Thomas Allen - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 769 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Dark |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Dark |
| Visage: | Narrow |
| Particular marks: | A wart on left temple |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 7 May 1885 |
| Late residence: | with his sister Mrs Canning(?) 7 court 6 house Fox Street Birmingham (this address crossed out and later replaced with 5 Fisher Street, Aston Road, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Filing gun barrels |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Not at all |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Stealing a watch and chain |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Keeping bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 24 April 1885; J Hone and G Marris; Birmingham Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 3 |
| Length: | Various |
| For what: | 1) Stealing rope; 2) gambling; 3) gambling |
| Father's name: | William Allen |
| Occupation: | Barrel welder |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Fairly well |
| Character of parents | Fair |
| Parents' wages: | About £1 per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not assessed |
| Parents address: | Father is a tramp; sister's address 7 court 6 house Fox Street Birmingham (this address crossed out and later replaced with 5 Fisher Street, Aston Road, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments) | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| [A pencilled note in the top margin of the Admissions Register notes that the boy has no brothers and 2 sisters, 1 married] | |
| 25 April 1885 There is a brief report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Saturday 25 April 1885 p.7 col.1: YOUNG THIEF. - Thomas Allen (16), back of 6, Fox Street, was sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment and five years' detention in a reformatory for stealing a watch and chain belonging to Joseph Dunkley, Stratford Road. - Police-sergeant Drinkwater arrested the lad on Thursday night, and ascertained where the stolen articles had been lodged. | |
| 17 April 1888 Formally discharged from Saltley on account of emigrating to Ottawa, Canada, along with Edge [boy 757] and Burridge [boy 803] | |
| 22 April 1889 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Allen, Hampshire Mills, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
| 8 October 1889 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Allen, Leabbury, Canada | |
| 14 April 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Allen, Seaforth, Ontario, Canada | |
| 9 June 1891 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Allen, Manitoba, Canada | |
Albert St Ledger - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1025 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 5 ft 1½ ins |
| Particular marks: | Nil |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 16 March 1893 |
| Late residence: | Noose Lane, Willenhall |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Has been working in a galvanizing works |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 1 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing 2 pork pies |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Has been sadly neglected by his father, who is of drunken habits. He has been in the habit of sleeping out during the last two years |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 6 March 1893; J Tildesley; Willenhall Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 10 days hard labour in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 14 days |
| For what: | Rogue |
| Father's name: | Hayes St Ledger |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Sarah |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Neglected by father |
| Character of parents | Father a drunken worthless fellow |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | Noose Lane, Willenhall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 16 March 1893 There is a brief mention of the crime in Truth Thursday 16 March 1893 p.17 col.2: Willenhall police-court, before Josiah Tildesley and H Vaughan. Albert St Ledger, aged fifteen, charged with stealing two pork-pies. He pleaded hunger. Ten days imprisonment, and three years in a reformatory. | |
| 26 September 1894 The Medical Officer reported: Polypus of ear | |
| 21 March 1895 The Medical Officer reported: Influenza, better by 23 March | |
| 17 July 1895 The Register of Boys on Licence records that St Ledger was licensed to go out and work for Mr Charles, Great Wacton Farm, Bromford | |
| 15 March 1896 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
Joseph Madin - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1280 |
| Age: | 12 (born 14 March 1889) |
| Whence received: | Chesterfield Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Dark brown |
| Height: | 4 ft 3⅝ ins |
| Particular marks: | Abscess mark below right ear; large burn mark left side |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 19 August 1901 |
| Late residence: | 8 Beehive Yard, Brampton, Chesterfield |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil. Associate of thieves |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Stealing the sum of 9s 3½d |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Home influence bad |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 15 August 1901; John Naylor and James Haslam |
| Where imprisoned: | Detained in Chesterfield Workhouse |
| Sentence: | 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Joseph Madin |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Madin |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Father drunken and idle, lives apart from wife. Mother character not good, lives with another man |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | Father – Sheepbridge, Chesterfield, mother - 8 Beehive Yard, Brampton, Chesterfield |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | Francis Stanton, Justices' Clerk, Chesterfield |
| Notes: | |
