The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-04 00:00:00

SERIOUS POACHING AFFRAYS.

Intelligence has been received at Darlington of a
very serious entrap having been committed on Saturday
night, in the neighbourhood of Middleton-in-Teesdale. Two
poachers were known to be out in the fields in pursuit of
game, and Mr. Searth and Mr. Lax, of Staindrop, collected
a number of watchers together, and went in search of the
depredators. with whom, after a little time, they came up.
It is said that they called upon the men to surreuder their
arms—which comprised three double barrelled guns. The
men refused, when an attempt was made to capture them.
Before, however, the parties had approached each other, the
poachers deliberately shot two of the watchers, one of whom
was seriously injured ; indeed it is rumoured that be had
since died, but this is not yet credited. It is likewise ru-
moured that the men, who were known to the watchers,
have been captured.
Early on Sunday morning, • desperate affray between
two gamekeeper s and three poachers took place on the es-
tate of J. V. Mackie, Esq., Gatefurd-hall, Worksop. The
keepers, named Cook and Pierce, were watching in a held
about two o'clock io the morning, when three poachers pre-
sented themselves, sad begnu to throw stones. An attempt
was made to capture them, but they proved too strong for
the two keepers; Pierce, who is about 60 years of age, fought
pliantly, but waa knocked down and beaten in a most
brutal manner, until he became to all appearance dead. His
clothe* were also cut in several place* by a knife, which
one of the poachers used. Finding the odds too great Cook
went to the Hall for residence, and the men decamped. A
surgeon was sent for and he found that several of Pierce's
ribs were broken, and that he was much cut and bruised
about the head. Ile is now out cf danger. A collier named
Abbot has been apprehended sal remanded.

ANOTHER DEATH FROM STARVATION.
ALLEGED INHUMANITY OF WORKHOUSE
OFFICIALS."

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EXPREBB.

SlR,—George Crippin, the husband of the
deceased woman, upon whom a coroner's inquest is now
holding (reported in last night's Express under the above
holding), never was, as stated by him before the coroner,
in my employ as " waiter or occasional waiter."
The waiters engaged on my establishment are all re-
spectable married men (with but one exception), and I feel
indignant at Crippin's assertion that be in any way belonged
to their body.
It is trde that I have upon several occasions employed
him to do sundry repairs in his capacity of a bricklayer, but
in no other way.—l am, kc.,
Music Hall, Welklose-square, Sept. 4

JOHN WILTON.

THE FIRE NEAR THE STEPNEY RAILWAY STATION.
—LATEST PARTICULARS—The following is a copy of the,
official report of the damage:—Eagle Wharf, Narrow-
street, Limehouse, Messrs. Ritchie and Co., jute and sack
merchants.—Building of four floors burned down. The cosi.l
tents are insured in the Sun Fire.office ; building unknown.
Ditto, Messrs. Hammond and Co., proprietors of steam
flour milk—Building of four floors and contents all but
destroyed. Insured in the Manchester and County Fire-
offices. London-wharf.—Messrs. Morice, Cox, and Co.,
bottled ale and beer merchants.—One side damaged by fire,
and contents by heat and water—insurance unknown. New
Sun-wharf.—Messrs. Button and Co., sailmakers.—Simi-
lar damage by fire and water, and great loss by removal.
The; contents were insured in the Phoenix ; building un-
known. Opposite aide of the road.—Yeses. Ritchie and
Co., sack merchants, warehouse of four floors and contents
all but destroyed—contents insured in the Sun Fire-office ;
building unknown. Ditto Messrs. Walton arid Co., ship
joiners. roofs damaged by breakage and content by water—
insured in the Phmnix Fire-office. Ditto, Messrs. Baldwin
and Murphy, rag merchants, roof damaged by tire and
contents slightly by fire and water ; insured in the Phomix
and Mercantile fire offices. The fire was extinguished by
firemen with three hand engines of the pariah, three manual
powernes
onf the ,
the twoie floawoting dsteas rnmen•Tifer' by
FATAL ACCIDENTS ON THE THANE/A.—Yesterday,
about noon, George King, a waterman's apprentice, was
proceeding up the river in a small punt, when from some
unexplained cause he fell overboard. A man named Clark
hastened to the spot in a skiff, but before he could catch
hold of King he sank. Clark dived in and succeeded in
getting hold of him, but his struggles compelled Clark to let
go his hold, and he probably would have shared the melan-
choly fate of the man he bad eodeavoured to save had he not
beet. succoured by some boats hastening to his assistance.
About 4 o'clock the same day a youth was drowned in the
river near the Thames Tunnel pier. The deceased, together
with a waterrnan, was proceeding up to London-bridge,
when they ran foul of a coal barge, by which the boat half
turned over, throwing the boy into the water. The water-
man succeeded in saving himself.
GREAT EASTERN RAILWAY.—The directors of this
company have accepted the tender of Mr. Brassey for the
48 miles of new line about to be commenced in Suffolk and
Cambridgeshire. The sections extend from Sudbury to
Haverhill. from Haverhill to Shelford, and from Melford to
Bury St. Edmund's ; and they are to be completed by July
1, 1864.

At a meeting of the governors of King Edward's
School, Birminghem, held yesterday, the Rev. Charles
Evens, M.A., of Trinity College, Cambndge, assistant mas-
ter at Rugby School, wu unaninionely elected head master,
in the room of the Rev. Dr. Gifford. magas&