AS part of our weekly Crime Files series, we are taking a look back at the archives to bring you stories from Herefordshire's history.

The following story dates from 1834.

A GAMEKEEPER was shot to death in a Herefordshire woodland after tracking down poachers in 1834.

James Davies was killed in the early hours of the morning in Bullock's Wood, Allensmore, one Sunday in 1834.

An inquest into the death of the gamekeeper, who was employed by Herefordshire MP Edward Clive, was held in Kingstone the next day, with gentlemen and farmers reported to have travelled from miles around to attend.

Coroner Thomas Evans heard Mr Davies had gone to the wood with fellow gamekeepers William Farr, Thomas Gough, and William Johnson that morning.

They had heard gunshots and, on investigating, had found a man named John Evans, of Arkstone Common, under a hedge.

Evans, who witness Mr Farr said appeared to be tipsy, was sent on his way, while the gamekeepers went further into the woods in search of the source of the gunshots.

But the night turned to tragedy, when they came across a group of poachers and, in the confusion that followed, Mr Davies was shot dead.

A postmortem revealed the shot had hit him in the throat and a verdict of wilful murder was returned.

John Evans, who turned out to have been one of the party of poachers, was apprehended and was found to be carrying a pistol, but would later give evidence at Hereford Summer Assizes against others, with five poachers arrested in total.

Poacher Richard Addis was charged with the murder, and Evans, who had turned King's evidence, told the Assizes that Addis had told him he had shot Davies.

His claim was echoed by fellow poacher Charles Nash, who had also turned King's evidence, saying the group had split up and that he had heard a shot, followed by running men.

He had hidden until he could see who was approaching, and when he revealed himself, he was told by Addis that he had shot a man.

The judge said he could not call on the jury to convict Addis as there was so little evidence that he had shot Davies, and the case relied only on the word of accomplices, and Addis was acquitted.