The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-02-14 00:00:00

THE LATE POACHING AFFRAY AT
WARDOUR.

HINSON Prrfr SESSIONS. February L —Before J.
Locke, Esq. (ohairrnan), M. Jeffreys, Esq., Alfred
Seymour, Esq.' M.P., and T. Fraser Grove, Esq.
:amen Jay and William alms Thomas Garrad, of Anatey,
! labourers, were brought up on remand, charged with
night poaching and with violently assaulting and beating
John Thomas Adams, Adam Sanger, and George Gerd.
three keepers in the employ of Lord Arundel of War-
dour, on the morning of the 15th of January, between
one and two o'clock. The prisoner Garrad, who was
I accommodated with a chair, presented a most piteous
spectacle. He looked wretchedly ill, the whole of his
head being oovered with pilaster, while his face, which
had been cut, was also disfigured with numerous patches
of plaister. Adams, the keeper, and his assistant,
Sanger, looked very ill, and their heads were plaiatered
over in various places. (lord, the other assistant
keeper, who was much injured, was too ill to attend.
The prisoner Jay appeared to have come out of al.
affray apparently unhurt. He was as determined look.
ing a ruffian as we have ever seen ins court of justice.
John Thomas Adams deposed that he is a gamekeeper
in the employ of Lord Arundel of Wardour. On Satur-
day, the 14th of January, about 11 o'clock, he was in
the preserves at Wardaar, with Adam Sanger and
George Gerd. They all remained watching until about
a quarter-past one o'clock on Sunday morning, when
they heard the report of a gun, and shortly afterwards
they heard the report of another gun. They were
armed only with small sticks. They were coming up
from the direction of the small trout pond into the
carriage road, and they immediately went towards the
spot where they heard the report. Witness went on
five or six yards before the other men, and he had not
gone far before he heard r. rustling noise in the bushes,
and out rushed the prisoner Garrad, who struck at him
with the barrel of a gun taken from the stock. Witness
called out to Gurd to come and assist. Garrad then
came at him again, and struck him on the head with,
the barrel of the gun, and he fell down on his hands
and knees. He got up, and succeeded in knocking
down Garrad with his stick. He heard Sanger call out.
for assistance, and saw him knocked down by another
man. Witness went to the assistance of Sanger, who.
was on the ground, with the other man on him.
Witness did not know Jay, when he saw him on his hands
and knees. A struggle took place, and Jay, the other
man, hit witness a blow on the head with a bludgeon.
Sanger afterwards revived, and they succeeded in captur-
ing Jay. Witness heard Gerd calling out, and Sanger
went to his assistance. Garrad was eventually secured
also. After the two prisoners had been secured witness
picked up a piece of the stock of a gun. The barrel
was afterwards brought to his house. Witness 'earthed
Garrad's pocket, and found the pheasant now produced.
The wound on his forehead was reoeived during the
encounter with Jay. The other wounds were inflicted
by Garrad.
By the Bench: These men came at us shortly after
we beard the rustling in the bushes. They both Gine at
us at once, from the same place. He did not know who
Jay was until afterwards.
Examination resumed: After he had reoeived a blow
from Garrad he knocked him down. He left him in charge
of (lord in order to go to the assistance of Sanger.
When the prisoners were secured they were taken to his
house.

By the Beech: Witness got possession of the barrel
, when at home. He took the pheasant from Gamed.
Sanger picked up the gun-stock.
I Adam Sanger deposed :I am assistant-keeper to Lord
Arundel of Wardonr. On the night of Saturday, the
14th of January, I was out in the preserves at Wardour.
Adams and Gard were with me. We all kept together
till about a quarter-past one, when we heard the report
of a gun about a quarter of a mile off. In about five
minutes afterwards we heard another report of a gun.
We then made for the spot. Adams was somewhat in
ad vanoe of me. When we had gone a little way I heard
a noise from the bnshes, and saw Garrad come out and
attack Adams. The other prisoner then struck me and
broke myhead. We fought for • few minutes. We both
went down, and Jay got on top of me, and struck
me with a stick more than once. Adams came to my
assistance, and Jay got up. I was partly insensible, and
lost my stick. I heard Gurd crying out for help, sad I
went towards him, and saw Garrad strike him on the
head with • barrel of a gun. Garrad swore that he
would rather die than be taken. We, however, suc-
ceeded in capturing him, and we took him and the other
prisoner down to Mr. Adams's, and we found out who.
they were. About half way down Garrad said that
his name was "Toby Gillard." I did not know hie
name. I have since ascertained that the other prisoner's
name is Jay.
The prisoner Jay: He struck me first.
Garrad: Adams struck me first three timed.

