Killer Rabbits June 22, 2016
Author: Beach Combing | in : Contemporary, Modern , trackback
Beachcombing’s father in law, a few days ago, actually managed to trip over a snake. He thought it was a piece of rope… In celebration of this unlikely event and in memory of sheep killings Beach now declares open season on rabbit killers. We’ve already had the terrors of supernatural rabbits, but what about the flesh and blood type? Beach should add here that he still carries the scar on his thumb where a rabbit bit him about three years ago: an altercation about a chewed computer lead that ended with this blogger weeping in a fetal position next to the dishwasher and Diego growling behind the settee. Memories, too, of Carter’s close shave in 79.
An inquest was held at the London Hospital, yesterday, on James Ives, 21, of no occupation, late of Rottenden Lodge, Battle Bridge Essex whose death was due to swallowing a rabbit bone…. The jury returned a verdict of ‘death by misadventure’ Man Courier (10 Mar 1911), 11.
At the inquest at Westminster, yesterday, on Colonel Horace Walpole, aged 69, who died in a nursing home, it was stated death was due to a rabbit bone which he swallowed becoming inbedded [sic] in his throat. Western Daily Press (9 Apr 1919), 8
The Stamford Coroner yesterday returned a verdict of accidental death in the case of George Brakespear (33), of Bunley Rutland, who cycle struck a rabbit when he was returning from a dance. Deceased succumbed to injuries sustained through being thrown from his machine, after lying in hospital unconscious for a fortnight. Aberdeen Journal (18 Oct 1923), 7
A rabbit has caused the death of Colin Munday, a young soldier serving with the East Kent Regiment (The Buffs) at Shorncliffe. He died in Haywards Heath Hospital, Sussex, on Tuesday from injuries received in an accident near Ardingley. He was cycling to visit his sister when a rabbit ran across the road and collided with his machine. He was thrown off and injured, but managed to crawl to his sister’s home.
The next one was not a death, but a close shave.
A young hunter who killed six rabbits before the season for such activities was open was brought before officials at the Racine, Wisconsin in October. The defendant persistently reiterated ‘They attacked me. I shot in self defence.’ Lawyers have been unable to penetrate this defence since there were no witnesses to the murderous assault. Auckland Star (15 Dec 1928), 3 (Thanks to Invisible for this one)
So in short don’t ride where there are rabbits, don’t eat rabbits and, what ever you do, shoot at them before they can shoot at you. If you can’t take the evidence then consider General Woundwort
Other rabbit atrocities: drbeachcombing AT yahoo DOT com
There is a very good rabbit story from First Mannasas but another post another day.
Not a death but Chris from Haunted Ohio Books dug up this about destructive rabbits….
30 Mar 2017: Not sure if I ever sent this to you for your “Rabbit Crime” category: September 4th At the Preston Town-hall on the 4th inst., three military officers, named A.G. Onslow, J. Conroy, and Hopton S. Stewart (!!) were fined 40s. and costs, and severely reprimanded by the Bench for Smashing Streetlamps by throwing rabbits against them. The defendants, who, it is said, had been tippling freely, pleaded guilty to the charge. (1855) Dickens’ Dreadful Almanac, A Terrible Event for Every Day of the Year, edited by Cate Ludlow, p. 146
