Irvine Express. — 1882-12-01 (Irvine, Strathclyde, Scotland)

POACHING AFFRAY NEAR GUINAN. Gamekeeper Murdered.  A POACHING affray, which resulted in the death of one of Lord Stair's gamekeepers, occurred on the estate of I3argany, about three miles south from Girvan on Wednesday morning. It appears that two gamekeepers, named James Rennie and Wm. M•Meiken, had been engaged during the previous night watching in the neighbourhood for poachers. They had seen nobody up till five o'clock in the morning, when they decided to return home. As they were proceeding by the road through a fir wood contiguous to the farm of Balceachie, they heard two shots fired closest hand. The Palceachie woods are well stocked with pheasants, which find cover in the branches of the fir trees. The ground underneath is clean, and most favourable for pheasant shelter. There are some known poachers in the district, but it is understood the wood has been frequented by poachers fromCastle-Douglas, who pick off the pheasants. On hearing the shots the gamekeepers immediately entered the wood, and proceeded in the direction of the shots, and saw a man by the light of the moon, who, on observing •tkem, made off. They gave pursuit, gained on him, and were getting in front to circumvent him, when he turned round and deliberately fired his gun at James Rennie, the contents of the gun lodging in Rennie's right side. M‘Meiken continued his pursuit, but the man levelled his gun at Mlleiken also, and the latter, to avoid being shot, got behind a tree, and the poacher, who was by this time near the edge of the wood, got over the fence and away through the fields in the direction of Lendalfoot. On returning to his comrade, M'Meiken found him so seriously injured that he was not able to move. He then went to the farms of Pinminnoch and Balceachie, where he procured willing assistants to remove Rennie, and to have medical assistance as soon as possible on the spot. Rennie was removed to the farm of Balceachie, and Dr Blair, accompanied by the police authorities of Girvan, were in attendance about seven o'clock. It was found that the wounded man was so seriously Injured that it was deemed advisable to have his deposition taken. Accordingly, the authorities in Ayr were telegraphed for, and Sheriff Orr Paterson, Procurator-Fiscal Murdoch, Dr Naismith, and Chief-Constable Mg:lardy left Ayr to take Rennie's deposition, but, as it turned out, too late to take the poor fellow's statement. He died about half-past twelve, of his injuries. Captain Hamilton of Piiimore, J.P., was in attendance before Rennie died, and to this gentleman, we understand, he made a statement, describing the appearance of the man who shot him. Acting upon this information, and upon other clues, the police authorities of Girvan on the same day apprehended a man named James Smith, a native of Castle-Douglas. Smith is about 22 years of age. It is only three weeks since he came to Girvan, and since that time he has done no work, and has closely associated himself with the poaching fraternity of Girvan during that time. Smith was brought to Ayr, and, after being examined before Sheriff Orr Paterson, was committed to prison. A man named XPCormick, with whom Smith at first lodged, has also been detained in Girvan in connection with the affair. The debeased, Rennie, had been only a few days in the district of Girvan, having previously been gamekeeper to Mr Kennedy on the estate of Dalquharran, aad resided at Dailly, where his wife and family still are. Rennie was very much respected, and much commiseration is felt for his widow and family.