Mr. Bates said he objected to bail on the ground that there might be interference with witnesses and he alleged that an attempt had been made to interfere with a witness. If Byrd returned to the school, he added, the police would apply to take the boys away and put them into protective custody.

Detective-inspector T.A. Dicken said that when charged Byrd replied: “I deny the offences. I am not guilty of these charges.”