| No. in Admissions Register: | 134 |
| Date of admission: | 2 January 1858 |
| Whence received: | Stafford County Gaol |
| By whom brought: | Mr Mountford |
| On what terms: | Committed |
| Friends interested in him: | - |
| Description: | |
| Height: | - |
| Figure: | - |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Light |
| Eyes colour: | Brown |
| Perfect vision? | Yes |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Sound intellect? | Yes |
| Use of all limbs? | Yes |
| Had cow or small pox? | - |
| Particular marks: | Under chin and right leg |
| Cutaneous disorder? | - |
| Scrofulous or consumptive? | - |
| Subject to fits? | - |
| Age last birthday: | 12 |
| Illegitimate? | No |
| Birthday: | - |
| Birth place: | - |
| Has resided: | Thompson's Building, Spon Lane, West Bromwich |
| Parish to which he belongs: | West Bromwich |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Blacksmith (railway pin maker) |
| Schools attended: | Chance's School, West Bromwich |
| By whom and where employed: | None |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Cyphers: | - |
| General ability: | - |
| Offence: | Stealing iron |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | - |
| Date of sentence: | 19 December 1857 |
| Where convicted: | West Bromwich before E Scott and T Bagnall, Esq |
| Sentence: | 14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Where imprisoned: | - |
| Previous committals and convictions: | None |
| Father's name: | - |
| Occupation | - |
| Residence: | - |
| Mother's name: | Hannah Evans |
| Occupation: | Washerwoman |
| Residence: | near Boat Inn, Spon Lane, West Bromwich |
| Father's character: | - |
| Mother's character: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | No |
| Parents' treatment of child: | - |
| Character of parents: | - |
| Parents' wages: | None – receives parish relief |
| Weekly amount parents will pay: | 1s |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Relatives to communicate with | - |
| Person making this return: | Mr J Holland, Inspector of Police, West Bromwich |
| Estimate of character on admission: | - |
| Character on discharge: | - |
| When and how left the Reformatory: | - |
21 December 1857 There is a lengthy report of his offence in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 21 December 1857 p.3 col.1 NB he is named John throughout: A NOTORIOUS RECEIVER COMMITTED. - At the Public Office, on Saturday last, before E D Scott, A Kenrick, and Thomas Bagnall, Esqs, two little lads, George Venables, eleven, and John Evans [first name given thus], twelve years of age, were charged with stealing about 2 cwt of pig iron, the property of Messers A Kenrick and Son. Mr Caddick appeared for the prosecution. The first witness examined was Thomas Leedham, one of the men employed at the works, and he stated that on the preceding Thursday, from suspicions raised as to quantities of iron stolen from the foundry, he was induced to search a heap of block sand, laid at a short distance from the works, when he found some pieces of pig iron evidently hidden. Selecting two pieces, he marked one of them, and returning shortly after to the spot, found them gone. Other portions, also, were missed, and information was given to Police Constable Denston, who stated that having for three years past suspected a marine store dealer named Ann Bullock, alias "Scottie," of receiving stolen metal, he went to her shop, and on searching it he found the iron which he produced, and which was satisfactorily proved to be the metal marked by Leedham, the property of the Messers Kenrick. Further evidence was adduced by the lad Evans's brother, who stated that he had been asked by the two prisoners, his brother and Venables, to go with them and get some iron to sell. They went to the waste sand heap referred to, and taking two pieces at a time to Ann Bullock's, she, without asking any questions, bought it and gave them 1s, for what was worth 3s or more. This witness said he went with his brother to this marine store, and having got the money, they divided it between them. Ann Bullock, who although charged separately was in the dock with the two lads, said that when they came with the iron in question she did ask them how they came by it, and they said they had been employed to clear out a boat, and found the metal amongst the rubbish. She always asked persons who brought iron, etc, where they had it from. The Magistrates (Mr Kenrick having retired during the hearing from the Bench), finding that gentleman through his manager, Mr John Underhill, recommended that a light sentence might be passed upon the lads, who pleaded guilty, said that they must go to Stafford [gaol] for fourteen days, but the necessary steps would be taken to get them into a Reformatory School for three years. Mr Bagnall, finding that the mother of the two lads, the Evans's, was in Court, addressed her, to the effect that she must pay more attention than she had hitherto done to her other son, who had himself a narrow escape. The receiver, Ann Bullock, was committed for trial. - In a second charge against her, of receiving iron bolts and metal, the property of Messers Grice and Watson, where the lad Evans worked, the evidence taken was not considered sufficiently conclusive, and it was accordingly withdrawn.
3 September 1859 absconded with Clifford [boy 132] . Apprehended and brought back 30 March 1860
9 November 1859 The Reformatory Minute Book reports: 618. Mr Humphreys reported that Wm West, Henry Brown [boy 119], and William Pennyfather [boy 120] (all London boys) had absconded on Sunday last, and that J Evans, who absconded on 3rd September had not been found. Steps are being taken for their recovery.
12 July 1860 absconded with J Wilson (boy 153) soon after 6 o'clock this morning. Brought back from Walsall the next day
26 July 1860 absconding by breaking the sick-room window, taking Loftus [boy 172] with him
2 August 1860 The Minute Book records: 695. Mr Humphreys reported that Evans had absconded for the fourth time on Thursday last
696. Resolved: that the boy be punished and confined in prison.
16 October 1860 apprehended at Wolverhampton with Mason [boy 176]
17 October 1860 A brief account of his capture is in the Wolverhampton Chronicle and Staffordshire Advertiser Wednesday 17 October 1860 p.4 col.6: RUNAWAYS FROM SALTLEY REFORMATORY. - Yesterday, at the Borough Police Office, two boys, named Joseph Evans and Patrick Moran [boy 176], were charged with having absconded from the Reformatory School at Saltley. They had been apprehended in this town by Police Officer Marlow, and it appeared that Evans had been committed from West Bromwich and Moran from Wolverhampton. They were remanded until tomorrow (Thursday), in order that the authorities at the Reformatory might be communicated with.
18 October 1860 committed by magistrate to Stafford Gaol for 2 months
November 1864 boatman on Birmingham Canal - doing fairly
| ← Prev | Next → |
|---|
This web page © 2020 Fred Miller