. The coins now produced by Inspector Pearson were those he had missed. - Inspector Pearson said that at about a quarter to four on Monday. He went to Messrs Foulkes'[ Vaults, High Street. He saw the prisoner there, and asked him if he had any money on him. He said he had not. He asked him to turn out his pockets, and the prisoner did so. He found among the money the marked 5s. piece and the shilling, which were identified by the last witness. Witness told him that his master had also lost two packets of copper each containing 5s. The boy said he took one packet on Wednesday, the 13th of November, and the other on the previous day. Prisoner took him to Clwyd Street, and under some leaves in a gateway he found 3s 6d. in copper wrapped in brown paper, and the boy said he had spent 1s. 6d. before putting the money there. The other packet was found in the coach-house, and containing 2s. 6d.; and 9s. 6d were found in the same place, all of which the lad pointed out, and said he had taken the silver on the 10th inst. When formally charged prisoner admitted that he had taken the money. - Prisoner now pleaded guilty. - The prisoner was severely reprimanded by the Chairman, who said they had the power to send him to prison for three months. But as this was his first offence they were going to give him a chance to retrieve his character. He would be bound to come up for judgment if called upon within the next twelve months. If he misbehaved himself during that period he could be punished for this offence. He, however, hoped that he would not be a naughty boy again.

2 February 1901 The crime that sent him to saltley was reported in the Rhyl Record and Advertiser Saturday 2 February 1901 p.8 cols.1-2: A YOUNG THIEF. Edward James Radcliffe (aged 15 years), of Ernest Street, Rhyl, errand boy, was brought up in custody charged with stealing the sum of £1 4s 6d. the property of Mrs. Louisa Alice Foulkes, 10, High Street. Mrs. Louisa Alice Foulkes, 10, High Street, Rhyl, the wife of Mr. John Foulkes, Wine Merchant, said that the prisoner had been in the employ of her husband as an errand boy. On the 18th of January she missed the sum of £1 4s 6d from a bag on the sideboard drawer in the dining room. The boy was not supposed to enter the dining room, though he could get access to it as he was on the premises and had to pass through the kitchen and luncheon room to the business. - Sergeant McWalters said that shortly after six o'clock on Wednesday night, he was called by Mr Foulkes into High Street. In consequence of what he told him, he saw the prisoner there He told him that there was a complaint of his having stolen a number of photographs from the premises last week. He denied that he had stolen them. On informing him that he would bring the nurse to his face who saw him with the photos, he said "I have taken the photos; they are at home in my brother Jack's box." He then told him there was money, a sovereign and two shillings stolen from a drawer which he pointed out to him - belonging to Mrs Foulkes, and that that money must be found. Prisoner said "I don't know anything about the money, I never took it, I call God to witnesses that I have not takes any." He then said "If I was to tell you I would be sent to gaol for it." Mr Foulkes then came into the room and reminded him of having stolen a shilling from under a ginger beer box in the yard, also biscuits from the bar, which prisoner admitted. Mr Foulkes then said "I want to know where the money is from that drawer." After a long hesitation he said "I have two shillings of the money I took from the drawer in my top-coat pocket." Witness took the two shillings out of the pocket indicated. Prisoner said "The sovereign and half a crown is hidden in a tree in Parson's Lane just past the railway .gates" Mr Foulkes and witness accompanied the prisoner to Parson's Lane, and there from under the hedge the prisoner picked up a paper containing a sovereign and half a crown. Prisoner said he had spent the money which he had taken from the child's money box on sweets and cakes, and that he had taken it a week before he had taken the money from the drawer. He said he had a key of his own which unlocked the child's money box, but which he had since lost. That morning witness charged prisoner with stealing the £1 4s. 6d. the property of Mrs Foulkes. on the 18th of January, from her purse in her satchel in the dining room. He replied "Yes, about 9.30 in the morning." He said he knew that Mrs Foulkes used to leave her satchel and purse in the drawer. Prisoner had been previously convicted at Prestatyn for stealing some money the property of Mr Foulkes, and he was bound over to come up for judgment when called upon, and his father would bail for him. Since then his father had seen Mr Foulkes and upon the prisoner promising to be a good boy, Mr Foulkes agreed to take him on again. - John Ratcliffe said he lived at 6 Ernest Street, Rhyl, and was a carter in the employ of the London and North Western Railway Company. His wages were £1 1s. per week. Prisoner was his son. He would be 16 next April. He was present at Prestatyn on the 20th of November, when the prisoner was convicted of stealing money the property of his employer, Mr John Frederick William Foulkes. He was bound over in the sum of £10 to come up for judgment within twelve months, witness becoming his surety. His son had promised to be a good boy and Mr Foulkes had again taken him into his employ. His son came home from 7 to 7.30 every night, and he never saw more than a copper in his pocket. He had never seen any sweets or cakes in his possession. - Prisoner was then charged and pleaded guilty. - The Chairman said that they felt they must send the prisoner to a Reformatory School until he had attained the age of 19 years, in the hope that he would use his time there to learn a useful trade, and turn out an honest man.

