Alfred Murrall - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 773 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | Long |
| Particular marks: | Long cut over left eyebrow |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Slender |
| Date of admission: | 10 June 1885 |
| Late residence: | Lower Sandford Street, Lichfield |
| Parish he belongs to: | St Mary's, Lichfield |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Farm labourer |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing money (2s 4d) |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 11 May 1885; J H Hodson and R Birch; Lichfield |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month hard labour in prison, 2 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | - |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Murrall |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Well treated |
| Character of parents | Mother a cripple and in receipt of parish relief |
| Parents' wages: | None |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | None |
| Parents address: | Lower Sandford Street, Lichfield |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | William Hernaman, Lichfield |
| Person making this return: | A Barnet, Justices Clerk, Lichfield |
| Notes: | |
| 15 May 1885 There is a report of the crime in the Lichfield Mercury Friday 15 May 1885 p.8 col.1: A YOUTHFUL THIEF. - Alfred Murrell, 14, Sandford Street, was charged with stealing 2s. 4d. from Henry Bailey, on Thursday the 7th inst. - Henry Bailey, a youth thirteen years of age, living with his father in Sandford Street, said Murrell lived close to him. Witness had saved 2s. 4d. in money, and had placed it in a tin can on a ledge in the coal cellar. He had shown it to Murrell, who was the only one who knew about it besides himself. The money was safe on Wednesday, but he missed it on Thursday, Murrell having been there previously to him looking in the can. Witness went to him and asked him what he had done with the money, but he replied he had not had it. He told his mother, and she went for the police, who took Murrell into custody. - In reply to the Bench, the prisoner said he took the money to get some food with, as his mother gave him nothing to eat. - Walter Murrell, brother of the boy, stated that what his brother had just said was a great falsehood, he having had as much to eat as he wanted. His mother, however, who is a widow and an invalid, could do no good with him. He had had work given him at several places, but he was a very bad boy. and would not keep to work. He had been brought up in London, and had there learnt to pilfer and smoke, and his mother wanted to get him into some Industrial School. - The Mayor promised to see if the boy could be got into an Industrial School, and for this purpose the Bench adjourned the case till Monday. | |
| In the same newspaper, at the foot of the same column is a brief report of the sentence: THE THEFT BY A BOY. - Alfred Murrell was charged on remand from Friday with stealing 2s. 4d., the money of William Bailey. - Mr. Hodson stated that he had seen the boy's mother, and had found out that he had behaved very badly for the past eleven months, and he considered the Bench were fully justified in sending him to prison for one month, to be followed bv two years in a reformatory, where he would be taken care of, and learnt a good trade. | |
| 31 December 1886 The Reformatory Committee Log Book records Murrall as being let out on licence to work for Mr Couchman, Small Heath, Birmingham | |
| 6 March 1887 Absconded whilst on licence. His absconding happened the same day that a bad report from his employer was received at the Reformatory | |
| 8 March 1887 The Reformatory Committee Log Book contains a report which includes the following statement: I should much like to make a summary example of the lad Alfred Murrall when we get him back, not in a spirit of vindictiveness but as a warning to those of our inmates who may have the privilege of license [to be let out to work] | |
| 10 May 1887 The Log Book reports: The boy Alfred Murrall was brought back and charged at Aston Police Court (with absconding from licence), in accordance with your instructions, and was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour. He was readmitted here on the 17th April, on the expiration of his gaol term. | |
| 9 June 1887 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| 11 February 1896 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Murrell, Royal Welsh Fusiliers [in the list of letters received, his name reads Alfred Murrell (Fellowes)] | |
Francis Fisher - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1030 |
| Age: | 13 (born 6 March 1880) |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Cardiff |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Height: | 4 ft 1¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut scar left side head, 2 cut scars on forehead, scar on lower top and inside wrist |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 13 May 1893 |
| Late residence: | 121 Cathays Terrace, Cardiff |
| Parish he belongs to: | Cardiff |
| Customary work and mode of life: | - |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 1 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 1 |
| Offence: | Stealing 5 sacks |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 5 May 1893; F J Bevan; Cardiff Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Cardiff |
