The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-12 00:00:00

FATAL POACHING AFFRAY.

NEWTON ABBOT, TIIESDAY.—An examination took
place yesterday, before Mr. H. Cartwright and Mr. R.
Flamank, magistrates of this district, relative to an
affray which took place on Saturday night, between a
party of poachers and the gamekeepers of Sir Walter P.
Carew, Bart., of Haccombe-house, in which a young
farmer, William Setter, who was assisting the keepers,
was shot by one of the poachers. It appeared from the
evidence of the witnesses, that the principal keeper,
Festus Harris, accompanied by the gardener, when pass-
ing by one of the preserves, on Saturday, heard the re-
port of fire-arms in such rapid succession as led him to
conclude that a formidable gang of poachers were out.
Fearing to encounter them alone, the keeper called to
their assistance Mr. Robert Rendell, a neighbouring
farmer, William Setter (the deceased), and four other
persons. Guided by the reports, the keeper and his
party proceeded to a spot called Blendfield, where they
came up with the poachers, whose number, owing to the
darkness of the night, they could not ascertain. The
keeper's party having so disposed themselves as to pre-
vent escape, it was arranged that two should enter the
field, and that the word " gate" should be the signal to
those outside. Mr. Rendelland the deceased had no sooner
got into toe field than they saw one of the gang making
towards them with a gun in his hand. The signal was
4iven, and whilst the keeper and the others were ap-
proaching, the poacher (who was now recognised as a
nan named Henry Warren) was commanded by Mr.
it-ndell to surrt•ntler. To this he paid no attention, but
raising the gun (a double barrel) to his shoulder, he
moved forward a few paces, when Mr. Rendell said,
" We know you ; you had better not fire." Warren,
perceiving he had no chance of escape, his party being
some distance off, discharged one barrel at Setter and the
other at Mr. Rendell. The unfortunate man fell, and
Mr. Bendel!, who had felt the charge pass close to his
head, rushed in upon Warren, who made a violent re-
sistance, but was eventually secured, his companions
having escaped. The wounded man, who had received
the whole of the charge in his abdomen, was carried to
the house of Mr. Elias Rendell, of Buckland, where he
received such assistance as could at that late hour be
procured. On the following morning the best surgical
aid was obtained, but, there appearing no chance of his
recovery, Mr. Cartwright, who was informed of the cir-
cumstances, attended and took his depositions, which
were reduced to writing. Setter, after he had signed the
depositions, never rallied, and expired on Sunday after-
noon. The prisoner was brought before the magistrate

on Monday for examination. In additipn to the facts 1
above described, the surgeon who made the posd mortenz
examination of the body stated that the wound was
about two inches in length, from which the bowels pro-
truded. A number of small-sized shot were found in
the entrails, and the liver was extensively lacerated.
One of the links of a watch chain worn by the deceased
was found in the stomach. Mr. Rendell stated, that
after the prisoner was secured, he said he was very sorry
for what he had done, and that he only wished that the
gun had broken in pieces when he first took it into his
hand. The prisoner, who made no defence, was fully
committed for trial at the next assizes, on the charge of
the " Wilful Murder" of William Setter, and another
for shooting at Robert Rendell, with intent to kill, 843.
One of his associates has been apprehended and com-
mitted on a charge of poaching. This terrible affray
has caused great consternation in the neighbourhood,
where game is strictly preserved, b-t where there is a
vast deal of poaching, the practice being rather favoured
than resisted by the generality of the farmers, many of
whom regard the game as an intolerable grievance.

DARING AND EXTENSIVE
ROBBERY.

