Who did kill the bears?

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