Parker's father said he would have his boy tried at the session, but finally, after conversation with the magistrates, he decided to have the case dealt with. He said he had spent £60 for the lad in school fees.

According to the chief constable's statement, Miss Annie Day, an assistant at Marshall and Snelgrove's was looking out of an upper window of the premises in St Nicholas Street on Sunday afternoon, when she saw two boys go to Messrs Bridsall and Wilson's letterbox, one opened the lid, the other pulled something out and ran away. She told Mr Wilson the next day, and information was given to the police, and subsequently the lads were arrested.

They had taken the paper – a trade paper which Mr Wilson received – and had subsequently put it in a letter box in Waterhouse Lane.

Mr Wilson asked the magistrates to deal as leniently as possible with the lads. It was very painful for him to go there and prosecute them.
Parker's father: Thank you, very much.

Wright had not been in the court previously, but Parker had on two occasions for stealing.

The chief constable asked that Parker be sent to a reformatory.
Parker's father: Then I will withdraw my statement – I will have him tried at quarter sessions, and get legal advice.

The magistrates retired, and later Wright was bound over for six months to be of good behaviour under the Probation Officer, and the mother would be bound over for him in the sum of £5. The case against Parker would be adjourned so that his mother might attend with the father and see if some arrangement could not be come to.