The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1891-01-17 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

SUNDAY PIGEON SHOOTING AT LONGFORD.  On Friday, at Coventry county petty sessions, Oliver Ford and Arthur Stew, miners, Longford, were summoned for cruelty to a pigeen at Longford, on Jan. 4th.—Supt. Prosser stated that on Sunday morning last, at 11.15, in consequence of hearing some shots ired behind Salem-chapel, Longford, he went to a field adjoining, in which he saw defendants and 30 or 40 other men. Stew was 'in the act of tieing a string to a pigeon, and then Ford shot at it 50 yards away. The bird was fluttering about, but witness could not see whether it was hit. Another shot was fired, and he then heard a noise with the dog. Stew afterwards tried to tie another pigeon, but it got away. He found shot marks, blood spots, and remains of the pigeon that had been worried by a dog. A crowd gathered in the immediate neighbourhood if the shooting and very bad language was used, to the annoyance of the Salem-chapel congregation, then at divine service, land from whom he received several complaints. The superintendent added that there were a lot lof dogs in the field with the crowd. The shooting arose oat of a bet, by Stew, of Si. against Ford's watch, that Ford did not hit the pigeon at fifty yards. He shot and did not kill.—Stew, who pleaded not guilty, called as witnesses James Prentice, James Patrick. and George Oakes, all of whom denied Stew's guilt in fastening the pigeon to the rail, though one of them admitted that he sew a bird in Stew's hand. Ford pleaded guilty.— The Chairman said the case was most distinctly proved against Stew, whom Supt. Prosser stated was the promoter of all the mischief and depredations of the neighbourhoo3.—Ford was fined 10s. and 17s. 6d. costs; Stew £1 and 17s. 6d. expenses.  Speakin' g on the eight hours' question at the miners' conference, at Birmingham, on Thursday, ' Mr. Wm. Johnson, of Bedworth, said that there were only two divisions in Warwickshire in which I the miners' vote would have any effect. Last year instructions were given to interview the members ' of Parliament in the divisions in which the miners' vote would have effect. They did so, and ' were told by the members that they sympathised with them very deeply, and that they thought ' eight hours was long enough for a miner to work, They would not, however, vote for an eighthours' bill, and thus, he contended, they were not honest. In September last the London correspondent of the Daily Post wrote that the representatives of the mining divisions were reconsidering their positions and that they must now either vote for the eight-hours bill or refrain from voting against it if theymesnt to keep their seats. If members were going to keep their seats, and vote for the bill under pressure, was that honest? They did not want men to sit On the fence, but to get down on the one side or the other; and if they were opposed to the bill the miners would vote against them. They had one member, a capitalist, Who had promised to vote straight out for the bill. He was sorry that they had not only got members of Parliament to fight, but the Press; nine-tenths of the newspapers were against them on this qoestion. A Congregational chinch at Peterborough was destroyed by fire in Sunday, the damage being estimated at £4,000. In the proceedings on Saturday on the profiecotion of Mr. Charles Lyadon, at Faversham, for the murder of his brother, evidenee was given by several medical men as to the neglected state in which the late Dr. Lyddon was left, the finding of a fatal dose of morphia in the deceased'astomaoh, and the refusal of his medical attendanht to give a certificate. The ease was again adjourned. Now that John L. Sullivan has taken to the stage, he has roved himself a powerful if not capable actor. A reporter attempted to interview him at Milwatikee, and the eminent prizefighter knocked him unconscious. It is gLuite .peweible that some interviewers have merited if they have not received similar treatment. but it is ourious # that the first forcible rebufi should be given in the country where interviewing originated