At the Maidstone Police Court, James Jackson, an old man who had served in the army, was charged with having stolen five books, the property of Mr John Woollett, a book binder of Mill Street, Maidstone.
Police Constable Payley, of the Tunbridge Wells force, stated that on 9th March 1861, he saw the prisoner at Tunbridge Wells,  with a small boy. The boy was carrying a small bundle of books, which he told the witness, he had been given by his mother that morning. The witness asked where his mother was and the boy stated that he did not know and was trying to find her. The prisoner Jackson was standing by and heard the conversation and the witness asked Jackson, “is this your boy?” to which Jackson denied knowledge of the boy. The witness then said “You had a boy this morning with you in Tunbridge Wells” to which Jackson, then replied “I know, this is him” Police Constable Payley then took them both into custody on suspicion of having stolen the books.
Kate Woollett, wife of the prosecutor, deposed that between six and seven o’clock on the evening of thursday 7th March, she had occasion to go into the shop, when she saw the prisoner outside of the door. He had hold of the door,trying to pull it gently to. She had not heard the bell ring and she told the prisoner to come in, if he wanted anything, and then called her husband and waited until he came. Mr Woollett identified four of the books, as his property and that the prisoner, came to his shop. Mr Blundell applied for a remand in order to complete the case, however the prisoner pleaded guilty and requested to be dealt with summarily. He commenced crying and stated that he had recently recovered from a fever and it was entirely from, that want, that he had stolen the books. The bundle taken from the boy also contained several knives and another book, not belonging to the prosecutor.
Mr Blundell stated that he had found from his inquiries, that the prisoner had been travelling about the country with the boy Wilson’s mother, who was committed to the Maidstone gaol for stealing a blanket at Chatham. The prisoner was sentenced to two months’ hard labour and the boy, who no evidence was offered against, was ordered to be taken to the union workhouse.

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