CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON PETTY SESSIONS.

County Police Station, Chipping Norton, May 20.

Before the Rev. Thomas Harris and the Rev. W.E.D. Carter.

assault at wychwood.

William Pratley, of Wychwood, gamekeeper, was charged by Mry Harwood, of Charlbury, with assaulting her at Wychwood, on the 20th day of April last. Mr. Thomas Mace appeared for defendant.

Complainant deposed: On Monday the 20th of April, I started from home in company with Mr. And Mrs. Perkins and their two children; we went into the Forest. At the gate Mr. Perkins asked if I would take care of the dog; I did so, and it was not on the ground after we got inside the forest, as I had it in my arms. The path in which we were I have used for the last 50 years. Mr. Perkins went to the Ranger's Lodge on business, but before going he requested me to sit on a tree near the saw-pits until he came back; I did so, having the baby and the dog in my arms. When Pratley came up Mrs. Perkins was about 20 years off, picking wild flowers. Pratley came up to me in an excited manner \telling me to get up; I told him I was waiting until Mr. Perkins came back from the Ranger's Lodge, and refused to move. He then procured a stick and beat me across the shoulders, and afterwards said something about beating my brains out with the butt of his gun. The stick Pratley beat me with was as thick as two fingers.

In answer to Mr. Swearse: I don't know the name of that part of the Forest in which I was. I had not seen Pratley before that day near Rusley Bank. My daughter breeds pheasants. Pratley did not request me to leave, except in a rude manner. After the assault I declined to leave.

Mrs. Perkins, daughter of complainant, corroborated the evidence of her mother, as did also her husband.

Mr. Swearse admitted the assault, but pleaded that the defendant had been provoked to commit it by Mrs. Harwood's repeated refusals to leave.

Mr. Shayler, gamekeeper to Lord Churchill, was called for the defence, and stated that the road which complainant was in was not a public foot path, but one used for drawing timber to the saw-pits. Defendant had strict orders to keep people from that part of the forest.

The Bench ordered defendant to pay a fine of £2 and costs, the Chairman observing that it was a bad case of assault, and that defendant ought to be ashamed of himself. At the same time they were of opinion that complainant and her daughter were on trespass.

CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS.

March 10th.

Before the Rev. T. Harris, J.F. Penyston, Esq., C. Samuda, Esq., and Capt. Waller.

Rabbitting at Wychwood.

George Frederick Williams and Thomas Souch, labourers, Leafield, were charged with trespassing in the day-time in search of rabbits, on land at Wychwood, in the occupation of Lord Churchill.

William Pratley, one of Lord Churchill's gamekeepers, deposed that he and Mark Shayler were on duty on the day in question when they saw defendants coming from Leafield. Souch was carrying a spade. They watched them until they got to Furze Ground, when they began digging at rabbit holes. On the keepers putting in an appearance, the accused ran away.

Defendants, who admitted the offence, were ordered to 7s. each.

CHIPPING NORTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS.

January 12th.

Present: Rev. W.E.D. Carter, (Chairman), Rev. Charles Vere Spencer, and Capt. J.H. Waller.

Game Trespass.

Thomas Pratley, William Shayler, William Ferriman, William Wiggins, and George Williams, were charged with trespassing on land belonging to Lord Churchill, in the parish of Wychwood, on the 28th December.

Defendants pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Wilkins appeared for the prosecution.

Mark Franklin deposed: I live at Leafield and am a keeper in the service of Lord Churchill. On the 28th December, I was on duty with William Pratley. As we were in the cover, we saw the men coming along the road. Three of them, William Shayler, William Wiggins, and William Ferriman went into the road. They found some rabbit-holes, and commenced digging with a stick, and pushing their arms up the holes to get the rabbits out. When the men in the road saw the keepers, they whistled and cried "Look out"! I know the men very well. There were plenty of rabbit-holes there. Snow was on the ground, and I saw rabbit-tracks. I heard a whistle.

Defendant Shayler: Did you see me at the rabbit-holes?.- Yes.

How far were you?- About twenty yards.

Did you see me with my arms up a rabbit-hole?- I don't say I did.

Did you see the other chaps with me?- Yes.

Defendant Williams: You say I gave the signal?- Yes.

Then you were wrong! When you came into the road, you said "Which gave the signal?"

William Pratley, keeper corroborated the evidence of the last witness, and said Williams was the first to give the signal; the three rushed out. Their arms were covered with dirt. He picked up the stick produced, which they dropped.

Defendant Shayler: Mr. Parker, I don't know your name, and always called you Mr. Parker. You say that I am the man. Did you see me with my arms covered with dirt?- I did.

Did you see Will Wiggins and Will Ferriman's covered with dirt?- Yes.

Why did you not catch us in the cover. You have brought us here for doing nothing! You are not worth calling "Sir!" I was on the road, and saw the other men, and went for a bit of a walk with them, as we were all "pals" together. If M. Parker says he saw our arms covered with dirt, and three of us in the cover, he tells an infernal lie!

