Saltley Reformatory

Charles Goldby aka Penny - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

Image by permission of the Library of Birmingham. MS 244/6/2.

No. in Admissions Register:	1268
Age:	14 (born 24 July 1886)
Whence received:	Walsall Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown mottled
Height:	4 ft 6½ ins
Particular marks:	Anchor left arm; 3 hearts right forearm; 2 hearts, 2 + [crosses], man's head, crushed forefinger, on right arm; cut on left thumb
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	23 April 1901
Late residence:	20 Green Lane, Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Sleeping out at night and having the company of reported thieves
Whether illegitimate:	Yes
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Larceny of money from a shop till
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	19 April 1901; W Bayliss and J Newman; Walsall Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	4 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	-
For what:	Housebreaking
Father's name:	Israel John Goldby
Occupation:	Hawker
Mother's name:	Hannah Goldby
Occupation:	Fried fishmonger
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Fairly good
Character of parents	Intemperate but honest
Parents' wages:	-
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not yet assessed
Parents address:	20 Green Lane, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Chief Constable, Walsall
Person making this return:	Detective J A Burrell

Notes:

20 April 1901 A previous offence was reported in the Walsall Advertiser Saturday 20 April 1901 p.8 cols 6-7: YOUNG HOUSEBREAKER : CAUGHT RED-HANDED. A lad, of 14, named Charles Goldby, 20, Green Lane, was charged with breaking and entering the dwelling house of Mrs Lapworth, 11, Green Lane, on April 10th. - James Davis, back of 12, Green Lane, stated that Mrs Lapworth went away about five months ago, leaving the key of her house in charge of him. On Wednesday, April 10th, he examined the house, and found everything topsy-turvy. The things were out of the drawers, and these and other articles were all over the floors of the rooms. - John Taylor, back of 12, Green Lane, stated that on Wednesday morning he noticed that the curtain was down from one the windows at Mrs Lapworth's house. Witness looked through the window, and saw prisoner in the house. When the boy saw him he hid himself under the table. - Detective-sergeant Jones, said that he visited the house because of information received from the last witness, and found the house in great disorder. Two or three bundles were made up as if ready to carry away. Entry was effected through a window. - Prisoner pleaded guilty, and the Bench bound the father over for six months, he engaging to give the boy a good thrashing.

Having been convicted on the Monday, as above, he was convicted again on the Friday of the same week, as reported in the same newspaper of the same date, further down col.7: THEFT FROM A SHOP TILL. Two boys named Charles Goldby, 20, Green Lane, and Samuel Grundy, 196, Green Lane, were charged with stealing 8d from a shop till at 134, Farringdon Street, on the previous day. - Hugh Hawarden, the complainant, stated that whilst he was at the rear of his premises at 134, Farringdon Street, he heard a noise in his shop, and proceeding there saw Goldby leaning over the counter with his hand in the till. Grundy had hold of Goldby's legs. On seeing witness both boys ran out of the shop Witness gave pursuit and caught Goldby, who showed witness eightpence and said that was all he had had. - It transpired that Goldby was before the Court on Monday for larceny and was bound over under the First Offender's Act. - Goldby was ordered to be sent to a reformatory for four years, and Grundy was discharged with a caution.

1 April 1904 The Medical Officer reported: Pneumonia, almost well by 11 April

20 June 1904 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Goldby was licensed to go out and work for Mr W Knowles, Wythall, Worcestershire

18 April 1905 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley

No. in Admissions Register:	152
Date of admission:	6 June 1859
Whence received:	Birmingham
By whom brought:	A warder
On what terms:	Under committal
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	Good
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Sandy
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?	Has had cow pox-
Particular marks:	Scars on stomach and arms
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	3 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham
Parish to which he belongs:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Errand boy
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Well
Writes:	Well
Cyphers:	Well
General ability:	Good
Offence:	Stealing a pair of boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	24 May 1859
Where convicted:	Moor Street
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	John Abberley
Occupation	Waiter
Residence:	3 Lower Essex Street, Birmingham
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Kind
Character of parents:	-
Parents' wages:	Uncertain
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	D. Mendon, Borough Gaol, Birmingham
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	1861 - Emigrated to Australia

Notes:

