Before the Bench. 151 



' But he didn't, and, after looking carefully round, 

 the defendant picked up the rabbit, and put it and 

 the wire in his pocket.' 



' What did you do then ? ' 



' I got out of the hedge and came towards him. 

 Directly he saw me he ran across the field ; I whistled 

 as loud as I could, and he ' (jerking a thumb back 

 towards the head keeper) ' came out of the firs into 

 the lane and stopped him. We found the wire and 

 the rabbit in his pocket, and two more wires. I pro- 

 duce the wires.' 



This was the sum of the evidence ; the head 

 keeper simply confirmed the latter part of it. Oby 

 replied that it was all false from beginning to end. 

 He had not got corduroy trousers on that day, as 

 stated. He was not there at all : he was in the 

 village, and he could call witnesses to prove it. The 

 Clerk reminded the audience that there was such a 

 thing as imprisonment for perjury. 



Then the .defendant turned savagely on the first 

 witness, and admitted the truth of his statement by 

 asking what he said when collared in the lane. ' You 

 said you had had a good lot lately, and didn't care if 

 you was nailed this time.' 



' Oh, what awful lies ! ' cried the wife. ' It's a 

 wonder you don't fall dead ! ' 



