| 7 February 1857 There is a short possible report of his previous offence in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 7 February 1857 p.4 col.3: A JUVENILE CHIP MERCHANT. - Thomas Burke, a little gentleman, whose head was just visible above the dock, and who is intimately acquainted with Mr Cater, the police superintendent, was charged with having obtained the sum of 3d from Mr Thomas Barratt, tailor, Park Street. It appeared the diminutive delinquent called at the prosecutor's shop on Monday, with a bundle of chips, which he exhibited as a sample as to quantity and quality. He succeeded in obtaining a commission from the prosecutor to furnish a similar threepenny-worth, accordingly a boy was sent with him to take charge of the money and to receive the chips; but, by some means or other, the little rascal got the cash from his companion, after having conducted him into Sebastopol Road, gave him the slip, and left him to return home minus money and chips. He also had the audacity to try the same game with Mr Sill; but, as we heard a gentleman in court remark, when perpetual motion was discovered, and the mathematician had succeeded in squaring the circle, there might be some chance of duping a lawyer. The Bench sentenced him to hard labour for two months. |
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| 14 November 1857 Absconded and was brought back from Walsall on the 17th |
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| 11 December 1857 Absconded, taking T Francis [boy 130] with him. Francis was caught up the lane by J West and the gardener sought Burke in Coleshill Street. Upon being caught, he threw himself into the gutter and refused to return. He made such an uproar that a mob collected round the gardener so that he was obliged to get a policeman to help him. |
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| 1September 1859 went to work for John Hedges, shoemaker, Freeth Street, Hockley |
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| Afterwards removed to Walsall |
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| 24 December 1859 had a good character from his employer: it read This is to certify that Thomas Burke has been in my employment a considerable time and has behaved himself in a honest and proper manner and given me satisfaction. Joseph Taylor, boots and shoe maker, Green Lane, Walsall |
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| 15 June 1861 Having left the reformatory, and working at a respectable job, he sued another person for non-payment for work done. There is a report in the Walsall Free Press and General Advertiser Saturday 15 June 1861 p.4 col.3: NON-PAYMENT OF WAGES-THE RFORMATORY SYSTEM. -Thomas Burke v. Charles Smith. Tis was a summons for 5s. 6d. wages alleged to be due. Defendant said had paid complainant s mother. The mother was sworn, and deposed to the payment of two sums of 2s. 6d. and 1s. 6d. respectively. It appears that 7s. was the sum originally due. that the 1. 6d. had first been paid, and the 2s. 6d. after the summons had been taken out by complainant. Defendant said that he had fully paid complainant, or his .mother, for the work which he had done. He had agreed to pay him according to the work done, and although he had paid 4s., he was quite sure his work was not worth 2s 6d. Complainant affirmed that he had been hired the week, but his mother's additional testimony seemed to contradict this. The case was accordingly dismissed. [The complainant in this case is a steady, respectable looking lad, and (as such opportunities are not of frequent occurrence) think it worth observing that he was once a "street arab" of this town, was frequently in the custody of the police, was finally sent for three years to Saltley Reformatory, served his time there, and acquired a knowledge of shoemaking, by which he is now enabled to gain an honest livelihood. So much for the working of the reformatory system]. |
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| 10 June 1862 begging at Mr Williams' |
