WALTER Busby, a labourer from Broom was hauled before the courts charged with stealing two tame ducks.

The ducks valued at 4s, were the property of Arthur Lane of Broom Court and were taken on July 9.

Sergeant Sharpie stated he was on duty in Broom on July 9, at about 9.15am when he saw the prisoner come down Mill Street. He noticed his pockets were bulging, so followed him and asked what he was carrying.

The defendant said he was carrying nothing but Sergeant Sharpe searched him and found two dead tame ducks in his pockets.

Busby said they were already dead when he found them at the bottom of the brook on Mr Hughes' field.

One duck had a hole in his neck and had been shot by a catapult.

The other had its neck broken. Ten small stones were also found in the prisoner's pockets.

The policeman took the defendant up to Broom Court where Mr Lane identified the ducks as his property.

In his defence the prisoner said: "I never shot them, I found them."

Mr Lane said he missed the ducks the previous evening and was five short when he counted them.

However, the defendant said he was not guilty of killing the ducks "They were dead when I found them."

Busby was sentenced to two months hard labour.