The Chairman: I suppose you do not know the gravity of the offence you have committed. The Act of Parliament says that when five or more than five are caught together in search of game, they are liable to a penalty act exceeding £5. It is a very dangerous thing to go in companies. The three defendants, Shayler, Wiggins and Williams, who have been convicted before, will have to pay 7s. 6d. The other two 5s. 6d. each.

Defendants: The we will go to prison, as we could not work if we were out. How long shall we go for?

The Chairman: Seven days.

Defendants: Open the doors then!

The defendants behaved in a most unseemly manner, and were each escorted to the cells in charge of a police constable.

LEAFIELD.

SHOCKING GUN ACCIDENT A GAME-KEEPER SHOT DEAD.

A frightful gun accident occurred near Ranger's Lodge, Wychwood Forest, on Tuesday, whereby Mark Franklin, aged 46, a game-keeper employed by Lord Churchill, lost his life.

William Pratley deposed: I live at the Kennels, Wychwood, and am a gamekeeper, employed by Lord Churchill, I was with the deceased and others in Knighton Copse yesterday morning. I saw a rabbit under some fern, about four yards from the path. I saw deceased strike at the rabbit with a stick. After he struck it he tried to catch it with his hands, and went down on his knees, I did not see him rise again. I heard the report of a gun, but did not see Shayler shoot, as I was looking towards the rabbit. When I heard the report I looked round and saw deceased falling. I believe Shayler shot at the rabbit, and that deceased must have raised his head just at the time, and so received the charge. I was standing on the path within four or five yards of the deceased. The path is rather higher than the ground on which deceased stood, the rabbit ran up a bank beyond deceased.

By the Jury: Deceased went down on his knees to catch the rabbit; Shayler was close behind him I saw deceased in the act of rising, then the gun was fired, and I saw him fall. Luke Shayler and the deceased were always the best of friends.

The Jury at once returned a verdict of accidental death.

The Thames and the Windrush.

(General District News.)

LEAFIELD.

The Fatal Gun Accident.- As mentioned in our last issue, the inquest on the body of the unfortunate man who was shot on the Cornbury Estate was held on Wednesday last, at Ranger's Lodge, before F. Westell, Esq., coroner. The witnesses called were Mark Shayler, of Finsotck, William Pratley, of the Kennels, (gamekeepers) and Robert Franklin, brother of the deceased. By their evidence it was proved that there had been no quarrel, but that, on the contrary, the deceased Mark Franklin and Luke Shayler were always the best of friends. The jury were unanimously of opinion that death was the result of an accident, not of culpable negligence, and returned a verdict accordingly. The fees of the jurymen were given to the widow, who is left with nine children.

CHADLINGTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS.

Before the Rev. T. Harris (Chairman), Rev. W.E.D. Carter, J.F. Penyston, Esq., and Captain J.H. Waller.

A Similar Case.

William Wiggins, defendant in the previous case, Riley Wiggins, Charles Pratley, and William Oliver, were charged with trespassing in search of game, on land in the occupation of Mr. L.M. Wynne, Esq., on the 24th of December.- Defendants pleaded not guilty.

James Syford stated: On December 24th I saw four men beating about the furze. Charles Pratley had a stick. I waited for them, and when they came up I said, "What are you doing there?" I asked Riley Wiggins what he had under his waistcoat. He said "Nothing," I then cook a rabbit from under his waistcoat. William Wiggins said "Well, I'm soon caught when I get back."

William Pratley deposed: On the 24th of last month, I was on duty with Syford. We heard men coming up the wood beating; we waited and these four defendants came up. Syford took a rabbit out of Riley Wiggins' pocket. I had not seen the hounds, they had been there and gone again.

The Chairman: You must understand that hunting-day or no hunting-day, you must not trespass. We decide to let you off by payment of 5s. costs.

Defendants were committed to prison for seven days, in default of payment.

[Riley Wiggins lived in Leafield in 1891]

CHADLINGTON.

CHADLINGTON DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS.

Before the Rev. T. Harris (Chairman), Rev. W.E.D. Carter, J.F. Penyston, Esq., and Captain J.H. Waller.

Alleged Trespass.

Charles Wilkins, of Ramsden, was charged with trespassing in search of game, on land in the occupation of L.M. Wynne, Esq., in the parish of Wychwood, on December 24th.

William Pratley deposed: I was on duty on the 24th December. I saw defendant in the wood. He was knocking the furze. I saw him knock a rabbit down. There were two small boys with him. Defendant put the rabbit inside his shirt. I saw him kill the rabbit.

Defendant: Did you see me with a gun or a stick?- You had a stick.

Defendant: Myself and brother were at work on my father's land, alongside the forest. The hounds were out that day, and I thought I would follow them. I went over after them. On returning, I found a dead rabbit. I had it some time before I was stopped. Pratley struck one, two, or three blows, and the man Shayler said "I've a good mind to knock your _______ brains out."

John Wilkins said: I am 15 years of age. We were on my father's land, when we saw the hounds. We followed them, and on our way back my brother picked up a dead rabbit. Mr. Pratley struck my brother with a stick, and Mr. Shayler said he had a good mind to knock my brother's _______ brains out.

The Bench dismissed the case.