The Shropshire Examiner and all round the Wrekin advertiser. — 1877-03-09 (Wenlock, Shropshire, England)

ASHES POACHING CASE. William Humphries (48), labourer ; Thomas Allman (28),labourer ; and Wm. Price (30), puddler, were charged with shooting at John Morrison, with a gun, on the Ist of December, 1876, with intent to kill and ruurder him. A second count charged them with shooting with intent to do grievous bodily harm. There were minor counts, and a separate count charging the other two prisoners with attempting to take Allman out of custody. Mr. Underhill and Mr. Corser were for the prosetion ; the prisoners were undefended. The facts of this case were fully reported in this , paper at the time of the occurrence. Morrison, a keeper in the service of Mr. F. Monckton, M.P., was out watching with two assistants, about one o'clock in the morning of the Ist December, when he saw five men engaged in poaching. He obtained the assistance of three other men, and attempted to capture the poachers, who attacked the watchers with sticks and stones. In the melee which ensued, Allman, according to the evidence, pointed i a gun at Morrison and discharged it, the shot striking him below the elbow of the left arm, which was subsequently amputated. The keeper was about ' three yards from Allman when thitlatter shot him, and Morrison said if he had not quickly stepped 'aside when the gun was brought to bear on him he must have been shot dead. It was a bright moonlight night. An important witness against Allman was Jane Deakin, wife of Aaron Deakin, living in Horsley-fields, Wolverhampton, who said Allman had lodged at her house until December Ist, when he suddenly and without notice disappeared. While the prison, ' lodged at her h....he had seen him with a gun in his possession. Caleb Hackney, inspector of Staffordshire eonsta bulary, said he went to the Fountain Inn, in Wolverhampton, on the morning of the first of December, and there found Humphries in bed, and arrested him : he afterwards apprehended Price, who denied complicity in the affair, at Salford. He went to the house where Allman had lodged, and found the clothes produced; in the pocket of the jacket he found some for. When he showed the clothes to Allman he denied that they belonged to him. Deputy Chief Constable Oswell, examined, said he went to the scene of the affray about five o'clock on the morning of the Ist of December. As soon as it was light he searched and found some pieces of flesh with shot m it. He also found a dog straying about which had .been identified. He received Allman into custody at Castleford, in Yorkshire. The accused then said when he was charged, "I was not there." On the road home Allman said, "Have you got Owen and Brummy ?" In defence, Allman said he never had any intention to shoot Morrison; he let the gun off at the night dog. The other prisoners said they had nothing to do with the affray. The learned judge told the jury that so far as the present charge applied to Price and Humphries it would be straining the law to find them guilty of shooting Morrison. Although they might be there, he thought it would be too much to say that they were there prepared to shoot the keeper. As to Allman, there did not seem to be any doubt as to his being there, and the only question to consider would be as to his intent in discharging the gun. As they were aware, the most serious count was that of shooting at Morrison with intent to murder him. They must decide that point on the evidence before them.  Allman was found guilty on the fourth count, which charged him with shooting at Morrison with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. The other prisoners were acquitted on this charge, and were then arraigned upon a charge of night poaching, being at the time armed. To this they pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to five years' penal servitude. Aihnan was sentenced to fifteen years' penal servitude.