Henry Preston - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 841 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Sandy |
| Eyes colour: | Grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 6¼ ins |
| Particular marks: | Several marks back of left hand |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Slender |
| Date of admission: | 21 March 1887 |
| Late residence: | 11 Wood Street, Willenhall |
| Parish he belongs to: | Willenhall |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | No |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing pair of trousers |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad company |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 21 February 1887; J A Fisher and W Hartill; Willenhall Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Sentence: | 1 month hard labour in prison, 5 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | 1 |
| Length: | Fined 1s and 5s costs or 7 days |
| For what: | Stealing coal |
| Father's name: | Enoch Dandy (step-father) |
| Occupation: | - |
| Mother's name: | Ann Preston |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | Father |
| Survivor married again? | Yes |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Well treated |
| Character of parents | Believed to be honest but of very intemperate habits. Health of step-father and mother good |
| Parents' wages: | Earn on an average 27s per week |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Have offered to pay 1s; it is thought 1s 6d per week should be the sum parents should pay |
| Parents address: | 11 Wood Street, Willenhall |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | Richard Longden, Chief Superintendent of Police, Bilston |
| Person making this return: | Edward G Corbett, Clerk to Mr James Slater, Magistrates' Clerk's Office, Willenhall |
| Notes: | |
| 22 February 1887 There is a report of the crime in the Birmingham Daily Post Tuesday 22 February 1887 p.6 cols.7: WILLENHALL. - JUVENILE DISHONESTY.-Benjamin Baker (16) and Henry Preston (13), both of Wood Street, were charged at the Police Court, yesterday with stealing a pair of trousers of the value of 5s., the property of Alfred Shelton, clothier, Market Place. - The prisoners, who have been before convicted of gambling and theft, were each sentenced to a month's hard labour, and Preston was ordered to be detained in a reformatory for five years. | |
| 30 November 1888 The Medical Officer reported: Jaundice, convalescent by 4 December | |
| 23 November 1889 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Preston was licensed to go out and work for Miss Harper, Albion Works, Willenhall | |
| 10 June 1890 The Reformatory Committee Log Book report notes: The boy Preston, whose conduct whilst on licence was reported as unsatisfactory at your last meeting, has been readmitted [to the School] in consequence of continual misconduct. He is going on very quietly, giving no trouble | |
| 17 December 1891 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Preston was licensed again to go out and work for Mr Kempson, 10 John Street, Willenhall | |
| 20 March 1892 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst on licence | |