At the Exeter Guildhall on Monday 8th February 1830 the magistrates had to deal with two 'youngsters' who had been ringing doorbells and knocking knockers.
No problem!
"John Sandy and Thomas Rogers, two out of four youngsters, who had been enjoying themselves in the fashionable amusement of knocking at doors, ringing bells, &c. were directed to find two sureties in 10l. each, for their good behaviour for 12 months, and having failed to do so at the rising of the court were locked up."
£10 was six-months' wages for many a poor man. There was surely no way in which John or Tom, or their parents if they had any, could be expected to find or guarantee such a sum. This looks like a court's zero-tolerance of a relatively innocent mischief.
The magistrates were dealing with a prevalent offence. It sounds like the whole of Exeter , in 1830, was plagued with ringers and knockers and, no doubt, the magistrates were anxious to deter other street urchins. ergo: 'Send them down!',
How much time, I wonder, did these children spent in prison?
There is no mention of parents in the brief newspaper report: (The Western Times. 13th February 1830)
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