Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 11 November 1932

Thurnscoe Poaching Case

A Haul of Tackle

Four Thurnscoe miners, Albert Fletcher, Geo. Bladen. Wm. Calland and Charles Hudson, appeared before the Doncaster magistrates, on Tuesday, charged with a breach of the Poaching Prevention Act.

P.c. Slater said that on Oct. 7th at 1145 p.m. he was on duty in Stotfold Lane, Thurnscoe with P.c. France, when he heard a man whistle. On looking higher up the lane, he saw four men, the defendants, walk from the lane into a field. When he and P.c. France went to them, they were sitting under a hedge. In the men’s possession was poaching tackle and when asked for an explanation, Fletcher remarked. “You have no right to come on land after us” and Calland said, “They must do their duty.” When Fletcher was asked to give up the poaching tackle, he refused so the men were taken to Goldthorpe police station. On being searched Fletcher had two long nets, pegs, a big stick and a driving line; Bladen, a net and stick; and Calland, a sack and stick. P.c. France gave similar evidence.

Fletcher, on oath, said they went to the field where found at 11 o’clock. “We sat down because the weather did not seem suitable for us.”

Mr. M. L. Nokes (Chairman): Wasn’t it, dark enough?—Yes it was. The constables when they came about 11.45. said they wanted our nets. I would not let them go because the constables would have dipped them in water and said we had been using them.

Bladen’s evidence was that they were just going on land but had not started poaching. Mr. Nokes said there was no doubt that the defendants were going poaching that night. “You are not charged with night poaching or you would be convicted. You are charged with coming off land and that is not proved. The case will be dismissed.”

Fletcher was then asked when he was going to pay a previous line of £5. He replied that he was only receiving 15s. 3d. a week and offered to pay 2s. a week towards the fine.

Mr. Nokes: You do not intend to pay. Go to prison for a month.