15 August 1903 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Radcliffe was licensed to go out and work for Mr C Jones, Wellington Road, Rhyl

30 January 1904 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

George Greenhill - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
aka George Smith

No. in Admissions Register:	604
Age:	13
Whence received:	Stafford County Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	-
Able-bodied?	-
Date of admission:	27 April 1878
Late residence:	Chase Town, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Chase Town
Customary work and mode of life:	Mining
Whether illegitimate:	Legitimate
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing hammer
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Neglect by parents to supply boy with food and clothing
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	27 March 1878; R N Phillips and A Hinckley; Muckley Corner Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison, Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	Frederick Greenhill
Occupation:	Shoemaker
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Father had 3 months for felony at Birmingham 2 years ago. Not very sober. Health not good
Parents' wages:	About 25s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Parents do not engage to pay any sum. I consider they ought to pay 2s weekly. The father spends a lot of money in drink
Parents address:	Near "Cottage Spring Inn", Chase Town, near Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Arthur Hill, Police Superintendent, Brownhills, near Walsall
Person making this return:	Arthur Hill, Police Superintendent, Brownhills, near Walsall. 8 april 1878

Notes:

30 March 1878 The boy's crime was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 30 March 1878 p.3 col.7: CHASETOWN. RESCUED. - At Muckley Corner Police Court, on Wednesday, before General Phillips and A. Hinckley, Esq., George Smith, a sharp-looking lad of ten years of age, was charged with stealing a hammer, the property of George Jennings - James Davis in the employ of Mr. Jennings, said he missed the hammer from the engine-room where the prisoner with other boys had been partaking of the dinners given by Mr. Jennings during the slackness of trade in the district. The boy subsequently took Police-constable Peake to the place where the hammer was hidden. He said he intended to sell the hammer for "2d. or 3d., to buy something to eat" - Superintendent Hill said he had ascertained that the boy's real name Greenhill -his father had not done his duty by him - and in his (Superintendent Hill's) opinion it was quite a case for a reformatory. - The magistrates directed the lad to be sent to gaol for a month and :for five years to a reformatory. The little fellow burst into tears. Only one of his parents - his mother - was there to speak to him.

13 December 1878 His father was summoned for non-payment of maintenance, as reported in the Lichfield Mercury Friday 13 December 1878 p.5 col.6: A DEFAULTING PARENT.- Frederick Smith, alias Frederick Greenhill, of Bumtwood, shoemaker, was summoned at the instance of the inspector of Reformatory Schools, under an order fixing him as the parent of George Smith, aged 13 years, who is now detained in Saltley Reformatory School, at Birmingham. The complaint alleged that he was ordered to be detained there until the 27th January, 1883, and that the defendant was ordered to pay 2s. per week towards the support and maintenance of his son in the reformatory, which sum to be paid every fourteen days; and that there was now in arrear under the order £2 16s., being the amount of 14 periodical payments. -The defendant pleaded inability to pay, and presented three testimonials. -Superintendent Hill stated that in these nothing was said respecting defendant's earnings and his sobriety. He had told him that he did not intend to pay, and he had never made the slightest attempt to do so. - P.C. Peak, who had been watching defendant, gave evidence as to his ability to pay, and stated that he spent a good deal in drink.- Superintendent Hill remarked that he had been informed that the defendant was making preparations to leave the neighbourhood shortly. - The Bench committed defendant for a month, after which, failing payment, the imprisonment to run on for three months, by a month at a time.

8 August 1882 Licensed to Mr Dainty, Church Street, Chase Town

William Price - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register	545
Age:	15
Whence received:	Stafford County Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	Long
Particular marks:	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission and term:	13 May 1876 5 years
Late residence:	Kidsgrove
Parish he belongs to:	Kidsgrove
Customary work and mode of life:	Forge boy
Whether illegitimate:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Attempt to commit a felony
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Neglect
Date of sentence, by who and court:	13 April 1876, Kidsgrove, H C Greenwood
Where imprisoned:	Stafford
Sentence:	1 month prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	John Scott
Occupation:	Collier
Mother's name:	Ellen Scott
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Lived with grandfather
Character of parents	Honest, sober; health not good
Parents' wages:	25s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	2s 6d per week
Parents address:	12 King Street, Smallthorne, Burslem
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

