Cony poaching (1870)

Post date: Mar 19, 2013 9:38:34 PM

Extract from Maidstone Telegraph 9th April 1870 

Edward Judges was charged with trespassing on land belonging Edward Goodwin, Wateringbury, in search of conies, on the 27th of March. William Burr, woodreeve to Mr Lucas, deposed that on the 27th March he saw prisoner in Mr Goodwin's plantation, and upon observing that he had something bulky in his pocket, he went up to him, upon asking what he had got, prisoner said a rabbit, and pulled it partly out of his pocket. He then took the rabbit and found it had been trapped. He afterwards found the traps near the spot he had first seen prisoner. Mr W. Norton, who was retained for the prisoner, questioned witness, but could not shake his testimony.

The bench found prisoner guilty. Supt Hulse said that prisoner bad been convicted of a similar offence two years ago. Fined £1 and 9s. costs, in default one month's hard labour.