Saltley Reformatory Inmates

Alfred Talbot

No. in Admissions Register:	160
Date of admission:	26 December 1859
Whence received:	Birmingham Gaol
By whom brought:	Governor
On what terms:	Under committal
Friends interested in him:
Description:
Height:	-
Figure:	-
Complexion:	Fresh
Hair colour:	Dark brown
Eyes colour:	Brown
Perfect vision?	Yes
State of health:	Good
Able-bodied?	Yes
Sound intellect?	Yes
Use of all limbs?	Yes
Had cow or small pox?	Small pox
Particular marks:	Pockmarked and scar on forehead
Cutaneous disorder?	No
Scrofulous or consumptive?	No
Subject to fits?	No
Age last birthday:	12
Illegitimate?	No
Birthday:	-
Birth place:	-
Has resided:	1 Little King Street, Birmingham
Parish to which he belongs:	Birmingham
Customary work and mode of life:	Errand boy
Schools attended:	Handsworth Old Church School
By whom and where employed:	Mr Davis, shoemaker, 54 Bull Street
State of education:
Reads:	Imperfectly
Writes:	Imperfectly
Cyphers:	-
General ability:	-
Offence:	Stealing 4 pairs of boots
Circumstances which may have led to it:	Bad company
Date of sentence:	13 December 1859
Where convicted:	Moor Street
Sentence:	14 days prison, 5 years detention at Saltley
Where imprisoned:	Birmingham Gaol
Previous committals and convictions:	Stealing cigars; breaking a window; stealing a loaf
Father's name:	Edward Talbot
Occupation:	Painter
Residence:	1 Little King Street, Birminghsm
Mother's name:	Hannah Talbot
Occupation:	-
Residence:	1 Little King Street, Birmingham
Father's character:	Good
Mother's character:	Good
Parents dead?	No
Survivor married again?	-
Parents' treatment of child:	Good
Character of parents:	Good
Parents' wages:	22s-24s per week, when in employment, but is often ill with painter's colic
Amount parents agree to pay:	1s 6d per week
Superintendent of police (to collect payments):	-
Relatives to communicate with:	-
Person making this return:	-
Estimate of character on admission:	-
Character on discharge:	-
When and how left the Reformatory:	-

Notes:

14 December 1859 There is a report of his offence in the Birmingham Daily Post Monday 14 December 1859 p.3 cols.3-4: ROBBING AN EMPLOYER. - A little lad, named Alfred Talbut [surname spelled thus], whose father is a painter, living in King Street, was charged with stealing four pairs of boots, the property of his master, Nr John Bell, boot and shoe manufacturer, Bull Street. It appeared from the evidence, the young rogue, who had only been a fortnight in the place, which he got by false pretences, went on the preceding Friday and offered a pair of the boots, which were quite new, in pledge at the shop of Mr John Lowthenstine, pawnbroker, Steelhouse Lane. Questioning him as to the boots when he came a second time, the pawnbroker very properly retained the article, and gave information to Detective Clark, who found out they belonged to the prosecutor. He was evidently a bad, artful lad, and his father gave him that character, for he had sent another lad to pledge the first pair, and took the fourth pair to his father's, and said his mistress had given them to him. After questioning his father, Mr Kynnersley, finding there was little hope of reclaiming the lad from the bad company into which he had lately fallen, sent him to gaol for fourteen days, and then to a reformatory school for five years. The Magistrate took care to acquaint the little thief that the reformatory was by no means an easy place, coarse food and plenty of work

15 November 1862 Let out on leave to work under the direction of his father, who bears a good character

29 December 1862 Brought a written character from his master Mr Edwin Barber, 62-63 Hampton Street, Birmingham

16 February 1863 Called at the School for his licence. Is still with Mr Barber

28 June 1869 Called at the School for his licence. Working for Mr Blatcher, cabinet maker, 106 Great Charles Street

December 1865 In service with a doctor, Constitution Hill. [conduct] Good

October 1867 Called at the School. Doing well.

January 1868 Called at the School. Doing well.

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