The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1884-12-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

DESPERATE FIGHT WITH A POACHER. On Saturday, at the Guildford County Bench, there were heard summonses against an elderly but stalwart man, named Thomas Came, of Worplesdon, near Guildford, for unlawfully carrying a gun under the Night Poaching Prevention Act, and also for assaulting the police in the execution of their duty, on the Ist inst. Cross-summonses were also heard against two police - constables (Tytherleigh and West), young officers of the Surrey constabulary, who were charged with violently assaulting Carne at the same time. While on duty at two o'clock in the morning, the constables heard the report of firearms, and in a few minutes came upon Carne, who had with him a double-barrelled gun. As they were approaching him, he said, "If you come near me, I'll blow your brains out," at the same time pointing the gun at Police-constable West. The officer rushed at him, and succeeded in wresting the weapon from him. Came violently kicked the officer and disabled him for a time. Police-constable Tytherleigh closed with him, threw him to the ground, and succeeded in handcuffing him. Being a powerful man, Came succeeded in picking up the gun, which he again pointed at police-constable West, who was lying prostrate on tho ground. Tytherleigh drew his staff, knocked the gun from the man's hand, and closed with him, and while they T7ere struggling West had sufficiently recovered to assist in ;the arrest. On searching the prisoner, whom they then recognised, they found on him a hag with two dead but warm rabbits, also a flask of powder. When on the way to the railway station at Ash West ran in advance for the purpose of catching a luggage train by which to convey the prisoner to Guildford. Having got out of sight, the prisoner refused to be taken, and struck Tytherleigh on the head. A desperate and bloody struggle ensued, the prisoner using his hands, his feet, and his teeth, and the officer striking with his truncheon. They both fell to the ground three or four times, and when the prisoner got uppermost he threatened to murder the constable, who succeeded in getting hold of the chain of the handcuffs, and in the darkness striking several blows, which fell on the prisoner's head. After waiting in vain for some time at the railway station, West returned in search of the prisoner and his comrade, the latter of whom he found lying almost insensible, the prisoner hftving pprl Tytherleigh was tftlen to the nearest house, alid West afterwards went in search of the prisoner, whom he saw about six o'clock in the morning, still handcuffed, and with a long iron file in his hand. The encounter was renewed, the constable warding off blows from the file with his truncheon, with which he eventually disabled and secured the prisoner, who the same day was admitted to the hospital at Guildford suffering from a fractured arm, five or six scalp wounds, and other injuries, which confined him there for two or three weeks. The constable Tytherleigh was also unable to do duty, for nineteen days in consequence of his injuries. The magistrates thought the case a serious one, and committed both Carne and the constables for trial.