The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-03 00:00:00

AFFRAY WITH POACHERS.

For some months past poaching has been very
prevalent in the neighbourhood of Le ; and,
judging from a case which was brought before Mr.
Matthew Gaunt and the Rev. T. H. Heathcote at
the police-court on Thursday last, and which occu-
pied five hours in the hearing, has assumed a some-
what alarming aspect. It appears that the keepers
who watch game on the estates of Mr. John Daven-
port and the Earl of Macclesfield deemed it neces-
sary to unite their forces in order to repel these
nightly depredators. On the previous Saturday
night six of the keepers met at a place called Hills-
wood, near Abbey-green, about a mile and a half
from Leek. About midnight they espied, coming
along the vroodside, five men, who were setting a
long net in the field for the purpose of taking hares
and rabbits. Shortly after two more appeared,
and the keepers came out of their hiding-place,
when a savage scene ensued. The substance of the
numerous depositions taken in court from all the
injured keepers is as follows :—John Richmond
stated that on seeing the seven men they went
towards them, when the poachers retired a short
distance, and called out to some companions. The
poachers then stood still and said, " We are 15 of
us, and can beat you if we like." Richmond did not
think there were so many, and immediately got
hold of one by the collar. They struggled and fell
together, the poacher being undermost. Ho had a
bludgeon, which Richmond took from him. Three
poachers came and commanded him to " leave
loose." One said, " Bill, pull thy knife out."
The three commenced striking him. He got
up and fought again, and he and another went
down. He was then thrown against a wall, and
became insensible from the injuries he received,
and saw no more of the fight. John Kirkland,
gamekeeper to Mr. J. Cruso, stated that he had a
dog in a strap, muzzled, and one of the poacher's
dogs was set at him. One of the keepers separated
the dogs, while he laid hold of a man by the collar
and pulled him to the ground. When he lad him'
on the ground he heard some of then say, " Get
your knives, lads ; we can beat them. The man
he had down cried out, "Take this-- off." He
then received a blow on the ear with a bludgeon
which made him insensible, and his head bled pro-
fusely. When his consciousness returned the men
were gone. He tried to walk home, but could
only reach Mill-street, being very weak through
loss of blood from the blows be had received. The'
poachers had three dogs, and were armed with for- I
midable weapons. They had caps, or " tommy
hats," with each a piece of white calico fastened to
it. Samuel Knight deposed to having been thrown
down against a wall and beaten and stoned by ties
poachers. He believed the first blow he received
broke his arm. He begged of the men not to
murder him. He saw seven first, and after-
wards another party joined them. It was sup-
posed the total number of poachers was 10.
Mr. Williams, sub-inspector of police, stated that
message was received at the police station
respecting the affray, and Superintendent Woollas-
ton and himself went'
to the bottom of Mill-street,
os
where they met three
_the keepers covered with
blood supporting themselves
state of exhaustion. He against the wall in a
asked Kirkland what had
been the matter, and
her gh replied that he thou
,had been
some of their menkilled. Shortly after
a number of men Were
eon them. 01)
turning the corner Kirklandc soas'ed "Here they are."
Mr. Woollaston and h
ee seiere.diwoonoed each, and he
gave his man in charge of
astou and the
keepers ; lie ran after the others and caught one,
and having given him in others
hecii chased
uirneit and
an-
other, who jumped into the river
escaped. He thereupon pursued and
broughtntahee fpri-
soner another poacher. They
to the station, and went back to see if they -o"r
find the man who had jumped into the river.eould
They discovered a bludgeon and a rabbit on the
opposite side, close by the bridge wherewAelnetssrt4i Hammersley wash silk. They then
Hillswood, and found 250 or 300 yards of netting,
set and part set, and several caps with whit- calk„
fastened to them, and another bludgeon. A great
quantity of blood was on the ground. Kirkland',
dog lay close by, with his throat cut and 16 or le
wounds in various parts of his body. The dog was
muzzled very tightly.
They f Tine seven bags,
containing eight or nine rabbits, and seven live
rabbits in the nets. They examined the wall where
one of the keepers, named Whieldon, had been.
thrown over into the wood, after beim; beaten until
he was insensible. The stories were bloody aiiil
part of the wall was thrown down. They returnee
to fetch a surgeon. The nittnee or the prisoners aro
Adam Clowes Goodwiu, Sainted Sheldon, and
Samuel Dawson. Superintendent Woollaeton
gave corroborative evidence. Mr. Turnock, sur-
geon, deposed to having attended the wounded
men and also one of the prisoners. He described
the injuries they had received, and said, on the
whole, they were progressing favourably.
sPecting Knight, who had only just been able TA)
be removed, Mr. Turnock said he found a fracture
of the left ahr.sth,si very considerable wounds en
the back of head, and two in front. The pri-
soners were committed to Stafford to take their
trial at the next aseizes off ordshire Advertiser.

COLLISION IN Tun CuCANNEL AND Loss OF LIFE.—On
Thursday morning last a Dublin steamer named the
Sllph, on her passage from London to Falmouth and
Dublin, Tart into a Dutch galliot oft the Foreland. Tho
night was very dark, a-,d it is rep irte,d that the galliot
had no lig,hts, but that the steamer had. The gallict
Was pat tly cut down, and in ten miottes after the occur
rents she sank. The crew consisted of six tl3Bll arid it
boy, and out of these only four men were saved. The
steamer is said to have suAainifd but little damage.