Thomas Beckett - Saltley Reformatory Inmate

No. in Admissions Register: 723
Age: 13
Whence received: H M Prison Birmingham
Description:  
Complexion: Fresh
Hair colour: Brown
Eyes colour: Grey
Visage: Height 4 ft 7½ ins
Particular marks: -
State of health: -
Able-bodied? -
Date of admission: 1883
Late residence: 120 Coplow Street, Dudley Road, Smethwick
Parish he belongs to: Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life: Casting
Whether illegitimate: No
State of education:  
Reads: Imperfectly
Writes: Imperfectly
Offence: Stealing one ulster
Circumstances which may have led to it: Bad company
Date of sentence, by whom and court: 18 June 1883; T C S Kynnersley; Court of Summary Jurisdiction
Where imprisoned: H M Prison Birmingham
Sentence: 14 days hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals:  
Number: 1
Length: Remanded for a week
For what: Stealing his father's waistcoat
Father's name: George Beckett
Occupation: Fitter
Mother's name: Eliza Beckett
Occupation: -
Parents dead? Neither
Survivor married again? -
Parents' treatment of child: Good
Character of parents Good
Parents' wages: £3 per week
Amount parents agree to pay: -
Parents address: 120 Coplow Street, Dudley Road, Smethwick
Superintendent of police (to collect payments): -
Person making this return: -
   
Notes:
   
1 June 1883 There is a report of possibly a different crime in the Birmingham Mail Friday 1 June 1883 p.3 col.5: THEFT BY BOYS. Thomas Beckett (13), Coplow Street, schoolboy, and Arthur Corley (13), St. George's Street, dipper, were charged with being In company with another boy, and stealing a coat from the office of Mr. Field, factor, Holland Street, the property of Charles Fellows, Bell Lane, Erdington. They pleaded guilty. Corley, who bears a good character, was let off on his father being bound for him, and Beckett, who has been in trouble before for being an associate of thieves, was ordered to receive twelve cuts from the birch.
   
3 October 1884 Medical officer reports: Bilious catarrh, convalescent by 6 October
   
27 October 1885 Medical officer reports: Starvation while absent as abscondee, pulmonary catarrh. Diagnosed with peritonitis on 6 December. That improved, but on 30 December Medical Officer decided he had constitutional debility from privation during absence from School. Ordered good food, cod liver oil, and rest
   
22 April 1886 Discharged from Saltley by order of the Home Secretary on emigrating to Canada from Liverpool on the SS Circassian along with Hurley [730], Moss [boy 680], and Wareham [boy 715]
   
8 November 1887 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Beckett, Vandecar, Ontario, Canada