The Express. — 1862-12-04 (London, England)

THY POACHING AFFRAY AT ROYDON HALL.  Affred Barr Lurk, 29, Thomas Stevens, 29, Georrfre Allehin, 28, Joiepit Obey, 48, John Capson. 26, Steplun Burgess, 25. John Catt, 31, and Stephen Ererefidd, 56, who had bean admitted to bail, and who were all described u labourers, were charged with the manslaughter of James Gray. There was another prisoner, named John Hawke*, included in the indictment, but he was admitted ma a witness for the crown.  There was also an indictment against the prisoners for night poaching, arising out of the same circumstances. Mr. Russell and Mr. F. J. Smith conducted the prosecution. The prisoners were defended by Mr. Ribtou and Mr. Addison. . _ _  This charge arose out of a very sanguinary affray that took place ou the morniog of the 22nd of January last upon the Roydoo Hall estate, in the parish of Peckham, a few miles from this town, in a wood called the Mote Wood, and during which the dexaaed, who was the head keeper upon the estate, was shot, and died very shortly afterwards. A bill for wilful murder was found by the giaod jury at the lost summer assizes aguiust the prisoneis Lock and Eversfield, but the case was postponed, and in consequence of some doubts having subsequently arisen whether the last-mentioned prisoner was concerned in the offence. be was admitted to bail. The other prisoners were subsequently apprehended, and the grand jury having returned • true bill against the whole of them for manslaughter, it was deemed advisable to abandon the charge of wilful murder and to proceed against the prisoners upon the lesser charge. On the night of the 21st of January, the prisoners (exoept Eversfield) met at East Melling, evidently by some prewncerted arrangement, and they at once proceeded to the wood in question, Luck and several of the others being armed with guns, sod they commenced firing at the game. The reports speedily gave notice to the keepers of what was going on, and the deceased, who had gone to bed, was aroused, and be and five other men, some of whom were under-keepers and others watchers, proceeded to the spot where the firing appeared to be. None of the party, it appeared, had firearms; but Gray, the deceased, was armed ' with a very formidable instrument, in the nature of a flail, ' the handle of which was about four feet beg, and two shorter pieces of wood were attached to it by iron eyes, and in the bands of any person who could use it skilfully this instrument was oilculated, undoubtedly, to cause very serious mischief, and the other men only had dicks. The keepers came up with the poaching party in a meadow close to • wood, where they bad been heard firing shortly before, and there appeared to be no doubt that six or seven of the latter were armed with guns, and a desperate struggle took place between the two parties, almost at the commencement of which the unfortunate deceased received • gun shot wound in the thigh, of which be died a few hours afterwards. The learned counsel said that these ware the main flab of the charge against the prisoners, and be should call a named Hawke., who was one of the party, but w bad6n been made a witness for the crown, who would prove that the whole of them, except Eversfield, were ! present when the shot was fired, and his evidence would be • materially corroborated by other testimony. He next pro, ceeded to call the attention of the jury to the law that wan ' applicable to the alma sod said that say parson was justified