George Turner - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 928 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Light hazel |
| Height: | 4 ft 5½ ins |
| Particular marks: | None |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 4 September 1889 |
| Late residence: | 2 Queen Street, Stafford |
| Parish he belongs to: | St Mary, Stafford |
| Customary work and mode of life: | The police inspector reports that the boy has been turned away from St Mary's School through misconduct, and received a bad character from St Paul's School. He runs the streets and is under no control during the day. His mother left her husband a few years ago. The boy's father is a labourer on railway in the Telegraph Department |
| Whether illegitimate: | No! [exclamation mark in Admissions Register] |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly! |
| Writes: | Imperfectly! |
| Offence: | Stealing a knife and ball |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Lack of mother's control |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 5 August 1889; C Mycock and John J Cross; Stafford Court of Summary Jurisdiction |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 3 |
| Length: | |
| For what: | |
| Father's name: | William Turner |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Mother's name: | Elizabeth Turner |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Father reported as of good character. Mother reported to be a drunken woman |
| Parents' wages: | 18s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not assessed |
| Parents address: | 2 Queen Street, Stafford |
| Superintendent of police | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| Brother to William (boy 1098) - to see his record click here | |
| 10 August 1889 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 10 August 1889 p.4 col.6: SHOPLIFTING BY A BOY. - George Turner (12), of 2, Queen Street, was charged on remand with stealing a knife belonging to James Moreton, of the bazaar in Craberry Street, July 31. - The prosecutor said that on the previous Wednesday afternoon a Mr. Cartwright spoke to him and in consequence he followed prisoner through Broad Eye, when he lost sight of the lad. He missed from the shop a pocket knife and a ball, together worth 9d. He had seen the boy near the shop. - Thomas Cartwright, manager of the Gladstone Club, said he saw prisoner take two things from the shop and put them in his pocket, but could not see what they were. The lad hung about until prosecutor got in sight. The lad then put his arm round the door and took a knife from a card, shut it up, put it in his pocket, and ran away. Witness told Mr. Mereton. - P.C. Cook said that prisoner admitted to him having taken the knife and thrown it against the Wesleyan Chapel in Chapel Street. He also said he took a ball and kicked it about the street until he burst it. Prisoner now pleaded guilty. - The Mayor said the way things were exposed outside the shop appeared to him to be a great temptation to boys. The prisoner had been convicted before, and nothing seemed to do him any good. Prisoner would be sentenced to one month's imprisonment and five years in a reformatory. | |
| 3 August 1893 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Turner was licensed to work for Mr Owen, Foregate Street, Stafford | |
| 18 August 1893 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Turner, Stafford | |
| 12 June 1894 Following a poor report from his employer, the Log Book report records that Turner has been warned that unless his conduct improves he will have to return to Saltley | |
| 3 September 1894 Sentence expired whilst on licence, discharged from Saltley | |
| 9 October 1894 The Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Turner, Stafford | |