Saltley Reformatory Inmates

William Henry Mills

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Notes:

23 November 1865 A previous offence was reported in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Thursday 23 November 1865 p.6 col.1: PETTY THEFT. -William Henry Mills, 12, silversmith, Cottage Place, Villa Street, was charged with stealing sixpence from a boy named Thomas Lyndon, residing in Farm Street. It seems that Lyndon's mother sent him on some errand with the sixpence to buy some articles. On the way the prisoner met the boy, and took the money from him. The prisoner's mother gave her son a very bad character. He was remanded until Wednesday next.

29 January 1866 As well as the offences he committed himself, he too was a victim of crime. It is reported in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 29 January 1866 p.5 col.2: THEFTS FROM LADS. - About noon on Saturday, a little boy, nine years of age, named Frank Green, was stopped in Staniforth Street, by a respectable-looking young man, about twenty-two years of age, who, under the pretence of wrapping up 2s 10½d which the lad had in his hand, ran away with it. Later on the same day a sovereign was obtained by similar means from a child named William Henry Mills, whilst in Farm Street. In this case the theft was committed by a young man answering the same description as the one in the last case.

22 July 1867 A few months before the offence which sent him to Saltley, another offence was reported in the Birmingham Daily Gazette Monday 23 November 1867 p.6 col.2: A GANG OF YOUNG THIEVES.- Henry Bates (11), engraver, 63, Icknield Street East, was charged with stealing £3. 10s. from the safe in the warehouse of Mr. Oliver J. Pedley, Great Hampton Street; and Jos. Laws (11), enameller, Bramston Street ; Thos. Howell (14), pearl button maker, 33, Bridge Street West; William Henry Mills, 12, Cottage Place, Villa Street; John Bennett (l3),brassfounder, Hunter's Vale; and Henry Darby (13), jeweller, 45, Key Hill, were charged with receiving part of the same knowing it to have been stolen; and William Hayes (17), slater, Vine Cottages, Villa Street, was charged with garroting Joseph Laws, and stealing from his person £1. 0s. 6d., which, too, was part of the sum stolen by Bates. On Thursday last the above sum of money was missed from a safe in the prosecutor's premises, and from inquiries that were made it was found that the prisoner Bates had stolen it. After having done so he got mixed up with the other prisoners, and gave them the greater part of the money. Laws happened to get the greatest share, which disappointed Hayes to such an extent that he garrotted him and took it from him. The youngsters were delighted at being possessed of so much money, and purchased some new clothing, whilst others took a " trip" over to Wolverhampton and back, -Mr. Jaffray discharged Hayes, as the evidence against him was incomplete, remarking that probably he was the worst of the lot. Bates, he said, was evidently a bad boy, and the Bench would have to consider what should be done with him, so he would be remanded for a week. With regard to the others, there was such an enormous system of lying amongst them, that the Bench felt disposed to give them time to get back to the truth. Probably a week's prison fare would show them the necessity of telling the truth. They would be remanded for a week, and during that time they could make up a story which must be the truth, and they must stick to it. Mr. Jaffrey then remanded the accused until Saturday next.

14 September 1867 There was a report of the crime that sent the boy to Saltley in the Birmingham Journal Saturday 14 September 1867 p.8 col.2: A GANG OF INCORRIGIBLE YOUNG THIEVES.-On Wednesday, at the Aston Petty Sessions, before Messrs. E. S. Evans, C. Ratcliff, and S. S. Lloyd, five boys-named Alfred Downes, James Feeney, Joseph William Laws, Andrew Holsten, and William Henry Mills-were charged with having stolen a bundle of cigars, of the value of 8s. 6d., from the shop of B. Aldu, tobacconist, Hunter's Lane. The prisoners, who are well-known young thieves, sent one of their number into prosecutor's shop, where he assisted himself to the bundle of cigars and some pipes. Adjourning to a favourite retreat, they divided the cigars amongst them according to their usual fashion, and congratulated themselves at the clever manner in which they had accomplished the theft and avoided detection. Unfortunately for them, however, another boy who saw the theft gave information, and the cigars being missed by the prosecutor, the police were communicated with, and they were apprehended. There was a second charge against Downes, Laws, and Feeney for stealing three caps from a school at the Lozells, and they pleaded guilty to this as to the other charge. All five of the prisoners were under fourteen years of age, but though so young, Downes had been three times previously in custody for robbery, Mills four times, and Laws once, and were, in appearance, hardened young ruffians, having evidently commenced their career of crime at a very tender age. With the view of reforming the three-if possible-the Magistrates sentenced Downes, Mills, and Feeney each to three weeks' imprisonment, with a whipping at the end of that period, five years' confinement in a Reformatory. Holsten and Laws, not having been convicted before, were each sentenced to seven days' imprisonment, with a whipping.

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