Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 08 March 1901
After Rabbits at Edlington
John Hallam and John Henry Briggs, glasshands of Conisborough, were summoned for having trespassed in search of conies in Edlington wood, on land belonging to Earl Fitzwilliam on February 16th.
Hallam pleaded guilty, and the other defendant did not appear.
Mr W Gichard, solicitor, Rotherham, were paper Earl Fitzwilliam, said that at 3:30 in the afternoon the defendants were seen in the wood about half a mile from any footpath. There was a good deal of timber, and the men would have been out of sight under ordinary circumstances, but woodmen were watching. The defence were caught, and it was found that Hallam and for couples of rabbits in a bag; and Briggs had a ferret and was carrying a spade.
Arthur Robinson, a woodman gave evidence in support of this statement. He said the rabbits were quite warm and there were signs that the spade had been recently used. Briggs threatened to hit him over the head with a spade retouch the rabbits, and he lifted the spade up.
Briggs was ordered to pay 35s to include the costs, and Hallam 25s.