Saltley Reformatory Inmates

Samuel Williamson

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Notes:

Additional note in the Admissions Register - The father does not now follow his trade of boiler maker. I believe the mother is worst in teaching her children evil ways.

6 July 1878 There is a report of the crime of the boy and his mother in the County Express; Brierley Hill, Stourbridge, Kidderminster, and Dudley News Saturday 6 July 1878 p.6 cols 3-4: EXTENSIVE FOWL STEALING AT WOMBOURNE. - William Williamson, aged 20, slater; William Dix, aged 55, puddler; Isaac Norman. 30, engine tenter; Samuel Williamson, aged 13, no occupation; and Harriet Williamson, aged 28 [should be 38], no occupation, were indicted for stealing, on the 7th of May, at Wombourne, thirty-eight fowls and two turkeys, the property John Whitehouse, at Wombourne, Mr C. Smith prosecuted; prisoners were undefended. - Emma Matthews called, stated that she was the wife of George Matthews, farm bailiff to Mr John Whitehouse, at the Church Farm, Wombonrne. On the 7th of May she locked up the poultry in the fowl-house safe, and on the following morning they were all gone, and only some feathers left. She was subsequently shown a number of fowls and two turkeys by the police, and identified them as Mr Whitehouse's property. - George Matthews, farm bailiff, said he could swear to the bodies of the fowls shown to him by the police. - James Aston, landlord of the New Inn, Wombourne, proved that the defendants drove up to his door on the night of the of the 7th. of May, and after having some beer drove away in the direction of prosecutor's farm. About four o'clock on the following morning he heard a cart returning along the road. - Thomas Creswell, labourer, at Wombourne, said he saw the male prisoners about four on the morning of the 8th with a pony and trolley (the latter covered with straw) coming from the direction of prosecutor's farm. - Edward Evans, labourer, also stated that he met the prisoners in a cart, about two miles from the prosecutor's farm. He was quite certain of their identity. - Police-constable Lightwood, stationed at Bilston, said he went to the house of Mrs Williamson, mother of the two prisoners, on the 9tb of May. William Williamson was there plucking a number of fowls. Witness asked him where the others were, and prisoner replied that "they were somewhere about the house." - Witness found them in a garret. They were shown to the prosecutor's bailiff, who identified them. In the craw of the fowls was found a quantity of white wheat, with which Mrs Matthews was in the habit of feeding them. When Mrs Williamson was taken into custody she said the fowls were her own and she fed them on Indian corn. No Indian corn was found in the craw of the fowls. - The jury found the prisoners guilty. Dix had been previously convicted of fowl stealing and Norman of felony. - They were sentenced. - Dix to seven years' penal servitude, William Williamson six months, Isaac Norman twelve months, Harriet Williamson six months, Samuel Williamson one month, and afterwards to be sent to a reformatory school.

5 April 1881 Williamson left the school in company with his mother and brother and goes to Broad Lane, Bilston

18 April 1881 Received a letter from him to say that he has so much work to do that at present he is unable to pay the school a visit

26 May 1881 Wrote to Williamson requesting him to return to me the book he bought from Woodward, and I would reimburse him

12 June 1881 Williamson wrote to say that he has not had one single book from Woodward. His address is Broad Lanes, near the Waggon, Bilston

23 June 1881 Writes to say that he is employed by his father

28 June 1881 Williamson calls with his mother and gives a very satisfactory account of himself

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