Star. — 1808-03-07 (London, England)

MARCH 1. • Mrnnee.—Jamey feweedwindicted for the Wilful murder of William Coodanan,lstgivin•g him several mortal wounds with a cutlass on the 611 •of October' Last, at Rickmansworth, in this county. •• • Mr. Common SiltitANT;'U.S COVhsei fat: the prose- . cittion, stated, that the-prisoner at the bar rented a fishery at Rickmansworth, and on the morning of she, 6th of Octcber, the deceased, William. Goothtfait; went to the water, no doubt fir the purpose of IlkCeyastiNT .the fish. He admitted fairly that the Seem nith an inttntion of committing a nes. • for 'which, by a .particular Act of ParPainent,. pass, liable to pay a fine of 106. or stiffer a month's imprisonment. The prisoner and four other men were on the watch, and about four o'clock in the morning they discovered the deceased, who finding that persons were there, plunged in the water, and swam up the stream to a i:ayte, or osier bank, where he evidently meant to land. At this time some of the pasty were on one side of the stream, and some on the other, and the prisoner, with a cutlass in his hand, ran round to the osier island. As it was dark, the rest of the party could not see what passed ; bu he should call a witness, who would prove that he heard several heavy blows, like a man lopping a tree, and at that time a seemed the prisoner gave the deceased no less than eighteen wounds ; notwithstanding which he esenietif, and got home to his own cottage, when he expireif Oh -the tsilowing Saturday.— With respect to the law of this case, as the man wan merely committing sittespass; the prisoner was not warranted tit tilling NtirtUltiKokigil the deceased resisted apprehension, and it pun be at all events an aggravated manslaughter.; but if the prisoner was actuated by revenge for the injury the deceased had intended against his ptoperty, then no doubt but it would amount to the higher offence of murder. Thomas Tochfield said, he was a labourer at Rickmansworth ; on the night, between the sth and 6th of October, he and the prisoner, together with Davy, Ellingham, and two others, went to watch the fishery of the prisoner ; about four o'clock in the morning the prisoner, who was outside the weir-house' gave them notice that some one was near the wheels, and desired them to wait until he should get to work. As soon it they thought the man would begin, they all sallied out, and the man finding himself discovered, plunged into the middle of the stream and swam up against it. Inwood, Davy, and Ellingham were on the north side of the river, and two others cm the south side ; they called to the man to surrender, hat he Made them no answer. Inwood, the prisoner, said he would run round to the osier island, to prevent his' escaping that way. In a short time he heard a splashing in the water, and Iriwoodcalling out that fie man had got him in the water and would drown him if they did not make haste to his assistance. They went round and found that the prisoner had been in the water, but, the man had escaped. They then iatent back to the weir-house, and there found the tkkeet which the man had left behind him, with a t and a bag. By the jacket they discovered that tbcman la the water must be Goodman, as they had often seen him ,pelt it: gniulthan2, Davy, and Walker, other persOns on the watch, gave the same account of the transaction ; but it also appeared that the eels were in baskets confitted, and that the deceased came not to catch fish, but to take away those already caught. The Learned Judge here observed, that it made a considerable difference in the case, as it was clear he came to commit not merely a trespass, but a felony. The prisoner being called upon for his defence, said, the deceased, in getting up the bank, pulled him into the water, and he was afraid he should have been drowned, arid that what he did was in hi. .Avn defenc • Jnry found him guilty of Manslo ug'ater, and. 'az was sentenced. to one month's i.nprironment.