Reference
QSR1818/320
Title
Examinations & depositions - Examination of William Darnell, Hail Weston, Huntingdonshire, gentleman. See also QSR1818/319, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325-327:
Date free text
1818
Production date
From: 1818 To: 1818
Scope and Content
Instructed by his father Mr Darnell, to take John Purser & James Dennis and watch Mr Smith's spinneys at Basmead.
At a quarter past eight they saw Browning, Barns and Smith with two dogs, one 'was hunting the other led'.
William Darnell asked what they were doing, Browning said he was going to Keysoe, but William Darnell noticed that Smith had something in his pocket and laid hold of him and with the help of John Purser searched it, they found it filled with 'pegs such as hare snares are set with'. Smith who was carrying a bludgeon 'as thick as the leg of the examinate', struggled and broke away. The three men ran across a tilth field and other grounds and stopped beyond a stile 'and made a stand and bid them defiance with their bludgeons'. James Dennis knocked down Barns in the scuffle; they ran off again but were overtaken and another fight took place in which John Purser was knocked down.
William Darnell eventually drew a pistol from his pocket and they ran off to Staughton Moor where William Darnell got assistance from two men and eventually caught them.
Reference
Level of description
item