A bit of a Scuffle

3 days after Reggie’s death

Dover Express and East Kent News 30th? August 1929

Basil Newington, of Aylesham, pleaded guilty, to trespassing on land belonging to Lord FitzWalter in search of conies.

Frederick Hughes, gamekeeper to Lord FitzWalter, said that on August 13th about 1.30 he saw defendant and another man come away from the bank close to Bushy Ruff. He asked what they had got in the basket and defendant said it was nothing to do with him. The policeman who had been sent for came along and there was a bit of a scuffle-but got six rabbits out of the other man’s basket. The policeman took their names and addresses but the other man gave a wrong name he believed.

P.C. Honey, K.C.C., chillienden said he found the defendant detained and asked if he had any rabbits, and he replied,”I got a couple.” And when asked to produce them said “No you don’t, I shall have to pay for them.” When witness started to search him they went over on the bank together. He took six rabbits away from him.

Defendant: You did not take them off me, you took them off Jackson. The policeman said” Let’s have those __________ rabbits.” and jumped on him on the bank.

Supt. Lane said that defendant was before the court on November 3rd, 1927, and also on February 7th this year, and fined 1 pound on each occasion for poaching.

The chairman said that they were inflicting a heavier penalty this time. He would have to pay 2 pds. Or go to prison for a month.

Defendant asked for time, saying he had been off work for six weeks.

The chairman said that he could have a month, but didn’t he think he was foolish to go on like this?

Defendant: I could not see I was doing any damage walking around when they were cutting the corn.

The Chairman: You had better stop that sort of thing or you will get iate (word unreadable- brambled)-_ serious trouble.