A horrid attack on a gamekeeper by a poacher left him unable to speak, but the prominent Bow Street police officers, Lavender and Vickery were on the case. The gamekeeper was in the employment of the second Earl Spencer at his Estate in Wimbledon Park.
“On Saturday se’nnight Mr. Thomas Astill, head gamekeeper to Earl Spencer, at Wimbledon Park, arrived at his own house speechless, having his scull dreadfully fractured, apparently by a bullet from a horse pistol, which has perforated his hat in two places; he was also much struck about the thighs by the hilt of a sword or cutlass. He had been seen to follow and overtake a man in a dark jacket, who had been shooting and taking away some game, and they were observed to walk together towards the park paling, not above 5 or 600 yards from his residence. Information of the above having been given at Bow-street, Lavender and Vickary (sic) were dispatched to obtain information; and on their arrival at Wimbledon, they found that one Holt, who had come from Hampshire to assist in the harvest, was the suspected person. The officers then proceeded to the Antelope, at Wandsworth, where he lodged, but he had not been home all night. They then, with much difficulty, and after a long pursuit, traced him to the Waggon and Horses at Farnham, where they secured him, and learned that previous to entering the house he had discharged a musket, which, nevertheless, he denied being in his possession, and said it belonged to a soldier. They, however, found it in the cellar of the house concealed behind a beer barrel, and, on inspection, it proved to be the piece which the gamekeeper has taken out with him. On Thursday he was taken to the wounded gamekeeper, who was not able to speak. He, however, identified the prisoner as the man who wounded him; and his testimony was taken before Major Fleming, a Magistrate, which will be made evidence on the trial.”
The Stamford Mercury, 30th August, 1811.