Having given Julie a fortnight to 'digest' the court reports published in the Newbury Weekly News, the recorded facts are these: In either 1882 or 1884 [more likely the latter year] Ernest Francis WESTALL brought himself to the notice of the law: sacrilege [break-in] at Ashmore Green Chapel, for which he was sentenced to 10 days' imprisonment and five years at an industrial/reformatory school. Before the expiration of the sentence he was sent to Canada but worked his way back to the UK. At County Petty Sessions on 03 Aug 1889, charged with larceny [stealing a watch & chain], he was sentenced to two months' hard labour. [When apprehended he had given his name as 'Charles BROWN'!] At Newbury Borough Quarter Sessions on 23 Oct 1889, aged 16, charged with larceny [stealing a pocket-book, rule, handkerchief and other articles] on 09 Oct [eight days after leaving prison for previous offence], he was sentenced to 5 years' penal servitude. It appears that although at the time of the last offence Ernest was in pursuit of work, which was refused at the premises prior to what would now be viewed as an opportunist theft, the severity of the sentence was imposed as a deterrent to others in the knowledge that, if considered too severe, it could be mitigated by the Home Secretary. I am indebted to Eileen Barnes for the newspaper reports. Dorothy