The Sun. — 1812-04-06 (London, England)

APRIL 3.  William Holt was indiCted for the xvill murder of Thomas Astill (Lord. Spencer's gamekeeper), on the 17th day of August -last, at. Wimbledon. This was the case of the gamekeeper who was.killed by a poacher in Lord Spencer's park. The first witness called was a deputy gamekeeper, .who merely stated that he saw Astill go out, on the morning. he met his fate, at five o'clock: He had heard the report of a gun in the park or its neighbourhood, acid he had with himshis own gun and a eothss. When he next saw him, it was in the course of the same day he was in bed, and badly wounded.  A labouring man of the name of Carter, and another of the name of Willi3lnson, saw Astill at about a quarter before six in the morning, go info a close called Greenfield's Close. They bad previoosly heard the report of a gun, and they supposed that Astill, the gamekeeper, was gone in search of` the -person who fired it. They saw hitn in corn, pany with another man, whom they supposed he was follow/ing, but they neither of them could speak to the identity of the prisoner. _ _  Mr.Carlisie; the Surgeon, said he was called in to attend the deceased on the 17th of August. He found that he had received a blow on the head, which had driven in the skull upon the brain, arid part of the brain had protruded through the wound. He considered his case as desperate from the first moment heNsaw it. Tile deceased, -though an old ma,n, had great strength 'of constitution. 'He removed the pieces of bone that were pressing upon the brain. The operation' was attended with great immedime danger, and the patient, though he could not distinctly speak, yet evidently was perfeelly sen •sible. He answered all the quesdons put to him, ether by affirmatively nodding his head, oi shaking .it for dissent. The blow, according to the best of his judgment, was given with the handle of the cutlass produced, and certainly not With. the blade, either the edge or back of it. The deceased frequently repeated, (as they understood his imperfea articulation) " oolger has done it." Mr. Carlisle said he wrote the name Woolger in large letters, and the deceased gave an affirmative nod, and pointed to the letters. They then had a man of the name of Woodyer brought to hiM, but be shook his headt as denying him t'o be the man. The prisoner being apprehendecL was also brought into.his preSettee, and be immediately exhibited great symptoms of, perturbation, attempted to raise himself in his bed, and to speak, but could pot utter any words:— He .sheaved' the witness his thighs, which were bruised, and the marks in his breeches ; the blows were evidently given with the handle of the cutlass. Bernard fidl, a labouring Man, stated, that the prisoner and he worked at the same job. On the morning tut question he was in the fields, • and saw a 01311 M a red jacket (which was the colour the gaiiiekeer wore) following a man in a brown jacket; he had heard a gun fire previously ;, he did not attend much to them, and he lost sight of them at the turn of the pArk paling. He heard of the transaction in the.course of the day, and mentioned it to the prisoner, whci did not at first say he -was the person, bat the next day he confessed he was the man, and said th it the gamekeeper was following, him that he at-first took away his gun ; that he then asked the pine keeper ifrhe was sAistied, who replied not, and persisted in following him ; that he attempted to draw his cutlass, upon which the prisoner said he' took that away also, and upon his attempting to halloo 'for assistance, that he gave him a blow on the head ,with the handle, Anil two blowi ' bn the thighs., to prevent his following Toe Learned Judge, on this statement, said, it was clear that the case only amounted to manslaughtet , as it was in the heat of blood, and not by malice prepense, which the law required to constitute murder.  The Jury found him Guilty of Manslaughter, and the Learned Judge immediately sentenced him to .twelve mon►hs ,imprisonment, and a tine of one shilling. Mr. GARROW sit on the Criminal side on Timisday evening, but the cases tried were not interesting__  Mr. Justice GROSH finished early on Saturday morning, and the Home Circuit closed.