Saltley Reformatory

Charles Hallows - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	109
Date of admission:	26 June 1857
Whence received:	Chester City Gaol
By whom brought:	The governor of Chester Gaol
On what terms	Committed
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
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?	Vaccinated
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	Chester
Has resided:	at Chester
Parish to which he belongs:	St Mary's, Chester
Customary work and mode of life:	Has worked at a brickyard; apprenticed to a shoemaker by the Poor Law Guardians, Chester
Schools attended:	Chester Workhouse School
By whom and where employed:	Unknown
State of education:
Reads:	Fairly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a hat
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Not known
Date of sentence:	13 April 1857
Where convicted:	Chester Borough Court, before Peter Aston? and Colonel john Lloyd
Sentence:	14 days in prison with hard labour, 2 years at Saltley
Where imprisoned:	-
Previous committals and convictions:	stealing potatoes in Chester, 4 days prison
Father's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Mother's name:	-
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Both dead
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents:	-
Parents' wages:	-
Weekly amount parents will pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	His aunt, Sarah Banks, Harden Castle Entry, Lower Bridge Street, Chester
Person making this return:	Henry Steel, Governor, City Gaol, Chester
Estimate of character on admission:	Seems well-disposed but rather noisy
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	3 Jan 1859 - Died of Inflamation at the Reformatory

Notes:

18 October 1856 There is an unusually flowery report of his previous crime in the Chester Chronicle Saturday 18 October 1856 p.8 col.4: A HAPPY LAND. - On Tuesday last, a fine instance of the blessedness of being an inhabitant of a Christian land came before the magistrates. Six poor boys were brought before the bench, charged with stealing some potatoes from the garden of a Mr Read, near the Railway Station. One only of the boys was seen in the garden and taken in the act of theft. Five of them were ordered to stand back, and the prisoner, Charles Hallows, was proceeded against. The poor lad was little more substantial in appearance than a shadow, his feet were not disguised in shoes, and his general toilette was of the most unsatisfactory nature. In his face, however, was none of the wicked bravado which is so often seen in the countenances of juvenile offenders, but a settled expression of melancholy made a goodly-formed visage assume the care-worn aspect of older years. - Magistrate: Where is your father? - Prisoner: Dead. - Magistrate: Where is your mother? - Prisoner: Dead. - Magistrate: How old are you? Prisoner: 15. - Magistrate: Who do you live with? - Prisoner: No one. - Magistrate: What! Do you live alone? - Prisoner: Yes. - Magistrate: Where do you lodge? - Prisoner: In Jonas Bond's brick kiln. - This answer created an audible expression of feeling by the parties in court, and we wished that this poor boy's tale of woe, as he told it amid bitter tears, had been heard by some of those philanthropic individuals who traverse the seas to distant lands in order that they may find scope for their benevolent feelings. The lad was remanded to gaol until Saturday, in order that the magistrates might consider what to do with him. How earnestly is he able to sing - "I thank the goodness and the grace, Which on my birth have smiled, And made me in this Christian land, A happy English child."

18 April 1857 There is a brief report of his crime in the Chester Observer Saturday 18 April 1857 p.7 col.4: Charles Hallows, a young lad, was charged by PC Snell, with stealing a sailor's cap, from Mr Buckley's tripe standing on Saturday night. To be imprisoned for fourteen days, and at the expiration of that time, to be sent to a Reformatory for two years.

1 September 1857 name on Good Conduct List

27 March 1858 detecting in keeping and spending part of the money given him to fetch ham

26 July 1858 about this date frequent complaints made by the shoemaker of his careless work

3 January 1859 complained of pain in his shoulders and chest which was thought to arise from indigestion which turned out to be inflammation, and notwithstanding every remedy and care, he died 10 minutes after 2 o'clock 10 January 1859, his last words being "O lord, have mercy on me for Jesus Christ's sake", repeated several times. During his illness he was much troubled with the recollection of the doings of his past life. [he was buried at St Saviour's churchyard on 13 January 1859. His father may have died the previous year - see an obit for a Charles Hallows in Cheshire Observer Saturday 12 January 1856, p.7, col.5. For the neglect by the older Charles Hallows of his family, see Chester Chronicle Saturday 19 November 1853, p.8, col.4]

William Quinn - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	164
Date of admission:	9 February 1860
Whence received:	Borough Gaol, Birmingham
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	Slight
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
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?	Yes
Particular marks:	Scars on body
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	13
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	Bartholomew Street, Birmingham
Parish to which he belongs:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Brass founding and vagrant
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	None
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing £3 3s
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	27 January 1860
Where convicted:	Birmingham Police Court
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Borough Gaol
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Picking pockets (3 months hard labour)
Father's name:	George Deebank (stepfather)
Occupation:	Brass bit filer
Residence:	Lawrence Street, Birmingham
Mother's name:	Jane Deebank
Occupation:	-
Residence:	Lawrence Street, Birmingham
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	Father
Survivor married again?	Yes to George Deebank
Parents' treatment of child:	Mother has been uniformly kind; stepfather not
Character of parents	Honest, sober, and very healthy
Parents' wages:	Stepfather works for Newey's, Allison Street, and earns probably £2 per week; ought to pay 2s 6d per week
Amount parents agree tp pay:	-
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	Inspector Sullivan, Duke Street station, Birmingham
Relatives to communicate with:	Mother, as above
Person making this return:	D Meadon, Governor, Borough Gaol
Estimate of character on admission:	An unpromising look
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	14 Sep 1863 - Emigrated to Australia

