The Sun. — 1845-03-13 (London, England)

HOUSE OF COMMONS. March 12.  It was arranged last night that the trial of the poachers for the murder at Croome should take place to-day. Accordingly at twelve o'clock, after the disposal of some other Crown business, the folio wing pric were arraigned before Chief Baron Pollock- :—Jostpkremy, 43, gardener; Francis Duty • ley, 34, capenter ; AS'anitiel Turvey,37, labourer; George Brant, Ist, boatman ; Thomas Hooper, 19, labourer; John Ceche, 25, labourer; Joseph Tandy, 42, gardener; Thomas Collins, 20, gardener ; IVilliuna Cosnett, 25, labourer ; and William Bromfield, 19, labourer. George Lippett, 35, carpenter, was adoitted approver. Sir. Lee and Mr. Whitmore corducted the prosecution ; Mr. Godsrm, Q.C., and Mr. Huddleston defended the prisoners. There were seven indictments .against the prisoners. In the first, second, and fifth, the prisoners were all charged jointly with assaulting and beating Thomas Staite, and inflicting wounds of which he died ; with wounding Wm. Compton, with intent to kill and murder hint ; and with shooting at John Frances, with the same murderous intent. The third indictment charged one of the prisoners, Thomas Collins, with shooting at George Baylis, and the others with tiding and abetting; and the fourth indictment charged Samuel Turvey, Thomas Hooper, and Joseph 'randy with wounding Richard Compton and George Brant, John Cook, Thomas Collins, and William Coanett, with aiding and abetting. There were two indictments which were not read, but to the whole of those brought into Court the prisoners pleaded Not Guilty. The whole of the prisoners having been placed upon their trial on the first indictment, charging them with the murder of Thomas Staite on the 19th of December last, Mr. LEE proceeded to state the facts of the case as they have already been detailed in the newspapers, and called witnesses. The first witness examined was Mr. Boulter, the landlord of the Plough Inn, Preston, in which town the whole of the prisoners lived. He merely proved that on the night in itiestion, Francis Dingley and Bromfield applied to him for the loan of a gun, which, however, he did not lend them. The next witness, Thomas Kings, an inhabitant of .Preston, proved that the prisoners Bromfield, Cook, Dingley, Honpe,r, and the two Turveys, were seen together on the same night. The third witness was William Wheeler, who was. at one time in custody in connexion with this affair. His testi mony went to considerable length, and it appeared from his statements that the whole body of poachers met by appointment en the night of the fatal affray, at a place called the Hollow-way. It would appear from Wheeler's testimony, that he was to have accompanied the party, but that at the last hour his heart failed him, and, instead of going himself, he lent his gun to Cook and his smock frock to another of, the party. Next morning his gun was returned to him by Dingle), with the stock broken, as if by some violent usage. The' party were afterwards seen by several other witnesses pro-; ceeding in the direction of the Croome covers. Two young girls, named Mary Ann and Julia Ann White, saw the poachers together as they were returning from Perton School (Croome), where they had been having a singing lesson. The evidence of Richard Compton, one of the watchers on the night of the 19th December, then detailed the particulars of the attack upon them in similar terms to those employed by him in his evidence before the coroner, which was published at the time. George Lippett, the approver, was then 'called, and was examined at considerable length, his testimony bearing out that already detailed as having been given on the inquest. His examination was closed shortly before eight o'clock this evening, when an adjournment took place until to-morrow  The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock. • Mr. ALLIX moved that the Members for the borough of Aylesbury be added to the Committee on the Sparrow§ Herne Road Bill. Air. GREENE hoped that the House would not consent to this motion, as it would be establishing a very had precedent. Mr. AMAX considered that as the road was to terminate in the town of Aylesbury, it was but fair that the opinions of the inhabitants should, through the medium of their representatives, be consulted in the matter.  The moti,n was agreed to.