The Sun.
London, England, 1850-03-04 00:00:00

I field adjoining, when they saw four men going along,
1 the line of the plantation. Smith and the watchers
made a turn, ran before them and faced them ; where-
upon the four men drew up, three being armed with
gins, and the fourth with a stick. The keepers ap •
proached, upon which one of the poachers said, "keep
hack, or we'll make your wives wPows." They
then put their guns to their shoulders and aimed at
The prisoner Richardson pulicd his trigger,
but, fortunately, the gun did not go off. One of the
poachers not taken then fired his gun, which black-
ened Smith's face, stunned him, and blew off his cap,
the charge riddling it. The poachers then ran away,
and Smith let fly both barrels of his gun amongst
them. The two prisoners fell among the turnips,
though not from the effects of the gun, and were
secured; but while being secured Richardson managed
to draw his knife and cut the thick trowsers of Smith
quite through.
Mr. OvEaEND addressed the jury for the prisoners.
Verdict, Guilty. Sentence, ten year's transportation.
Alexander Clanton, William Ramshaw, and David
Ridley, were indicted for shooting at John Roddam,
with intent to murder him.
Mr. Sergeant Wilkins and Mr. Otter conducted
the prosecution ; the Hon. A. Liddell defended the
prisoners.
It appeared that, on the night of the Ist of Novem-
ber last, John Roddam, gamekeeper to Mr. Riddell,
of Cheeseburn Grange, in company with another man,
was going his rounds through Mr. Riddell's preserves.
On reaching the Low Fell plantation they heard the
discharge of an air-gun, upon which Roddam de,ired
his companion Currie to lie in wait while he went for
further assistance. While Roddam was absent,
Currie saw the three prisoners come out of the
plantation, two being armed with guns, and
the third with a bludgeon. Roddam shortly
returned with Mr. Riddell and six other per-
sons. Some stopped at the Rig plantation, while
others went in another direction. Mr. Riddell hearing
the poachers in the wood, went with Roddam and a
man named Havelock, towards them, and having got
near to them, the prisoner Clouton asked them what
they wanted, upon which Mr. Riddell was proceeding
to take him into custody, when he was knocked by
the blow of a gun into a dyke. Roddam then pro-
ceeded after Clouton, who cocked his gun, and point-
ing it at him, threatened to blow his brains out.
Roddam said, " It's of no liar, I have a gun as well
as you." The two other prisoners then came up to
Clouton's assistance, when Roddam was knocked
down with the butt end of a gun and beat about the
head while on the ground. The prisoners then re-
attacked Mr. Riddell, whose assistants having come to
his succour, a regular melee took place, and guns
were fired on both sides. Mr. Riddell was wounded
in both legs, having seventy-four shot wounds in his
left leg, and six in bis right. Roddam, the keeper,
was severely hurt in the back part of the head, and
also on the neck and ear. The prisoners were like-
wise wounded in the affray.
Mr. LIDDELL having addressed the jury for the
prisoners,
His LORDSHIP summed up.
Verdict Guilty. Sentence, ten years' transpor-
tation.

Mr. Sergeant Murphy tried the prisoners in the
grand jury room.
Richard Short, who was yesterday convicted of a
Post-office felony, was this morning sentenced by Mr.
Baron Rolfe to ten years' transportation, his lordship
not considering the objection of the prisoner's counsel
valid.