Albert Sharpe - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 1152 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | Heanor Petty Sessions |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light |
| Eyes colour: | Bluish-grey |
| Height: | 5 ft 6¾ ins |
| Particular marks: | Scar left hip |
| State of health: | Fair |
| Able-bodied? | - |
| Date of admission: | 1 April 1897 |
| Late residence: | East Nelson Street, Heanor, Nottinghamshire |
| Parish he belongs to: | Heanor |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Schoolboy |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Writes: | Imperfectly, Standard 2 |
| Offence: | Larceny of a watch, value £2 10s 0d |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Of a wild disposition, frequently staying away from home and sleeping out at nights |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 29 March 1897; J Mayfield and J N Fletcher; Heanor Petty Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Sentence: | 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | Nil |
| Length: | |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Sarah Ann Sharpe |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents | Mother - fairly good |
| Parents' wages: | - |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | East Nelson Street, Heanor, Nottinghamshire |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
| Notes: | |
| 2 April 1897 The crime that sent him to Saltley was reported in the Ripley and Heanor News and Ilkeston Division Free Press Friday 2 April 1897 p.3 col.3: LARCENY AT HEANOR. - Isaac Sharpe, Albert Sharpe, and Frank Housley (boys), residing at Heanor, were each charged with feloniously stealing a silver lever watch, value £2 10s., property of Benjamin Buxton, groom to Mr. Wilson, Marlpool, manager to the Shipley Collieries, who stated that about half-past eleven a.m. on the morning in question he left his watch hanging in the saddle room and closed the door behind him. Upon returning thirty minutes later, he found the door opened and the watch gone. He subsequently gave information to the police.- Samuel Meakin, also a boy, stated that on the morning of the 19th, he saw the three defendants at Heanor. They all went on towards Marlpool. He saw the boy Isaac go into the yard. Defendant told witness be was going for something to eat, and was away about three minutes when he came running back with a watch in his hand, the same as now produced. There was also a chain attached and two keys. Witness was told they were going to pawn them at Eastwood on their arrival at that place. Isaac, aged 11, was sent into a shop to try to get 10s. upon them, but the shopkeeper refused to take them in. They went to another shop, where they were told to fetch a note or bring their father. They then proceeded to a watch shop. Isaac went in this shop also. They were also informed they must bring a note signed by their father or mother. Defendant held in his hand a paper like the one produced. Albert then sent Isaac into a pot shop for the purpose of getting the note signed. Eventually they took the note back to the watch shop signed by a Mrs. Purser. Some money was given defendants and witness had 2s. given to him. He was not told how much money was got for the watch. Witness went to Ripley the same night and spent the money. - Eli Lynham, watchmaker and managing jeweller, residing at Nottingham-road, Eastwood, spoke as to the defendant Isaac coming to his shop, offering the watch produced for sale. The lad said it was on sale for 10s., and stated they were sent by their mother who wanted some money for something to eat. Defendant, on being told that he could not be given any money for the watch, said his mother was bad and the baby too, i and his father was at work. Albert also gave the same tale. Witness then wrote out a note which . was returned to him later on signed by a Mrs. Purser. Witness then gave the lad the money. - Ellen Mellors deposed to signing the note, the boys having told her their mother was poorly. - The Chairman of the Bench said it was an extraordinary thing for witness to do for boys that she knew absolutely nothing about. - Sergt. Cosgrove spoke to arresting tbe boys. - After further hearing, the Bench agreed to bind over Frank Houseley to come up when called upon. - Supt. Daybell said there were other charges of thefts against the defendants Sharpes, and the Bench decided to send Albert Sharpe to a Reformatory and Isaac Sharpe to an Industrial School until 16 years of age. | |
| 1 April 1900 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley | |
| 9 February 1904 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report records receipt of a letter from Sharpe, Heanor | |