| No. in Admissions Register: | 490 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | Cardigan County Prison |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Brown |
| Eyes colour: | Blue |
| Visage: | - |
| Particular marks: | Blue mark between thumb and forefinger |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission and term: | 12 July 1873 5 years |
| Late residence: | 7 Moor Lane, Aberystwyth |
| Parish he belongs to: | - |
| Customary work and mode of life: | Rope works |
| Whether illegitimate: | - |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing a box with 6s in it |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by who and court: | 1 July 1873, Aberayron Quarter Sessions |
| Where imprisoned: | Cardigan |
| Sentence: | 14 days prison (hard labour), 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | One |
| Length: | 1 month |
| For what: | Stealing pocket handkerchief and gloves |
| Father's name: | Thomas Davies |
| Occupation: | Sailor |
| Mother's name: | Eliza Davies |
| Occupation: | Laundress |
| Parents dead? | Neither |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Good |
| Character of parents | Doubtful |
| Parents' wages: | Father £3 10s per month; mother 1s per day |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | - |
| Parents address: | 7 Moor Lane, Aberystwyth |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | - |
| Person making this return: | - |
29 March 1873 There is a report of one of his previous offences in the Aberystwyth Observer Saturday 29 March 1873 p.4 col.5: AN INCORRIGIBLE. - Thomas Richard Davies. Moor Street. was charged with larceny. - the prisoner, whose age is 11 years, is the son of a sailor, and although so young has already come under the notice of the police. Last Monday P. C. David Thomas (23) was on duty near the market. In Little Darkgate Street, and seeing the prisoner prowling about he watched him. The prisoner went to where Jane Lewis, of Prysgmawr, Pennant, was selling butter, and deliberately picked her pocket of a handkerchief and pair of gloves, of the total value of 1s 6d. Witness then took him into custody. - In answer to the bench, P.S. Evans stated that in 1869 the prisoner was apprehended for stealing 6d., and last November he was again in custody for robbery. He was a very bad boy, and the number of juvenile thieves in the town was increasing. - Sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour.
4 July 1873 There two reports about the boy, the first being a detailed report at the remand hearing of the crime, in the Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard Saturday 4 July 1873 p.7 col.3: A YOUNG PICKPOCKET.-Thomas Richard Davies, about thirteen years of age, was brought up in custody on Friday, June 27th (before Thomas Jones, Esq., Mayor,) charged with having stolen from the person of Mrs Catherine Williams, widow, Blaenplwyf, a tin box containing six shillings in silver. Prosecutrix said she was on the Marine- terrace on Wednesday evening June 25th, having gone there to hear the band. Several people were near her, and she had in her pocket the small tin box now produced, containing two half-crowns and two sixpences. She saw the prisoner's hand in her pocket, and immediately afterwards missed the box. Accused the prisoner of having robbed her, and he denied the accusation, and told witness she might search him. Witness at once searched him and found the box in his waistcoat pocket. Richard Jones, tailor's apprentice, proved having seen the prisoner's hand in the prosecutrix's pocket.- P.C. Thomas Jones said that when the prisoner was charged at the lock-up he said he had done it and would never do it again.-P.S. Evans proved several previous convictions against the prisoner, and he was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions.
In the same issue of the same paper is also a short report of the sentencing, p.5 col.5: PLEADED GUILTY. Thomas Richard Davies, 12, to picking the pocket of Catherine Williams, and stealing 6s. at Aberystwyth, on the 25th June last. This was the prisoner's fifth offence, and he was sentenced to suffer fourteen days' imprisonment, to be followed by five years at Saltley Reformatory.
18 October 1873 A few months after his admission to the Reformatory, his father was summoned for non-payment of maintenance, as reported in the Aberystwyth Observer Saturday 18 October 1873 p.4 col.4: A REFORMATORY CONTRIBUTION ORDER. - Thomas Davies, sailor, Moor Street, was summoned for neglecting to contribute towards the support of his son, Thomas Richard Davies, who has been sent to Saltley Reformatory School for five years. - Supt. Lloyd said he appeared on behalf of one of the inspectors of Reformatory Schools. He produced the document of the boy's commitment, and also the certificate from the Reformatory Authorities. He had made enquiries, and found the defendant could contribute 2s per week. - Defendant was ordered to pay 2s a week.
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