who told him that a man named Richards was the most notorious poacher of the
neighbourhood.
Soon after the squire happened to meet Richards, who asserted that he could get game
whenever he wanted it, keepers or no keepers.
This annoyed the squire who, with the intention of catching his man, said :
-"Well, if you bring me a hare to-morrow from my own estate, I'll give you a
guinea for it."
"What ! an' you a J.P. ?" said Richard. "Oh, that'll be all right." "Well, then,
done sir."
Next day the grinning poacher arrived and was shown into the study. "Well, have
you got him?" asked the squire.
For answer Richards opened the sack, out of which jumped a fine hare, which rushed
wildly round the room seeking to escape. "Why haven't you killed it ? " yelled the
indignant squire.
"Because, sir," said the poacher, with a grin, "I haven't a licence !" Notes From the Queensland Newspaper The Telegraph 9 Sep 1902 p. 2.