Who Killed the Bears?

When you visit the small village of Ruardean, the last thing you ask is "Who killed the bears?". You see, the villagers there are still very touchy indeed about the whole subject, even though the incident happened way back in 1889. Basically, Ruardean inhabitants at first got the blame, but when the story really came out, it transpires that it was an unruly mob from neighbouring Cinderford who did it! The folks of Ruardean have never forgiven them.

The whole affair, of 26th April 1889, was reported in the Gloucester Journal of 4 May 1889, and also by the Ross Gazette on 2nd, 9th and 16th May 1889.

On Friday morning 26th April, four Frenchmen, Gabriel Qugant Yas, Gabriel Balent Huget, Thomas Biernes Sirgant and Alfred Gerand arrived in Cinderford along with two Russian bears.  Both the animals were muzzled, and each was controlled by two keepers. The Frenchmen exhibited the bears around the town until about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and then headed down the Lower High Street, intending to make for Ruardean. The men and bears were followed out of Cinderford by many small children and young men. By the time they reached Nailbridge, a mile from the town, a rumour was started that the bears had severely injured a woman and killed a child in Cinderford.

Their keepers, unable to speak a word of English, went down on their knees and in great distress implored, by gestures, to be left alone. Their entreaties were in vain, and several times the men were struck with either sticks or stones, and one received a serious blow in the neck with a half brick. In this way a couple of miles was traversed, and at 6 o'clock it was estimated that a mob of 200 persons had collected. The bears became very excited, and in the middle of the road within sight of Ruardean, the smaller of the two bears was killed outright by a heavy pole.

Gloucester Journal 4 May 1889

The man in charge of the other bear was compelled to let go the chain as he was being attacked. Local Ruardean people came out into the road and implored the mob to desist, but to no avail. Two of the Frenchmen were disabled, and the other two fled for fear of their lives. The free bear jogged down the road as fast as it could, but was captured by the mob and shot dead. Ruardean inhabitants took in the two injured Frenchmen and gave them shelter.

Much indignation was felt by the Ruardean people at the treatment the Frenchmen had received from their infuriated assailants. They were taken care of until they could be removed to Drybrook Police Station, where they were attended to and are now partially recovered. Much sympathy is expressed for the strangers, who have lost the means whereby they attained their daily bread, and the wish is uppermost that the guilty ones will meet with their reward.

We are informed that the French Vice-Consul in Gloucester (Mr. J. B. Karn) has received a communication from Mr. M. F. Carter, of Newnham stating that proceedings will be taken against some of the men alleged to have been concerned in the affray; that the Magistrates have a power to make a grant of £10 compensation for the loss of the bears, and suggesting that as the Frenchmen do not speak English, Mr. Karn had better attend at Littledean Police Court when the cases came on, as interpreter, or make proper arrangements.

Ross Gazette 2nd May 1889

A fund was opened by Mr. Colchester-Wemyss of Westbury Court, to compensate the Frenchmen.

A correspondent of the Gloucester Journal wrote:

The outrage is but a revival of a latent superstition that the bears of itinerant exhibitors are fed on the flesh of young children clandestinely obtained.

Arrests were subsequently made, and the accused were brought before the Littledean Police Court on May 3rd 1899.

The accused were described by the court as "colliers and labourers of Ruardean neighbourhood", although it is clear from the evidence given by the Frenchmen, that they were first attacked on the outskirts of Cinderford, and it was the Cinderford mob who followed them to Ruardean. It was this report that caused so much indignation amongst the people of Ruardean.  They felt that their village had been accused, and this indignation persists to this day, over a hundred years later.

George Wilkes, Robert Wilkes, William Baldwin, George Rollins [sic], Joseph Hopkins, Thomas Meek, Isaac Baldwin, Joseph Hardwick, Sidney Rollins  [sic], George Tippins, and Arthur Golding, colliers and labourers of Ruardean neighbourhood, were charged with that they, on the 26th April, in the township of Eastdean, in the parish of Ruardean, did unlawfully and maliciously kill two bears, the property of Gabriel Qugant Yas, Gabriel Balent Huget, Thomas Biernes Sirgant and Alfred Gerand; with having at the same time and place unlawfully assaulted an beaten the four French subjects, and with ill-treating and torturing the two bears at the same time and place.

Littledean Police Court records, as quoted by the Ross Gazette 9th May 1889

"Rollings" was in fact Rawlings

It would appear from the Offences Book of Drybrook Police Station, that 15 men had been arrested, and in addition to the above, included Ernest Cinderry, Henrey Baldwin, Joseph Hopkins, and William Williams (the latter on 10th May).

The prosecution was conducted by Mr. M. F. Carter, the Magistrates Clerk. The interests of the Frenchmen were watched by Mr. W. Langley-Smith, instructed by Mr. J. B. Karn, the French Consul at Gloucester.  Mr. F. Gould, barrister, instructed by Mr. Bradstock, defended the accused. William Henry Leach of Gloucester acted as interpreter.

A large crowd gathered at the Courthouse hours before the Court opened, but only the witnesses and other people having business were admitted.

The Magistrates retired for some considerable time, and delivering judgment, the Chairman said that they had taken some time to consider their decision, not because they had any doubt as to the assault having been committed, but as to whether they should give prisoners the option of a fine. They had determined, after considerable doubt, to give them the option of a fine, but they would make it a very heavy fine, and it would have to be paid on the spot.  The case was a most disgraceful one, in fact the most disgraceful that had come before him on the Bench.  These Frenchmen were going harmlessly about the country, and had been attacked by a mob of people on a cry which had no foundation whatever. They considered George Wilkes to be the worst offender, and next to him Tippins, Cinderry and Thomas Meek.

Ross Gazette, 9 May 1899

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 WILKS	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

Note: William Williams was brought to court on 10th May 1889 before Sir T. Crawley

The Ross Gazette reports that "in nearly every case the money was paid".

Arresting officers at Drybrook were:
Sgt. Hawkins
P.C. White
P.C. Jones
P.C. Price

There was a follow-up article in the Ross Gazette on May 16th 1899

Justice was done, but no doubt few, if any, of the people of Ruardean must have seen this final article, for the Ruardean residents today, over 100 years later, still remember the incident as being blamed upon them instead of the Cinderford people. To go into the local pub in Ruardean, The Malt Shovel, and ask "Who killed the bears?" is sure to bring out some of the old animosities.