Alfred Smith - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 796 |
| Age: | 10 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Visage: | Oval |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 18 January 1886 |
| Late residence: | 9 court 16 house Victoria Road, Aston |
| Parish he belongs to: | Aston |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Nil |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing 1 bottle of sweets |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 22 December 1885; Alfred Baker and Richard Payton; Aston Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Birmingham |
| Sentence: | 28 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1, Aston 1883 |
| Length: | Jailed one day and birched |
| For what: | Stealing a watch and 4d |
| Father's name: | Robert Smith |
| Occupation: | Engine driver |
| Mother's name: | Eliza Smith |
| Occupation: | Thimble maker |
| Parents dead? | No |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Says 'unkind' |
| Character of parents | Father indifferent, mother good character |
| Parents' wages: | Father out of employment, mother earns 5s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Not assessed |
| Parents address: | 9 court 17 court Victoria Road, Aston |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Superintendent Walker, Warwickshire Constabulary, Aston |
| Person making this return: | M Elliott, H M Prison Birmingham |
| Notes: | |
| 26 December 1885 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham and Aston Chronicle Saturday 26 December 1885 p.5 col.2: ASTON POLICE COURT. TUESDAY. Before A. Baker, E. H. Stringer, and R Peyton, Esqrs. FORBIDDEN SWEETS. John Smith (10). and Alfred Smith (9) brothers, living in Victoria-road, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing a bottle of sweets, on the 18th. inst., the property of Thomas William Bateman, shopkeeper. - P.C. King stated that half-past nine o'clock on the evening of the 18th inst., he was on duty in Victoria-road, when he saw the two lads. John was carrying a bottle of sweets. Witness asked them where they had got them, when the elder brother replied, " We stole them from off the counter at the shop at the corner." Witness then took the lads to the station and locked them up. The value of the sweets would be 8d. - Supt. Walker said the elder boy had been for severed years in an Industrial School, the while younger had received sentence at the Aston Police Court of three days' imprisonment and six strokes of a birch rod for stealing money. The boys were shamefully neglected by their mother. - The mother, who was in court, denied the Superintendent's statement as to her neglect of the children, and said the elder boy, ever since he came out or the Industrial school, brought her money regularly. - Mr. Baker said the Bench felt that prisoners were in their present position through their mother's neglect. Under the circumstances they believed they would be consulting the lads' own interests by sending them to prison for 28 days to be followed by detention in a reformatory for five years. | |
| 26 January 1889 The Register of Boys on Licence reports that Smith was licensed to go out and work for E Lowe, Esq, Aston | |
| 16 September 1889 Readmitted to the School from on licence [no reason given] | |
| 30 August 1890 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Smith was licensed to go out and work for Victoria Rolling Mills, Lichfield Road, Birmingham | |
| 17 January 1891 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst on licence | |
