Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 25 March 1932
Denaby Wood Tragedy
Keeper’s Encounter With Poachers .
A Fatal-Shot
Evidence of Victim’s Companions
After a hearing lasting nearly five hours yesterday at the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, the case in which Claude Christian (25) gamekeeper, of Hooton Roberts, appeared on remand, charged with causing the death of Charles Wright (44), miner, of 18, Annerley Street, Denaby, by shooting him, was adjourned till this morning.
Christian was represented by Mr. W. P. Donald, barrister, instructed by Mr. E. J. Twin. and Supt. Minty was in charge of the prosecution.
Wright’s Record.
Mr. Donald pleaded “Not guilty.” at the same time making an application for the record of Wright’s convictions, as he stated he would say Christian had reasonable cause to believe his own life was in danger on this occasion. The question whether the accused had a reasonable belief that his life was in danger depended partly on the events of that particular day but also on the character of Wright as to whether he was likely to carry out the threats which according to his (Mr. Donald’s) instructions, he did, make immediately prior to this occident. In order that he might be in possession of the facts he made application to be allowed to see Wright’s record.
Supt. Minty did not object and a copy of the record was handed to Mr. Donald.
Story of the Encounter.
Supt. Minty said that, about 2 p.m. on March 15th Claude Christian, who was following his employment as a gamekeeper at Denaby Wood, came across four men poaching. They were Charles Wright, Dexter Pass, Fred Allen; and Alfred Evans. It was admitted that Wright and Pass at that time were carrying sporting guns. The others were unarmed. The poachers made off, followed by the gamekeeper, and it was alleged the prisoner got to within close range of them. They were walking across a field after leaving the wood when the keeper’ appealed to a man called Williamson to assist him. This man heard the keeper and the four men arguing but could not hear what the argument was about. As Williamson got nearer he saw one of the men holding his gun a half firing position. The men were about five yards from the keeper but the gun was not actually pointed at the keeper. The man who was holding the gun told one of the men to get his gun out. Williamson followed the party for about 200 yards. The men were arguing with the keeper and using strong language.
At this stage one of the men saw Williamson and said “You b—– off and get back to your ——– work.” Williamson left the party and after a few minutes he heard a shot but could see nothing and went to investigate. He found the keeper had disappeared and two of the men were carrying one of the others across the field. It was alleged by the men that the keeper had followed them and threatened to shoot them if they did not stop. It was then alleged the keeper had his gun waist high, raised it to his shoulder and fired from about six yards range, Wright receiving the charge in the abdomen. The keeper then ran to Conisborough police station and arrived in a very excited condition. He was breathless and said “I have shot him. There were four of them poaching in Denaby Thick. Two of them threatened me with guns and I had to do it.” P.s. Waugh went with him and found the injured man had been taken away by the other men. Dr. McArthur found the man, who had been taken to the Fullerton Hospital, suffering from a wound in the abdomen and although he did all he could the man died at 7-15 p.m.
Keeper’s Demand For Gun.
Dexter Pass. miner, 64, Warmsworth St., Denaby, said that at 1 p.m. on March 15th he went to an allotment garden near the Fullerton Hospital. He met Fred Allen, Charles Wright and Alfred Evans. Witness had a 4.10 double-barrelled folding gun which ho carried ii.side his jacket pocket. He took one cartridge. Wright had a 4.10 single-barrelled folding gun in his jacket pocket. The others were not armed. They went for a walk into Denaby woods about half a mile away. Witness admitted they went to poach. They had only been in the wood five minutes when they saw the keeper so they put the guns in their pockets and turned back. He heard the keeper say to Wright, “stop. I want your gun.” As they left the wood they saw the keeper following. He kept about eight yards behind. They crossed two grass fields and a corn field, and after they had gone 50 or 60 yards into a second corn field witness heard the keeper say to Wright, “Stop. I am having that gun now.” Wright replied “You are not having the gun.” They turned round then and faced the keeper. “When we turned round our guns were in our pockets. The keeper was carrying his gun waist-high. He lifted it to his shoulder and deliberately aimed and shot Wright. Wright seemed to stand a second. I thought he had missed him or it was a blank cartridge. Then down he went and said ‘He has shot me’.
The keeper then ran away. Witness saw him “break” his gun and he appeared to take a cartridge out. Evans then took the gun out of Wright’s pocket and gave it to him. Evans also took the cartridge out of Wright’s waistcoat pocket. Evans and Allen carried Wright to the hospital.
Mr. Donald suggested that the double-barrelled gun was Wright’s and the single-barrelled gun was witness’s, but witness indicating the single-barrelled gun which was produced, said “That is Charlie Wright’s gun.”
Witness said he later took both guns and both cartridges to the police station.
Denials.
Cross-examined, witness said that as soon as they saw the keeper they put their guns in their pockets. He denied bearing Wright say to the keeper “You b- off” or “‘You b—– well clear off. I know how far your beat goes. It does not go this far.”
