Mexborough and Swinton Times January 22, 1897
A Rabbit Catcher Caught.
Thomas Porter, glassworker, of Denaby, did not answer to a summons charging him with trespassing on land owned by Lord Fitzwilliam, in search of conies.
PC Midgeley said that he had served the defendant with a summons, and had seen him that morning.
Defendant was a glass hand, and he had been working spare man for about 14 or 15 weeks, and he had just got a regular job, which he was afraid he would lose if he attended the court.
Mr H. H. Hickmott, who appeared for the prosecution, said that on 20 December. PC Midgeley was in company with a farmer named Robinson. They saw the defendant in Springbank Wood, near Denaby about noon. Defendant had a net pegged down to a rabbit hole, and there was a ferret inside. He had a life rabbit in one net, and when he saw the constable and the farmer he took to his heels, and run away. They ran after him and caught him. When they caught him he threatened that he would kill the farmer. He had a little digging spade in his possession which PC Midgley took from him on account of his threats of violence.
PC Midgley, in evidence, fully bore out this statement, and defendant was fined 20s and costs or one months imprisonment.