| 17 August 1901 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Derbyshire Times and Chesterfield Herald Saturday 17 August 1901 p.3 col.5: INCORRIGIBLE YOUTH. ROBBING THE CORPORATION. BOY SENT TO REFORMATORY. A boy of twelve years of age, Joseph Madin, was brought up in the Borough Police-Court at Chesterfield, on Thursday, and in evidence as to his theft of 9s 3½d. there was brought out the fact that the boy had for years been a source of trouble to the police and the public. The charge brought against him on Thursday was that he stole a sum of 9s 3½d from the bag of a tramway conductor, which was hung in the house in which he stayed. - Mr Jno. Middleton, who prosecuted, stated that the only difficulty in the case would be what was done with the boy. He was incorrigible. His parents lived apart, and the boy lived sometimes with one and sometimes with the other, and sometimes with neither. In the present case he broke into the house in which the conductor stayed. The conductors were in the way of getting change, and on balancing up at night they had £1. This conductor, Wm. Ellis. had that sum in his bag at home on the the night of the 12th in silver and coppers, and he hung up the bag when he went to bed. About 6.15 the next morning Ellis's mother heard a window slide, and on looking out saw the prisoner come out at the kitchen window, putting something in his pocket. She went to the bag and found 9s 3½d had been extracted. The boy escaped and concealed himself in the Beehive Pottery, where he was found. He said he had only taken 2s 8d. Mr Middleton suggested that the boy might he sent to an Industrial School or Reformatory. - William Ellis gave evidence as to the money in the bag the night before and what he found next morning. - Mrs Sarah Ellis also corroborated what Mr Middleton had said, and stated that she saw the boy at Chatsworth Road at 9.15 and he then denied having taken anything. He escaped and she informed the police. - Inspector Evans gave evidence to the effect that after getting information of the theft he found the prisoner in the Beehive Pottery, and on charging , him he said he had only taken 2s 8d. and took him to a field where the money was concealed in a hole. He took out a two-shilling piece, a sixpence and twopence. He had known the boy for several years, and had had complaints against him for stealing and begging. He was past all control. - The boy's mother stated that for the past five week he had been residing with her. He was a very had boy sometimes. On the morning in question she asked why he was up so early, and he did not reply. - Defendant then pleaded guilty. - After consideration, the Bench sent the boy to a Reformatory for four years. The boy was then removed from the Court crying. | |
| 22 June 1904 The Medical Officer reported: Cut lip (accident) | |
| 2 August 1905 The Incidental Returns Book reports that Madin was licensed to go out and work for the Manager, Newstead Colliery, Hucknal Torkard, Nottinghamshire | |
| 14 August 1905 Sentence expired whilst out on licence , discharged from Saltley | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 649 |
| Age: | 15 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | 2 small scars on forehead, 1st finger of right hand injured |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 28 September 1880 |
| Late residence: | 5 Oak Place, Irving Street, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Polisher |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Embezzlement from master of 13s 4d |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 8 September 1880; T C S Kynnersley |
| Where imprisoned: | Birmingham Prison |
| Sentence: | 21 days hard labour in prison, 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 6 weeks |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Thomas Andrews |
| Occupation: | Coach harness plater |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Andrews |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | In business on his own account |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not known |
| Parents address: | 5 Oak Place, Irving Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| None |
Henry Harper - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 665 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | Birmingham Prison |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Sallow |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | brown |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | Large scar on neck |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 7 April 1881 |
| Late residence: | 15 court 9 house Wharf Street, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Hay band twisting |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | 3rd Standard |
| Writes: | 3rd Standard |
| Offence: | Stealing a purse, 2 keys, and 1s 5d from the person |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 8 March 1881; Chas. Sturge and J P Williams; Birmingham Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 1 month hard labour in prison, 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 3 |
| Length: | 1) 3 days in prison; 2) 7 days; 3) Remanded and discharged |
| For what: | 1) Stealing a handkerchief; 2) stealing a duck; 3) stealing a loaf |
| Father's name: | John Harper |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Ellen Harper |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | - |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Not known |
| Character of parents | Not known |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | No order made |
| Parents address: | 15 court 9 house Wharf Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Not responsible for any payment of any fees |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 8 March 1881 There is a brief report of the offence in the Birmingham Mail Tuesday 8 March 1881 p.3 col.3: POCKET PICKING AT NEW STREET STATION. Henry Harper (16), hayhand twister, 15 court, 9 house, Wharf Street, was sentenced to one month's imprisonment and four years in a reformatory for stealing a purse containing 1s. 5½d. and some keys, the property of Mrs. Lawrence, of Clifton Road, Moseley, yesterday. |
| 20 April 1881 Harper was very much unsettled at first but I found that a few kindly-spoken words has a wonderful effect upon him. He is now quite at home and I don't think that he is at all a badly disposed boy |