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Northampton Mercury, 29th February 1832, transcribed by Jon Abbott
Desperate Attack by Poachers on The Marquis of Exeter's Gamekeepers
James Ball, William Giddings, Robert Payne, and John Cunnington, stood indicted for unlawfully and maliciously cutting and wounding Thomas Rayson and John Wade, with intent to maim, disfigure, and disable them, and to do them some grievous bodily harm; and also with intent to resist and prevent their lawful apprehension and detainer for the offence of poaching; and being found armed with guns and bludgeons, in West Haywood, near Kingscliffe, for the purpose of killing and taking game.
Mr. HILYARD appeared as Counsel for the prosecution, and Mr. MILLER for one of the Prisoners.
The first witness called was Thomas Rayson - gamekeeper to the Marquis of Exeter; remembers Tuesday night, the 27th of September; was called up about 10 o'clock, and went to Bransail Wood near Kingscliffe and West Haywood, the property of the Marquis of Exeter, and in his occupation; I am a servant of Lord Exeter, have 12/- a year in wages; John Wade, Robert Shelton, John Southwell, and Joseph Saddington, accompanied me; I heard a gun fire directly; we went the nearest way towards the report; when we got very nigh another gun was fired. One of the party called out "Robert Payne, you're behind - you'll have Rayson catch you:" did not know the voice; I and my party came up to the men; they were about nine to twelve in number. I said, "Hallo, my lads, what are you doing now?" Somebody answered. "Hallo, my lads, you're the chaps we want." They began to strike with their guns, bludgeons and staves; some used them with one hand and others with two; could not tell how many had guns; they said when they attacked us, "Go it, go it, kill them - murder them", several voices said so, we retreated 29 or 30 yards, and Wade was knocked down; as we retreated they kept striking.
I struck a man on the left cheek with my stick; he was a stoutish man; I took him to be John Cunnington. I was instantly knocked down with a blow across my nose between my eyes; it was a gun that I believe I was struck with; I was knocked down and blows given me all over my body, and five of six teeth knocked out. I became quite insensible; when I recovered the poachers were gone. I found myself much wounded in my left side and arm. - This witness underwent a very long cross examination by Mr. Miller, but nothing was elicited to affect the case. It appeared the witness was confined to his bed some time.
John Wade was out with the keepers on the night in question; the witness then detailed the meeting with ten or twelve poachers; the Prisoners were four of them. They placed themselves seven in the front row, and the remainder behind them. Witness was struck a violent blow upon the forehead, which laid it open, and struck also at the back of the head, and was left on the ground for dead, and was afterwards attended for nine or ten days by two surgeons. The poachers were extremely violent and escaped; they hallooed after us, and told us that if we followed them they would kill us. Ball and Giddings live in the same house at Kingscliffe.
Several other witnesses were called, and the Jury found a verdict of Guilty against Ball, William Giddings, and Paine, and acquitted Cunnington. Sentence was deferred.
Description—William Giddings, age 25, could read, a Protestant, married with 2 male and 1 female children, native place, Northamptonshire, occupation farm servant, convicted for poaching at Northampton Assizes 27 Feb 1832, sentenced to life, no prior convictions, 5 feet 4 and a half inches tall, dark ruddy complexion, brown hair, hazel eyes, scar knuckle of forefinger of right hand, scar on right cheek.
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