A few nights ago a desperate encounter took place between two gamekeepers or labourers of J.B. Dashwood, Esq., of Well Vale, and a party of two or three poachers from the parish of Bilsby near Alford. All the combatants were severely hurt. The poachers were victors, but their triumph was of short duration, as they were apprehended the following morning in their beds.
Morning Post 31 December 1831_page 4. article repeated in five other newspapers
Mr. William Dadley, the gamekeeper shot and killed by poachers in 1839 was employed by R.A. Christopher Esq. at the time. The land formerly belonged to J.B. Dashwood, (deceased by 1839.)
The Lincolnshire Chronicle, 13th January 1843 carried an article regarding the murder.
In October 1842 a man by the name of William Hewison confessed to the murder of gamekeeper, William Dadley some years ago, but as his statements were unsupported by any corroborative evidence, no further steps were taken. Hewison was otherwise sentenced to seven years’ transportation for stealing a pig at Revesby.
