MASTER POACHERS OF ENGLAND

Evening Star, Issue 22719, 5 August 1937, Page 8

MASTER POACHERS OF ENGLAND

Albert Ebeuezer Fox, whose death was recorded in a brief paragraph in the London Press, is worthy of a more stately funereal pile, says tqe ‘ Manchester Guardian.’ He was a master of his craft, and with his twin brother, Ebenezer Albert Fox, was the finest poacher an English woodland has ever produced. What they did not know about poaching on the Earl of Strathmore’s estate and other lands in Herts was not worth knowing, and when they were caught, as they often were, they found a sure defence in mistaken identity. They never went poaching together! If Albert Ebenezer was caught ho gave the name of Ebenezer Albert, challenged the evidence of the constable who arrested him, and, haying produced his brother in court, audaciously asked: “Now, constable, will you swear it was me and not that brother of mine you stopped on that black night?” Time and again the constable hesitated and was lost, and Ebenezer Albert —or was it Albert Ebenezer?— escaped with a caution. Both the twins were brought up to attend chapel and Sunday school, and the training stood them in good stead in their later and less worthy years. It was Ebenezer Albert whom the magistrate told that, though neither gun nor birds were found on him, it could not be believed that he was not after game in the woods that night. Whnt had he to say? “Listen to mo,” said Ebenezer Albert. “I went into the wood that night because I wanted to mediate upon the Baptist hymn book.” And amid the uncnnt'-ollab'e laughter of the Bench he pulled from b’S Docket the Baptist hymn book that bis father had given him 60 years before. It was no use for a landowner to bribe the brothers to “ keep off.” One lady of the manor oTered Albert Ebe.nezer a pound a week and a brace of pheasants every week during the season if he would respect her preserves. Albert Ebenez'"- gave the promise and took the game. But he sent Ebenezer Albert in his place.