Stratford was a police officer for several years before transferring to the Met for personal reasons. He worked at Scotland Yard from 1877. In 1884, he took a day’s leave for private matters; this was the day of the Scotland Yard bombings and several of his colleagues were maimed. Stratford was assigned to the case of Gordon Seavers, a young man who had committed suicide. He visited Professor Sowerden at the University of Oxford and questioned him; he had taught Seavers.
Stratford was a police officer for several years before transferring to the Met for personal reasons. He worked at Scotland Yard from 1877. In 1884, he took a day’s leave for private matters; this was the day of the Scotland Yard bombings and several of his colleagues were maimed. Stratford's parents died, his mother of pneumonia and his father by drink. His aunt was his only relative left. Stratford fell in love with a woman, but was forbidden to marry her by his aunt, who matched him with someone else. The two fell in love and married but his wife believed she could love many people and had an affair. During the divorce of his wife, he came to John Hopkinson, a solicitor. Stratford was assigned to the case of Gordon Seavers, a young man who had committed suicide. He visited Professor Sowerden at the University of Oxford and questioned him; he had taught Seavers.