The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-09 00:00:00

MURDER BY POACHERS AT RLYEDEN.

Oa Monday John Smrling, Frederick Fletcher,
Wm. Brews, Richard Starling, Joseph Norman, and James
Cadman, all of Isiah's', were brought up at the station-
house, Mildenhail, on the chug* of reordering Mr. William
Nepthen, the head gamikeeper of Wm. Newton, Esq., of
Elveden Hall, and of having shot et Isaac Allen, with intent
to warder him, seriously wounding him.
The magistretes present were: H. S. Waddington, Eq.,
P„ George Oetsker, Eiq , J. T. Males, Esq., and C. J.
Fos Banbury, Esq.
The depositions taken before the magistrate's' the former
hearing on the 24. h of December were first reed over, end
were to the following effect .
Thomas Allen, helper is Mr. Newton's stables, stated that
he lived with him tamer sr,d his brother hue at Elesden.
About lull past ten on Friday night, the 20.11 December, he
and hie brother were sitting in their cottage. He heard
the report of • gun, and he and his brother went out
as quickly se they could, and made for the George the
Fourth covert. Hie lather joined them in the covert, and
stopped sit the first corner of it. His brother stopped
at the further corner, and witness went down the outside.
Witness heard the report of another gun, and heard some
men running on the land. Witness then met with Jessup,
soother watcher. He overtook hie brother on the Little
Heath, and they followed the men on to the Boundary
Bank. One of the men then turned round, and levelled •
gun at them, and said, " You b—, if you don't go back,
we will shoot you." The man who said so was about the
height of Whalen., and had on • dark coat, and • darkish

handkerchief and a whit• chin collar; and be had • very
rough voice. He thought the voice of the prisoner Brown
was very mach like the voice he heard, the man wh• apt ke
was, as gnigh as witness could tell, about 11.own's height.
The men cull went on further. There were ale of them. He
could see only two with guns. After the men had got • little
further Mr. Napthen came up. He was the head keeper
Witnese's father wsabust behind Napthen. As soon asiNspthen
joined them he went to take the poachers. Witneee's brother
was • little in advance, and Nepthea next to him, a little to
his right ales. When they got to within ten yin's of the
man, one of them turned round and shot Naptben, without
saying anything. N when instantly fell. Another of the
men turned round and fired at witness's brother. No other
shot was fired. Witness, his brother, father, and Jessup,
then went up totals. the men. There was one of them
dressed in light clothee. Witness ran alter him and ,truck
him across the right should er with a stick he had brought
with him. Toe men then went away, and witness followed
them by himself about • quarter of • mile further towards
'Criswell, and he beard one of the men say—" Now, lads,
let's loan again." Witness then went back to the spot
where Napthen was shot.

