Another man has been acquitted for shooting at a trespasser.
He was named Winter, and occupied some land near Croydon, upon which one Maynard and another entered to pull watercresses. Winter took up a gun and threatened to shoot them if they did not desist, and then, without waiting to see the effect of his words, fired. Sixty lead pellets, partridge shots, entered May- nard's body, fortunately not killing him, and Winter was there- fore only. tried for unlawful wounding. Even of this offence, however, the jury refused to convict him, believing, as in the Debenham case, that the gun was fired with the view of fright - ening trespassers. If. ever property is very much divided in England, we shall see the laws against trespass and petty larceny very much sharpened. These verdicts reveal precisely the state of feeling which makes the punishments for trespass so sharp in France, and makes the English lenity to larceny a pet Indian grievance. Small proprietors of land cannot bear to lose anything, and they will have the votes.
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