At the last County Court at Daventry before his honour Judge Ratcliffe, Mr Edward Elkington of Warmington brought an action against Mr M. D. Stanton of Byfield for the damage in taking and using a quantity of hay. Mr HF Besdale of Banbury appeared for the plaintiff. John Atkins, farmer, Warmington deposed that up to Michaelmas 1914 he occupied a farm at Byfield Hill and when he left, defendant refused to take two stumps of hay and the witness sold them to the plaintiff for £10. The plaintiff said he bought the two stumps for £10 in November. In February he saw the ricks and he considered that the defendant had cut away two tons which he valued at £4. Defendant said he offered to pay for what he took. It was hay that had not been thatched and much of it was manure. He had about 10 cwt and he valued it at 6s. 0d. Defendants mother gave evidence, and his honour gave judgement for 15s. 0d. and costs on that amount.

Banbury Guardian, June 1915