A robbery was committed early on Sunday merning,
on ajentleman from Carlisle, of a most daring nature.
The gentleman arrived from Carlisle by coach about
half-past one in the morning, and intended going to the
Harrow Inn. When he got to the High-street he
turned to the left, and not knowing the street in which
the inn was, he inquired of a man at South Gray's Close,
who told him that by going down that close and along
the Cowgate he would reach the inn. Mr. Brown (the
traveller) did not observe the man who so instructed
him follow down the close after him. But scarcely had
he reached the middle of it, when three men suddenly
seized and dragged him into a house, which was dark,
one of them holding him so firmly by his neckcloth,
that he could not call out, and all of them threatening
to murder him if he spoke. Immediately on getting
him into the house, the ruffians threw their victim down
on his face, and held him there. In an instant, another
man, accompanied by two women, made their appearance.
The latter seized Mr. Brown by the feet, while the former
proceeded to rob him, the other three holding on as
already described. In trying to resist, one of the men
gave Mr. B. a tremendous blow on the side, on the nape
of the neck, and also on the temples. They then
turned their victim on his back, used most violent
language, and threatened more violent deeds. They
then rifled his pockets, and took from him a memoran-
dum and a cheque-book containing bills and bank-notes
to the amount of 875/. They consist of cheques on the
Bank of England, payable seven days after sight, one
for 300/., one for 2001., one for 1001., and three for 501.;
two bills, one for 121. and the other for 11/. 10s. ; and
the remainder in 10/. and 51. bank notes. It is believed
that the bills have been all burned. It is a wonder that
the robbers should have allowed 10 sovereigns, which
the gentleman had in one of his pockets, to escape their
vigilance. When the ruffians had effected the robbery,
they ran out of the house, followed by the gentleman ;
but he being stunned by the suddenness of the attack,
and bewildered from not knowing where he was, they
escaped. In pursuing them he called to the police; but
from the place being in a back lane, a short time elapsed
before an officer came, to whom he related the par-
ticulars of the robbery. Information was immediately
given to the lieutenant on duty, and soon after, six men
and two women of suspicious character were appre-
hended, but none of the money was found upon them.
They have been remanded to Thursday for further ex-
amination. In the meantime payment of the bills and
cheques has been stopped at the banks, and it is under-
stood that the officers of justice are in possession of such
facts as will lead to the recovery of a considerable part of
the property, and also to the conviction of the parties
who have been apprehended. It is somewhat singular
that, when the gentleman who was robbed was taken
next day to the house in which the deed was perpe-
trated, he could not recognise the dwelling, and was
only satisfied on seeing his carpet-bag, hat, and um-
brella, which, in his hurry, he left on the morning of
the robbery. His pocket-book was found lying not far
from the house, having evidently been thrown out of a
indow.—Edinburgh Weekly Register.

SANATORY CONDITION OF

THE MURDER AND MUTILATION

IN DERBYSHIRE.

lIASLAND, NEAR CHESTERFIELD, THURSDAY AFTER-
NOON.—This morning, at ten o'clock, the adjourned in-
quiry before Mr. J. Hutchinson, Coroner for the imme-
diate locality of this place, into the alleged murder of
George Collis, was resumed at.the Shoulder of Mutton,
in the village of Hasland.
The circumstances connected with the perpetration of
the awful deed of slaying and cutting up a human being
were briefly narrated in The Sun of Tuesday last. From
the peculiar appearance of the remains there can be
little question that the poor victim was clove down with
an axe, or some such instrument, from the incision
through the hat, and in the skull found in the soil, in
Falcon-yard, at the back of the Market-place, at Ches-
terfield, not far from the late residence of the deceased,
who, it will be remembered, had not been seen alive from
the 7th of December last. The peculiar fact of the legs
and thighs being tied together, also proves beyond a
doubt that not only had violence been committed, but
that the limbs had been tied together after they had been
so dismembered, and then thrown into the soil.
The jury, of seventeen inhabitants of the town and
neighbourhood, having been sworn,
Mary Manx, mother of deceased, deposed that de-
ceased lived with her some months at Brampton. Wit-
ness saw him last in the early part of September. It was
on a Sunday. He did not say then that he was going
away. Witness never had seen him since, nor had she
ever heard of him. He was dres ed in a black coat, buff
waistcoat, and black trousers, white ribbed stockings,
and light-coloured neckerchief. He had also in his
pocket a handkerchief, marked with his initials. He had
also a yellow canvas purse in his possession. Witness
did not know how much money he might have bad in his
pocket, but he had some. Thinks he had two keys upon
him. The constable who had charge of the case showed
her some clothes this morning.
The clothes were here brought into court, the mother
immediately exclaimed, " Oh! they are his," evidently
much affected.

