Saltley Reformatory Inmates

William Coster

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Notes:

3 March 1859 There is a report of the crime which sent him to the Wiltshire Reformatory in the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette Thursday 3 March 1859 p.3 col.5: Extraordinary Case of Arson.-William Coster, alias William Spaish, a lad 16 years of age, was charged with having caused the numerous fires which have lately taken place at Wroughton. Mr. Browne appeared for the prosecution. Mrs. Ann Bedford deposed that she was widow, and occupied a mill and some land at Wroughton, and that the prisoner was in her employ on the 31st January last. About 8 o'clock at night, a stable which was in her occupation was set on fire; it was set on fire inside, and it must have been by some person from her yard, there being no entrance to the stable except from the yard. At the same time, a straw rick was set on fire; it was 50 yards from the stable, and there was a thatched cow-house between the places. The rick was entirely consumed. The fires were extinguished about 10 o'clock. Her men had then left to get some refreshment; and about 12 o'clock a skilling attached to a cart-house was discovered to be on fire; that fire was put out in a few minutes. She remained up till two o'clock, when, thinking all was safe, she told the men to leave; and immediately after they went out, she saw a potato-house at the back of her dwelling, on fire. The prisoner was with the other men all night, and left tbe house when they did. On Tuesday the first February, about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, the same skilling and cart-house as were on fire over night, were again fired. The next day a skilling near the road was set on fire about 7 o'clock in the evening. No other fire took place until the 12th February, when a skilling near the road was on fire about o'clock. On the 14th February, about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, the wagon house and shed in a field near her premises were fired, and wholly consumed; and the next day, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, the cart-house adjoining the mill was fired; and between 6 and 7 o'clock some premises belonging to Mr. Spackman, and to which her goods had been removed, were set on fire, and a very extensive conflagration ensued. On the 14th February it appeared that the prisoner took a horse of Mrs. Bedford's and went to Swindon for the fire-engine, as soon as the fire broke out; and afterwards, when in company with a boy, he pulled some matches out of his jacket pocket and broke them up, and threw them into a hedge (where they were afterwards found), saying as he did so, if the police did search him, and found the matches on him, they would say as he did it. Numerous witnesses were examined to prove the prisoner's connection with the fires, and the prisoner admitted that he had caused all the fires, except setting fire to the straw rick. He was committed for trial at the next assizes. [The same newspaper has a report on his trial at the Assizes, with a few additional details. See the Devizes and Wiltshire Gazette Thursday 17 March 1859 p.4 cols.4-5]

20 February 1861 There is a report of a crime committed while he was in the Wiltshire Reformatory School in the Frome Times Wednesday 20 February 1861 p.4 cols.4-5: ALARMING FIRE. - On Saturday night last , about half-past nine o'clock a fire broke out a Wilts Reformatory School. The fire originated in two very large straw ricks, which, being close to a wooden building, and a brisk wind blowing at the time, the latter building in which 12 of the boys were sleeping, soon became ignited; and but for the exertions of a number of persons who had arrived, and who at once set about removing the wooden buildings, the conflagration must have inevitably extended to the house and school. The boys confined in the Reformatory worked with a will, and were successful in saving their bedding and furniture. The origin of the fire was no doubt the act of an incendiary. William Coster, who was an inmate of the Reformatory, having been committed for arson at Wroughton, was apprehended by Superintendent Abbott, who, with his men, were soon on the spot, and there appears to be little doubt of Coster's guilt, and it is known he was the cause of great destruction by arson before his detection at Wroughton. [Although brought up at the Wiltshire Assizes, he was acquitted. There is a detailed report of that trial in the Salisbury and Winchester Journal Saturday 30 March 1861 p.6 col.4]

4 June 1861 The Minute Book stated: 785. On reading Minute 750 it was reported that Martin [boy 154] had been sent to the Wiltshire Reformatory in exchange for Coster.[boy 220]

16 July 1861 The Minute Book reported: 800. Resolved: that Booth [boy 140] and Coster [boy 220] be allowed to enlist.

8 October 1861 The Minute Book recorded: 809. On reading Minute 800 it was reported that Booth and Coster are below the standard for enlisting.

16 December 1861 Enlisted in the Royal Artillery

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