Cambridge Chronicle 20 Oct 1860: Trespass on Samuel Witt's land
CAMBRIDGE DIVISION PETTY SESSIONS,SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13.
(Before C.B. Wale and R G. Wale, Esqs., and the Rev. J. Thornhill.)
Elijah Tarrant and Henry Brown were charged, on remand, with trespassing in search of game on land the property of Mr. Samuel Witt, of Trumpington, on the 27th of September. — Mr. GARRATT prosecuted, and Mr. NAYLOR defended the prisoners. — Henry Carter said he was in the employ of Mr. Toller, of Trumpington. Remembered the 27th ult. He and some men, including a man named Parker, were at work in a field of Mr. Toller’s, on the Hauxton-road, when they saw a man in a field of Mr Witt’s, who fired a gun. When he had fired the gun, a second man came into the field from the road, and picked up a hare. The two men made the best of their way to a cart on the road, in which there was a third party, and there they deposited the hare. The cart went off. There was a miller named Willmott near the cart at the time. Parker spoke to him, but witness was not near enough to hear what conversation passed. Some one called out to witness, “Harry.” That was witness’ name. Knew the two defendants, whom he had often seen before. — Cross-examined: Never had £1 for coming up here, not a promise of anything at all. Never told Mr. Toller that he did not know the parties; but did tell him that he did not want to know them; this was because he did not want to injure them. — Witness was corroborated by the man Parker, who swore to the two prisoners; and that he had the turnpike gate locked to prevent the cart going through. Tarrant threatened to knock witness’ head off. Afterwards met the miller, who said he could not swear to the men; but saw them shoot some partridges and the hare. — Mr. NAYLOR, having addressed the magistrates, called Willmott, who said that on the day in question he was coming from Hauxton towards Trumpington. As he was coming along, saw three men who passed him on the road. They were in a cart. Two of them got out, and one remained in the cart. One of the two who got out went into the field; the other remained outside. Saw one of them bring a hare out of Mr. Witt’s field; but did not see them shoot it. The same man who was in the field before went into another field; but took with him a fresh gun, leaving the one he brought out of the field in the cart. Witness waited to see what he would do. The man let go both barrels and shot two birds. The three then got into the cart and drove away. Witness saw no more of them. Witness drove on slowly after them, when a man named Carter came up to him, and asked witness if he knew the parties, to which the latter gave a decisive answer in the negative. Carter said if he had been five minutes sooner he should have known the party. Afterwards, two other men came up. The man who went into the field appeared to be about 30. Neither of the prisoners was the same. — Cross-examined: It was a light spring-cart. Witness had never had any transactions with either of the parties, nor had he any interest if they escape conviction. — Further evidence on the part of the defence was called, which went to show that Carter said he did not know who the men were, and that he was on no account to be believed. Several witnesses were called to prove that Brown was packing fruit on the Thursday on which the offence was committed. —The Magistrates, after listening for nealy five hours to the evidence, convicted the defendant Tarrant in the full penalty of £2, and £1 5s. costs; in default, he was committed to gaol for two months, but we learn that he has since paid the money and obtained his discharge. The man Brown was dismissed.