The Sun.
London, England, 1812-04-06 00:00:00

SURREY ASSIZES.

MURDER OF LORD SPENCER'S GAMEKEEPER.

kINGSTON, APRIL 3.

William Holt was indiCted for the xvill murder
of Thomas Astill (Lord. Spencer's gamekeeper), on
the 17th day of August -last, at. Wimbledon. This
was the case of the gamekeeper who was.killed by
a poacher in Lord Spencer's park.
The first witness called was a deputy gamekeeper,
.who merely stated that he saw Astill go out, on the
morning. he met his fate, at five o'clock: He had
heard the report of a gun in the park or its neigh-
bourhood, acid he had with himshis own gun and a
eothss. When he next saw him, it was in the
course of the same day he was in bed, and badly
wounded.

A labouring man of the name of Carter, and an-
other of the name of Willi3lnson, saw Astill at
about a quarter before six in the morning, go info
a close called Greenfield's Close. They bad pre-
vioosly heard the report of a gun, and they supposed
that Astill, the gamekeeper, was gone in search of`
the -person who fired it. They saw hitn in corn,
pany with another man, whom they supposed he
was follow/ing, but they neither of them could speak
to the identity of the prisoner.
_ _

Mr.Carlisie; the Surgeon, said he was called in
to attend the deceased on the 17th of August. He
found that he had received a blow on the head,
which had driven in the skull upon the brain, arid
part of the brain had protruded through the wound.
He considered his case as desperate from the first
moment heNsaw it. Tile deceased, -though an old
ma,n, had great strength 'of constitution. 'He re-
moved the pieces of bone that were pressing upon
the brain. The operation' was attended with great
immedime danger, and the patient, though he could
not distinctly speak, yet evidently was perfeelly sen
•sible. He answered all the quesdons put to him,
ether by affirmatively nodding his head, oi shaking
.it for dissent. The blow, according to the best of
his judgment, was given with the handle of the
cutlass produced, and certainly not With. the blade,
either the edge or back of it. The deceased fre-
quently repeated, (as they understood his imperfea
articulation) " oolger has done it." Mr. Carlisle
said he wrote the name Woolger in large letters,
and the deceased gave an affirmative nod, and
pointed to the letters. They then had a man of the
name of Woodyer brought to hiM, but be shook his
headt as denying him t'o be the man. The prisoner
being apprehendecL was also brought into.his pre-
Settee, and be immediately exhibited great symptoms
of, perturbation, attempted to raise himself in his
bed, and to speak, but could pot utter any words:—
He .sheaved' the witness his thighs, which were
bruised, and the marks in his breeches ; the blows
were evidently given with the handle of the cutlass.
Bernard fidl, a labouring Man, stated, that the
prisoner and he worked at the same job. On the
morning tut question he was in the fields, • and saw
a 01311 M a red jacket (which was the colour the
gaiiiekeer wore) following a man in a brown jacket;
he had heard a gun fire previously ;, he did not at-
tend much to them, and he lost sight of them at the
turn of the pArk paling. He heard of the trans-
action in the.course of the day, and mentioned it to
the prisoner, whci did not at first say he -was the
person, bat the next day he confessed he was the
man, and said th it the gamekeeper was following,
him that he at-first took away his gun ; that he
then asked the pine keeper ifrhe was sAistied, who
replied not, and persisted in following him ; that he
attempted to draw his cutlass, upon which the pri-
soner said he' took that away also, and upon his at-
tempting to halloo 'for assistance, that he gave him
a blow on the head ,with the handle, Anil two blowi
' bn the thighs., to prevent his following
Toe Learned Judge, on this statement, said, it was
clear that the case only amounted to manslaughtet ,
as it was in the heat of blood, and not by malice
prepense, which the law required to constitute mur-
der.

The Jury found him Guilty of Manslaughter, and
the Learned Judge immediately sentenced him to
.twelve mon►hs
,imprisonment, and a tine of one
shilling.
Mr. GARROW sit on the Criminal side on Timis-
day evening, but the cases tried were not inter-
esting__

Mr. Justice GROSH finished early on Saturday
morning, and the Home Circuit closed.

HUTCHINSON V. PIPER AND ANOTHER.

This was a qui tam adion to recover penalties, on
the Statute against Usury, to the atnount.of 36,0001.
against the defendants, who are bankers at Dorkirig,
who were alleged to have taken usurious interest in
discount transactions iil P. I,', 13otharn, late
an active Magistrate of this County.r—Plaintiti nup •
suited.