Witness said Wright did not say “Let’s settle him” as they were going towards the road. Nor did Wright say to the keeper “If you don’t go back I will stop you.” When the keeper appealed to Williamson for help one of them said “You look after your horses” but no one said “Yon b——- well stop where you are or we will shoot you.”
Just before they left the wood Wright passed his gun to witness for him to go and hide both guns, but the keeper followed witness pointing his gun at him so he handed the gun back to Wright. Wright did not say “it is no b—— good. He is still coming we shall have to stop him.” Nor did he say “I have shot b——s like that in France and I will do it again.” Witness did not hear Wright say anything about France. Wright did not say when they were going through the wheat field, “It has only to be done once. I’ll have him.” Witness never saw Wright put a cartridge in his gun after Ieaving the wood. On being shown the keeper’s gun witness agreed it was not a gun which could be “broken” like a folding gun.
The Fatal Shot.
Alfred Evans, miner, 56, Clifton Street, Denaby, said Pass had the double-barrelled and Wright the single-barrelled gun. They had the guns folded in their pockets. After they had got into the wood the guns were carried under their arms. They had not been in the wood fifteen minutes when Wright saw the gamekeeper. Wright said “Put your guns away” and they did so. When the keeper got to them he said “Give me your guns.” The guns were then in the men’s pockets and they said “You are not having them.” Wright suggested Pass should hide the guns and Pass went with them about 20 yards away still in the wood but the keeper followed him saying “Stand, else I’ll shoot.” Pass said “Oh b—— him, he means having us and came back, giving Wright his gun back. Wright put it in his pocket. After they had got a quarter of a mile out of the wood the keeper said “You three can go and let Wright stand.” Wright said “Without guns?” and the keeper said “No, keep the guns in your hands . “After they had walked a little further they turned round all at once and the keeper shot Wright. The two guns were then in their pockets and the keeper was carrying his gun a firing position to his shoulder. He shot Wright deliberately and he was about six yards from Wright when he fired. The keeper ran towards the wood. Wright dropped down on his knees and said “He has shot me. He has blown my guts out.” I took the gun out of his pocket and gave it to Pass. We carried Wright about 900 yards while Pass had the gun.
Witness said he did not see Williamson following them across the fields. Allen said to the keeper, “You have nothing to do with this part, and the keeper replied “Oh yes I have, I am doing my duty.’
Cross-examined, witness could not say why the keeper said “Keep the guns in your hands.” Witness admitted that Wright took the lead in doing all the talking. Wright was 5ft. 4ins. tall and the keeper 5ft. 11 ½, so that if the keeper fired from his shoulder, witness admitted, the pellets would enter Wright’s abdomen at a downward angle.
Another Account.
Fred Allen, miner, 19, Adwick Street, Denaby, said he overtook the others on the way to Denaby Wood. He did not know they were going poaching. When they got halfway through the wood, Pass produced a double-barrelled gun and Wright a single-barrelled gun and both loaded their guns. After they had been in the wood five minutes they noticed the keeper coming up a rise towards them. He was 20 to 30 yards away when they first saw him. Wright and Pass unloaded their guns and put them in their pockets when they saw the keeper. Wright put his bullet in the pocket on the opposite side to where he was shot. When the keeper came up he said in a lough voice “You give me those guns or I will shoot you straight away.” They kept going straight forward all together and got out of the wood. After crossing three fields they had just got into a fourth field when the keeper said “You stop her, and I’ll shoot you here and those other three men can go.” They kept on moving and the keeper said to Wright, “Give me l that gun else I’ll shoot.” They turned round together and Wright said “I shan’t give it you.” Witness continued. “The keeper was then six or eight yards away. He had his to his shoulder ready to fire. After he had fired the keeper ran towards ‘China Town’ in the direction of Conishorough police station. ”
In reply to the magistrates’ clerk, witness said that as they faced the keeper from left to right were Wright, Evans, himself and Pass. While they were facing the keeper the guns carried by Pass were in their pockets. Referring to Williamson, witness said the keeper called him but he hesitated before beginning to walk towards them. Witness did not hear any of the men say anything to Williamson and did not see Williamson afterwards.
Cross-examined, witness said he did not know of any reason why the other men should not have heard the keeper say “If you don’t give me those guns I’ll shoot.” Witness did not know which side the pocket was on in which Wright carried the gun. He admitted that Wright said to Williamson “You go back and look after your job.” He did not hear the keeper say “Keep your guns in your hands.”
Mr. Donald: Do you know Wright has been fined again and again for using obscene language You say on that afternoon he used no obscene language?— l did not hear him.
Witness did not know both guns were given into the keeping of Pass for a time in the wood. Pass said he would hide his but witness knew nothing about hiding the two guns. Witness was asked why Pass first told the sergeant that there was only one gun and sand it was because the keeper had seen Wright’s gun but not Pass’s.
The Injuries.
Dr. John McArthur, Denaby, said he was called to hospital at 2-45. He found Wright suffering from a gunshot wound in the abdomen. He was too ill to be given a general anaesthetic. His case was hopeless from the first. He died at 7-15 from shock. The shot only spread over an area of 1l inches and must have been fired on a horizontal plane.
The hearing was adjourned.