Mexborough and Swinton Times  September 27, 1929

Bag of Partridge

Bolton Men Get Benefit of Doubt.

Owing to conflict of evidence, the magistrates at Doncaster on Tuesday dismissed charges of trespassing against a number of Bolton men.

Defendants were Clifford Roberts, John Roberts, farmers, and Walter Guest, Ernest Hough and Douglas Carrington, farm labourers, all of Bolton, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of trespassing in pursuit of game at Barnburgh on September 2nd on land over which the Manvers Main Colliery have shooting rights.

Mr. W. H. Carlile prosecuted, and said that P.c. Howard saw defendants in a field in the occupation of Wm. Stables, farmer, of Harlington. The brothers Roberts and Guest were carrying guns. Several coveys of partridges got up, and defendants shot at them, Hough and Carrington picking up the game, and putting it into a bag. Defendants then walked along another field in ton occupation of Christopher Bullock, got on to land in the occupation of Lord Halifax, and went in the direction of Goldthorpe. P.c. Howard followed and concealed himself, and as Guest and Roberts came in the direction of the field he challenged them. Carrington was found lying in a hedge bottom with 10 partridges and one hare in a bag.

John Roberts said that the birds were shot on the land owned by Mr. Moorhead. They also had permission to go on land owned by Mr. Elliott, and were never on the land of Stables or Bullock.

Similar evidence was given by all the other defendants, and Alec Moorhead said he had the defendants in view all the time and they were not trespassing.

Similar evidence was given by all the other defendants, and Alec Moorhead said he had the defendants in view all the time and they were not trespassing.

Mr. Carlile: They had right to shoot game without a licence.

The Bench decided to dismiss the case, the Chairman stating that defendants should have the benefit of the doubt.