The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1885-11-20 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

ALLZGED GAMIC IRKSPASS. Seward Silk, of no fixed abode, was summoned for game trespass. The date of the offence was the 3rd of November, and the case stood adjourned. Charles Goodwin, gamekeeper, gave evidence. He said he was gamekeeper under Sir Joseph Spearman. On Monday, 2nd of November, he found wires (19 in number) set in the Gmig wood, in the parish of Llansannor. He watched them until Cawley morning; about nine o'clock the prisoner came down a " rack " close to where he looked up and down the racks, or paths cut in the wood. He then went and looked at some wires set in the meshes, where pheasants usually run. He then came close to where witness was, and re-set one wire. Defendant than saw him, and witness rushed out and caught held of him ; as he seemed to have a knife in his hand witness tripped him up, and the two rows of wire produced and a knife he took out of his pocket. Witness accused prisoner of setting the wires; he made no reply. He then took bilk to Llansannor and afterwards to Cowbridge Police-station. He was remanded that day. Had never seen the prisoner before he took him into custody; They were set high for catching pheasants; might possibly catch a rabbit. There was a pheasant in the wire, but prisoner did not reach it. Cross-examined: Saw you set one of the wires; did not use any violence to him. Police-constable Jenkins, in answer to the prisoner, said there was blood on him when he was brought to his custody. Prisoner said that witness kept on hitting him, and he cried out "murder," and asked if it was going to be another Cowbridge murder. Be broke a staff over him, and also kicked him. Witness said there were marks of blood upon him; but it occurred in a struggle to get hold of what he thought was a knife, but proved to be the wires produced. Prisoner: You said that I was taking bread out of his mouth; that over 200 pheasants bad been taken out of the wood; and you beat and kicked me. I was sore for a week after. The policeman saw the blood on me. Police-constable Jenkins said: On the 3rd inst.. about 11 30 a.m., he was on the way from Llanharran to Cowbridge, and saw last witness near Llansannor-Coart. He said he had a prisoner who would not walk to Cowbridge, and he was looking out for a conveyance. Witness went up to prisoner; he was bleeding from a cut on his forehead; asked about it; he told him that Goodwin had struck him with a stick. Goodwin did not say anything. It might have been done in a struggle or by a blow; briars would have caused such wounds if they were struggling on the ground. Goodwin had no stick. Prisoner was handcuffed when he first saw him. Cross-examined: You told me that Goodwin had struck you with something like a staff. By the Bench: I searched the prisoner and found pheasant's feathers in his pockets. The prisoner has been seen about before. In answer to the Bench Goodwin said that be handcuffed the men, and Mr Owen said he had no right to do it. The Bench thought the charge against prisoner of Betting snares for game had been proved, and the statement that he was beaten by Goodwin had not been substantiated, Goodwin bad denied it, and if he had etated that which was untrue, he  was liable to be chargea with perjury. There was no doubt that to an extent he had used more violence than he need have done, and that the prisoner had been in custody for a fortnight the Bench thought it sufficient punishment and discharged him.