Lrose-esamined by Brown.—Do you mean to say that you
saw me that night I—Witness : To the best of my belief
you are the man.
Isaac Allen, assistant gamekeeper, cot firmed the pieced.
big pert of his brother's evidence. He had stood at the
corner 01 the covert moms minutes, and heard a gun fired.
As soon as he heard that, he went down to the middle of the
plantation. He saw a man going oat of the bottom of the
covert with • light jacket on. He did not appear a tall man.
He was about • hundred yards off wittiest. Witness then '
went on to the bottom of the covert, and teen saw half a
d, zee men going scrota • stubble in the direction of Eris
well biandary. He believed John Starling to be the mat
be saw going out of the covert. He called for help, and he
and Jessup followed the men, who tamed round, and came
a little back to meet tit. m. He and the others drew back.
The men told them to go hack as they would not he
taken. They still kept as in pursuit towards Eriswell
boundary, when the men tarried round. One of them
levelled hi rue, and one said, " You b—, if you don't
go back, we'd shoot you." It wee • rough voice. After-
wards 51r. Naptlien came up. (Witness here described
the firm; ef the gun, and Napthen's being shot, as
detailed by his brother.) Two men firri, one aimed
at witness, and one at Ndpthea. He believed Richard
Starling wee the man who fired at tom. The man firing at
him appeared to have light heir—the men firing at Nepthen
had something dark round his neck and a dark coat. Brown
looks like him. Cadman locks like a man who war stooping
to pick up a atone as witness was going up. He struck a
man across the shouldered sad John Starling looked like
that man. Ile appeased to have a light coat end • ceo.
Walesa Noels, who lives at Mildenhali, on the Friday
session. between 7 and 8, went into the town. When he
got to Duegisty's COral/T, ha met four men and said to them
" Hellos, old partnere, this is • nice night for your beanie..."
One of them stepped up to him, and raid, "Oh, this is
Rachael (a nickname which has been given him), it we were
nigh • public-Loam we would give you some beer, but we
seat stop." The man who spoke to him was the prisoner
John Starling. Witness had wurkcd with him, and knew
him. Worked with him 5 or 6 years ego. Had since
worked with him. Had ern him el times lately, and
knew him quite well. The men thea went up Cock lane.
He did nor know any of the other men, but fancied that
Cadman was one of them.
Jonathan Jessup described the pursuit of the poacher.
Heard one of them say, " your hearts, if you gems on
further I will shoot you." The men who said go wee dressed
in • dark coat, battened up. He stepped forward a yard or
two and presented We gun. Witness stepped bum. To the
best of his belief Brown was that man. The met were
parsed towards Braswell grove. Near Eriawall boundary
bank the threats to shoot were repeated, and something
snapped directly, but what it was he could not say. The
men went on again, and were followed about a quarter of •
mile, and Mr. Nepthen joined in the pursuit, and was shot
as hoe been described. Witness saw the prisoner Fletcher
there several times. He also sew Brown and Cadman there
several times to the beat of his belie% and it was the man
who before threatened to shoot who fired the gun at Mr.
Napthen.
lhese depositions having been gone through, the following
additional evidence was taken.
Thos. Allen deposed—When we got to the boundary bank
the man turned round, sod I beard • map, but what it was
I cannot say—it might be the snap of en unloaded gun. I
did not hear my brother Isaac speak to Nspthen. I might
be about three yards from Napthen. I was nearer to Isaac
than to the poachers. I remarked Brown. I think I dis-
tinguish him ; and the other persona seem to be very much
of the height. of the other poachers.
Issas Allen recalled—l now recognise Richard Starling as
the man that levelled the gun at me—Brown as toe man
that shot at Noshes ; and Cadman is like the man who
stooped to pick up the stone, and John Starling looks like
the man I struck at. I identify the three of them to the
best of my belief. It was rather • misty night—there was a
moos, but it was rather cloudy.
The prisoner all declined to ask questions, bat declared
they were ',snorted.
Cheri, s Saholefield, police officer, deposed—l was on duty
an the night ia question, in the town of Mildenhall, about
hiltless% 7 o'clock. It was very bright moonlight at that
time. I met sin or seven men—they were going in the direc-
tion that would had out of the town to Elveden. To the
best of my belief John Starling and Wm. Brown were two
of the party. I searched Brown's house on the Monday
following, and I there found the coat now produced. I
found no guns nor snares. In the pocket are the feathers
and blood. The blood appi aced fresh. Brown's wife told
me that he bad not had that soot on for • month. Ia the
house, in a thing over the fireplace, I found this tipper peer.
ninon cap. (To Mr. Hales.)—l found no powder leek
nor shot.
The feathers were examined, and Colossi Eyrie stated
that some came off a hen pheasant, and some were partridge
teethe re.
J Theobald—l remember the evening of Friday, the
20th of December. I was on the Eteocles road, betwixt
balf-past 7 and S. I met two men first, just opposite my
hew, which is going up the hill, and about half • agile from
Mildew-hell. About l(0 yards from the first I met two
more men and then • single one about 40 or 60 yards
I behind. stopped to talk to • man earned Dennis, who was
in his garden; and, while talking with him, I saw another
man pest. I followed them in the direction towards Eire-
den. I followed them about • mile and a half, to see they
wen off the manor. (The witness is keeper to Mr. Packet The
Ant two bad darkjackets 00, and bad something stiff in their
pccksta, which stack out like gnats or bludgeosa. The next
two had light jackets. The one nearest to me appeared to
have something very stiff in hie pocket, as it stuck out like
the others. TM two who came singly were la dark dresses.
I did sot recognise any of their fame.
Cadmus was requited to walk to the doer of the ream,
which he did; and witness said he walk. d very muck like
the last man. The man seemed to " lollqp " along ;be
kept rolling &bent, and be wee about Cadmaa's height. I
did not me an in his pocket
C•dtasa.—l eau walk as well as he ma, or as any man
here, when my shoes are done op.
No questions were asked by the prisoners, who adhered to
their declarations of issoceere.
Wm. Leeks—On the Saturday amnia' altar Napthea
was shot, I went to the spot with John Allen, about half-
past S. I found a stick there which I produce (this was a'
very heavy sycamore bludgeon). When it got light we
began to tress the footmarks of six men tram when Nap-
than was shot, across the held. through Seismal to about a
quarter of • mile off Wilde-inset, in YiklanlialL We lost
the footing in the Drove.
John Theobald recalled—l have heard Ike it/ideate of
John Allen and Lady. The dfineboa of the foonmerhe
they have devoid to would be ths most direst way tam
I Briswell to 'glebes;
ould be in is straight • direction
se wild be drawn to Ithara Fen,.

John Etheridge (police offlosr)—l was present when '
Cadman was apprehended. Clark searched the house, and
I searched the pockets of his coat—a dark velveteen one,
whisk he has now on. I found in one of te. pockets the
feathers now produced. (Cadman : Lark's feathers, I
know. I date s•.y I have some now in.) I don't know
whet feathers they are.
Theobeld raid some cf the feathers appe red like
pheasants' feathers.
Another keeper said they were pbessan!a' feathers. Oa*
of sae teethe,' seemed off a pied pneavaat.
The prisoners were now removed, and their statements
in their defers@ taken, they being called in sepera tely.
Mr. Waddiortcn ultimately announced that the aegis
trews had decided to commit J .bn Cadman, Wm. Brown,
sad John S:arliag for trial at Ike amiss; the One other
prisoners would be discharged.