Virtual Tour - St John's - Poacher's Gravestones
These are the Poacher's grave stones. They are both to the same man, Charles
Smith, who was sentenced to death in 1822.
The stone on the left was put up by someone who feels that Smith was treated
unjustly,
the one on the right by someone who feels it was a fair sentence.
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The left hand stone reads |
The right hand stone reads |
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IN Memory of CHARLES SMITH WHO SUFFERED AT WINCHESTER FOR RESISTING BY FIRE ARMS HIS APPREHENSION BY THE GAMEKEEPER OF LORD VISCOUNT PALMERSTON WHEN FOUND IN ROUGH COPPICE LOOKING AFTER WHAT IS CALLED GAME AGED 30 YEARS IF THOU SEEST THE OPPRESSION OF THE POOR AND VIOLENT PERVERTING OF JUDGMENT AND JUSTICE IN A PROVINCE, MARVEL NOT AT THE MATTER FOR HE THAT IS HIGHER THAN THE HIGHEST REGARDETH AND THERE BE HIGHER THAN THEY ECCL 5:8 |
CHARLES SMITH WAS CONVICTED AT WINCHESTER ASSIZES OF "ATTEMPTING TO MURDER." A WATCHER NAMED ROBERT SNELLGROVE APPROACHED SMITH TO IDENTIFY HIM. SNELLGROVE, QUITE A YOUTH, WAS ALONE AND UNARMED. SMITH, WITH A COMPANION AND ARMED, FIRED AT CLOSE QUARTERS THE WHOLE CONTENTS OF HIS GUN INTO SNELLGROVE'S BODY. IN 1822, "ATTEMPT TO MURDER" WAS A CAPITAL CRIME. COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL PAPERS CONNECTED WITH THE CASE ARE DEPOSITED IN THE CHURCH CHEST. E.A. |