The Sun. — 1842-10-29 (London, England)

TERRIFIC COMBAT WITH POACHERS, MURDER OF A GAMEKEEPER.  (From the Chester Chronicle of yesterday.) We regret to have to record a most sanguinary combat which took place on Saturday evening last, between the keepers of John Tollemache, Esq., of Ti'ston Lodge, M.P., and Edwin Corbett, Esq., of Darnhall, and a party of poachers, and which resulted in , the cefeat of the former, one of whom, named _  Richard Chesters, died in a few hours afterwards, from the injuries he received in the conflict. The following are the facts as near as we have heen able to collect them :  It appeared, that from some information that had been obtained by Robert Bostock, keeper to Mr. Corbett, he had reason to apprehend that a poaching party would be out on the night in question. He called that morning upon Daniel Bebbington, who was engaged by Mr.,Tollemache to look after the game at Wettenhali, and told him that he expected there would be some poachers in Wettenhall Woo 1 that night ; and they arranged to meet at the Wettenhall side of the wood at eleven o'clock. About nine o'clock on that evening, Bostock called upon John Noden, waggoner to Mr. Corbett, and John Bebbington, under-keeper to the same gentleman. They went to Wettenhall Wood to watch, and found Daniel Bebbington and Thomas Bebbington, his grandson, a young boy, who had heard the report of fire-arms a few minutes previous, and were awaiting the arrival of the remainder of the keepers and their party. It was a moonlight night. They went some distance by the side of that part of the wood called Boffey's-pipe, and crossed a field of John Boffey's, which adjoined the Pipe, where they saw four or five men, who, as soon as they saw them (the keepers) called on them to stand off. Three of the men had guns, one of them was identified by Bostock as Joseph Baker, and one of them had a bludgeon. Those who had guns pointed them towards the keepers. As the keepers advanced the poachers retreated slowly backwards, and Baker cried out, " D— their eyes, don'tlet us go back, let us stand!" Daniel Bebbington said, "My lads, we are five as well as ye," counting his grandson as one. When they came to close quarters, John Bebbington seized hold of one of the men, and seized his gun by the muzzle, and threw him down. In the struggle the gun went off, as the poacher had . hold of the lock. This man was dressed dark clothing. Daniel Bebbington came up during the struggle, and threw himself upon the man, and John Bebbington left him in order to pursue the other poachers, and immediately another of the gang came up dressed in a short darkish coloured slop, and struck Daniel Bebbington over the head and arms, and enabled the other man to escape. Robert Bostock seized the man who had the bludgeon, and was beaten severely by him ; the second blow knocked him down, and stunned him, and his gun was taken from him and discharged. When John Bebbington left Daniel Bebbington in charge of the poacher he had prostrated, 11,2 pursued John Baker who had run alongside of the wood for a short distance, and had during the pursuit got over the hedge into the wood, John Bebbington being close to him, and in fact was with him as he got over the hedge, Baker's gun being under him. They had a struggle, when RichareChesters, another of the keepers (and who afterwards died of the injuries he received), came up, and the two secured Baker. John Bebbington said to his prisoner " I know thee." He called him Duke Baker; and he answered " Well, thou knows me, let me go."