

QUARTER SESSIONS. 231 



" Yes, your worship. There's Doster Getre, Thomas Lowcock, 

 Old Arnul, Spouting Billy, an' Tom Nabbler, for poaching, we 

 several others." 



" For poaching, bring the scoundrel here immediately. So, you 

 have been poaching, have you ?" 



" They say so, your worship/' 



" Who says so ?" 



" Please your worship," said a gamekeeper, " I cotched him in 

 our preserves about seven weeks back, on the afternoon of the 25th 

 of April, with a lot of snares in his possession, an' two or three hares 

 that he'd catched. I tried to teck him then, your worship, but he 

 being a powerful man showed fight, and got away. So hearing that 

 you'd come, I had him apprehended this morning, and here he is." 



" Villain, to go a poaching when the season is over, it makes your 

 crime double. I never shoot a hare in April what have you to say 

 in your defence?" 



11 No, but as this here chap's a thundering liar; and if it war'n't 

 for the respect of your worship's presence, I would have doubled him 

 up like an eeel, and thrown him out o' th' window," said Tom, 

 clenching his bony fist. " I say as I wasn't there, nor he didn't see 

 me it was some other man, about my size." 



" Well, my man, how will you prove it where's your witness ?" 



" Your worship's all the witness I hev, and all I want. He says, 

 your worship, as it was in th' afternoon o'th' 25th of April ; an' if 

 your worship looks at your books, you'll find that to be th' justice day." 



" Well, fellow, what has that to do with the case in point ? quick." 



" Don't be in a hurry, your worship, an' I'll come to that soon. 

 We all know as them preserves, as he's keeper for, lies twelve miles 

 from here, an' how could I be walking on the footroad an' see you 

 stop your servant, an' ask him if he'd delivered those letters safe, as 

 you was going home in the afternoon, if I'd been twelve miles off?" 



" You're right, I did stop my man, John, and ask him about those 

 letters; 'tis a plain case. Keeper, I commit you for one month for 

 false swearing." 



" I can't help it, your worship ; but I as surely catched him on our 

 preserves on the day he mentions, as I stand here before your wor- 

 ship ; and my master 'ill not let me lie in prison for doing my duty." 



" Well, well, its a difficult case, I can't decide it. Don't you come 

 before me again, Mr. Nobbier, on such a business. I dismiss you 

 both. What comes next?" 



" George Truernan against Doctor Getre, for attempt to murder, 

 against the plaintiff's consent." 



" Humph ! is your name George Trueman ? 



" Yes, your worship." 



' f Well, where's your wounds ? you look well, how is it ? you 

 wasn't murdered state your case, sirrah." 



" Your worship must know that I've been ailing for a long time, 

 an' about five weeks ago was upon th' point of death, an' Dr. Getre 

 attended me. Well, your worship sees, as every time he come he 

 was alluz telling I should never get better, an' trying to persuade 

 me to let him do something with me afore I died, an' he would 



