A COUNTRY blacksmith from near Worcester was in trouble with the courts at this time 100 years ago for shooting down a homing pigeon.
The Journal of 1903 reported the case of Steadman Munslow of Holt who was hauled before the County Petty Sessions by the National Homing Society for shooting a homing pigeon, valued at 30/- and belonging to James Garner of Bromsgrove.
The magistrates were told that members of the National Homing Society were frequently suffering as a result of persons shooting their birds. P.C Smith said he went to the defendant's house and found the said pigeon, so badly wounded that he ordered it to be destroyed.
Defendant said he would not have shot the pigeon had he known it was a valuable one. He was fined one shilling and ordered to pay the owner the value of the dead bird.
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