New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-06-04

poacher is proof of it. But there is other and
better evidence though bad for him. produced az
almost every Petty Sessions, and certainly at every
Assizes: often proof Of too much courage, ge'tlhg
him sentenced to penal servitude for le If not ac
tually sent to the scahold. "Affrays." as they
are termed between parties Of ponchers and game
keepers are OF frequent occurrence; fierce ehco"n'
ters with firearms used both Sides as III u
battle often resulting in fatal WOUNDS OF "ca'" IL
self upon the spot When bent upon sucn uesPc
rate resistance the poacheIs generally 90 uisguiSe
and with masked or blackencd faces though not
always.
The nenoltv for poaching varies with the nature
of the offence the season of the year the hours OF
the day OF night. even religion, affecting IL. AS
for instance taking game on Sunday or Christmas
Day subjects the taker TO fine of So and for KILL
ing game birds during the close season the line IS Il
per head of those killed. These penalties how
ever are not special to poachcrs the owners of the
game itself being liable to them. The laws that
more affect the poacher come under the heading OF
Trespass." and he is termed trespasser in pur-
suit of pame~ When caught so trespassng IN the
day (which is defined as from the beginning OF the
last hour before sunrise and concluding with the
expiration of the first honr after sunset , the
penalty is E5 and costs If the trespass he by
night il is punished not by fine but Imprisonment,
and the term is accumulative: for first offence
three months with sureties required ut its eXp1a-
tion for a second, six months, with donDle ihe
amount IN money securities not to offend again
and in case OF a third or further trespass 1t Is
treated as "misdcmeanor" And If the trespasscr
refuse giving his name to those who have the
right TO demand il of him, offer resistance to them
or use violence, the punishment assumes still
moro serious phase, especially if he be known
poacher: and above all. where there are several
acting together and armed.
As may be supposed, gamekeepers and policemen
are empowered to make summary arrcst of those
they may suspect OF being poachers, and were thIs
power confined to its legitimate purpose there would
be no great harm in it, Unfortunately however, 1T Is
not thus restricted, but too often stretched and
abused especially by the policeman. EXulting IN
the possession of this almost irresponsible
authority he also corics in making display of it ;
the consequence being that many POOR laboref
returning veared from his days work. with no
more thought of game stealing than the man in
The moon is brought up by hail as of Lighwayman
to " stand and deliver" Then to have his coat or
sop" pockets searched, the pail" TOO, in which
he has carried his meagre provisions to the field to
see if he be not carrying home hare, rabbit
pheasant or partridge. All :hs on a public road,
an ordinary occurrence too and in that rural Eng
land which, as | see by an editorial in
Tup TRIBUNE. an American writer--Nlr Winter
has depicted Us almost beyond parallel peaceful
gentle and beautiful" Beautiful il may be, and in
many parts certainly is with this writer further
says. "rural regions thoroughly cultivated and
exquisitely adorned" But for the peaceful and
gentle" Mr.. Winter will have to 20 elsewhere;
unless by gentleness he means abjcct submissive
meckness and his peace be that of the workhOuse,
4lo Il .DIf ba a
land there ~ no peace but ever cor slant toil
with attendant trouble, to end only with his life.
And lave no hesitation in affirming that there are
few such men whose lives are not shortened by the
struggle-aye many of them by years. Could
this writer only look into the cottages of
these poor men. as do daily and witness their
early decreptude through diseases consequent on
exposure to weather with Overwork and often
stinted food he would not there find his potential,
manifold and abundant sources of beauty refine
ment and peace" And were he out for nocturnal
stroll along one of Englands country roads, with
threadbare coat upon his back. to be stopped by
the rural policeman and have his pockets turned
inside out-no rare nor pIobematical occurrence,
it would doubtless modify his ideas about the
poetry OF English rural life, making very plain
unpleasant prose OF 1t.