The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

THE TODMORDEN MURDERER
SENTENCED TO DEATH.
At the Manchester assizes, on Friday, Miles
Weatherhill was placed at the bar charged with the
wilful murder of Jane Smith, at Todmorden, on the
2nd of March.

It appeared from the speech of the learned Counsel, and
from the evidence subsequently called that the prisoner was
a young man, twenty-three years old, living with his mother
and sisters in Todniorden, who hail formerly been. a
Methodist, but had latterly attended the church in which
the Rev. Mr. Plow, the vicar of Todmorden, officiated. Ile
also had taught in the Sunday schoole attached to the
church, and became acquainted with Mr. Plow, and had for ,
the last two years courted a young woman named Sarah
Elizabeth Bell, who had been for three years in service in the
family. Two years ago, when Sarah Bell was only sixteen
years of age, the prisoner called on Mr. Plow and asked
to be allowed to keep company with her, and it appeared
that at first Mr. Plow was inclined to grant him per-
mission, but Rubio quently, on talking it over with his wife,
he refused it on the gromid that the girl was too young, and
he disliked a long courtahip in his house. It appeared from
the deposition of Mr. Plow, which was read in the course of
the trial his death having occurred on Thursday from the
violence he had received), that the interview in which this
refusal was given wan a (timidly one, Mr. Plow complimenting
the prisoner on the openness he had shown in the matter,
but subsequently they met clandestinely, and tins coming to
the ears of the master and mistress, through the information
! of the deceased woman, Jane Smith, who was also a servant
hi the family, Sarah Bell was dismissed from her place on
the Ist of November. This led to feelings of enmity on the
part of the prisoner to Mr. and Mrs, Plow and the deceased,
for the girl, to whom lie was evidently deeply attached, was
removed from Todmorden to Newby Wilhite, near Think,
where her mother lived, which rendered both her and the
prisoner very unhappy, mid it pecanne his object either beget
the girl beet into a district within his reach or else to re-
White on those who had caused the separation. The follow-
ing letters receved by the girl from the prisoner, and read
on the course of the trial, throw light on the state of his
feelings on the matter
" Todmorden, Nov. 7.

"My dear, dear Sarah,—l am now at Todmorden once
more, but with a very sad heart. You know how we left
each other, and you may guess how I have been since. Oh,
Sarah, my true love, how I (lose long to see you. I should
so like to hear that sweet voice of yours once more. I have
hearkened to it niany an hour In yond yard and back door,
but them times has gone, gone, lam sorry to lay for ever.
I wish I had stsy ed a bit longer, as you wanted me,
for I only worked tour hours on Wednesday. lii the after.
noon I took a solitary walk. I wish you were at Todniorden
again. I then should be happy once more, Ind now lam
miserable we are parted ; and what is it for? Not for any
disgraceful action either of us has done. No, it is for lwing
too honourable and upright in our dealings. Sarah, it
makes my blood boil to think of the wrong they have done
to you. I will never forgive them, they have ruined our
happiness. Oh, Sarah ! that I could have died in your arms,
I should have been thankful. lam now grieving for the
loss of the girl I love. I have not seen any of them at the
Parsonage yet, so I can't say anything about them. You
must not write to me this week unless you are sure I shall get
the letter by Saturday night or Sunday morning. I will write
again iu a few days or a week, and then you can answer my
letter.

"I remain, yours ever truly,
" MILES WEATIIEREIILL"
"Todmortlen, Nov. 11.

