Special constable fined

Sydney Harry Thompson, stud-groom, of London Road, Bishop’s Stortford, was summoned at Harlow on Saturday for killing a pheasant without a licence at Little Hallingbury, on October 15.  The defendant, who was stated to be a Special Constable, pleaded guilty and expressed his regret.  P.s. Megaughey, stationed at Bishop’s Stortford, said he was working in the early morning on his allotment in Hallingbury Road, when he saw the defendant carrying a gun in a field on the opposite side, in the parish of Little Hallingbury.  He saw him shoot at and kill a cock pheasant, drop his gun, and run to the bird and pick it up.  When he saw the witness going towards him, he ran away.  The witness took possession of the gun and after a time the defendant came back and asked for it.  He denied killing a pheasant, but the witness searched and found it hidden in some grass.  The field in which the pheasant was shot belonged to Mr Tresham Gilbey.  The defendant had permission from the tenant to shoot rabbits, and had a ten shilling gun licence.  He was fined 10s..