The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-25 00:00:00

MURDER OF A POLICEMAN,

George Grey, an officer of the Northumberland county
constabulary, who was shot by poachers at Eglingliam,
near Alnwick, on Saturday morning, died from the
effects of his wounds on Saturday night. The event
has caused immense excitement in Alnwick and the
north-west of Northumberland. The affair occurred
close to the village of Eglingham, adjacent to Rim•
sidam lor, shout eight miles to the north-west of
Alnwick, and immediately on the high road to Wooler.

P. lies-constable George Grey, the officer stationed
at Eglingham, was proceeding along his usual beat in
the direction of Old &wick. When he had walked
about half a mile from his own residence, a sudden turn
in the road brought him iu full sight of three men, who
were advancing rapidly towards him. They seemed to
be carrying something bulky in their arrest, and, bearing
in mind the depredations of poachers and henutealers
by whom the district is said to be infested, he at once
got himself ready to intercept and question the men as
to the object of their early movements. They ap-
proached to within 20 yards, apparently without
knowing that they were observed; but on their
seeing the officer they were alarmed, and took to their
heels through the hedge as fast as they possibly could.
The officer followed, and a race over the heavy soil
of a turnip field was instantly commenced. The
poachers kept well within the shade at the side of the
Ledge, with the view, no doubt, of rendering identifi-
cation the more difficult; but they had scarcely got
more than thirty yards when they suddenly found
themselves entangled in a long stretch ef netting
which had been put there for the nurpoee of keeping
the sheep to the particular fodder set apart for
them, and to prevent them from straying into the
grass field adjoining. This caused a temporary confusion
among the flying men, and gave the officer hopes of a
speedy capture. One of the gang,. however, turned
round to face him. and seeing him still approach, at a
distance of less thau 20 yards deliberately raised a gun
and fired. This did not take effect, and a second shot
was which woundins the chest and abdomen of
the officer, and bringing him headlong to the ground,
gave the poachers Vie necessary time for escape. The
wounded man coutrivel to raise himself to his feet
and to stagger to the he Ige ; but no sooner had he again
reached the roadway than he fell down exhausted. The
report of the sho's, together with the policeman's cries,
had the effect of arousing the inhabitants of Glebe
Cottage— a small house on the estate of Colonel John-
ston, of the Deanery—and as they instantly came out
to learn the cause of the unusual noise, they were
enabled to discover the insensible body of Grey. He
was carried into the house and examined, when it was
discovered that no fewer than twenty.one shots had
passed through his waietbelt, and that others had
entered his body at intervals from the neck to the
lower part of the abdomen. Dr. Wilson, of Alnwick,
was at once sent for, and did aU he could for the in-
jured man on his arrival; but he gradually sank, and
died about five o'clock in the evening.

Grey we only forty-one years of age, and leaves a
widow awl four young children.