"My dear Sarah Elizabeth.—Yon must excuse me for
writing so much, but this will be the last tune I,d- a bit. I
have had such a row with master and mistress. I heard she
hail given you a character, ao I asked her about it, and she
put in it what you told are she would. It was yesterday noon
when I saw her, and she said she thought there was not
notch wrong is it; but I told her there was a very deal if
wrong in it, and their l turned round and would not talk to
her any longer. In the afternoon I saw master. He called
of me and we had a regular row. Ile called us anything but
Christians, and he spoke of you as not being a respectable
girl. Ile made toy blood boil, arid I will have my revenge
for the girl I love, unless you can come to Todniordm, or
within a mile or two of It. It would plague them worm your
coming than me having my revenge. If you have not engaged
with that place come somewhere near here. Write as 80011 as
possible, arid let me know whether you can come or not. If
you will I will pay your expenses. From yours ever,
-• MILES WEATIIERIIILL."
"Todmorden, Nov. 10, 1547.
"My Love,—l often wonder whether you have got that
place or not, or whether you have got a place at alt If you
Inane not got one yet, conic back to Todmorden. Come, If it
be only to plague Plows. lam sure you may got a situation
here if you only try. twill pay your expeimes. You know ,
people that would speak for you if you would only write ti
them. How happy we should be if you could met a place .
here. I arn sure you will not meet with another that would
keep you in the house as Plows did. Then we could have
our walks, and it would so plague them. They are, I under-
stand, going to have a cook on Tuesday. This is coming
from near the place where Jane, tile traitor, Comm from.
You know that I cannot come where you are, but you can
come where I am, and if you love me you will come. Come,
Sarah, conic, and don't let us be parted, for it is hard to be
parted from the one I love. If you was poorly it would be a
different tiring; but you are well and healthy, alid so let us
enjoy our youth in spite of all the Plowses. What is the
bar of you getting a place so far away from the one you say
you love? Letter courting is not like courting personally.
IVe should not have had any occation to he parted at all had
Plow heen a gentleinsn. Ile and his wife and the traitor
has spoiled our happiness, and unless that happiness can be
renewed they shall rue it, for I will open Jane's secret to all
Toomorden. I will wit be the only one to suffer. No, the
traitor shall suffer a little. I cannot forgive them for doing
as they have thine towards us. We acted honourably and it
was but right of them to do as they have. I hope you will
answer thus letter before Sunday at the very latest, and let
roe know all particulars. I think I shall go and see the
Fenians hung at Manchester on Saturday, but I have not
made up my mind yet. So no more at present, hoping you
will never forget Miles, your true lover."
- •

The girl dhl not get a place near Todmorden. as the prisoner
wished, lint went into service at the Friend& Retreat, near
York, and on Sunday, the let of March, the prisoner visited
her there. They took a walk together, and when they paned
in She evening Sarah Bell said that he uttered the exclama-
tion in a low tone "Revenge 1" On the evening of Monday,
the 2nd of March, he returned to Toilmordeu, and bought
seine powder, slat, and caps at a gunsmith's there at about
eight o'clock. Later on lie met a companion named Lord on
the County-bridge there, and said, among other things, he
"could boa happy man if yon lass was at Todmorden." Mr.
Plow came home about half-past nine that night, and had
had his supper and rung the bell for prayers. Ills attention
was attracted by a noise in the kitchen, and going there, he
found that the door into the yard was tied with a string on
the outside, seas to prevent its being opened." lie went out
by the front door and found the prisoner in the yard, who at
once came up to him and snapped a pistol at his head.
The cap only went off, and the prisoner then attacked him
with a hatchet, with which he wounded hini fearfully all
over the head and face. Mr. Plow called oust to be let Into
the house by the back door, and Jane Smith cut the string
which fastened it and the two men struggled in. The women
servants in the house, Jane Smith, Eitzabeth Spunk, and
Mary Hodgson, tried to pull the prisoner MI, and he then
turned upon Jane Smith and attacked her with the hatchet,
which Mary Hodgson eventually wrested from him. Mr.
Plow escaped with the pistol he had seized from the prisoner
in his hand to the parsh clerk's house, a short distance off,
and Jams Smith got into the dining room and tried to shut
the door. The prisoner followed her in, however, and she went
on her knees and was heard to pray "Mercy," but he said
" Where's my Sarah V' RIO fired a pistol at her, which sent
two bullets through her head, and she was instantaneously
killed. she was found afterwards iy ing in a pool ot blood. with
°unarm nearly severed, and the hatchet lying underneath her.
The prisoner then went upstairs to the room in which Mrs.
Plow, who had recently been confined, was lying in bed, and
where the monthly nurse was in attendance. The latter put her
back against the door and tried to keep him out : but he was
too strong for her, and pushed his way into the room. Ile
turned down the bedclothes and fired a pistol into the bed,
making a hole in the clothes but not wounding Mrs. Plow ;
and he then attacked her with.npok_er, inflicting hrt.tal in-
.,

j.1711e.Z 17,.17 a;;;;;;ZOih-e.rs, breaking he; nose. gy this time
the alarm had spread, and the prisoner was taken in the
bedroom. When brought downstairs he was perfectly calm,
and smiled when Rizabetit Spink said to him, "Do you
know you have killed my master?' its said to Mary liotig-
son, when she charged him with killing Jane Smith, that
'ho had seen her, and it would be a warning to Mary to tell
no more tales." To another witness he said, "It it had not
been for those pistols there would have been two more
deaths ;" and to the policeman who took him he told what
Jane Smith said to him—" Please, don't." He said, "Where's
my Sarah ?" and let the pistol elf, and It went 'crack." In
all, four pistols were found, loaded, and the prisoner was
wearing the belt which held them; and there were also the
hatchet and poker used on Mr. and Mrs. Plow. Before the
magistrates he made the fuliowin4 statement—
••• " • - -

