Mexborough and Swinton Times November 28, 1902
After the Rabbits at Hickleton.
Isaac Sagar, miner, Conisborough was prosecuted by John Bailey, gamekeeper to Viscount Halifax of Hickleton Hall, for having trespassed in pursuit of conies at Hickleton on the 11th inst.
Mr W Baddiley, who appeared to prosecute, stated that Bailey and another keeper, named Fisher, were watching at Hickleton, when they saw the defendant and another man, both of whom had sticks. They commenced to range the field in the occupation of Mr Henry Roberts – a field near to the road – and then began to beat the tufts of grass with their sticks.
Afterwards they also beat the hedgerows with their sticks. Bailey and Fisher went up to them, and charge them with trespassing in pursuit of game, when one replied, “No, we were gathering blue stocks,” and the other said “We were gathering crab apples.”
It was, said Mr Baddiley, rather a poor excuse to say that a man was gathering crab apples in a grass field. One of the defendants gave a false name and address.
Bailey and Fisher bore out this statement of Mr Baddiley.
Defendant denied the offence.
The Chairman said there was not sufficient evidence to prove that the defendants were trespassing in pursuit of game or rabbits, and as there was some doubt in the case it would be dismissed.