Saltley Reformatory Inmates

Arthur Hewitt

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Notes:

10 December 1879 There is a lengthy report of the crime in the Coventry Times Wednesday 10 December 1879 p.6 col.1: A RAID AMONGST THE PIGEONS. - Arthur Hewitt, 5c., Chauntry-place, juvenile, and William Owen, 5c., Chauntry-place, cotton spinner, were charged with stealing, on the 1st inst., from a slaughterhouse in Bishop-street, two pigeons, value 2s., the property of Henry Bausor; also with stealing on the 2nd inst., from a pigeon cote at the back of Nos. 1 and 2, Swanswell-terrace, four pigeons, value 10s., the property of William Windridge ; also with stealing, on the 2nd inst., from a hovel at the back of the Ivy Cottage, King William-street, one pigeon, value 2s., the property of Tnomas Gill. - The cases against Owen were taken first. - Henry Bausor and William Windridge gave evidence to prove that the pigeons were stolen from their premises on the 2nd inst.. Walter Newsome, poultry dealer, Smithford-street, said that he bought seven pigeons for 4s from two youths, one apparently about 18 years of age and the other about 14. The only question he asked the youths was whether the pigeons were their own. He knew neither their names nor addresses, and he did not take sufficient notice of them to identify them. Lots of people came to him to sell pigeons - Sometimes two or three in a day. - The Bench warned the witness as to what he bought, and who he bought from, in the future, or he would get himself into serious trouble. In acting as he had done he was laying himself open to be charged as a receiver of stolen property. As far the Bench could judge it was a gross and dangerous piece of neglect on the witness's part to act as he had done, and if he continued this line of conduct, he would probably find himself before them on a very serious charge. - In further examination witness said Police-sergeant Golby came to him and asked him whether he had bought any pigeons, and he said he had not. The sergeant went away. - In answer to the Bench, the witness said he denied that he had bought the pigeons because he did not think - until he had told his mother that the sergeant had been, and his mother told him that he had better tell the policeman. The witness went to look for Sergeant Golby, but could not find him, and afterwards his little sister went to the Police-station, and asked Mr. Golby to come down to the shop. When he came, witness's mother saw him, but witness did not. - Police-sergeant. Golby said he received information of the robbery on Tuesday. From what he heard he went to Mr. Newsome's shop at about half-past three o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. The witness had heard that the pigeons had been offered for sale at Payne's poultry shop, but Mr. Payne had refused to buy them. The witness asked Mr. Newsome whether he had bought any pigeons that day or the day before. Newsome replied that he had not. The witness told him that there were eight pigeons missing, and described them to him. At about a quarter to five o'clock a little girl went to the Police-station, and told the witness that Mr. Newsome wanted to see him. He went to the shop, and in the presence of the last witness Mrs. Newsome began to question him as to what they were to do supposing that anyone came to them to sell pigeons, and whether, if they bought any birds that were afterwards found to be stolen property, their money would be returned to them. The witness told her that if any pigeons were brought which they suspected to have been stolen, they must detain the birds, ascertain the name and address of the vendor, and communicate with the police authorities. He was then about to walk away, when Mrs. Newsome called him back, and told him that her son had bought some pigeons that afternoon. The witness asked, "Then what made him deny it to me?" and both Mrs. Newsome and her son replied, that it was because they did not think they were the stolen pigeons, and they added that they did not even then think they were, as they were all young birds. The witness told them that one of the stolen pigeons was ten years old. The pigeons were then produced, and the witness took possession of them, as he felt certain that they were the missing birds. On Thursday night he apprehended Owen, who admitted that he and Hewitt stole the pigeons, sold them at Newsome's fish shop, and shared the money. - The charge of stealing one pigeon, the property of Mr. Gilt was not proceeded with. - The prisoner elected to be summarily dealt with, and pleaded guilty. - Hewitt was then placed in the dock, and the evidence in the first case was repeated.- The prisoner pleaded guilty. - The Bench said the case was one of the worst that had ever come before them, and sentenced Hewitt to 14 days' imprisonment, with hard labour, and ordered him to be afterwards detained in a reformatory for four years. - On the first charge Owen was sentenced to one month's imprisonment, and on the second to three months' imprisonment. with hard labour, the second period to commence at the expiration of the first. - Addressing the witness Newsome, the Bench said it had been a matter for a great deal of consideration with them whether or not they should order his apprehension as a receiver. To say the least of it, he had been very culpable indeed. They had however refrained from taking such an extreme step; but they might tell him that, nevertheless, this case . would tell against him if ever he were placed in the same position again. They advised him to be careful of whom he bought pigeons in the future and said that if at any time he had any suspicions the better plan for him to adopt would be to communicate with the police at once, and to take such notice of the persons who offered for sale as would enable him to identify them afterwards. They cautioned him not to repeat such conduct as he had been guilty of in the box that morning, in denying that he saw Golby on the second occasion that he called, and not to again refrain from giving up property if he knew or suspected that it had been stolen.

25 April 1883 Leaves for Liverpool. Emigrates tomorrow for Quebec on board the Circassian

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