The Sun. — 1845-10-23 (London, England)

AFFRAY WITH POACHERS.  HORNCASTLE, Ocr. 21.—Yesterday two men, named John and Robert Kent, were brought before the magistrates of this division, charged with poaching in the preserves of Earl Fortescue, at Tattershall, and also with shooting at John Hayh ck, one of his Lordship's gamekeepers, with intent to murder, or do him some_grievous bodily harm. The facts of the case are of a most singular character. It appeared, from the evidence of Haylock and other witnesses, that owing to continued depredations havirg for the last month been committed on Earl Fortescue's preserves, the keepers received orders to watch for the parties. The poachers continued, however, to elude the vigilance of the keepers until Thursday night last, when Haylock being out on his usual rounds, armed with a gun, heard the report of fire-arms in a preserve adjoining the field which he was then crossing. Without waiting for assistance, he ran in the direction from whence the sound proceeded, and perceived a man making off towards the opposite side of the pre>erve. Haylock, a young and active man, soon gained upon the fellows, and the night being bright, he recognised in the person of the poacher the elder Kent (the prisoners are uncle and nephew), who was well known in that pact of the country as a common carrier between Boston, Horncastle, and Tattershall. The keeper challenged him by name, and said if lie did nut surrender he should fire upon him. The fel!ow made no answer, but being joined at the moment by his nephew and associates, the poachers turned round and made a show of resistance. The keeper rushed upon and grappled with the eller prisoner, who, however, managed to shake him off, when the younger man discharged his piece at the keeper, but fortunately without doing any serious injury to his person, owing to an in'ervening clump of trees. Both the poachers then attacked him. Though opposed by such unequal odds, he maintained the struggle with his antagonists until the younger ruffian felled him -to the earth by a blow on the head, with the but-end of his gun, Haylock having previously broken his own piece in the contest. The poachers, conceiving that he was dead, made off. After lying for some time in a state of insensibility, he was restored to consciousness by acute pains in his chest and loins, his clothes having taken fire, as he supposed, from the wadding which struck him when young Kent discharged the gun. After an ineffectual attempt to quench the fire, which had then penetrated to his chest, he managed, though compelled, by the loss of blood from the wound inflicted on his head, to crawl to a shallow dike, and, by rolling his body in the water, to extinguish the fire. He then proceeded to the house of Mr. Jones, farm bailiff, who went off for Mr. Blades, surgeon, and upon that gentleman's arrival, the hemcerrage was stopped, but for the two following days the patient was considered to be in very great danger. On the following morning the constables of Tattershall, with at veral other persons, visited the spot, which presented traces of the struggle. At the place where the keeper was knocked down there was a quantity of coagulated blood, together with his keys, a pocket- knife, and at a short distance off, his powder- horn, which was broken in pieces, the powder having exploded when the clothes took fire. A dead hare was also found, which the poachers, no doubt, threw away in their flight. Haylock having clearly identified his assailants, both were committed fur trial at the next assizes. The elder Kent, though ostensibly pursuing the avocation of carrier, is understood to have been one of the most practised poachers in the district.