Archibald Howell, (or Howe), alias ‘Harry Jones’
by Linda Ayres
It’s hard to imagine just how brutal childhood could be in Victorian Britain where countless children were homeless, orphaned or born into extreme poverty. Food was scarce and each day these children faced a harsh choice between begging and stealing to obtain food. Some grew up on canal boats and lacked access to formal schooling. Others followed itinerant parents from place to place, never settling long enough to build a stable life. Rampant abuse and chronic malnutrition among these children often led to imprisonment later in life.
During the early 19th century, juvenile offenders were confined in adult prisons and subjected to the same severe punishments as adult inmates. This included flogging and sometimes even transportation to Australia. Prison reformers began to question this cruelty and argued that improved conditions for juvenile offenders were necessary, as housing young individuals with adult prisoners diminished their prospects for rehabilitation and subsequent law-abiding behaviour.
In 1896, the Home Secretary, Matthew White Ridley, instructed Bedford Prison to create a separate section for young inmates serving sentences of more than one month. Juvenile prisoners were segregated from adult offenders, who had committed graver crimes. Female inmates at Bedford Prison were transferred to Northampton to make space for younger prisoners.
This marked the early beginnings of what would become the Borstal system, which operated from 1902 to 1982. Instead of engaging in pointless tasks such as oakum-picking and operating tread wheels, young offenders were given practical work. Consequently, upon release after serving six months or more, each had acquired a trade, such as baking, tailoring, or shoemaking – skills that could actually help them survive.
Archibald Howell, (or Howe), used the alias of Harry Jones.
Archibald Howell worked as a printer’s labourer. At just 15 years old, while on holiday to Southend, Essex, he stole a pair of shoes. The police arrested him and sentenced him to two months of hard labour at Chelmsford Prison. The Essex County Chronicle reported on 20 August 1897 that Archibald had given a false name – Harry Jones. Even after his real identity was known, the authorities continued to refer to him as Harry Jones.
Because Chelmsford was an adult prison, he was transferred to Bedford Prison on 19th July 1897. Sadly Harry Jones died less than a month later on 11th August 1897.
Dr Prior, the Deputy Coroner, conducted an inquest at Bedford Prison on 12 August. William Henry Haynes, a retired police inspector, served as the jury foreman. Dr Prior emphasised that the convening of an inquest was routine and should not be interpreted as suggesting any doubt regarding the deceased’s death from natural causes. He clarified that an inquest is required in every instance of a prisoner’s death in custody.
The first witness, Adolphus George Western, the Prison Governor, stated that Harry was scheduled for discharge on 13th September. Although Harry was of poor physique, he never complained, and the Governor observed him twice daily. Harry was assigned to light duties like leather cutting and gardening, where he would grow vegetables for the prison and tend plants. Approximately one week before his death, the Governor observed a decline in Harry’s condition. As his health deteriorated, Harry became unable to work and was sent to his cell to rest. Prison guards monitored him day and night and Harry expressed gratitude for the care he received.
He was on a low diet – arrowroot and milk. He also had wheat bread, brandy, and eggs. His mother visited him and said she was glad to find him so comfortable.
Mr Robert Henry Kinsey said he was a surgeon at the Bedford Prison. He saw Harry Jones on his admission on the 19th of July and had seen him frequently since. Harry Jones appeared quite well when he was admitted, but was a thin, pale, underdeveloped lad. He made no complaint and said he was quite well. On the 3rd of August, he asked for more food, which was provided. Two days later, he complained of fatigue and shortness of breath and said he could not maintain the current diet. He was taken off work and put on an invalid diet and allowed to lie down whenever he wished. He was fond of going out in the exercise ground and went there for the last time on the 8th of August. He was gradually getting weaker, and on the 9th of August, he kept his bed and did not leave it again. Two days later, he had a violent attack of diarrhoea. He died on the 12th of August 1897; the final cause of death was recorded as heart failure, brought on by kidney disease.
Dr Prior said that every consideration appeared to have been shown to the deceased by the prison officials. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with medical evidence.
Harry’s friends were contacted and offered the opportunity to claim his body; however, no responses were received. There is no evidence indicating that any friends or relatives attended his funeral.
He was buried as Harry Jones in an unmarked grave in section B-205 of Foster Hill Road Cemetery.
The Prison Act of 1877 shifted responsibility for maintaining and administering local prisons, including the costs of deceased inmates, from county justices to the central government. Afterwards, the government, through the Prison Commission, typically paid for the burials of prisoners from Bedford Gaol at Foster Hill Road Cemetery.
Researched by Linda S Ayres
Photography by Linda S Ayres
Source:
The Ampthill and District News, August 21, 1897
The Essex County Chronicle, Friday, August 20th, 1897
The Bedfordshire Mercury, 20th September 1890.
Leighton Buzzard Observer 22nd September 1896
Prison History: The Open University
Child Prisoners: How They Fared at Bedford Prison, Luton Reporter, 5th April 1907
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