The CORONER then requested the witness separately
to identify each garment, which she did most distinctly.
Thomas Harvey, shoemaker, of Chesterfield, was then
called and sworn. On the 7th of September last, about
half-past 7 o'clock in the evening—it was on a Sunday—he
passed the shop at the corner of the shambles occupied by
Platt. When witness passed the shop he heard blows of
a dull, heavy, deadly character, not such as sound when
a block is struck. It appeared to him, as if something
stuck to the back of the cleaver. It did not sound like
wood. The blow was repeated three or four times,
and after the first or second blow, he was not positive
which, he, witness, heard a deep moaning, which was
repeated. He was so confused at the time he could not
swear exactly whether he heard the words, " Oh dear,"
or not. Witness then went back to his friend's house,
and said to the persons there, "Oh my God, there's
murder in Platt's shop." Witness's brother, who was
smoking in the chimney corner, laughed at what he
(witness) said. Witness and his wife, and his brother-
in-law, Thomas Bellamy, then came away. After this
they again called at Platt's shop, and asked him what he
was doing ? He said "I am sick." Witness said,
" Who have you got in the shop ?" He (Platt) said,
"Nobody ; I have had some rum." Witness's wife or
sister then asked Platt whether they should fetch him
some water. He said, " No, I shall be better directly."
One of the women then charged him (Platt) with
having his girl in the shop, and he said, " I have not
anybody here." Witness could not exactly remember
any more.

Elizabeth Harvey, wife of the preceding witness, gave
a most minute detail of the whole of the circumstances,
as previously sworn to by her husband. The only new
features were, that when she applied to Platt, upon his
complaining of being sick, to open the door, he refused
to do so, as he should soon be better.

James Radford, gaol keeper at Chesterfield, was then
called and sworn—He stated that on the morning of the
sth of September last he was Vie prisoner of 'witness,
and that he appeared then much affected, and, without
any reserve, he made the following voluntary statement:
—"I am innocent of the murder of George Collis; those
who have murdered him I hope will be found out, for
him and I were the best of friends. The watch which
was in pawn at Cockson's I bought of a man named
Lankey ' Bill (a provincialism for a Lancashire man).
I gave him 10s. for it ; he told me he had won it at a
raffle at. Mansfield. I borrowed Bs. of Walker. He said
the watch is now at our house ; you will find it under
the bank in the pantry." He (witness) and William
Sharp, another constable, then went to the house, where
he found the watch as described. It was wrapped in
paper, and appeared to be concealed. (The watch was
here pfoduced by the witness). It was a good silver
article, rather of an antique appearance, but appended
thereto was a stout steel chain, and neat appendages.
Radford, by desire of the Coroner, then showed the
watch to the mother of deceased, who declared it to
have belonged to deceased up to the time she last saw
him.

Other evidence, similar to the preceding, was given.
At this juncture the inquiry was adjourned for a few
minutes.

Caroline Redmall, the wife of a pork-butcher in the
shambles—Platt, in the early part of January, offered
me a watch for sale; the one produced is the one he
offered. He told me at the time that he had won it at a
raffle at Mansfield. He wanted 21. for it. Witness made
him no offer for it; she was not in need of anything of
the kind.

CORONER—Had you any conversation with Platt since
that time? Witness—On Thursday morning last.
CORONER—You have heard that a body supposed to
be Collis's, has been found?—Yes.
CORONER—Where did you meet with him? Witness
—Against our shop door. He said he had not seen
Collis for some time. He also said that he (Collis) had
murdered himself, for he had said he would do so. He
told him so one night, when near the Highfield. One
Saturday night Collis had one or two rows with him; he
said he was afraid he should do it while he was with
him; meaning at his shop. Platt did not pay the money
he owed witness's husband; at least, not that she knew
of. He did tot pay any to him, she was certain, about
the 3d of the present month.
(The proceedings had not terminated when this ac-
count left.)

