Saltley Reformatory Inmates

Isaac Davenport

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Notes:

20 October 1877 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Staffordshire Sentinel and Commercial and General Advertiser Saturday 20 October 1877 p.10 col.2: YOUTHFUL BURGLARS. - William Jackson, fourteen, Ward Street, and Isaac Davenport, fifteen, West Street, were charged with feloniously breaking into the dwelling- house of John Cooper, of 6, Bower-street, Hanley, and stealing therefrom two sheets, a post-office bank book, two purses, and 1s 6d. in money. Chief-Constable Windle stated the facts of the case. Mrs Sarah Cooper said that on the 8th inst., at about four in the afternoon, she engaged Jackson in Regent-street to get in a load of coal for her, and paid him threepence for doing it. There was another boy with him, but she could not recognise him. She told him to go with the cart to her house, but she herself went into the town. She returned home at about half-past five, when she found the coals got in and Jackson gone. During the evening her son and lodger wanted their jackets but could not find them in their rooms. Ultimately they were found on the kitchen floor. On the following morning she went to a money box and found it had been broken open. Eleven pence had been extracted from it. Another box that was not locked had had seven pence- taken from it. Later in the day she missed two purses, which she had left upstairs. One was new and had cost 2s. 6d., and the ether was nearly new and had cost 1s. 3d. She also missed a pocket handkerchief, and her post-office deposit book, and one sheet. The book was inside the sheet in a drawer in the front room. When she went out she left the door locked and hid the key in the back-yard. - William Hawson, twelve years old, who said he did not go to school but worked in the pit, and who showed an absolute ignorance of his letters, and showed every sign of neglect, said he was the son of Henry Hawson, 34 East View. He had known the two defendants for three or four years. He called Davenport "Big Ikey," and Jackson "Brigham." On Monday week he was with the two defendants in Regent-street. They were with the coal cart. They had been playing in Bucknall Road, and followed the coal cart to get a job. He did not see anything given "Brigham." The coal cart was emptied opposite a house in Bower Street. He helped the defendants to get the coal in, and they gave him a halfpenny. After they had got the coil in, "Brigham" said he had found the key, and they would go in the house. Witness and "Big Ikey" told him to keep out. He went in alone, and came back saying he had found two jackets. They told him to let them alone. He then went in again. He came out again almost directly with a sheet and two purses. Witness saw him carry the sheet downstairs, and told him to leave it alone. He said that he had not got any money, and that he had left the jackets behind the stairfoot door. He did not know whether there were one or two sheets, and he did not see the bank book. "Brigham" put the things into some paper. He did not bring out anything to eat or drink. "Brigham" locked the house up, and put the key back again. He afterwards showed them two purses. They all went away, and "Brigham" took the things into a pawnshop in Piccadilly. He told them he had got 1s. 9d. for the sheet, and he had the money in his hand. He showed them the bank book, and said he had to go on an errand with it. He said he was to take it to the Post-office. He gave witness 3d. opposite the Post-office. He gave "Ikey" some money, but he did not know how much. He thought it was sixpence. He took the book into the post-office, and when he came out he had left it behind. He went in the backway. They next went into a cook shop, where witness had some mutton pie, and "Ikey" and "Brigham" had some soup. They had never broken into a house before, but they had taken other people's things. - At this point Jackson said that the witness went into the house and took a purse and 6½d. Witness was then given into custody of P.S. Proffit for five minutes, Mr. Hamshaw saying that he would ask the question again after that time. - Mrs. Charlotte Greenwood, pawnbroker, Piccadilly, said that the prisoner Jackson came to her shop and offered two sheets and a handkerchief to be pledged. He gave the name of William Whitmore, living at Northwood. She did not ask whose sheets they were. She supposed that the sheets belonged to the prisoner's mother. She could not swear that he said who they belonged to. She advanced him 1s. 9d. - Mrs. Martin said that about the 8th inst. Jackson came to the Hanley Post Office with a bank book, which he said he had found in Charles- street. Witness took the book, and told him to write his name down, and he would get something for bringing it. He wrote, "William Whitmore, Northwood, and she added "Birch Terrace" as he said he lived there. He then went away, and she had not seen him since.-P.S. Wall said he arrested the prisoners. Jackson at first said he was never near Cook's Buildings, and never got any coal in. He ultimately said he had taken them, and that Davenport had pledged them in Piccadilly. He said that Hawson asked him to go to the house. Jackson afterwards admitted the pledging. - Davenport said he had part of the money of one and the purses which he had lost. He said that no one was in the house except Jackson. - The boys both pleaded guilty. - The Chairman said they were sorry to see boys in such a position. Both would be sent to prison for one month, and would be kept in a reformatory till they attained twenty-one years. Hawson was very severely cautioned. - The prisoners, crying, said that Hawson was the worse. - Davenport's uncle seemed much affected, and kissed the boy in the dock.

25 May 1881 Isaac writes to say that he has obtained a good situation, also a good character, and promises to come to see me shortly. See letter [not attached to Admissions Register]. I wrote a few congratulatory words. Address is 38 West Street, Hanley, Staffordshire

28 February 1882 A good report of him from his employer, Mr Forrester No. 1 Racecourse Pit [in Silverdale, Staffordshire], colliery manager(?)

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