I wish to say a few words. It will all amount to nothing,
it will matter nought. When I began to keep company with
Sarah at first I thought! would act as an honourable man.
One night I waited or Mr. Plow coming out of the church. I
told him I wanted a favour of him, and hoped he would
grant it me. Ile said, 'What is it f' I said, •I. want to keep
conipany with Sarah.' Ile asked me, • How long have you
been after her?' I said, 'I have had my eye on the girl ever
since the first time she canto' lie said that was quite
natural. tasked him litre would grant me that favour. Ile
said, Oh, no, I could not think of such a thing.' I said, 'I
thought I would come and ask you in a right way. I little
thought you would deny me.' I told him I did not like
coming whistling up and down the back yard, and that my
intentions were good. Ile said, ' Yes; I have always taken
you to boa respectable man.' He said that Sarah was a west
girl. lie then said he would talk to his wife about the affair
before he would give me a decided answer, and woul.l see are
again before long. I made it in my way to see him a day or
two after. Ile said they had talked the matter over, and
they could not give their consent. but they were very well
• pleased for the honourable way in which I had acted, but
could not allow me to come to the house. I asked that she
might come out if he would not allow are to 6. I found it
was no use, he would nit give me the privilege I asked for
30 I was determined to go and did go until Jane told about
us keeping company together. Then there was a stop put to
it right them Since then I have been on my way to ruin and
ever will be. I will die like a dog. But, after all, lam glad
, Mr. mut Mrs. Plow is not dead. I hope they will forgive
me."

l'pon this case for the prosecution Mr. Tarr for the pri-
soner) asked the jury to say that the very atrocity and
manner of the deed carried evidence of insanity with them.
The prisoner went provided with a belt full of pistols and
hatchet in a sort of theatrical way to lull one poor girl, and
after the deed was done he hacked his victim with a hatchet,
for there was little doubt that the Mimios to the arm were
done after death. There are cases in which the crime ,
itself is sufficient to Indicate insanity, and it was the learned
counsel's duty to submit to the jury that this was one.
Ilia lordship, however, in summing up, invited the atter.
tion of the jury to the danger to society of such a doctrine,
and told he failed to see In 010 Case anything which could
Obviate a verdict of guilty being given.
The jury almost immediately returned a verdict of Guilty.
and the Judge, having assumed the black cap, said It would
have been a deplorable thing it the limy had yielded to the ,
arguments advanced in your favour and acquitted you on the I
Remold of insanity. I see no tittle of evidence or anything '
to show that your mind was ever affected by any other
thing but had anti vindictive feelings. You have been most
ri‘hteowily found guilty of a murder which in Its accompani-
nient is almost unparalleled in the history of crime. It almost
looks like a murder or. the part of a wild say.ige, rather than
that of a person nurtured in civilised life. flow many may
be the victims of your outrage we know not. We know two
already have died, and a thad is now in peril. For that
crime you must die • you have forfeited your life to the law
of your country, Init you will be dealt with not as you
dealt with your victims. You will have time and oppor-
tnnity for repentance, and I pray of you to take advantage
of the aid that will ite afforded te you to find grace of heart
and sincere repentance before you are bamsheti into eternity.
The prisoner was then senteurad ia the unial term, the Judge

concluMna :--and I can only add It with staairity, may the
Lord have mercy upon you.
The prisoner was then femoved from the dock, bay-
ing never throughout the whole proceedings displayed
the slightest emotion.

The inquest on the late Rev. A. J. Plow was held. on
Monday at the "Black Swan Inn," North-street, Tolmapteu,
by Mr. Deard en, the c•unitY coroner. The jury was com-
posed of nearly the Sallie persona as returned the verdict
against the cola/Maned convict in Jive Smith's case. Several
wonesses were mien:oiled, and the jury returned a verdict of
'Wiliul Murder" against Miles WeatherhilL

