Robert Johnson aka Casson - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1120 |
| Age: | 12 (born 10 April 1883) |
| Whence received: | Walsall Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Sallow |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 8¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | Cut on left thumb; cut wrist left hand; cut bottom lip |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Mental and bodily power rather weak |
| Date of admission: | 31 January 1896 |
| Late residence: | 18 Wolverhampton Road, Walsall |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil |
| Whether illegitimate: | Yes |
| State of education: | |
| Not at all | |
| Writes: | Not at all |
| Offence: | Larceny |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Chief Constable says that in his opinion that the lad has not been properly attended to by his step-father and mother |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 29 January 1896; B Beebee and R J Jupp; Walsall Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Not |
| Sentence: | 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Nil (but 11 November last year [1895] was before the court on 3 charges of larceny and shop breaking. Case was adjourned. He again got into bad company and was sleeping out at night) |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | John Johnson (step-father) |
| Occupation: | Carpenter |
| Mother's name: | Mart Ann Johnson |
| Occupation: | Housewife |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | |
| Parents' treatment of child: | See Chief constable's report |
| Character of parents | Good |
| Parents' wages: | Not stated |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 18 Wolverhampton Road, Walsall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Christopher Taylor, Chief Constable |
| Person making this return: | C Taylor, Chief Constable |
| Notes: | |
| 16 November 1895 A previous offence was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 16 November 1895 p.8 col.1: YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS. - Thomas Newton (14), no fixed home, and Robert Johnson (12), Dudley Street, were charged with breaking into a shop in Blue Lane, on Monday, November 4th, and stealing therefrom a quantity of fireworks, value 7s. - John Bradbury, of 291, Blue Lane East, stated that on Monday, November 4th, he was in charge of his father's shop in Blue Lane. In the evening he locked up the shop and left all safe. When he left there was a large quantity of fireworks in the window. On the following morning he went to the shop, and found that the window had been broken and about 7s. worth of fireworks stolen. - Thomas Rathbone, 5, Checketts Street, stated that on Tuesday, the 5th inst., he saw the two prisoners in Checketts Street. Newton showed him about 40 or 50 crackers, and said that they had some more. - Johnson said that they were walking down Wolverhampton Street about twelve o'clock on the Monday night in question, when Newton put a tin on his hand, put his handkerchief over it, and broke a window. - Newton: If I did it, I should do it a better way than that - (laughter). - William Winter, Blue Lane West, also stated that Newton showed him a large quantity of fireworks. - Inspector Cliffe stated that he arrested the two prisoners on Saturday last. He cautioned and charged them. Johnson said, "I'll tell you the truth. Newton broke the window, and I had some of the things." - Newton : Johnson does not know what he is saying half his time. - Inspector Cliffe (continuing) stated that Newton said, "If I get reformatory school, I'll knock you out " - (laughter). - Newton : I did not. I said that l would break his nose - (laughter). - In reply to the magistrates, Inspector Cliffe stated that from inquiries he had made he found that both the lads were in the habit of sleeping out. - The Chief Constable (Mr. Taylor) said that there were convictions against Newton. It had been his intention to subpoena the father of the lad Newton, but no trace of him could be found. - Mr. Loxton (to Newton): Have you anything to say why you should not be sent to a reformatory school? - Newton: I should like to go. Continuing, he said that his father had deserted him for the last six months. - The case against Johnson was adjourned for eight weeks for good behaviour, and Newton was sent to a reformatory school for four years. | |
| 18 January 1896 The hearing for the previous offence was resumed, as reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 18 January 1896 p.7 col.2: A NEGLECTED LAD. - Robert Johnson, alias Cassan (13), Bridgman Street, was brought up on remand on three charges of larceny -The case was gone into three months ago, and the boy was then put on his good behaviour. - Police-constable Pritchard now stated that he had warned prisoner's step-father to attend the court, but he said that he should not do so. He (the step father) gave the boy a bad character, but witness did not think that he took much interest in him. The boy, in answer to questions by the magistrates, stated that he had no work, and had never had any. When he went home on Tuesday night he could not get in, and at two o'clock in the morning, when ne went again, his father refused to admit him. - The step-father John Johnson, then came into court, and stated that he could not control the boy, asking that he should be sent to an industrial school. He denied that he turned the lad away from home that morning. He never saw the boy, who was a big lying lad, and was constantly disgracing him. He could not be bothered with the boy. - Mr. Lindop : Can you expect him to be any better than he is after the way you have neglected him? - Witness : Yes, I have not neglected him. - The mother said that the boy had got into bad company. He was not quite right in his intellect. She did not want the boy sent away, as he was her only child. She had looked after him as well as she could, but her husband did not torn over his money to her, so that she could not buy new clothes for him. She did not think that her husband took any interest in the lad. - Mr. Beebee: I think that the lad has been shamefully neglected. - The mother said that she was willing to take the lad out of the town, and support him, even if she had to leave her husband to do so. - The magistrates expressed their opinion that the lad had been shamefully neglected, and was to be pitied. The case would be adjourned for eight weeks, the magistrates hoping that at the end of that time there would be a great improvement in the boy. | |
| 1 February 1896 The offence which finally sent him to Saltley was reported in the Walsall Observer and South Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 1 February 1896 p.7 col.2: Robert Johnson (14) and Samson Perkins (11), both of 19, Wolverhampton Street, were charged with stealing an ounce weight, value 6d.. the property of Elizabeth Rogers, of 93, Long Street. - The Chief Constable said that Johnson had been before the court several times, and on the last occasion the mother said that she would take the lad out of the town, but she had not done so. It was only fair to Mrs. Rogers to say that she did not wish to prosecute, but he thought it was a case which should be brought before the magistrates. - Complainant stated that on Friday last the two boys came into the shop and asked the price of a gross of matches. When they went out she missed the weight. On Tuesday last both boys came in again, and she asked them where the weight was. At first they said they did not know, but eventually Perkins went and fetched it for her. - Sergeant Willetts stated that he arrested the prisoner on Tuesday night. He charged prisoners. Perkins answered, "Johnson took it and put it in my pocket." Johnson replied, "Perkins took it." - Both prisoners pleaded guilty. - Johnson had been before the court on several previous occasions, but it was the first time Perkins had been in trouble. - The father of the lad Perkins was bound over in the sum of £5 for his son's good behaviour for six months, and Johnson was sent to a reformatory school for five years. | |
| 28 August 1899 The Medical Officer reported: Gastroenteritis - so ill the doctor was visiting twice a day. Johnson's condition worsened, and he died on 2 September at 1.15 am | |
| 2 September 1899 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records: I regret to have to report that one boy (R Johnson) died from gastro-enteritis after a week's illness. The purging and sickness was assessed on the third day, but brain trouble supervened. He was a boy of weak intellect. | |
