Who did kill the bears?

Описание: Who did kill the bears? Seventy five years after the brutal killing of two performing bears in the Forest of Dean the villagers of Ruardean and Cinderford are still accusing each other of the crime. It's a tale of touring entertainers, child murders, foul rumours and mob justice. Lionel Hampden attempts to find out what really happened with one of the last eye witnesses to the events of 24th April 1889.

The incident also inspired the local playwright, Dennis Potter, to write 'A Beast with Two Backs', that was broadcast as part of the Wednesday Play series by the BBC in 1968.



Notes from "The Offences Book" of Drybrook Police Station
3 May 1889

Name Age Details
George WILKES 49 Fined £5 or 1 month imprisonment for assault
Fined £1 plus £20 damages for killing the bears, or 1 month imprisonment
Ernest CINDERRY 29 Fined £5 or 1 month imprisonment for assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 1 month imprisonment
George RAWLINGS 22 Discharged on the charge of assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 14 days imprisonment
Robert WILKES 21 Fined 10/-d or 7 days imprisonment for assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 14 days imprisonment
Henrey BALDWIN 27 Fined 10/-d or 7 days imprisonment for assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 14 days imprisonment
Joseph HOPKINS 19 Discharged on the charge of assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 14 days imprisonment
Isaac BALDWIN 28 Discharged on the charge of assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 14 days imprisonment
Arthur GOLDING 21 Discharged on the charge of assault
Fined £1 plus £5 damages for killing the bears, or 14 days imprisonment
William BALDWIN 15 Discharged on the charge of assault
Discharged on the charge of killing the bears
Thomas MEEK 21 Fined £5 or 1 month imprisonment for assault
Discharged on the charge of killing the bears
Joseph HARDWICK 26 Discharged on the charge of assault
Discharged on the charge of killing the bears
George TIPPINS 22 Fined £5 or 1 month imprisonment for assault
Discharged on the charge of killing the bears
Sidney RAWLINGS 19 Fined 10/-d or 1 month imprisonment for assault
Discharged on the charge of killing the bears
William WILLIAMS 23 Fined 10/-d and costs for assault
Discharged on the charge of killing the bears