The mother of the convict, since 'widened was passed upon
him, has made a statement which throws light upon tbe
state of mind of Weatheritill immediately before the crime
was committed. She says that, when he entered tile house
on his return from York, he exclaimed, " have they been
,have they_liten 1" and, suddenly recollecting himself, said
'to more eatherhill thenMent out, but returned shoray,
impart*, seHave they beeni hayelayou lseen anybody I .Ites
though, haling made up his mind to the deed, he felt his
criminality, and was In momentary expectation of being
apprehended. On Monday morning a letter was received
from the convict by his mother and sister, in which he
addresses them as follows
My dear mother and sister,—lt must be very painful to
you to know that I am in a prison, and what 18 Worse, am-
demnal to die. Well, you must hear It as well as you Call.
You will be allowed to see me once or twice 1110 re in my cell:
then you must bid me farewell for ever. Undoubtedly 51 53
now, and will be, a very great trouble to you when I ant
gone for ever from you; but you most remember we may all
meet again in heaven if we only repent of our sins. ltui
must try and love Christ, which I think you do already, and
have done for some time, but you can love hint more yet.
(You see I can give other people advice, and tell how they
should do, but when the mischief 11 I cannot take advice,
and as I ought to do myself.) You wiU be berry when you
hear I have not repented of my sins, but I will try sty best
to meet you both and Sarah In heaven. You most not think
it hard of me because I write to Sarah more than you, you
must know I look upon that good girl as my wife, though
she is not, but I think she would be if I was only free. I
think that you will have found it out before LOW that she is
a good girl Ah, she's too good for me. . .. . I will
draw to a close, and hope we may all meet tnt heaven.—From
yours, dear mother and sister, affectionately,
" MILES WEATHERIIILL."
The following letter was also received on Monday morning
from Weatherhill bye friend :-
- - • • ••

o Dear friend,—l thought I would write a few lines to you,
as you have been so kind. I suppose you know that I have
been found guilty, and that I shall have to be hung. It is
an awful and shameful death to die, hut! have deserved it,
and there Is no chalice left. I wish I could 11111i0 this shock-
ing crime. I was very sorry when I heard that Mr. Plow
and the babe was dead. Oh! I hope there will be no more
die, it is no terrible to think of. I wish he had given me the
privilege of keeping company with Sarah. I would not have
cared for going into the house if he had only let her have her
sunday out, but he would riot; and, oh, what it has come to.
If he had given me the chance what a different man I should
have been. I should have been a teacher in a Sunday-school,
acommuilleant of the church, and ill had once more taken
of that holy feast it would have been a heavenly feast to my
soul, for I would not have taken that holy communion in
mockery, or ass cloak to make people think I was good. No;
I should have taken as Interest in doing what good I could
for the school and church, and in the long rim he would have
found meta useful mass. And what a comfort I should have
, been to my tosr mother and sister, nod how happy my Sarah
and use would have been. We did not want to get married
Just then (but I would have married her before she left
Tosimorden had she been wiiling. No, I wanted to get a
'

hatter trade and make a I.ttle more money.than I had. 'fhen
I would have married her, awl beau happy with her, hut,
when she lett "I'!!lllimrden, there was a turning point in me
. .

Yea, I turned wild, I cared little what I did. f epeat all my
money, I saw nothing but poverty and despair, and 110 W I
am condendied to die. Ali, I was a changed man when she
left; ah, lam sorry to say, changed for the worse. I shall
soon be parted from her for ever in this world, but I will try
to meet her in heaven; hut there is only ponr signs yet of
me, for my heart is quite hardened, but I will try to die a
true penitent See you live for another and better world,
for Christ has died to save all, and may we all meet again In
heaven.—From yours sincerely, MILES WIATIIERIIILL."
"P. S.—You can do as you like with this letter I will find
no fault with you. You can let everybody look, if you want,
for lam not ashamed to own that I love her. Publish it if
you like."

The town of Todmorden was yesterday thronged ;says the
Manchester Guardian of Monday) by crowds of visitors, who
inspected the scene of the recent tragedy with an interest
that seemed never to tire. The crimes that were committed ,
at the quiet parsonage have given to the town a notoriety of
which its inhabitants would fain be rid. To those amongst •
the people of Indmorden who were acquainted with the con-
vict Miles Weatherhill, the sudden outbursts of passion which
induced him to commit the crime was beyond measure sur-
prising. Weatherhill wan gay and cheerful, fond of the
society of young men of ha own age, but possessing an edu-
cation above the average of persons of his condition. When
his work as a weaver was done, he was often to be found in
the news and reading rooms in the town, taking a great in-
terest in the progress not only of local but also of national
affairs, and possessing sufficient knowledge to enable him to
maintain hls ground in controversica with persons far above
him in position and education. Weatherhill le ten only son
of a widowed mother, who has a daughter of nearly the same
age. The daughter in isgriously affected in mind by the posi-
tion of her brother ; but Mrs. Weatherhill is said to be firmly
impressed with the belief that her unhappy em is more
shined against than sinning, and that his life will be spared.
Since %Veatherhill's committal he has been visited by the
Rev. Dr 31 olesworth, lloohiliie the stepfather of Mrs.
Plow), and the Rev. R. Blakelock, who has assisted the late
Mr. Plow at Tolimorden. Tee convict showed not the least
signs of sincere repentance for his crime; but he charged Mr.
Lit ikehick with a message to his yaang companions, which
that gentleman delivered from the pulpit nit Sunday.