| Sentence: | 10 days in prison, 4 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 2 |
| Length: | 1) (23 April 1892) 1 day and 6 strokes; 2) 11 May 1892) 1 day and 6 strokes |
| For what: | 1) Stealing canvas; 2) stealing bottles |
| Father's name: | John Fisher |
| Occupation: | Coal trimmer |
| Mother's name: | (step-mother) [not named] |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | Yes |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | "Nothing against them" |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 121 Cathays Terrace, Cardiff |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 25 April 1892 A previous offence was reported in the South Wales Daily News Saturday 25 April 1892 p.6 col.5: NEGLECTED CHILDREN.-Frederick and Francis Fisher, aged 11 and 10 years respectively, were sentenced to one day's imprisonment, and each ordered to receive six strokes of the birch rod for stealing two pieces of canvas value one penny, the property of Mr Phelps, gardener, Cathays. - Alderman Jacobs severely censured the parents for their neglect of the children. | |
| 11 May 1892 Another previous offence was reported in the South Wales Echo Wednesday 11 May 1892 p.2 col.7: THEFT OF FEEDING BOTTLES. - Four young lads, named respectively Ernest Poole (16), George Williams (15), Francis Fisher (10), and Alfred Barter (9), were charged at the Cardiff police-court this morning - before the Stipendiary (Mr T. W. Lewis) and Dr. Paine - with stealing five infants' feeding bottles, value 1s. 3d., from a crate outside the shop door of 60, Woodville-road, the property of Frederick Milward, chemist, on the 10th inst. Police-constable Price proved the case, evidence being also given that Fisher, who had been in the hands of the police before, appeared to be the ringleader. Fisher was ordered to receive six strokes of the birch and to be imprisoned for one day, the other three prisoners being released on their parents entering into recognizances of £5 each to bring them up for judgment when called upon. | |
| 19 June 1896 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Fisher was licensed to go out and work for Mr J White, Cross Lane, Pontyclown, Glamorganshire | |
| 12 May 1897 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
William Thomas - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1285 |
| Age: | 13 (born 10 May 1888) |
| Whence received: | Liverpool Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 7¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | WT left forearm, heart drawn on right forearm |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 31 October 1901 |
| Late residence: | 41 Gilbert Street, Liverpool |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Police report - plays truant, sleeps out at night, and keeps bad company |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 3 |
| Offence: | Larceny |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of parental control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 31 October 1901; W J Stewart; Liverpool Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 (17 June 1901) |
| Length: | 12 strokes |
| For what: | Larceny |
| Father's name: | Evan Thomas |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Mother |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | To be assessed |
| Parents address: | 41 Gilbert Street, Liverpool |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Inspector J McCoy, Liverpool |
| Person making this return: | Inspector J McCoy |
| Notes: | |
| 12 December 1904 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Thomas was licensed to go out and work for Mr Bruce, 42 Seal Street, Liverpool | |
| 30 October 1906 Sentence expired whilst out on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| No. in Admissions Register: | 669 |
| Age: | 14 |
| Whence received: | H M Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | Scar centre of forehead |
| State of health: | - |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 22 June 1881 |
| Late residence: | 41 Barford Street, Birmingham |
| Parish he belongs to: | Birmingham |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Groom |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | 3rd Standard |
| Writes: | 3rd Standard |
| Offence: | Stealing gas fittings |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Not known |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 2 June 1881; A Biggs and Alfred Hill; Birmingham Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 21 days hard labour hard labour, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | 14 days hard labour |
| For what: | Reputed thief |
| Father's name: | Isaac Green (step-father) |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Mother's name: | Mary Green |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | Yes |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Well |
| Character of parents | Not known |
| Parents' wages: | Not known |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | |
| Parents address: | 41 Barford Street, Birmingham |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
Notes:
| 2 June 1881 There is a short report of the crime in the Birmingham Mail Thursday 2 June 1881 p.3 col.3: YOUNG OFFENDERS. Alfred Attwood (14), ostler, 41. Barford Street; Walter Langford (17), brass polisher, 240, Moseley Street; and George Browett (12), screw turner, 4 court, Moseley Street, were charged with being on new premises in Bradford Street with intent to commit a felony. Browett was discharged ; Attwood was sent to gaol for 21 days, afterwards to be detained in a reformatory for five years ; and Langford was sent to prison for three mouths with hard labour. |
