Saltley Reformatory Inmates

William Bullock

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Notes:

31 March 1866 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Staffordshire Advertiser Saturday 31 March 1866 p.7 col.5: ROBBERIES BY A GANG OF JUVENILES.-Henry Hinchley. 12. Samuel Keene, 17. Joseph Meaden, 14. and William Bullock, 15 years old, were charged with having stolen 16s. 8d. and two basins from the shop of Thomas Lovatt, china dealer, Liverpool-road, on the 3rd of March. The prisoners pleaded guilty, and confessed that, about half-past ten o'clock on the night in question, Hinchley took off his boots and, while the others were watching, went into the shop and took ore of the basins containing silver, with which they ran away. After dividing the money, they threw the basin over a wall near the Vine. Liverpool-road. They then returned to the shop, and Hinchley went in again, and fetched the basin containing coppers. That basin they threw into a garden in Hassell Street. Prosecutor said he believed that the two basins contained altogether about. £2 2s. Sergeant Lea. who gave evidence as to a confession made by Bullock, and assented to by the other prisoners, said that Bullock told him he could keep him writing for a fortnight If he would write down all the offences he and his companions had committed. Superintendent Williams said that amongst the thefts to which the prisoners confessed, and which, from enquiries, he found had been committed within the past two or three weeks, were the following:- They had stolen 2s. 6d. from a shop In the Liverpool Road; 10s. from the shop of Mr. Jenkinson, draper, Liverpool Road ; a box of figs from the shop of Mr. Birks, grocer; a bottle of wine from the shop of Mr. Lawton, near the Old Church Gates; a bottle of rum from Hughes's vaults. Bridge Street; a bottle of sweets from the shop of Mr. Randles, Ironmarket; three boxes of sardines from Mr. Watson's shop, Ironmarket; two loaves of bread from the shop of Mrs. Sulivan, Merrial Street; 1½ lb. of pig puddings from Mr. Rhead's, Bridge Street; a bottle of pickled onions from Mr. Wright's. Lower Street; some "chittlins" from the shop of Mr. Eardley, Bridge Street; two oranges from a greengrocer's shop in Church-street (in which they intended committing further robbery, hut they were overheard while making their arrangements); two pigeons from Mr Bayley's; a bottle of Everton toffy from Mr. Highfield's, Red Lion Square; £1 2s. from the office of Mr. Leech, at the coal wharf in the Liverpool Road. On Friday the prisoners made another attempt to rob Mr. Leech, who, however, had kept watch and caught the thieves. Hinchley had in his possession when taken into custody a loaded pistol. Superintendent Williams added that the same youth, although only 12 years of age, had purchased a watch at the shop of Mr. John Williams, jeweller, for £1 2s., the proceeds of one of the robberies. Mr. John Williams was sent for, and the Mayor told him that he was not justified in selling a watch to such a small boy without making any inquiries. Mr. Williams said that the lad who came to the shop said his father had sent him for the watch in the window marked 22s., and he did not think there was anything suspicious about it. After a conversation upon the subject it was explained that Hinchley had not fetched the watch himself, but that he had sent another and a larger boy to purchase it for him, which altered the appearance of the transaction in the estimation of the Bench. Mr. Williams took back the watch, and handed the 22s. to Mr. Leech, from whom it had been stolen. Keene was sent to gaol for six months under the Criminal Justice Act. The other three were sentenced under the Juvenile Offenders' Act-Buxton [must be a misprint for Bullock], Meaden, and Hinchley to three months' imprisonment, the latter two to be once whipped and to be sent to a reformatory for three years.

28 May 1868 Emigrated to Canada

October 1870 Heard of doing well

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