QSR1821/353-354

Examinations and depositions. Information of John East of Clophill, labourer and William Rowland of Biggleswade, labourer. Examination of William Lincoln of Clophill. Examinations of John Swepson and Henry Riley, who both refuse to say anything before their trial. See also QSR1820/274-280.

1821

From: 1821 To: 1821

Information of John East of Clophill, labourer. He and nineteen assistants went to Cainhoe Park Wood, Clophill to 'watch Lady de Grey's preserved game.' About half an hour later they heard a gun fired and split up into two parties; he and ten others going to where they thought the shot came from. On the way they heard eight more shots. At the bottom of the wood they met a number of men crossing a riding, they lay down a minute or two and then saw a man come over a gate and they took him into custardy. He called for assistance and some of his companions came up and they took seven into custardy but some got away. Some of the men had guns, some sticks, and they had three or four dead pheasants. He cannot sweat to either of the two prisoners, John Swepson and Henry Riley being there, it being quite dark, but several of the poachers escaped.Information of William Rowland of Biggleswade, labourer. He and eighteen others went to the wood for pheasants, he was taken by the keeper's party but in the scuffle Henry Riley and John Swepson, who both had guns, escaped 'we all said we would stand true to one another.'Examination of William Lincoln of Clophill. Agrees with evidence of William Rowland but says Riley came back but Swepson he supposes 'got clear away.'

item

East, John,
de Grey, Amabel,
Swepson, John,
Riley, Henry,
Rowland, William,
Lincoln, William

poaching, CLOPHILL, labourer, Cainhoe Park Wood, pheasants