NOCTUiT: IN nUNTINGDONSHIRE. 131 



In the spring of last year the pheasants were sitting in the covers, and 

 on June 19th the defendants came down into the neighbourhood. They 

 erected a sheet on the roadway at night, and displayed lanterns for the 

 purpose of catching moths and other insects. The reclaimed land was 

 famed for its valuable insect specimens. The defendants were warned 

 by the keeper on the first evening that the surrounding covers were 

 preserves, and they were told to be exceedingly careful not to disturb 

 the pheasants. They said they understood, and remained in the road- 

 way, where they had a right to be. They stayed in the neighbourhood 

 for about ten or twelve days, when the keepers warned them that they 

 were doing what they were not entitled to do. Of course they had a 

 right to walk on the high road. 



Mr. Buckmaster, K.C. (for the defendants) : But must not sit down. 

 (Laughter.) 



Mr. Rawlinson : Well, to put it strictly, they must not. 



Mr. Buckmaster : What happens if you are tired ? — I do not know, 

 but you must not sit down. What would you do ? 



Mr. Rawlinson : Well, I should go to the nearest licensed house. 

 (Laughter.) 



Continuing, counsel said the defendants were told to take their 

 sheets down, and on the Sunday night the keepers saw two of them go 

 on to the railway embankment, over which the plaintiff had sporting 

 rights. They went wandering about, swinging lanterns in the covers, 

 where also it was found that they had placed "sticky stuff" on the 

 barks of trees. It did not, said counsel, seem a great deal to complain 

 of, but such conduct would seriously injure a sporting estate, while 

 there was also the risk of a big fire. Apparently these defendants 

 came down to spend a holiday in the neiglibourhood. When spoken 

 to, they said they intended to return in the following year and bring a 

 caravan. (Laughter.) 



Mr. Justice Buckley : What are these defendants ? 



Counsel replied that one was an undergraduate, and one a medical 

 student. Two of them were under age. The plaintiff was claiming an 

 injunction and damages. 



Mr. Buckmaster : Are you asking for an inquiry into the number 

 of butterflies which were caught ? 



Mr. Rawlinson said there was nothing about an inquiry. These 

 young men had tendered a shilling in satisfaction of any damage done, 

 but of course that was not satisfaction. It had been determined long 

 ago that a game-preserver was entitled to substantial damages against 

 persons who, after warning, trespassed on his property. There was 

 one case decided where £500 damages were given, although there was 

 not a single farthiugsworth of damage done. 



Jackson, one of the plaintiff's keepers, said he ran after the boys 

 (the defendants) with his stick uplifted, but not with the intention 

 of striking them. He always went about carrying his stick up. 



Mr. Buckmaster : So that it is handy for striking if you come across 

 a poacher. (Laughter.) 



Mr. George Lissant Cox, one of the defendants, denied that he had 

 committed any act of trespass on the plaintiff's land, or disturbed the 

 game. In July last year, when he was in Huntingdonshire, he was a 

 medical student. 



