Both young Elizabeth and her mother had pleaded guilty when their case went before the County Justices, so the Court had little more to do than decide on the right penalties.

The little girl's sentence was to be in two parts, with one month of imprisonment in the House of Correction - and no mention of hard labour, probably because she was so young. This didn't sound too bad, but worse was to follow, as the Order Book shows...

"[Elizabeth Price to be imprisoned in the...] "House of Correction for this County for the period of one calendar month and at the expiration thereof to be sent to such a Reformatory School...
...the Directors or Managers of which may be willing to receive her) as may hereafter, and before the expiration of the said term of imprisonment to which she has been sentenced, be directed by the Chairman of this Court for Three years..."
This meant that Elizabeth was to be sent on to a Reform School for three years immediately after spending a month in the County prison at Brecon.
The Order Book records that she was to be taken to "The Reformatory School for Girls at Capehill, Birmingham".
This would have been the Victorian equivalent of the Borstals of recent times - but probably a lot harsher.
Poor Elizabeth probably had a terrible time because she had been tempted by the purse of gold coins in 1866.

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