The Express. — 1848-03-10 (London, England)

MARCH 8. MURDER AT RARE CASTE/I.—The court met this MOMing at 9 o'clock, and proceeded with tbe trial of William Thompson (27), William Doman (28 ), and Joseph Olafield (32), who were charged with the wilful murder of John Shirley, a whipper-is of the Duke of Cleveland, on the 2nd of February last. The case occupied the court till nearly 8 o'clock. His grace was present on the bench during the whole of the trial, and paid marked and serious attention to its progr M ees—r. Serjeant Wilkins, Mr. Matthews, and Mr. Pashley were for the prosecution ; and Mr. Bliss and Mr. Tvghy Seymour for the prisoners—Mr. Seejeant Wilkins stated the case at length, as detailed in the following evidence :—Joseph Cockerell examined by Mr. Matthews : I am a game watcher to the Duke of Cleveland. On the morning of the 2nd of February last I was at the house of John Shirley. We left the house together about half-pa-t 7. I heard the report of a gun in the direction of the willow beds. The willow beds are a game preserve In Ruby Park. Shirley was a whipper-in. We proceeded We in the direction of the willow beds, after hearing the shot. I stood under a beech tree, and saw four or five men. Recognised Thompson and Dowson to be two of the men. Thompson had a gun. He said, " I will shoot, I will shoot." Dowson had a gun also, and he said, " Stand back, or I will fire." Before the words were well out of Dowson's mouth Thompson fired. Shirley immediately cried out, " I am shot through the arm," and instantly stood forward and struck Thompson on the left side of the head with his stick. While this was going on I saw Thompson knock Shirley off from Dowsos. Doweon and Shirley were struggling together, Dowson having first struck Shirley with the gun. Shirley had got Dowson down on the ground, and was on the top of him. Shirley cried out, " Joe, for God's sake, if you are not shot, come to my assistance, for I cannot survive many minutes." I was still struggling with the other man, and on hearing this I told him to give over, and pushed him away. He struck me two blows with his stick, one on the right eye, and the other on the left side of the head. They were violent blows, and i rendered me insensible. 'When I recovered I saw the man standing looking at me. I was not insensible long. I also observed Shirley lying on the grass, and Dawson was beating him with a stick or the butt-end of his gun, on the head. I said, "Fur God's sake, don't murder Shirley." Thompson, I believe, then said, " Don't kill him out: if its Shirley you've done enough." Dowson struck at him no more, and both went away. The other man followed us about eight or ten paces. I put my right arm under Shirley's left arm, and supported him to the cover edge. I afterwards wok him to Richardson's cottage in a wheelbarrow. We sent for a surgeon; before he came I examined Shirley's wounded arm, and took a wadding out of the middle of the wound and gave it to Jane Richardson. It was a leather wadding. Shirley afterwards died. I made a search and found my own end Shirley's hat, a woollen cap, a hai cap, and a pair of gun barrels. I have seen Dowson wear ary cap like the hairy cap. I remember seeing Thompson. I afterwards, on the Bth December, saw Thompson and Dowson at Barnardcaetle. Dowson said if he had known where I was he would have gone and taken some of my pheasants, and if I bad come he would have paid me ; and as for George May he would give him such &tanning that he should not be able to get to his house again. May was a watch. r to the Duke of Cleveland, and was about the same height and bulk as Shirley when he was dreesed. E. Monument deposed to some of the articles in the place where the struggle ensued belonging to the prisoners. A. Raine, examined by Mr. Matthews: I am a sergeant of the Durham county police, at Staindrop. I was called up at near one o'clock on the morning of the 3rd of February. I went to Thompson's house, and was let in by his mother. I found him in bed. I chargedhim with being one of the