28 May 1859 There is a report of his offence in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 28 May 1859 p.11 col.2: STEALING A PAIR OF BOOTS. - CAUTION TO PAWNBROKERS. - John Abberley, aged fourteen, living in a court in Lower Essex Street, was charged with stealing a pair of Wellington boots, the property of his master, Mr Henry Palmer, chemist, Colmore Row on Saturday last. The prisoner is an old offender, and pleaded guilty. He was taken into custody by Police Constable Haverin (217), who ascertained that he had pledged the property for 5s, at the shop of Francis Hollett, in Barford Street. Upon the constable making enquiries at Hollett's shop, he at first denied that he had ever seen the prisoner, and also said he had not taken such a pair of boots as those stolen, in plege that day. Haverin then produced the pawn ticket, when Hollett admitted with reluctance that it was his handwriting. In reply to Mr Kynnersley, Hollett said that when the lad offered the boots to him, he did not give a clear account of how he became possessed of them; but was "understood to say that he was sent to pledge them." Mr Kynnersley read Hollett a lecture for taking in the boots under the circumstances. Such a mode of transacting business was just the way to encourage young thieves in their evil practices. The prisoner was remanded for a day for the attendance of his father. The boots were ordered to be given up to Mr Palmer.

Lower down the same column in the newspaper is an account of the next day's proceedings at the Police Court, and contains: STEALING A PAIR OF BOOTS. - The boy John Abberley, fourteen years of age, and living in Lower Essex Street, who was remanded from Monday, charged with stealing a pair of boots was again placed in the dock. A neighbour having been sent by the prisoner's father, to say that his son was a very bad lad, the Magistrates sentenced the prisoner to the House of Correction for fourteen days, and afterwards to be sent to a Reformatory School for five years.

10 July 1861 "I hereby acknowledge that I emigrate to Sydney of my own free will and I beg to thank Mr Lloyd and the Committee of this school for affording me the privilege" - John Abberley [entry in Admissions Register]

12 July 1861 Sailed from London in the Stornoway with 147 [Hector Beaton], 138 [James Drake},137 [Joseph Berry]

16 July 1861 The Minute Book states: 791. On reading Minute 736 and subsequent Minutes down to Minute 780, it was reported that the final selection of boys to complete the number for emigration had fallen upon Pennefather [boy 120] and Abberley [boy 152] and that accordingly, Pennefather, Brittain [boy 111], Lowe [boy 151], and Oswald [boy 124] had gone to Canada, and that Abberley, Drake [boy 138], Beaton [boy 147], and Berry [boy 137] had gone to Sydney since last meeting of the Committee.

25 August 1862 Heard from. Says he is a steward's boy in a Sydney steam boat and that Drake [138] is gone to the gold diggings.

Thomas Haines - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	350
Date of admission:	9 February 1867
Whence received:	Stafford
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Perfect vision?	-
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	No
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	Not apparent
Subject to fits?	-
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Wolverhampton
Parish he belongs to:	Lichfield
Customary work and mode of life:	Grocer's porter
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Well
Writes:	Well
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing one sovereign
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	9 January 1867
Where convicted:	Wolverhampton before I Spooner
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	-
Sentence:	1 month prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	None
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	Rosa Haines
Occupation:	Needlewoman
Residence:	Bird Street, Lichfield
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	Bad – is cohabiting with one Enoch White, collier, Pelsall
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	No
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good but in poor circumstances
Parents' wages:	No certain earnings
Amount parents agree to pay:	Nothing
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Captain Segrave, Wolverhampton
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

12 January 1867 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 12 January 1867 p.7 col.5: ROBBERY FROM A TILL.-Thomas Haines was charged with stealing one sovereign and 14s. 6d. from a till belonging to Enoch Atkins, grocer, of Horsley Fields. The prisoner had been in the prosecutor's employ for two years, and on Tuesday last Mr Atkins missed the above-named moneys from the shop till. Prosecutor asked the prisoner if knew anything about it, and prisoner after a little time replied, if he (prosecutor) would give him a candle he would show him where the money was. The money was not found. and prosecutor sent for a police-officer. When the prisoner was charged with the offence he admitted taking the money. One sovereign. three half-crowns. two florins, and three shillings were found on him. He was sentenced to one month's imprisonment and five years in a reformatory.

