Saltley Reformatory Inmates

George Billingham

No. in Admissions Register:	234
Date of admission:	10 March 1862
Whence received:	Birmingham Gaol
By whom brought:	-
On what terms:	-
Friends interested in him:	-
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Pale
Hair colour:	Light brown
Eyes colour:	Blue
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Yes
Particular marks:	-
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	-
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	14
Illegitimate?	-
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	4 Birmingham Place, Horse Fair, Birmingham
Parish he belongs to:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Pearl button maker
Schools attended:	-
By whom and where employed:	-
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing a mantle
Circumstances which may have led to it:	-
Date of sentence:	18 February 1862
Where convicted:	Moor Street, T C S Kynnersley
Who prosecuted:	-
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham
Sentence:	21 days prison, 5 years at Saltley
Previous committals and convictions:	Stealing fruit
Father's name:	William Billingham
Occupation:	Chain maker
Residence:	4 Birmingham Place, Horse Fair, Birmingham
Mother's name:	Olivia Billingham
Occupation:	-
Residence:	-
Father's character:	-
Mother's character:	-
Parents dead?	-
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	-
Character of parents	-
Parents' wages:	Not more than 10s a week
Amount parents agree to pay:	Have three young children and are not able to pay anything
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	T C S Kynnersley
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

19 February 1862 There is a report of the remand hearing for the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 19 February 1862 p.2 col.7: A previously convicted lad, named George Billingham, a pearl button maker, living in the Horse Fair, was charged with having on the previous day stolen a mantle from the shop door of Mr. Coombs, tailor, Icknield Street East. On the day in question the prisoner was seen by a person who lives opposite the prosecutor's shop to take the property from the shop door, conceal it under his coat, and walk away. The witness followed him, and on the prisoner observing him approach, threw down the mantle and commenced running. He was, however, ultimately captured and given into custody. The prisoner was convicted, but his sentence was deferred until today.

20 February 1862 The verdict was reported the next day in the Birmingham Daily Post Thursday 20 February 1862 p.2 col.7:

15 June 1862 Absconded in the night with 176 [Patrick Moran] and 211 [Henry Lawless]

16 August 1862 Caught by our own shoemaker in the Market Hall and for safety given up to the police

19 August 1862 Given up to me [Mr Humphreys, in charge of Reformatory]

20 August 1862 There is a report of his appearance in court following his absconding in the Birmingham Daily Post Wednesday 20 August 1862 p.2 col.5: THE CHARGE OF ABSCONDING FROM A REFORMATORY SCHOOL. - George Billingham, a pearl button maker, living in the Bristol Road, the youth who was remanded on a charge of having absconded from the Saltley Reformatory School, was again placed in the dock. The lad now consented to return to the school, and was accordingly taken away by Mr. Hugh Humphries, the master of the establishment.

22 January 1864 Absconded with 173 [William Wheat]

19 March 1864 Brought back and committed to prison for three calendar months on the 31st

30 June 1864 Readmitted

9 August 1864 Enlisted in the Royal Marines

13 August 1864 Returned to the school having been rejected at Portsmouth on account of unsound lungs

20 August 1864 Discharged on direction of Mr Adderley

20 December 1866 Called at the school. Is in the 17th Lancers

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