On Sunday morning the Rev. R. Blakelock preached in the
parish church. The parsonage closely adjoins the church;
and all the cougregation, on their way to service, would pass
the house, in which all the blinds were closely drawn and
deep stillness reigned. Opposite to the eastern entrance If
the church was the scarce-closed grave of Jane Smith, and
next to it, within ten yards of the parsonage, was au open
grave which was to receive the remains of the late vicar.
Thepulpit was draped with black, and on the reading desk
was • covering of black silk, and a wreath of flowers. The
Rev. It Blakelock preached from the text, "Fur. Lie yiseth
His beloved sleep" (cxxvii. Psalm).
to the evening there was a very large congregation. The
sermon was preached by the Rev. 11. A. Plow, father of the
murdered clergyman. Before the sermon was delivered, toe
prayers of the congregation were earnestly requested on be-
half of the culprit, Mlles Weatherhill, "now lying under
sentence of death," and for Mrs. Plow, "now in great dis-
tress of mind and body." The Rev, IL A. Plow preached
from Revelation :iv. 13. The preacher warned his hearers
against depending upon the efficacy of what were called
eleath-bed repentance.. Ile said he lid not, presume to limit
the mercies of the Eternal, who might, if Ile saw lit, pardon
at the last moment the blackest sooner that ever lived. Ile
pra3ml that Gad would pardon the sinner whin had deprived
him of one of the best s.nne that ever father had. God grant
that that hardened sinner, at the last hour, as be ascended I
the scaffold, might have words of peace op ken to him by I
lion who pardoned the penitent thief upon the cross. None
could pray more fervently than he dA that the Saviour who
died fur sinners would support the murderer in his last hour.
Ile had found in his dead son's desk an •• almanack of daily
work," In which the labours of each day were marked out.
Oely one hour in the week was placed against the word
" recreatiim " The members of his late eon's household
knew that that aluminack was no sham. Ile (the preacher)
could not dwell upon the horrible fact that a intender of the
Lord had been stricken down in such a manner, in. the
midst of his work; but he thou4ht that the authoritiee of
the town WOUM surely do well to appoint a day of humiliation
for that event, the news of which had been sect to the
farthest limit. of the kingdom, arid would go forth to all the
world, to which the infidel &inroad might point triumphantiy
and say, "There is your grand Christianity, there is your
propagation of the Gospel, therein your Protestantism. You
have committed there upon a priest of the Lord one
of the most diabolical murder, ever known in be coin
mitted." God would visit the crime upon them in
some way or other, uniess Rome public manifestation
were shown—and none had yet been shown—of the
foul deed that hail happened in the town. It might have
happened anywhere else but the sin was the Inoue. The
deceased had prayed for his nnirdercr, and those who had
opposed him in his work in the parish. Those who had
so opposed hint had committed a great and dire sin. The
deceased had often written tin him to onmplain of the diffi-
culty and the opposition he met with under the garb of reli-
gion. Let not his successor, whoever he might be, be so
opposed. The deceased was the pi ide of his t the preacher's)
age, the istreingth of his position. MO the glory of his
worldly life lle hail had the supreme felicity of eilneat. ng
him from infancy until he went to Canibridee. liii labours
in his previous incumbeticies had commanded the admits.
Lion of all who knew him, as the letters which he the
preacher', received every day f rota former pariebioners of
his son's abundantly teetithal. In conclusion, the rev.
preacher earnestly exhorted all who had Ineen engaged with
his son in parochial work to continue in It with unabated
zeal. The sermon, which inocufnied an hour and a quarter in
delivery, was heard with great attention. The preacher only
broke down once, when he was speaking of the death-bed
which he had NO lately attended.
During Sunday and Monday numbers called aclthe vlcarsge
to take a lost look at the corpse of Mr. Plow, which w. laid
In a niaiiinve oak coffin, on the lid of which was a cross ex-
tending the full length and width. Painted on the lid, In
red letters, are the words, "Anthony John Plow, priest, who
fell asleep Us Jesus," she.

