The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-23 00:00:00

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THE AFFRAY WITH POACIIERS IN NORFOLK.
DERT.II.O4, Drc. 20.—Seven men, named Richard Lincoln,
William Hunter, William Stagg, John Lake, Robert
Buckle, William Harwood, and John Hunter, who were
brought from Norwich Castle in charge of Mr. Pinson. the
governor, and a strong force, underwent an examination
yesterday before the magistrates sitting in petty sessions,
at the Assembly Rooms of this town, on the charge of
being concerned in a most murderous affray near Lytton,
in this counts., when Mr. Superintendent Parker of the con-
stabulary and another officer in the force nearly lost their
lives through being shot at. The justices who presided were
the Rev. J. Padden and the Rev. W. Grilling. Colonel
Oakes, the chief /of the police, was present, as
also Mr. Superintendent Andrews, and several of
the rum. For some reason, not explained, the magistrates
I thought fit to exclude the reporters ; but the following, we
believe, were the main facts adduced : For several weeks
! past much alarm has been created in the neighbourhood of
Letton he a gang of some Id or 20 poachers prowling about
the woods and preserves, and threatening the most mur
derous consequences in the event of being interfered with
in their indicvlul pursuit. They intimated their intention
of visiting tlm woods of Mr. B. Ciurdon, of Lytton-hall,
and, on the night of the 29th ult., a party of 11 of the gang
visited the cottage of the gamekeeper, a man named Whit-
acre, and warned hint not to go out after them, at the same
time firing a volley at the dwelling, as if to more fully con-
vince him of his fate should he pursue them. At length it
was arranged to seek the aid of the constabulary in
capturing this di sperate gang, and Mr. Suserin-
tendent 'Parker, of the Swaffham division. and several of
his force, amounting in all to 13 or 14 men, were stationed
in the vicinity of the estate. On the night of the 6th in-
stant, about 12 o'clock, the discharge of guns was heard in the
woods, and the superintendent with his men et once proceeded
in the direction of the report. At length they came up
with a body of poachers, in numbs r nine, who apparently had
noticed the approach of the officers, and had prepared them-
selves for a desperate resistance. Elevating their guns
they shouted "stand off," and before the constables could
proceed a step further three of the guns were fired at them,
and Mr. Parker beino at the head of his force he received
nearly the whole of the charge of one of the guns in his
fare. 11c staggered and fell back to the ground, and sub-
sequently it was found that he hod been shockingly
wounded in the checks, mouth, and other parts of his face,
thirty-five or thirty.six shots having been extracted
from these injuries. Anoth, r officer named Greenacre also
received several shots, but fortunately at the moment
he was standing rather behind a tree, the trunk of
which was shattered by the charge of the second gun. The
officers seeing their superintendent fall a desperate effort
was made to capture the men. After some sharp fighting
the poachers were overpowered. hut only three were appre-
hended at the time, the remainder escaping through the
wools. They were bound to have disguised themselves by
blackening their faces with gunpowder and turning their
clothes inside out. The men who were captured on the
spot are said to be Richard Lincoln, William Hunter, and
Robert Buckle. Guns, quite warm, showing that they had
recently been discharged, were found in their possession.
On the same night William Stagg and John Lake were ap-
prehended, and a day or two afterwards William Harwood
and Johu Hunter were arrested. The wounded superin-
tendent was cot able to attend, but it was stated that his
condition had not become more dangerous. The investiga-
tion closest with the whole of the prisoners being fully com-
mitted to Norwich Castle to take their trial at the ensuing
spring assizes. Two of the gang are still at liberty, but
it is thought that they cannot long elude the vigilance of
the police.

TUE MADRID AND VALENCIA PsAlLWAY.—Diffi-
culties, it is understood, have unexpectedly arisen, which
will prevent for the present any distribution among the
shareholders of this company of the proposed dividend of
245. • share, accruing after the protracted negotiations with
Mr. Chadwick and the directors from the compromise of
this company's claims. The SUMS agreed to be paid down
in the first Instance, namely, of 3,0001. by Mr. Chadwick,
and of 4,0031. by Mr. Waley, it is stated have been made,
arid these, together with the 17,0001. recovered from the
Spanish government, have gone, subject to costa
and expenses, to form a fund of 24,000/, assail.
ble for distribution among the shareholders, and
now in the hands of the official manager, but
that officer, acting under legal advice, declines, it is
underato,d, to divide the money, there being a doubt
whether the present holders of the scrip, the large majority
of whom have been purchasers in the market, aro legally
entitled to this return, the act of parliament for winding up
joint stock companits being so framed as to recognise those
parties only as members or contributories, and in either
alternative as liable either to pay or to receive, who stand on
the company's books as original allottccs. The latter,
although they have disposed of their shares, would, on this
assumption be entitled to a second payment ; and the only
remedy for the actual seripholdera would, it is thought, be
by recovery at common law from the original aUottce. The
Blaster has at present declined to give any directions, and
the matter is consequently at a " dead lock."

MORE. GARROTTE ROBBERIES AT -NIANCEIESTER.—
Three more of these now too common cases were investi-
gated yesterday, at the Manchester Borough Court. In the
first case two men, named William Copstick and Henry
Thompson, had robbed another, named Henry Compton, of
9/., on Saturday evening. They tied a shawl tight round
his neck till he was insensible, and then rifled his pockets,
The prisoners were remanded till Friday, for further
evidence. In the neat case a man named Shore was robbed
in a similar manner, by three men and two boys, of a watch,
30s. in gold, and some copper. Only one man, named Wil-
liam Shackleton, was apprehended, with a woman named
Ellen M'Curdy. The latter was discharged, ani the other
was remanded till Saturday. On Saturday evening also
two men, named Bibby and Caulfield, robbed another named
Abram Orme of 2a. 7d., in Bird-street. Caulfield put his
arm round Orme's neck whilst Bibby searched his pockets.
The prisoners were committed to the assizes.