Middlesbrough & Stockton Gazette and General Advertiser. — 1872-11-28 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

INDECENT.—Elizabeth 3towson charged William Coiling with obscene behaviour at Skelton, on the 18th November. Defendant said that the complainant's mailer broke a brash upon his arm, and blowed her nose in his face. In answer to the charge defendrut said that he never committed the offence, and called a witness who said that the girl had used language towards him as "good" as her mother. Other witnesses deposed to most obscene behaViour of the cJinplainant's mother, and all agreed that this was brought forward against defendant out of "spite and malice." Case dismissed on ,payment. of 23a costs. Niour Polcuixo.—William Laity summoned John Lowther for poaching in Loft/muse W0..1d, between ten and eleven o'clock of the night of the 21st inst. Complainant, with some others, were watching on the night in question. They heard several gunshots, aad subsequently met with the defendant, who refused to allow himself to be searched or to go to the police-station. A policeman afterwards came, and pulled a gun, with a flask of shot out of his pockets. , Committed to prison for one month's hard labour, and to give subsequent sureties fur good behaviour in £lO each.  SHOOTING WITH INVENT, dec.--John JaVan, gamekeeper to Mr J. T. Wharton, of Skelton Castle, charged Holler Little with shooting at him with intent to murder him in Bitten Wood, on the 21st November. Mr Buchanan prosecuted, and Mr Fawcett defended the prisoner. The case was laid under the Night Poaching Act, which rendered any person liable to even years transportation when found upon land after nightfall with a Run or other offensive weapon in his possession. John Julyan, the prosecutor, was the first witness. He said that between twelve, and one o'Clock in the morning of the 21st inst., when out watching in Skelton Wood, he saw the defendant and another man upon a shooting track. He watched them tor some time, and at length went to the end of the track to wait for the prisoner. He and his companion came out, and see_  frig witness approaching they began to make haste away; but finding that he was in pursuit, and within three or four yards of them, Little turned round, presented his gun, and said, " Stand back, or you shall have it." Witness replied, " Keep yourself quiet a little, for I mean haring you." Prisoner aimed the gun as clearly at him as it possibly could be. lEfe fired the shot, which paesed close to witness' right i leg, but did not touch his clothes. It ploughed the ground up just behind where he was standing, and seemed to be an ordinary charge. Prisoner sprang back again and presented his gem a second, time, calling out, " Stand back!" It was a double-barrelled gun, and witness sprang forward. Prisoner did not fire again, but suddenly turned round and ran a distance of eighty yards into the cover, closely followed by witness, who did not secure him; btrt having known the prisoner for three years, with the sound of his voice, was positive that the prisoner was the same man.—By Mr Paweett This occurred in al4 acre plantation. Did not recognise Little when first he saw him at a distance of 40 yards The men had not dogs, but saw One gun in the moonlight. Prisoner aimed the gun at hibody, but shot at witness's legs. Would not swear that the prisoaer did not fire at the dog which was walking on his right tide. It was a big brindled dog. —John Smith, game watcher, gave corroborative evidence, the only material point elicited from him being that the dog was very angry, and it would not have been very pleasant for the prisoner if ho had got hold of him. —Sergeant Newbiggin said that he apprehended prisoner on the evening of Friday, the 22nd instant, in his brother's house at Stanghow, concealed under a flock bed, on the sacking of a bedstead.—When lodged in Skelton lock-up, and charged, he replied," Well, I did not fire at Julian intending to kill him. I only fired at the dog. I am very sorry, but it can't be helped now."—ln defence, lk Fawcett argued eloquently and logically that the very circumstances of the case as elicited from the prosecutor and his witnesses, showed that he aimed only at the dog. After consultation, the bench found that Prisoner had been poaching by night, awl that by presenting the loaded gun, he thereby assaulted the keeper, and must be committed for trial at the next sessions. Bail would be accepted, himself, in £5O, and two sureties in £25 each.