The Potteries Examiner : — 1877-03-10 (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England)

BIOSHY AT STOKE-ON-TRENT. —Hannah Rancor was charged with intermarrying with James Stevenson, her former husband being alive. She pleaded guilty.—Mr. Underhill, who for the defence, said there could be no e-cape fromeouviction, but be wished to invite the attention of the Court to the lams disclosed in the depositions as to the treatment the accused had suffered from her first husband—The learned Judge intimated that he had seen the depositions, and w:,o acquainted with the facts. He sentenced the prisoner to a week's imprisonment. This would date from last Friday, the day on which the commission was opened. THE FOUR ASHES POACHING CASlL—William Humphries (48), labourer; Thomas Allman 08), labourer and William Price (30), paddler, were charged with shooting at John Morrison, with a gun, vu the let December, 1876, with intent to kill and murder him. A second count charged them with shooting with intent ' to grievous bodily harm. There wore minor counts, ! and a separate count charging the other two prisoners i with attempting to take Allman out of custody. Mr. ' Underhill and Mr. Corser were for the prosecution ; the ' prisoners were inidefended.—Morrison, a keeper in the ! service of Mr. F. Monckton, M.P., was out watching ! with two as-istant=, about one o'cock in the morning , of the Ist December, when he saw five men engaged in poaching, lie obtained the assistance of ! three other meu, and attempted to capture the poachers, who attacked the watchers with azicks and stones. In the made which ensued, Allman, according to the evidence, pointed a I gun at Morrison and discharged it, the shot striking him below the elbow of the lett arm, which was imbuequently amputated. The keeper was about three yards from Aliman when the latter shot him, and Morrison said if helhad not quickly stepped aside when the can I was brought to bear on him he must have been shot I dead. It was a bright moonlight night —Au important witness against Allman was Jane Deakin, wife of ! Aaron Deakin, living in liorseley Fields, Wolverhamp. ' ton, who said Allman had lodged at her house until ' December Ist, when he suddenly and without notice disappeared. While the prisoner lodged at her house she had seen him with a gun in his possession—Caleb Hackney, inspector of Staffordshire constabulary, 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 I apprehended Price, who denied complicity in the affair, at Salford. He went to the house where Allman had lodged, anti found the clothes produced; in the pocket I of the jacket he found some fur. When he showed the clothes to Allman he denied that they belonged to him. —Deputy Chief Constable °swell examined, said he , went to the scene of the affray about five o'clock on the nioruing of the lit December. As soon as it was light he searched and found some pieces of flesh with shot in it. He also found a dog straying about which had been identified. He received Allman into custody at Castle. ford, in Yorkshire. The accused then said when he was charged, " I was not there." On the read home Allman said, "Have 'on got Owen and Brummy F'—in defence, Allman said he never had any intention to shoot Morrison; he let the gnu 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 at Morrison. They might be there, yet he thonght it would be too much to say that thy were there pre. pared to shoot the keeper. As to Allman, there dint not seem to be any doubt as tohis 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 hint 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 tinie armed. To this they pleaded guilty, and were sentenced to five years' penal servitude. Allman was sentenced to 15 years' penal servitude.