Poacher jailed for two years after firing warning shot at gamekeeper

On the third Sunday of April 1855 Bernard Moulding, the gamekeeper to Mrs Farington of Worden Hall, Leyland, was patrolling the plantation called 'Hoult Breast' at about nine o'clock in the evening in the search for poachers.

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Hearing footsteps ahead of him he moved forward and seeing a man about twelve yards away he called out hello, with the trespasser replying with the same greeting. The man then turned on his heels and when a further three or four yards distance away raised his gun and fired, the shot penetrating a bush to the side of the gamekeeper.

After firing his gun the man quickly turned and ran off, but Moulding was determined to catch up with him. When he got within a yard of him, the poacher turned round and struck the gamekeeper on the shoulder with his gun. Moulding then managed to seize the man for a moment and thought he clearly recognised who his assailant was in the gathering gloom, but could not secure him as his shoulder was broken.

The trespasser took the opportunity to flee the scene as the gamekeeper returned home injured and with a bloodied head.