Denaby Miners And The Rabbits

John Wild, John Davis, and Job Coley, Denaby, were summoned for trespassing in search of conies, at High Melton, on the 28th May.

Defendants appeared, and pleaded not guilty. Mr. Baddiley prosecuted, and said the facts of the case were very short. It appeared that Henry Fisher and James Ford, gamekeepers in the employ of Mr. F. J. O. Montagu, of Melton Park, on the 28th May, were at the Stone Boat-house Plantation, when they saw the three defendants come out of an adjoining plantation, and Wild get over a gate and go into Mr. Thompson’s field.

Wild waved his handkerchief and immediately a dog that had been with the other men came to the plantation which it ranged, running some of the rabbits. The other men were urging the dog on. The two keepers separated, one went one way and the other another and caught the three men.

It was rather an extraordinary procedure for the defendants to take by pleading not guilty that day when they all gave wrong names and addresses.

Henry Fisher bore this statement out in evidence. Wild gave the name of Blackwell, 9, Barmboro’ Street, Denaby; Davis the name of Jones, 42, Clifton Street; and Coley gave the name of Cooper, 9, Barmboro’ Street. They were all wrong names and addresses. They all lived together at 57, Doncaster Road.

James Ford, a gamekeeper, gave corroborative evidence.

Mr. Baddiley said the defendants seemed to have an idea that if they kept to the footpath or road they would be all right.

Wild elected to be sworn and said that on the date in question they went out for a walk—and the dog which was not theirs followed them. They did not send the dog after the rabbits. If the gamekeepers had been officers of the law he should have given his right name and address, but as they were not he did not see why he should give them his name and address.

The other defendants pleaded to the same effect, Davis stating that he did not give a wrong name and address.

The defendants were each fined 20s., including the costs.