ACCIDENT ON THE LEWES AND
HASTINGS RAILWAY.
LEWES, THURSDAY AFTERNOON.—Another accident
has just occurred on this line, and from the very same
cause, apparently, as that which took place about three
weeks since—viz., from the train running off the line
into a sidirg, owing to the " points" being left open,
either by neglect or otherwise. It appears that in order
to affe rd the contractors facilities for the removal of rails
and timber from the water-side, a temporary tram-road
has very recently been constructed, running from the
line to "Spring-ditch" (a branch from the river) within
about two or three hundred yards of the station. The
line being several feet above the level of the meadows,
and the distance to " Spring-ditch" but trifling, the de-
clivity of this tram-road is very sudden, say one in
thirty. About eleven o'clock, a special goods up-train,
laden with hops and wool, started from Polegate
station. On arriving at the spot we have described,
the engine-driver perceived that instead of his engine
keeping the line she was entering the siding, and
beginning to rush down the decline. Terrified by the
danger, he lost all presence of mind, and, without wait-
ing to reverse his engine,_ jumped off almost before he
had entered the tram-read. Fortunately, the train was
going very slowly—it is stated not above six or seven
miles an hour—and he received no injury, but a bruise
or two on his knees, from falling on the chalk. The
stoker took it more easily, and waiting till the engine
nearly reached the level, " picked out," to use his own
expression, " a soft place," and jumped into the meadow
unhurt. The engine rushed on, followed by the train,
the impetus it had received from the very sudden descent
forcing it some yards beyond the temporary rails, and
up the steep bank of the ditch, over which it ploughed
its way, falling headlong into the water, where, when
we saw it, it was lying with the wheels of one side in
the air. The tide was out, and at the bottom of the
ditch lay a raft of heavy timbers; upon these timbers
both engine and tender fell. One loaded truck fol-
lowed them over the bank, falling on the engine, the
remaining being suddenly brought to a stand still.
This truck was loaded with pockets of hops, but owing
to the lowness of the tide, the water, fortunately, did
not reach them.
Immediately on the occurrence of the accident an ex-
press engine had been sent off to Brighton, and in about
an hour Mr. Fountain, the superintendent of the
Brighton station, arrived on the snot. On instituting
inquiries into the cause of the accident, nothing conclu-
sive could be ascertained. The man to whose care the
charge of these and other points near had been entrusted,
distinctly deposed to these points being in good working
order, and to his having, in company with another ser-
vant, carefully oiled them at half-past nine in the morn-
ing. No brick or other truck had passed through the
points down the siding since a very early hour in the
morning, and one of the foremen of the works, Mr.
, Douglass, declared that he himself saw the points quite
right at a comparatively short time before the accident
happenedf The points are " self-acting," and from a
minute investigation of their position, &c., it appears that
the train could not possibly have run into the siding un-
less they had been set open. _Whether they were so set
open for trucks to pass into the siding and forgotten, or
whether any malicious person had purposely blocked
them up, is at present unknown. Workmen have been
employed during the afternoon in reloading the hips,
and getting the engines, &c., out of the ditch. The
tide, however, having rapidly risen since noon, the en-
gine and tender are nearly covered with water ; and
when we left the spot it appeared doubtful whether
they could be extricated till the tide had again receded.
Singular enough, the engine driver, Charles Clarke, is
brother to the man who was injured at the Pevensey
accident. There were eleven waggons in the train, ten
out of the eleven being loaded with hops, and the
eleventh with wool. Amongst other names on the
pockets we observed those of Mr. Thomas Arcoll, of
Guestling, Mr.
William Woodhams, of Udimore, Mr.
John Austin, of Brede, &c. The air was completely
perfumed by the fragrancy of the hops. Fortunately,
the day being fine and dry, the pockets which had to be
unloaded from the one or two damaged trucks took no
harm. The accident in no way impeded the traffic on
the line ; the siding alone being affected by it.
The present is a very fortunate escape. Wool and
hops can bear such " collisions," but what might have
been the effect, had the train been full of passengers in-
stead of goods, it is fearful to contemplate. It is very
clear that the "points" on a line ought not to be left to
the tender mercies of contractors or the casual workmen
they may think proper to appoint. They should be
placed under the especial charge of careful and compe-
tent servants appointed by the company. Let the con-
tractors and the company arrange as to the payment of
these men as they choose, but the responsibility of their
appointment should rest with the company.—Sussex
Advertiser.