Ambrose Parker

338

Penny-Lyn Beale on 13th July 2025

1864 - General Hospital Hobart. Admission dates: 05 Oct 1864 Ship: Surrey 2. Place of origin: Warwick Date of death: 24 Mar 1867 Resource: HSD145/1/1 Mar 1867 & HSD146/1/1 1867 Image 2

343

Maureen Withey on 2nd April 2021

Trial of the Poachers for Shooting at Lord Denbigh’s Gamekeeper. At nine o'clock this morning, Mr. Justice Burrough came into court, Thomas Ensor, Thomas Perkins, Thomas Clewes, Joseph Gilbert, Wm. I.iggins, Richard Rally, Ambrose Parker alias Horton, William Strong, John Strong, D. Hilton, Joseph Goldby James Bird, John Earps, Wm. Smith, Whittall, John Neale, and Jonathan Whattall, were arraigned for shooting at John Slinn, head gamekeeper to the Earl of Denbigh. The Common Sergeant, Mr. Reader, and Mr. Clinton were for the prosecution ; Messrs. Clarke Hill, and Pennington were for some of the prisoners. Mr. Denman stated the particulars to the Jury, in a very able recapitulation of the principal facts of the case. John Slinn, the keeper, was the first witness examined. He stated that he was called up in the night of the tOth of December. about one o'clock, and he went with others to the shrubbery, close to Lord Denbigh's house. He described the whole of the transactions up to the time when he was shot, (the particulars of which were given in this paper.) Several other witnesses for the prosecution were examined, which lasted till late in the afternoon. The counsel for the prisoners took exceptions against the indictment, and were heard at length in support of those exceptions. The Common Sergeant and the Counsel for the prosecution, supported the indictment. The Learned Judge overruled the objections raised on the part of the prisoners; and after stating to the Jury the law upon the case, as contained in the late statute, began to sum up the evidence to the Jury. Before his Lordship had proceeded far in reading over the evidence , the Foreman observed to him, that the Jury did not think it necessary to trouble him any further, as they perfectly recollected the whole of what had been said by the different witnesses. After a few more observations his Lordship left the case with the Jury. They consulted for some time, and then returned, by their Foreman, a verdict of Thomas Ensor, Guilty of shooting with intent to kill ; and a verdict of Guilty of aiding and abetting, against all the other prisoners ; but they begged leave to recommend the latter to the mercy of the Court, in consequence of their good character, and they hoped the Court would also take into its consideration the youth of some of the prisoners, and also the different degrees of guilt which had been proved against them. His Lordship observed, they had, by their verdict, relieved his mind from a great load of anxious responsibility, and assured them their merciful recommendation should be attended to. His Lordship rose and addressed the prisoners Young men, I bare a confident hope In assuring you that your lives will be saved. But these must be put a stop to; and if the merciful sentences that will be posed upon you have not their salutary effect some very severe examples must be made, to prevent such lawless assemblages, and such flagrant outrages of the public peace in future The Court was excessively crowded all the day. The trial lasted till six o'clock in the evening. Sentence not passed. Leicester Herald, 15 April 1829. ---------------------------------------------------- National Archives. Criminal Petitions. HO 17/2/1521829 May 1 Prisoner name: Ambrose Parker or Ambrose Parker Orton. Prisoner age: 19. Court and date of trial: Warwick Lent Assizes [Warwickshire] 1829. Crime: Shooting at a gamekeeper. Initial sentence: [Transportation for life] commuted to 14 years' transportation. Gaoler's report: 'Not known'. Annotated: Nil May 1827. Petitioner(s): Joseph Marshall, the convict's master, and 10 late sergeants of the 'Granadier Company' [Grenadier Guards]. Grounds for clemency: Parker got into bad company and did not realise they shot at the Earl of Denby's gamekeeper; his youth; never poached before. Additional information: The convict's father, also called Ambrose Orton, and Joseph Marshall both served with the [Grenadier Guards]. The convict was convicted with 16 others, seven of whom were sentenced to transportation for life, and nine others sentenced to transportation for 14 years. --------------------------------------------------