The Express.
London, England, 1862-12-04 00:00:00

COLLYILE V. BEITH.-ASEACLT AT THE WILHIBMON.

The plaintiff in this cue, Dr. Collyer, had been chairman
of Clan 4 at the Exhibition, and the defendant a mem-
ber of that committee, and the action was brought to recover
damages for an assault and false imprisonment committed
on the occasion of the distribution of prizes.
Mr. M. Chambers and Mr. Needham appeared for the
plaintiff ; and Mr. Hawkins and Mr. Quin fur the de-
fendant.
Dr. Collyer said that be was appointed chairman, and
afterwards permanent chairman of Clan 4, which comprised
animal and vegetable substances used in manufactures. He
never resigned that position, though there were differences
between him and 110020 of the committee, especially with
regard to the trophy. The distribution of prises took place
on the 11th July, and his position in the procession as
chairman was next to the Mayor of Liverpool. When the
Mayor came up, Mr. Treloar placed himself on the right,
and Mr. Smith on the left of him. Witness was about
Fusing Mr. Smith to show to the Mayor his position as
indicated in the book, when Mr. Smith extended his arm
and pushed him back, and called a policeman, who jerked
witness out of the procession, and laid hold of him and held
Lim for four or five minutes. When he was
let go he had great difficulty in regaining his position in the
procession. During all this time he wore the committee-
men's hedge, and what took place occurred just opposite
the Duke of Cambridge and her Majesty's ministers.
The defendant's version of the affair was that be was a
candle manafacturer at Kensington. Some unpleasantness
occurred bribe committee in February, and a requisition
was signed by every member of the committee except Dr.
Collyer and Mr. Buxton, asking Dr. Collyer to resign. He
did not do so, and • meeting was held which pseud resolu-
tions (unanimously with the exception of Dr. Caber) re-
moving him from the chairmanship and appointing witness
chairman. This was on the 10th March, and Dr. Collyer
never came again until the distribution of prizes. '
In the procession, Dr. Collyer thrust a paper across
witness's face, and be (witness) said, " Do not, Dr. Collyer,
thrust the paper in my face," and all he did was to put
up his hand against the paper, and he did not believe that
be touched Dr. Collyer, who, however, thereupon turned
round and struck witness on the side. Whams turned to
Mr. Treloar and said, " Did you see Dr. Collyer strike me
on the side"' and he said, " 1 did." witness then gave the
doctor into custody.
In addition to this evidence, there were also several wit-
nesses called on both sides, and it also appeared that there
had been considerable unp:easantness, Dr. Collyer being ac-
cused of uncourteous and insulting conduct towards the
members of the committee ; and he. on the other hand, ac-
cusing them of endeavouring to use their influence to se-
cure for themselves trade advantages in the Exhibition at
the expense of the epee allotted to the body of exhibitors.
This imputation was, on the other aide, most distinctly and
positively denied. it further appeared that Dr. Collyer
had printed a long statement, in which ha alluded to the
defendant as a •• Roman candle," and used expressions in
reference to other members of the committee which were
neither polite nor pleasant.
The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff —dansages4oa.

ASSIZE INTELLIGENCE.

HOME CIRCUIT.—MuDgroNE, Die. 3.
(Before Xr. Justice Ryles.)
THY POACHING AFFRAY AT ROYDON HALL.

Affred Barr Lurk, 29, Thomas Stevens, 29, Georrfre
Allehin, 28, Joiepit Obey, 48, John Capson. 26, Steplun
Burgess, 25. John Catt, 31, and Stephen Ererefidd, 56, who
had bean admitted to bail, and who were all described u
labourers, were charged with the manslaughter of James
Gray. There was another prisoner, named John Hawke*,
included in the indictment, but he was admitted ma a witness
for the crown.

There was also an indictment against the prisoners for
night poaching, arising out of the same circumstances.
Mr. Russell and Mr. F. J. Smith conducted the prose-
cution. The prisoners were defended by Mr. Ribtou and
Mr. Addison. . _ _

This charge arose out of a very sanguinary affray that
took place ou the morniog of the 22nd of January last upon
the Roydoo Hall estate, in the parish of Peckham, a few
miles from this town, in a wood called the Mote Wood,
and during which the dexaaed, who was the head keeper
upon the estate, was shot, and died very shortly afterwards.
A bill for wilful murder was found by the giaod jury at
the lost summer assizes aguiust the prisoneis Lock and
Eversfield, but the case was postponed, and in consequence
of some doubts having subsequently arisen whether the
last-mentioned prisoner was concerned in the offence.
be was admitted to bail. The other prisoners were
subsequently apprehended, and the grand jury having
returned • true bill against the whole of them for
manslaughter, it was deemed advisable to abandon the
charge of wilful murder and to proceed against the prisoners
upon the lesser charge.
On the night of the 21st of January, the prisoners (ex-
oept Eversfield) met at East Melling, evidently by some
prewncerted arrangement, and they at once proceeded to
the wood in question, Luck and several of the others being
armed with guns, sod they commenced firing at the game.
The reports speedily gave notice to the keepers of what was
going on, and the deceased, who had gone to bed, was
aroused, and be and five other men, some of whom were
under-keepers and others watchers, proceeded to the spot
where the firing appeared to be. None of the party, it ap-
peared, had firearms; but Gray, the deceased, was armed
' with a very formidable instrument, in the nature of a flail,
' the handle of which was about four feet beg, and two
shorter pieces of wood were attached to it by iron eyes, and
in the bands of any person who could use it skilfully this
instrument was oilculated, undoubtedly, to cause very
serious mischief, and the other men only had dicks. The
keepers came up with the poaching party in a meadow close to
• wood, where they bad been heard firing shortly before, and
there appeared to be no doubt that six or seven of the
latter were armed with guns, and a desperate struggle took
place between the two parties, almost at the commencement
of which the unfortunate deceased received • gun shot
wound in the thigh, of which be died a few hours after-
wards. The learned counsel said that these ware the main
flab of the charge against the prisoners, and be should call
a named Hawke., who was one of the party, but
w bad6n been made a witness for the crown, who would
prove that the whole of them, except Eversfield, were
! present when the shot was fired, and his evidence would be
• materially corroborated by other testimony. He next pro-
, ceeded to call the attention of the jury to the law that wan
' applicable to the alma sod said that say parson was justified