From The Warminster Herald, Saturday 23 July 1870:
In a quiet little village in Wiltshire, not a hundred miles from Orcheston, lives a man whome we cannot vouch (from his name) is not a descendent of the late Dr Watts, but unlike the late venerable Dr has of late devoted his attention to sporting.
He was a short time ago sent by his employer to keep rooks from the corn, and we think, from what followed, he must have been slightly touched with the effects of the delicious malt wine brewed in that part of the country. Having seen what he supposed to be a rook, he levelled his gun at it, but on discovering it was too large for a rook, and covered with wool instead of feathers, and also had four legs and no wings, he concluded, on second consideration,that it was a young bear escaped from the Zoological Gardens, and was heard to exclaim “Bear’s hams for dinner next Sunday.”
Taking a long and a sure aim, he fired, and brought the animal down; when, to his utter dismay, he discovered that he had shot a black faced lamb, the property of a neighbouring gentleman. The poor innocent, on being killed, had the ball taken from its shoulder. Surely, after this, the inhabitants of Bishops Cannings will have no objection to transfer their character.