Notes:

28 January 1860 There is a report of his crime in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 28 January 1860, p.5, col.6: A DESIRE GRATIFIED. - William Quin, an intelligent looking lad, thirteen years of age, was charged with stealing £3 3s, the property of his master. Henry Humphries, fishmonger Wrottesley Street. It appeared that the lad went out with his master's son, who locked up the house when he went to buy some hay. The prisoner took his first opportunity of leaving his companion to return home, break into the house, and steal the money from a drawer. The prisoner pleaded guilty to the charge, and Sergeant Teggins, turnkey,stated that the prisoner had expressed a determi- nation of going to a Reformatory by some means or other. The boy having been previously convicted. Mr Kynnersley remarking that the prisons was very much mistaken if he supposed a Refor- matory was a pleasant place to go to, sent him to the House of Correction for fourteen days, and ordered him to be sent at the end of that time to a Reformatory for five years.

8 July1863 Licensed to work for Mr Newey, 39 Allison Street, Birmingham

14 September 1863 Taken to Plymouth to emigrate to Sydney on ship Ida

January 1865 Letter to his mother, is doing well

January 1866 Letter to his mother, is doing well

James Johnson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	760
Age:	14
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Visage:	-
Particular marks:	Mole left side of neck, cut on left wrist
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	10 October 1884 (but due on 9 October)
Late residence:	28 Wood Street, Longton, Staffordshire
Parish he belongs to:	Longton
Customary work and mode of life:	Potter
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Offence:	Stealing 6s 6d
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	9 September 1884; G P Bradford and H Paliner; Court of Summary Jurisdiction Hanley
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	1 month in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	-
Length:	-
For what:	-
Father's name:	James Johnson
Occupation:	-
Mother's name:	Esther Johnson (step-mother, name crossed out)
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Mother
Survivor married again?	Yes
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Honest and sober. Father suffering from weak eyes and in very poor circumstances
Parents' wages:	15s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s
Parents address:	28 Wood Street, Longton, Staffordshire
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	George McWilliams, Superintendent of Police, Longton
Person making this return:	A Windle, Hanley

Notes:

10 September 1884 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 10 September 1884 p.8 col.4: A PRECOCIOUS SWINDLER. - At the Borough Police Court [Hanley], yesterday, James Johnson (14) was charged with stealing 6s. 6d. He was sent to pawn some articles of clothing on June 30, and received 6s. 6d., with which he ran away to Liverpool, where lie had since been earning a precarious living on the streets. - An aunt of prisoner's said he was incorrigible. He bad broken his mother's heart, and was out of the control of his father. - He was a sharp-looking boy, and he was sentenced to a month in gaol and three years in a reformatory.

23 July 1886 Attempted to abscond but was promptly collared by the other boys and promptly brought down to the school

19 May 1887 Formally discharged from Saltley, on account of emigrating, along with Allmark [boy 755]

6 August 1889 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Johnson, Fort Qu'Apelle, Manitoba, Canada

8 October 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Johnson, Hayward Assa, Canada

10 December 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of another letter from Johnson

14 April 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Johnson, Moolbar, India

Henry Farrington - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1017
Age:	15
Whence received:	H M Prison Stafford
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	4 ft 10½ ins
Particular marks:	Nil
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	26 October 1892
Late residence:	9 West Street, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton
Parish he belongs to:	Wolverhampton
Customary work and mode of life:	Has been employed at both bricklaying and carpentry since he left school 18 months ago
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 4
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 4
Offence:	Stealing a purse containing 2s 8d from the person
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Seems to have gone wrong in spite of the efforts of a decent father. Mother however has been convicted
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	6 October 1892; John Marston and William Lees; Wolverhampton Police Court
Where imprisoned:	H M Prison Stafford
Sentence:	21 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1 (9 November 1891)
Length:	Parents to whip him
For what:	Stealing sweets
Father's name:	Christopher Farrington
Occupation:	Carpenter
Mother's name:	Margaret Farrington
Occupation:	-
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Apparently have done their duty by him
Character of parents	Father good. Mother (26 April 1889) fined £1 and costs or 21 days for stealing £1
Parents' wages:	20s per week
Amount parents agree to pay:	-
Parents address:	9 West Street, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	-

Notes:

26 April 1889 His mother's conviction was briefly reported in the Wolverhampton Express and Star Friday 26 April 1889 p. 3 col.3: THEFT OF MONEY. Margaret Farrington. married, West-street, Wolverhampton, was fined 20s. and costs, in default 21 days' hard labour, for stealing £1, the monies of Sarah Fry, also of West-street.

