The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1865-08-05 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

POACHERS.  Simon Ridley, Robert Williamson, and Thomas Simmonds, pitmen, belonging to ihotton Colliery, have been taken into custody by the Durham County constabulary, charged with being contented with others in an attack upon game watchers at Wingate Grange-house, about nine miles info Hartlepool, on Sunday morning lest. The following are the particulars of the murderous affair:—  Mr. Armstrong, who resides at Wingate Grange. house, is the manager of Wingate collieries, and resides on an estate adjoining, on which there is a large quantity of game in the plantations which surround his premises. There were rounds for supposing that several of the pitmen of the district were committing depredations among the game, and two of the watchers in Mr. Armstrong's employ went on Saturday night to the outskirts of one of the plantations, concealing themselves behind a hedge for the purpose of detecting the poachers. About lo'clock on Sunday morning two men with a long net came to the end of the plantation and placed the net from nearly one end to the other. The watchers, unconscious of the presence of any one else, sprang out from their ambush and attempted to catch the two men. Before, however, they had got hold of them one of them sounded a whistle, and presently, in great haste, five other men made their appearance, and a regular encounter ensued. The poachers were well armed; some had pistols, others rails, and one a large life-preserver. The watchers endeavoured to take the two men whom they caught with the nets, but they were overpowered, and one of them, named Benjamin Embleton, was knocked down with a rail. James Stark, the other watcher, on seeing the treatment his comrade had met with, drew pistol and threatened to shoot anyone who might approach. One of the poachers also drew two pistols and defied Stark in his endeavour to protect Embleton, who was lying on the ground. Some of the poachers got at the back of Stark, and on catching hold of him the pistol went off, and the contents were supposed to have gone into the body of one of the poachers, as he fell immediately it was discharged, and moaned frightfully, and at the end of the affray he was carried away by his companions. Directly after the pistol was fired by Stark he was thrown down, and the poacher who had the two pistols came up, and while Stark was struggling with his antagonist he threatened so shoot him. Another of the poachers cried out, "Don'tshoot him while he's down." Stark, however, seeing the pieta close to his head, turned over witt fear, and he had no sooner done so than the contents *ere lodged in his shoulder. A portion of his coat was completely blown off, and some of the shots went through the upper part of his shoulder. After the cowardly attack upon Stark the poachers rushed upon Embleton, who by this time was once more on his legs, but he was again felled to the ground, and while lying a man came up to him with a life-preserver, and struck him with terrific force, smashing the bone of his nose level with his face. The blow was Flo sudden and so violent that the life-preserver, which was made of gutta-percha and leaded, broke in two, the head part being afterwards found by the police in the vicinity of the affray, marked with blood. Not content with the serious injury inflicted upon Embledon, some of the other inhuman wretches, armed with rails. belaboured the poor fellow while he was lying on the ground until he became insensible. Both the watchers were lying on the ground powerless, and on one of the poachers saying, "Hold on, lads," they desisted from their cowardly attack, and gathering up their net, absconded. The injured watchers were, after sometime, able to proceed home, and they are now progressing favourably.