Thomas Leonard

341

Maureen Withey on 23rd April 2023

Thomas Leonard was with a gang of poachers, when it all went wrong. ——————————————————————————————————- Suffolk Assizes. After a brief charge from his Lordship, the trials of the prisoners commenced. Gabriel Nicholls, Thos. Leonard, Thos. Christmas, and S. Marlton, were capitally indicted for having assembled with guns and bludgeons in the parish of Cavenham, with intent to kill game, and then and there shot at Edward Otley, Philip Warner, and others, with intent to kill them or do them some bodily harm. Three others were discharged, no bill being found against them. Edward Otley, gamekeeper to Mr. Waddington, proved that on the 21st of December last, having had information that there would be a gang of poachers in Newmarket plantation, in Cavenham, he and nine other persons assembled. They heard gun go off, and some men approached them, some armed with guns, and some with sticks. They asked what they were going to do, when some one called out fire! fire! and three guns were discharged immediately; one gun was directed towards the body of the witness. A general scuffle took place, and at length three of the prisoners were taken, and a fourth afterwards confessed being present. Four others escaped. The Jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of Guilty of poaching and shooting, but not with intent to murder. His Lordship said, that if they were of opinion that the prisoners, being at the distance of five or six yards, directed their guns loaded with shot at the keepers, the law would presume the intent laid in tile indictment; but if they thought the guns were not so directed, or not loaded, they must acquit the prisoners. The Jury after a minute’s reconsideration, returned a verdict of Guilty, but recommended the prisoners to mercy, a recommendation in which Mr. Waddington joined.—The Judge passed sentence on the prisoners in the most impressive and feeling manner. He departed, he said, from the course which had been hitherto observed in the Assizes, and passed sentence upon them immediately, because it was probable that many were drawn there who were deeply interested in what he should say.— They owed it to Providence that they were not now in a situation in which neither the recommendation of a Jury, nor the humane interposition of the prosecutor could avail; but Monday’s dawn must have ushered their souls into another world, and exposed their lifeless bodies as a dreadful warning to all who were engaged in such pursuits. His Lordship then passed sentence of death upon them, but intimated that the punishment would be commuted to transportation for life. Norfolk Chronicle, 5 April 1823. ———————————————————————————————— On Friday last nine male convicts were removed from our Gaol to be put on board the hulks at Portsmouth, namely, Abraham Beeton, James Stebbings, Thomas Christmas, Isaac Eaton, Thomas Leonard, and John Ireland, to be transported for life; and Wm. Howard, Joseph Dunningham, and Elijah Radford, for seven years. Bury and Norwich Post, 30 April 1823. ——————————————————————————————————- Hulk Records. HO-9-8_5 page 17/53. Portsmouth Hulks. Received from Bury St Edmonds. 26 April 1823. Thomas Leonard, age 36, Aiding and abetting Edward ? With intent to murder, Tried 21 March 1823, Bury St Edmunds, Life, NSW 13 Aug 1823. Thomas Christmas, age 21, Aiding and abetting Edward ? With intent to murder, Tried 21 March 1823, Bury St Edmunds, Life, NSW 13 Aug 1823.