how to find when someone was released from Prison

[donskie]

Hi
I recently found out my grandfather Robert John Allen was jailed for the murder of his boss Charles Lowes in Durham in July of 1904.  He was given 20 years penial servitude and was sent to Maidestone prison.  My Grandfather immigrated to Australia in Dec of 1923, with is wife and daughter who was 2, therefore he can't have served his full sentence.  I have tried searching but can't find when he was released, can anyone help me?  I have sent a letter by mail to the Maidestone Prison in Kent England but don't hold alot of hope of receiving an answer.

[RJ_Paton]

The Criminals calendars (1868-1971)  HO 140 held at the National Archives may be a better bet for further information.

On a side note and it is probably being pedantic  ,  but if he had been found guilty of Murder in 1904 the normal sentence was death by hanging rather than Penal servitude no matter how long a period.

[stanmapstone]

Unless commuted to life imprisonment

Stan

[RJ_Paton]

Unless commuted to life imprisonment

Stan

True, although the original poster referred to 20 years penal servitude as the sentence handed down this may have been the result of a clemency plea or circumstances which resulted in a lesser charge being presented.

[stanmapstone]

What I meant to say was that a Death Sentence would be commuted to life imprisonment, but as you say, it would not be for 20 years,
If he was born in 1884 then he was in an Institution in the 1911 Census in Maidstone (Prison?)

Stan

[stanmapstone]

For one murderer, convicted in 1909, the death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment, he was released in 1928, so only served 19 years in prison, but I assume would be released on licence. In a report in The Times of Feb 08, 1932, there were a total of 65 prisoners serving life sentences commuted from the death sentence.

Stan

[RJ_Paton]

Linked previous thread by a different poster ....

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=iu11ai83ud26uqk4bodknt5i47&topic=599470;prev_next=next

The sentence was for manslaughter rather than Murder which although making sense in one respect does not answer the original question .... when did he get out.

[stanmapstone]

As it was for manslaughter instead of murder as was stated, then that makes the previous answers irrelevant

Stan

[donskie]

Hi

My mistake, he was originally charged with Murder but it was then dropped to Manslaughter, which your right, saved his life. 

I went to the National Achives but it just boggles me.... seems unless i am over in England and go to where the info is kept i can't see it.  Of course i could be completely wrong so if someone can find any info i would really appreciated it.  His name was Robert John Allen, sentenced in the Durham Assize July 1904.