William Cope - Saltley Reformatory Inmate
| No. in Admissions Register: | 895 |
| Age: | 12 |
| Whence received: | H M Prison Stafford |
| Description: | |
| Complexion: | Fresh |
| Hair colour: | Dark brown |
| Eyes colour: | Dark grey |
| Height: | 4 ft 4 ins |
| Particular marks: | - |
| State of health: | Good |
| Able-bodied? | Yes |
| Date of admission: | 14 December 1888 |
| Late residence: | Haughton, near Stafford |
| Parish he belongs to: | Haughton |
| Customary work and mode of life: | None |
| Whether illegitimate: | Yes |
| State of education: | |
| Reads: | Imperfectly |
| Writes: | Imperfectly |
| Offence: | Stealing money (2s 6d) |
| Circumstances which may have led to it: | Bad training, or rather, lack of any training |
| Date of sentence, by whom and court: | 1 December 1888; W Johnson and F Eld; Stafford Police Court |
| Where imprisoned: | H M Prison 3 years |
| Sentence: | 14 days in prison, 3 years at Saltley |
| Previous committals: | |
| Number: | None |
| Length: | - |
| For what: | - |
| Father's name: | Joseph Dean (step-father) |
| Occupation: | Farm labourer |
| Mother's name: | Clara Dean |
| Occupation: | - |
| Parents dead? | No |
| Survivor married again? | - |
| Parents' treatment of child: | Well treated |
| Character of parents | Step-father - idle, given to drink and poaching. Health good |
| Parents' wages: | 2s 6d per day when at work |
| Amount parents agree to pay: | Step-father says he cannot pay anything |
| Parents address: | Tolly Hall, Haughton, Stafford |
| Superintendent of police (to collect payments): | B J Oswell, Deputy Chief Constable, Stafford |
| Person making this return: | Charles H Twynam, WS, Clerk to the Justices, Stafford |
| Notes: | |
| 8 December 1888 There is a report of the crime in the Staffordshire Chronicle Saturday 8 December 1888 p.5 col.1: THEFT BY A LAD. - William Cope, alias Dean, a little boy 12 years of age, living at Weston-on-Trent, but a native of Haughton, was charged with stealing 2s. 6d. belonging to James Yardley, of the Boat Inn, Weston; and Peter Ward, an old man lodging at the Boat Inn, was charged with receiving the stolen money. - Prosecutor said the half crown was in a box in the parlour on the previous Thursday morning, but it was gone at ten o'clock the same night. The boy had been staying at prosecutor's house for three weeks. When asked about the matter the boy denied that he had taken the money, but next morning it was found that he had changed half a crown at the post office. The lad's mother, who lived at Haughton, was a cousin of the prosecutor. - Alice Muir, postmistress, Weston, deposed to changing the half crown for the boy on Thursday. The boy bought a loaf and half-a pound of cheese. On previous occasions Cope had bought things for prosecutor. - P.C. Byatt deposed to arresting Cope, who admitted taking the money, and said that he told Ward who stayed outside the post office while he bought some bread end cheese and a pork pie; the lad added that he and Ward ate the food at the Woolpack Inn, and that be gave Ward 1s. to pay for the beer. Then they went to the Saracen's Head and had more beer, and Ward had the money that was left. Ward, when charged, denied knowing anything about the matter, but afterwards he said he would tell the truth, admitted the facts, and added that he "had been a d.....fool." - The boy now pleaded guilty. _ In answer to Inspector Price prosecutor said the boy had not attended school, and his parents had been fined in consequence. He had loafed about Weston. - The lad, whoso parents did not appear, was sent to gaol for fourteen days, and to be confined afterwards for three years in a reformatory. Ward was sentenced to 14 days' hard labour. | |
| 3 December 1891 The Register of Boys on Licence records that Cope was licensed to go out and work for Mr James, Derrington, Stafford | |
| 13 December 1891 Sentence expired, discharged from Saltley whilst out on licence | |