The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1836-04-05 00:00:00

LIVERPOOL ASSIZ&S'.

CROWN COURT.—FRIDAT.
Both, of the -.lodges attended Divine service at St. George's
'church, Lord Denman took his seat on the beach in the Crown
court immediately afterwards. •
AFFRAY WITH POACHERS At WITHNCT.L, NEAR BOLTON:
Lawrence •Hobinson (24), George Holden (39),. John Tanner
(30), James. Entaisle (39), Thomas Grime (9.8), were charged
With having maliciously cui and. Wounded Win. Billlock, a „vine-
kOeper, at Withuell, with the intention to do lion some bodily
ham. The indictment set forth that Lawrenee Robinson had
assaulted William Bullock, with the intent to murder him, and
that he was aided in so doing by the other, four prisoners.
Council for the prosecution, Mr. Brandt and Mr. Milton;
council for the defence of Robinson, Heiden, Entwisie arid
Grime, Dr. Brown. Turner was undefended.
William Bullock examined.-1 am principal gamekeeper to
Mr. Stephen Blair, who has the game of Withnell and Stireeth.
On the 11th October, at half-past one o'clock, I went out and
called upon Thomas Burton, an assistant keeper. We went
together Staneth farm in Withnell, When we got to the
pOsture below the barn, we heard a dog hunting Following
the sound we went tOWards a stone bridge, and there found nets
had been set to catch hares. .We again heard the dog, and
following the sound crossed some meadows to a gap, which
Barton crossed, and in doing so he knocked down the corner
of a net. .I handed the gun over to Barton, and immediately
proceeded to cross the fence, when I got entangled in the-net.
Four men had previeuslY started from the gap, and were now
running away. Barton ran after them, leaving the gun behind
him. There were fifteen or sixteeen men coining down the
field. One of these was a man named William Howarth who
Was not among the prisoners. This man led the others, and
witness saw him strike at Barton, but he did not hit him. Wit-
ness having now recovered his gun, said—" Stop that work my
lads, or I'll put one of these barrels into you. Now my lack,
drop it, and take up your taCkle, or else you'll come into some
trouble. Go away; and I'll say no more of it," The prisoners
were armed with sticks, which had large lumps or nubs to them.
I stood remonstrating with them for about ten minutes, after
which, as they continued to advanCe, I kept baning, to get out
of the way. As I was going back- my right foot- got into it
glitter, which caused me- to fall back, upon, which Howarth
rushed forward and caught me about the body; calling for the
others to come forward. The prisoner, Lawrence Robinson,
had in his hand a thong, to which was atta,cherta.pleeeof lead
or iron, which might weigh about 'a• polity' and a half. This,
he (Robinson) swung round his head, and dashed with violence
against my head. I was..stutined for a moment and thought I
was killed. My gun was then taken front me, as I had not
strength to hold it any longer. 1;-cried out; " Lads, spare my
life." All the others struck at me; bor. I am- unable to.say who,
they were. My clothes were ctrl through, and. my head bled
profusely. The prosecutor identified the five prisoner as hav-
ing been 'present in the field on the night in question. .
Dr. BROWN cross-examined the witness at some length, when
it appeared that the prosecutor had let. a bull-dog, which he
kept for the purpose of watching for poachers) loose upon the
Prisoners before they had offered him any provocation. They
were running away at the time: It also appeared that the gun
which he carried was a double-barrelled gun- which' was loaded
with No. 4 shot, and which he presented at thelmachers before
they had assaulted him.

Thomas Barton, an assistant-gamekeeper in Mr. Blain's em-
ployment, corroborated the evidence of the last witness; and a
surgeon, from Bolton, explained the nature and extent of the
injuries the prosecutor had received.
Dr.. BnowN, for the defence, called several Witnesses to prove
an alibi for the prisoners Greene. Entwisle, Holden, and Ro-
binson. The prisoner Turner put in a written defence, in which
it was stated that he was present on the alight on which the af-
fray took place, but he carried no weapon nor used any violence
to the keepers. He prayed the merciful consideration of the
court, in consequence of having a large family of small children
and heving been in prison since last October. He'denied that
any of the prisoners at the bar were present but himself.
The learned Ju OGE summed up the evidence at great length.
His lordship said the circumstance of a dog having been kept
for the purpose of hunting men was altogether iinjustitiaLle; he
begged the jury to bear in • mind that the gamekeepers had let
this dog loose upon the offending parties. At the same time he
gave his opinion that it was lawful for`a gamekeeper to carry a
gun for the purpose. of defending himself against any violence
from poachers whom he might encounter on grounds intrusted
to his care. _ _ _

At the cohclusion of the charge the jury retired. They re-
turned in about a quarter of an hour, and gave a verdict of
Guilty against the prisoners, under all the counts of the indict-
ment save the two -last. Grime and Turner they recommended
to the merciful consideration of the court. The judge deferred
passing sentence.