3 August 1869 Licensed to be under servant at Masons Hall and Club

September 1871 Still doing well at Masons Hall

William Randle - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	630
Age:	10
Whence received:	Stafford Prison
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Light blue
Visage:
Particular marks:	Cut over left eyebrow
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	10 November 1879
Late residence:	Walsall
Parish he belongs to:	Walsall
Customary work and mode of life:	None
Whether illegitimate:	Legitimate
State of education:
Reads:	Not at all
Writes:	Not at all
Offence:	Stealing tobacco
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	8 October 1879; J N Bagnall and J I Bird; Shenstone Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	3 days
For what:	Stealing money
Father's name:	William Randle
Occupation:	Miner
Mother's name:	Mary Randle
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Father's character not good
Parents' wages:	Father has deserted his wife and children. His whereabouts are not known
Amount parents agree to pay:	Mother in poor circumstances and believed to be unable to pay anything
Parents address:	11 Penkridge Street, Walsall
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

2 August 1879 Ther is a report of his previous offence in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 2 August 1879 p.2 col.7: JUVENILE THIEVES - Thomas Harvey (9), Stafford Street, and William Randle (10), were charged with having stolen, on the 31st July, a penny from the shop till of Willies Enoch Barratt. - Prosecutor did not appear. - Randle's mother said that this boy was a terrible trial to her. He would not go to school, and lay out at nights at the forges and other places. She had tried severity and kindness, and could do no good with him. - Harvey's father said that his boy had been a good one until they had gone to live in their present house, and since then he had become connected with a lot of bad boys, who enticed him into all sorts of wickedness. - Prosecutor's wife afterwards appeared, and deposed that she caught Randle in her shop with his hand in the till. He had a penny in his hand. The other boy was outside watching. - Prisoners, were sent to gaol for three days, and ordered to receive six strokes with a birch rod administered by Sergeant Drury.

11 October 1879 The crime that sent him to Saltley is reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 11 October 1879 3 col.7: RUSHALL. STEALING TOBACCO. - At the Shenstone Petty Sessions, on Wednesday, before Colonel Bagnall. K. Corbett, Esq. and Captain Lightwood Birch, four boys, named William Wilkes, Henry Webster, William Randle, and Arthur Day, all of Walsall, varying from 9 to 14 years of age, were each charged with having stolen 6 oz. of tobacco, value 1s. 6d,. the property of James Bates, shopkeeper, Rushall, on Tuesday last. - Tamar Bates, wife of prosecutor, deposed that there was some twist tobacco on the counter. Wilkes came into the shop and asked how much the cigars were, and went out again, taking the tobacco with him. - Police-constable Woodcock produced the tobacco. - Mary Birkins deposed that she saw one of the prisoners go into Mrs Bates' shop, and afterwards. saw Day come out with a piece of tobacco, which he put under his coat. Day said to the others, "Come on. now: I have got it," and they then went away. - Prisoners were each sentenced to one calendar month's imprisonment, six stripes with a birch rod, and afterwards to be confined in a reformatory for five years - Colonel Bagnall remarking that they had no one to take care of them, and they would be sent to a place where they would be looked after and cared for. He expressed a sincere hope that, at the and of their term, they would be honest and industrious, and become respectable members of society.

George Edge - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	757
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Birmingham
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	Oval
Particular marks:	3 scars on forehead
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	12 September 1884
Late residence:	6 court 13 house Cecil Street, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	No occupation
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 12 cotton undershirts
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Keeping bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	30 August 1884; E Avery and W Holliday; Police Court Birmingham
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence:	14 days in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	None known
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	Labourer
Mother's name:	- Edge
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Fairly good
Character of parents	Fairly good
Parents' wages:	No settled wages, very poor circumstances
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not assessed
Parents address:	6 court 13 house Cecil Street, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	J Farndale, Chief Constable, Birmingham
Person making this return:	A Tinkler, Governor, H M Prison Birmingham

Notes:

1 September 1884 There was a brief report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 1 September 1884 p.6 col.5: THEFT FROM A MARKET STALL. - George Edge (14), Court, Cecil Street, was charged with stealing a dozen under-shirts, the property of Harry Cousins, hosier, Leicester. The shirts were stolen from the prosecutor's stall in the Lower Market. - Prisoner was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment, and five years in a reformatory.

17 April 1888 Formally discharged from Saltley on account of emigrating to Ottawa, Canada, along with Allen [boy 769] and Burridge [boy 803]

9 June 1891 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Edge, Scottish Highlanders, Aldershot