COLOXEL FAIRFAX'S MASTERSHIP. ,57 



' On Tuesday, April 27th, the following gentlemen met cat 

 ' Mr. Wilkinson's farm, to investigate a charge brought by 

 ' Herring, Mr. Haxby's keeper, against Skipper, Sessay 

 ' keeper, of setting traps in the boundary-hedge. 



' Present : — Colonel Fairfax, Mr. G. Buncombe, Mr. Pierson 

 ' (agent to Lord Downel, Mr. Daw (sub-agent), Mr. Robinson. 

 'Thormanby; Mr. Wilkinson, Cold Harbour. 



' Herring states : — " I have seen trapping going on all the 

 ' winter. Six weeks ago I saw a place where traps had 

 ' been just taken up. I also saw a man dressed as a keeper 

 ' setting two traps in the boundary-field. I could identify 

 ' the man. He is not now here." (Herring points out the 

 ' field on an estate-plan shown him by Mr. Pierson.) 



'■Question by the Court: "Were these traps set on the level?" 



'Answer: "Yes." 



'Question: "In your opinion, were they dangerous to foxes?" 



'Answer: "Yes, very." 



' Question by Mr. Pierson : " Have you ever struck any traps 

 in the boundary-fence between Mr. Webb's and Lord 

 Downe's ? " 



' Anszver : " Yes, often." 



' Skipper, keeper, Sessay, being called in, denies trapping 

 ' on the boundary, and states that, having heard reports of 

 ' trapping on the boundary, he ordered one of his men on 

 ' last Sunday week to look over the ground on the boundary, 

 ' to go into Raskelf Whin and look for cubs. He went on 

 ' Saturday night, and whilst he was concealed in the whin 

 ' he saw a man with a trap in his hand coming towards 

 ' him. The man walked up to where he was concealed, and 

 ' on his asking him what he was doing, said he was going 

 ' to catch a rabbit. On Sunday morning he saw the same 

 ' man and two others digging rabbits in the covert at about 

 ' nine a.m. 



' Barnard, the under-keeper, being called, tells the same story, 

 ' and identifies the farm servant, who acknowledges his 

 ' fault, and is reprimanded by his master. 



' The Court are of opinion that trapping dangerous to foxes, 

 ' has undoubtedly been going on, and beg that Skipper 

 ' will be most careful with his traps for the future, also that 

 ' he will caution his men to be very careful. 



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