It seems his lordship had been quite happy for his staff to hound anyone who committed trespasses against him, even carrying out beatings and other violent acts. (We suspect this was probably mainly for poaching). Perhaps he was turning over a new leaf, or had heard reports of the level of violence and decided to act, at last. One of the gamekeepers was dismissed and another thought to be in line for the same.
“We are informed that the Marquis of Exeter is relenting in the course he has long pursued in giving encouragement to the gamekeepers and lurchers in his employ to commit outrages upon persons who have chanced to be guilty of even the most trifling trespass : Donworth, of Eaton, the fellow who so nearly killed a poor man from Ketton in Easton Wood (as noticed in our last), was on Monday discharged from his situation. It is expected that a similar result may follow against another person in his lordship’s service for a violent assault will come on for judgment.”
The Stamford Mercury, 24th May, 1850.