| 11 January 1886 It appears that Alfred returned to a life of crime after leaving the reformatory. There are a number of newspaper reports testifying to this, one of which is in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 11 January 1886 p.7 col.6: CASES FOR THE ASSIZES. - Alfred Attwood (19), hostler, Barford Street, and Thomas Senitt (20), brassfounder, of no fixed abode, were charged with stealing a basket containing linen from a cart in Bromsgrove Street. - On Friday night Dina Burton, laundress, was delivering some goods in Bromsgrove Street when a large basket, containing a quantity of clean linen, belonging to Francis Peverelli, was stolen from her cart. - Police Constable Smith stated that he met the two prisoners in Moseley Street a short time after the robbery. Attwood was carrying a basket. - Witness and Police Constable Tubb followed them into Barford Street, where they arrested them on suspicion. Subsequently the prosecutrix went to the station with the view of giving information respecting the robbery. - Prisoners were further charged with stealing two pairs of boots on Friday night from the shop door of Messrs. Watson and Co., boot manufacturers, 76, Gooch Street. The boots were pledged by two girls named Catherine Sirrett and Eliza Rudge, who were arrested on a charge of stealing the boots, and who stated that they received them from the; prisoners. - The girls were now discharged, and gave evidence against the prisoners, who were committed to the Assizes on both charges. |
Thomas Henry Harris - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 84 |
| Date of admission: | 6 February 1856 |
| Weekly payments: | - |
| Age: | 13 |
| Education: | Can read and write |
| Previous employment: | Gun finisher |
| Crimes, how often and in what prison: | 6 |
| Training in reformatory: | 1 March 1857 |
| When left reformatory: | - |
| Parentage and family: | Father dead and mother since married |
| Residence: | 13 New Town Row, Birmingham |
| Trade of father: | - |
| With whom the boy is placed: | - |
| Address: | - |
| Trade: | - |
Notes:
| 12 January 1856 Very brief details of his crime were published in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 12 January 1856 p.11 col.5: Thomas Henry Harris, for stealing a cape, the property of Edward Hogg, one month [in prison] and three years at Saltley Reformatory. |
| 21 March 1857 A piece in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 21 March 1857 gave details of a crime committed after Harris had absconded from the Reformatory: STEALING A COAT AT HANDSWORTH. - THOMAS EARP, 16. closer. THOMAS HARRIS, 15, tailor, and JAMES FARRELL, 15, tailor, were indicted for stealing on the 3rd of March, 1857, at the parish of Handsworth, one coat, the property of John Jones. Mr. Holroyd conducted the prosecution; the prisoners were undefended. Earp was found guilty ; the other prisoners were acquitted. One of the witnesses, Mr. Ellis, master of the Saltley Reformatory School, said that the prisoners had been inmates of the school, and that on Sunday, the 1st of March, they absconded. Mr. Ellis also said that since he had been master of the school he had issued 250 tickets of leave of seven days each, and that not three per cent, of that number had been abused. Two previous convictions were proved against Earp, and sentence deferred. At the close of the case hit Lordship asked Mr. Ellis whether he could take back Harris and Farrell to the reformatory school. Mr. Ellis replied that he should be happy to do so, but the regulations of the establishment would not admit of it, and that Mr. Adderley bad expressed his conviction that boys who had absconded ought not to be taken back. His Lordship said it would be a great pity to send the boys out upon the world again, upon which Mr. Hill expressed the pleasure it would give him to communicate with Mr. Adderley upon the subject, and his Lordship accepted the offer of Mr. Hill, after learning from the lads that they were willing to back to the reformatory school and remain in the gaol until Saturday. |
| 25 March 1857 An item in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 25 Mar 1857 p.7 col.3 gave a slightly different account of the verdict on the coat stealing: THOMAS EARP, a youth who had been twice previously convicted, and had absconded from the Saltley Reformatory School, inducing two smaller boys [Thomas Harris and James Farrell] to accompany him, and had now been convicted of felony for the third time, was sentenced to three months with hard labour. As to the two boys whom he had induced to accompany him, the learned Judge said he should make intercession to get them re-admitted into the establishment, and if that could not be done they must be given up to their parents. |
| 26 August 1858 The Reformatory Minute Book states: 524. It was reported that Thomas Harris, one of the former inmates who absconded, and has been since in prison, has been assisted by the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society to obtain employment, and has been put out as indoor apprentice to a respectable tradesman, as a marble and stone mason. The Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society paid a sizeable premium with the apprenticed. |