The funeral of the Rev. A. J. Plow, RA., and his infant
child, took place on Tuesday moraine at the parish church of
Todmonlen The weather was very boisterous, showers of hail
sod rain falling. Notwithstanding, many hundreds of per-
sons assembled in the church ar,l 81111 the r ads adjoining.
The Dun at was fixed to take place at ten o'clock. Long before
that hour persons began to assemble lmth in the vicinity of
the church and ill the church, which was crowded. The
choir was augmented by members of the Rochdale parish
church choir. They met in the school, and shortly after ten
o'clock marched to the church, headed by the church-
wardens. At the game time the corpse of the deceased gen-
tleman was borne from the vicarage on the shoulders of four
men. The coffin was of oak, and was covered by a pall of
peach colour, ornamented with yellow and scarlet. Pre-
ceding the corpse were a immlier of clergy of the
district and adjacent towns, all 111 surplices, arid
three clergymen walked on each side of the bier.
The body of the Want watrrtrried by four boys of
the choir in surplices, and came just after that of the rev.
gentleman. F. 'Bowing the bodies were the mourners,
einhraciug representatives of the families of both Mr. 81111
Mrs Plow. After these came a long procession of Mechem
and venders of the Sunday schools, and many of the con.
gregation. There were also in the procession some of the
Dissenting ministers of the town, and in the church were
many clergy and Dissentirg ministers who did not join in
the proceasion. At the church gates the mournful proces-
sion was met by the officiating ministers and the choir. The
Rev. Ralph Blakelock, curate, read the opening portions of
the burial service, and then the choir sang, "Brief life is
here our portion." The coffins were borne to the trout of
the communion table, and there rested, while the service
was continued, The choir chanted the 90th Psalm, and the
Rev. Or. Molesworth, Vicar of R4mhilale, read the lesson. The
choir then Bang the hymn commencing, "Brother, rent, thy
toils are over," after which the lloly Communion was ad-
ministered to the clergy and mourners. 'the Rev. Mr Page,
of Liverpool, and the Rev. If. A. Plow (father of the ite-
ceased gentleman; officiated. The coffins were afterwards
borne to the grave Mr. Greenwood presided at the organ,
and while the procession was leaving the church played
"The Dead March" At the grave side the service was
conducted by the Rev. Mr. Page and others. The hymn
" Jesus lives: no longer now," concluded the service. While
the mourners were standing round the grave, a pitiless
shower of hall and rain came on, and but few Mani the
prayers owing to the noise made by the hailstones falling on
the hundreds of umbrellas. The number of persons as-
sembled to witness the funeral was considerably over 2,000.
As a mark of respect for Mr. Plow, the tradesmen oh the
town agreed to close their shops from ten to twelve
o'clock.

Mrs. Plow is greatly improved in health, and there is good
reason to look for her speedy convalescence. She has been
able to describe the scene which took place in her bedroom
when the murderous attack was made. The evidence
which has been given leaves a blank between the time
when the nurse ran out of the bedroom and the time
when Stausfleld, the parish clerk, entered it and secured
the assassin. Mrs. Plow states that Weatherill tried to
secure the door, and failing in that, he struck a light
with a match and came to the bedside. The poor lady
bad covered herself with the bedclothes, and she felt
him trying to mill them off her head. Her desperate
resistance prevented hint from succeeding, and he then
went to tke foot of the bed, renioved the bereeau.tle in
which the babe was sleeping, lifted up the bedclothes at the
foot, and tired up the bed. The bullets missed Mra,P4ow,
arid she sprang out of bed and made for the door. :The
murderer intercepted her, and she sprang across the bed
into a st,rt, of recess between it and the wall. Thither she
was followed by Weatherhill, and he struck her down upon
the bed with the poker. The unfortunate victim covered
her face with her hands, but Weatherhill struck her on the
hands and arms with the poker until from sheer pain she
was compelled to remove them. and then followed the fear-
ful blow upon the face which hun been described Attr re-
ceiving the blow, Mrs. Plow summoned up courage enough
, to lie quite still, so as to impress her assailant with the idea
that he had accomplished his area i fill purpose. Oh seems
to have been successful, and Weatherbill, no doubt believing
that she was dead, did not strike again.

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