In answer to a question from the Bench, Sanger mid
that he picked up the stock of the gun, and took the
gun.barrel from Garrad.
Dr. R. C. Mettle, of Cann, Shaftesbury, deposed:
On the evening of the 15th January I was sent for to
attend the keepers at Wardoar. On going there I
met my assistant, and we proceeded together. We both
examined the keepers, and dressed their wounds,
George Curd was the first examined. We found
that his head was covered with dry blood, which I
removed. He had seven very severe contused wounda
on the head, and • punctured wound on the leg. We
dressed these wounds, and then went to see the other
keepers. Gard was at Wardour Lodge. and Adams and
Sanger were at the keeper's house. When we got there
we found they were both in bed. Adams had received
three severe cuts, or contused wounds, in the head.
There were other wounds of a lighter character. He
was in a state bordering on inflammation of the brain.
I considered that his life was in danger. He was the
worst of the three. On the keeper, Sanger, I tonsil
hree wounds of a less severe character. I do sot yet
consider that Adams is out of danger. Curd is too al
to attend to-day.
Sergeant Britten, of the Wilts County Pollee, deposed
—On Sunday morning, the 15th of January, I was
sent for to go to Adams, at the keeper's house. I
went and took charge of the two prisoners. I searched
them, and found on Garrad • small bag with moms
shot in it, some gun caps, and a knife. On the pri-
soner Jay I found a bag with some powder in it,
and also some gunicaps. I took charge of the gun-
barrel and the stock which I received from Mr. Adams..
I also took charge of the bludgeon and the pheasant, all
of which are now produced. I told the prisoners
that I took them in charge for night poaching, and,
beating the keepers. Garrad, in answer, said, 'The
best thing we can do is to say we be guilty." The other
prisoner was present when he said this. Jay made no
reply to the charge.
Mr. G. 17. Hogan, assistant to Mr. Young, surgeon,
of Hindon, stated that the prisoner Garrard was in a fit
condition to travel.

The prisoners, having been duly cautioned, said that
they had nothing to say in answer to the charge.
They were then fully committed for trial at the next
Wilts Assizes at Devizes, and were conveyed to Maker-
ton Gaol on Thursday morning.

CLIBOTION AT THE Bea—The question u to the
propriety of admitting to the bar gentlemen who have
previously taken holy orders is to be discussed by a com-
mittee of twenty-four benchers selected from the four
Inns of Court. One of the benchers so selected IA Mr.
fdentegue Smith, the new judge. Each Inn of Court
zontributes one civilian. The Inner Temple muds Sir
Stephen Lushington, L.L.D., Judge in the Court of
Arches, Lincoln's Inn, T. Twins, LL.D. ; the Middle
Temple, the Queen's advocate, Sir R. Phillimore ; and
Gray's Inn, Mr. Archibald Stevens, Q.C., L.L.D.
There are, therefore, four ecolesiastical lawyers in all,
but the lay element g_reatly preponderates.
The MALT-TAX.—Hempshire is about to set the
Initiative as regards county meetings on this all-impor-
tant matter. A meeting of the farmers attending
Winchester market was h...stily celled on Saturday,
when it was resolved to get up a requisiton
to the High Sheriff of the 000nty, requesting him I.
convene an early meeting of landlords and farmers, and
all interested in the abolition of the malt-tax, that they
may have an opportunity of expreseing their sentiments.
The requisition has since been very numerously signed,
and the High Sheriff will no doubt appoint an early day
for the diminution on the lidded.