15 April 1876 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 26 May 1876 p.5 col.4: KIDSGROVE. SERIOUS ATTEMPT TO DAMAGE MACHINERY. - At the Kidsgrove Police Court, on Thursday, William Price, a lad, was charged before Mr. H. C. Greenwood, stipendiary magistrate, with unlawfully attempting to damage machinery at Kidagrove. It appears that the lad was employed at the forge, and early on Tuesday morning he asked another lad to watch him throw a piece of iron among some machinery. He threw twice, and the second time the iron lodged among some cogs. The prisoner was told he would get into trouble, when he said "You must not tell." The witness, however, did his duty, and informed Mr. Leighton, adding in his evidence that if the iron had not been removed it would have "ripped the place up." Frederick Blood stated that when greasing the wheels he took the iron out.- Samuel Rowley, the engineer in charge, said that the engine was a very large one, being 130 horsepower, and the fly-wheel about 18 feet in diameter. If the iron had been In the cogs when the engine started it would partially have destroyed the engine, and might have destroyed life too. His own life would have been in great danger. The prisoner was spoken of as an incorrigibly bad lad, and Mr. Greenwood decided to commit him to prison for a month preparatory to his being sent to a reformatory for five years.

26 May 1881 Price twice inquires(?) this day. I write him a letter, but have had no reply up to the present time

Jabez Brown - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	744
Age:	13
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Cut on right eye, burn mark on back of neck
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Slender
Date of admission:	29 January 1884
Late residence:	Church Street, Pensnett, near Dudley
Parish he belongs to:	Kingswinford
Customary work and mode of life:	No occupation
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing money
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	31 December 1883; Henry Hall and H O Firmstone; Court of summary Jurisdiction Brierley Hill
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month hard labour in prison, 4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	12 strokes
For what:	Stealing zinc piece(?)
Father's name:	John Brown
Occupation:	Miner
Mother's name:	Mary Ann Brown
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Kind
Character of parents	Considered sober, honest, industrious, and in good health
Parents' wages:	About £1 per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Ought to pay 1s per week but refuses to pay any
Parents address:	Church Street, Pensnett, near Dudley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	John Woollaston, Superintendent of Police, Brierley Hill
Person making this return:	John Woollaston, Superintendent of Police, Brierley Hill

Notes:

5 January 1886 There is a report of the crime in the Dudley and District News Saturday 5 January 1884 p.2 col.5: BRIERLEY HILL. MONDAY: Before H. Hall, H. 0. Firmstone, and P. H, Foley, Esqs. SERIOUS OFFENCE BY A BOY. - Jabez Brown (13), Lower Church Street, Pensnett, was charged with obtaining the sum of £1 4s. 4d. by false pretences from the Earl of Dudley's offices at Round Oak. - On the 22nd. of December defendant went to the offices and asked for the wages of one Wm. Cox. There being no such name on the pay books, Mr. Austin, the cashier, questioned defendant, and mentioned that there was one Hezekiah Cox. entitled to wages. Defendant then said that was the man he meant, and the money, to the amount named, was thereupon paid over to him. It afterwards transpired that Cox had not authorised him to receive his wages. Upon defendant being arrested by P.C, Hicklin, he confessed to having buried 14s. of the money in a mound, from whence it was recovered. - The Bench sentenced him to one months' imprisonment, and ordered that he should be afterwards sent to a reformatory for tour years.

3 July 1886 The Reformatory Committee Log Book records him as receiving a good report from his employer Mr Cornelius Chambers, Bromley Iron Works Pensnett, Dudley, when he was licensed to go out and work for him

December 1886 The Log Book records receipt of a letter from Brown, Church Street, Pensnett, Dudley, Staffordshire

12 June 1887 The Log Book records receipt of another letter from Brown, Pensnett, Dudley

29 September 1887 Discharged early from Saltley. The Log Books records that this is because: has been on licence nearly two years and has good reports [from his employers] during this period

11 June 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Brown, Pensnett, near Dudley

6 August 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of another letter from Brown, Pensnett, near Dudley

10 December 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Brown, Sandgate

14 April 1890 The Log Book report records receipt of another letter from Brown, Pensnett, near Dudley. A later addition says 'since dead'

William Plant - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1004
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Grey
Height:	4 ft 8 ins
Particular marks:	Scar on forehead
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	31 May 1892
Late residence:	74 Oldbury Road, Blackheath, Dudley
Parish he belongs to:	Blackheath
Customary work and mode of life:	Labourer
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 5 hens' eggs
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	11 May 1892; W Bassans and J H Smith; Old Hill Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	21 days and 5 years
Previous committals:
Number:	3
Length:	1) 12 strokes; 2) 12 strokes; 3) 12 strokes
For what:	1) Stealing ginger beer; 2) stealing 2 fowls; 3) stealing a tobacco pipe
Father's name:	Richmond Plant
Occupation:	Fishmonger
Mother's name:	Eliza Woodward (step-mother)
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Doubtful
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	74 Oldbury Road, Blackheath, Dudley
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

[boy is step-brother to Richard Woodward, boy 1005]

10 May 1897 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley

9 August 1898 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Plant, Blackheath