10 November 1891 A previous offence was reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Thursday 10 November 1891 p.5 col.7: JUVENILE SHOP-BREAKERS. - At the Police Court, Bernard George Rush, Henry Farrington, Benjamin Horton, and Edward Lumby, four boys, were charged with breaking into a lock-up shop in Stafford Street, in the occupation of Mr. Sumner, baker and confectioner, and stealing a quantity of sweets, on Sunday night. Rush was ordered to be birched, and the parents of the other prisoners were requested to give them a flogging in the presence of a police officer.

11 October 1895 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Farrington was licensed to go out and work for Mr Moore, Devitts Green Farm, Arley

25 October 1895 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley

13 October 1896 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Farrington, Nuneaton

8 December 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Farrington, farm labourer, Atherstone. (Still with Mr Moore (2 years). Kind regards)

13 August 1901 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Farrington, Field Force, South Africa [the Boer War was underway at this time]

Robert Madeley - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register:	1272
Age:	14 (born 18 January 1887)
Whence received:	Coleshill Petty Sessions
Description:
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark
Eyes colour:	Brown
Height:	4 ft 8½ ins
Particular marks:	Shield left forearm, mole on right arm, a lot of dots on left forearm, 2 on left foreleg
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Date of admission:	15 May 1901
Late residence:	46 Long Acre, Nechells, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	-
Customary work and mode of life:	Casual employment. Generally running the streets
Whether illegitimate:	No
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Writes:	Imperfectly, Standard 3
Offence:	Larceny at Meriden
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Lack of parental control
Date of sentence, by whom and court:	1 May 1901; Hon. A Adderley; Coleshill Petty Sessions
Where imprisoned:	Not
Sentence:	3 years at Saltley
Previous committals:
Number:	1
Length:	Fined 10s 6d
For what:	Larceny
Father's name:	Robert Madeley
Occupation:	Bricklayer
Mother's name:	Amy Isabella Madeley
Occupation:	Housewife
Parents dead?	Neither
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents	Good
Parents' wages:	Not stated
Amount parents agree to pay:	Not yet assessed
Parents address:	46 Long Acre, Nechells, Birmingham
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Person making this return:	H Maddocks, Clerk to the Justices

Notes:

4 May 1901 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Coleshill Chronicle Saturday 4 May 1901 p.5 col.2: JUVENILE THIEVES. - William Davis, alias William Scarlett, 65, Clarendon-street, Aston; Frank Taylor, alias Rowland Hill, 96. Charles-street, Aston; William Fletcher, alias Luke Hasty, 9, Thimble-mill-lane, Aston; and Robert Baker [surname given thus], 46, Long Acre, Birmingham, four youths, described as labourers, were brought up in custody, charged by Alfred Bolus, of Meriden, grocer, with stealing from his shop in that village, on 18th April, two cakes and a bottle of wine, value 6s. 6d., his property. The evidence of prosecutor and his assistant was to the effect that the shop was locked up safely before going to bed the previous night, and on coming down about six o'clock the next morning, a pane of the shop window was found to be smashed, two cakes, weighing 12lb. or 13lb., and a bottle of fruit wine, were missing from a ledge in the window. Information was given to P.c. Franklin, who went in pursuit and overtook the prisoners on the way to Coventry. When arrested cake crumbs were upon them, while a large portion of cake was found in a garden adjoining the road they had taken. Cake wrappers and pieces of the broken bottle were also traced in the same direction. When brought to the police station at Coleshill they first denied all knowledge of the thefts, but gave their names, and next morning they all admitted taking the cakes and wine, and asked to be dealt with there and then; the two older prisoners, on being returned to the cells, calling him back and telling him some of the cake would be found in an old house on the road, but it was not there. - They all elected to be dealt with here, and pleaded guilty. - They were next charged by John Fairfield, of Lodge-road, Knowle, carpenter, with stealing from a hut in Coventry-road, Bickenhill, on 18th April, one jacket, value 1s., his property. It was shown that the young fellow's jacket was locked up safely in the hut at 5.30 the previous evening, and found to be gone at 6.30 next morning, the hut having been broken into, the door panels burst open, and the lock broken. - George Byng, builder's foreman, gave corroborative evidence, and P.c. Turrall. stationed at Elmdon, spoke to finding the stolen jacket on Baker when in the cell, on 19th April. The four prisoners, who were together, said they were walking from Birmingham to Coventry, and found the jacket on the road just before getting to Stonebridge. He took the jacket back; Fairfield identified it, and valued it at 1s. Prisoners afterwards said they shoved the door of the hut, and it flew open. - In this case they also elected to be tried here, pleaded guilty, and had nothing to say. - The parents of two of the youths were present, and one of them was severely taken to task for conniving in the procuration of a false character, not having divulged a previous conviction. - Davis and Fletcher, against whom there were several previous records, were sentenced to a month's hard labour in each case; Fletcher and Baker being sent to a reformatory for three years. It was stated that they had good, comfortable homes, and regular employment, but were led away by the older fellows, which, however, they denied.

29 October 1903 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Madeley was licensed to go out and work for Mr E Garfield, Birchfield Road, Aston [now in Birmingham]

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