Alston Herald, and East Cumberland Advertiser. — 1880-01-17 (Alston, Cumbria, England)

HOOTHTO CASE AT DISEINGTON.  Frank Hartshorn, 28, Richard Weightman. 30 Robert Dixon, 27, and Thos. Bell, 27, pitmen, were charged with feloniously shooting at P.C. Michael Weal lens with intent to kill and murder, at the parish of Newborn, on the 7th November, 1879. Mr Greenhow and Mr Ridley, M.P., prosecuted; and Mr Edge and Mr Milvain defende4.—Mr Newcombe, architect, prodeeed a plan of the plaoe.—John Moffitt, head gamekeeper, Diasington Hall, said : On the Bth November last I was out at a plantation called Tuffitt Hill, between two and three o'clock in the morning. The watchers with me were William Colliogwood, George Hall, Edward Proud, Robert Younger, .Tohn Ogg (keeper on the Milton estate, where we were then), and two policemen, Weallens and Brown. We heard a couple of shots fired. The sound game from the Red House plantation, on the Dissington estate, and upon hearing the shots we all went to that plantation. Several more shots .were fired before we got to the place from the same plantation. Pheasants and hares were in the plantation. When we got to it we concealed ourselves behind the corner of a hedge, and we heard some men ranging among the brushwood in the 'plantation. We, were there a few minutes, whenwe saw four men in the plantation, and they came over the wire fence. They were nine yards from as when they cause over the fence. It was a moonlight night, and we saw the men rjuite distinctly. I identify three of them—Hartehoru,Weightman, and Bell, but lam not able to swear to Dixon. Hartshorn came in a crouching position towards me with a gun in. his hand, and got within two or three yards of Wl5OlO we were lying: We all then got upend they saw us. The other three men were behind .Harts. horn, but they all had guns, holding them in front of them. Weightman and Hartshorn said repeatedly keep back" and "stand back," and "the first man that comes forward will be dropped." I believe it was Weightman that said that. I told them to act as men and keep their guns down.. I then perceived a fiirh man coming from behind the four and he was making towards them. I got within fear or five yards, when I saw a light flash and observed that the filth man, whom I thought was another poacher, was a police-constable named Douglass, stationed at Stamfordham. The light was front a bull's-eye lamp, and was thrown towards the men. I saw Hartshorn and Weight man tarn round, and Hartshorn fired a shot, and immediately afterwards Weightinan fired a shot. The shots were fired to: wards Douglass. Both men had their guns to their shoulders. Douglass turned half round in a stoop. ing position, and said, "Good gracious," and I thought then he was shot through. The other men were facing as, and were falling back dawn the field one behind the other. They were still holding the guns in front of them. I had a gun and the other watchers with me had guns. Up to that time none of as had used nor threatened to use our guns. When the prisoners retreated we followed them. ,Mr BainbriAge'e retriever dog was shot before that, I believe by Weightman. Several shots were fired at us by the poachers. Weightman and Hartshorn fired more than one each, whilst they were retreating. I could hear the shots whizzing past us. I fired three or tour shots in the field in the direction of the poachers. I fired the first shot at Hartshorn. After the dog was shot I fired at one of the men, and the third was also directed to the poachers. 'The other watchers, I believe, fired. Douglass was about nine yards away when the first two shots were fired at him. The shots ware fired about twenty yards from us, and when I fired at the poachers I was about the same distance away. When I went to see Douglass I was further away from them, but I afterwards rejoined the watchers. The four poachers kept together till they disappeared at the three hedge ends. They were taken into custody before they got into their houses. They were charged with night poaching, and also with shooting at the policeman. Upon Hartshorn's hat were a let of pheasant's feathers. Other evidence having been given, and his lordship having summed up, the jury returned a verdict of guilty against all the prisoners with intent to do grievous bodily harm, but that Dixon and Bell did not participate in the Mutating so much as the others.—Hartshorn and Weightman were ordered to be kept in penal servitude for ten years, Dixon for seven years, and Bell for five years penal servitude.