The Express.
London, England, 1855-10-22 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT SOUTHAMPTON.

Abraham Baer, who so barbarously murdered his
fellow servant, Naomi KinpwoU, at Southampton last
Sunday, has made • confession. It seems that after be
had committed the murder he appeared stupefied with the
horrible ante, but soon after he was committed for trial
De become aware of the dreadful situation in which he was
placed, and sent for the Mayor of the town to make • eon-
=niceties to him. Baker is a very ignorant man, being
unable to spell the commonest words correctly. His excuse
for the murder is that he entertained a sincere attachment
for his victim. sad that she was perpetually tantalinoll him
by accepting and reputing his attentions, and that, slier
behoving to him in this way for some considerable time, she
finally rejected him with contempt. He had a wedding
ring in his poultice when he was apprehended, by which it
would seem that he had contemplated being married to the
poor girl he murdered.
The following is the confession of the murderer to the
Mayor of Southampton on Tuesday last :
" I with to tall you. sir, that I took up with this young
woman about two years ago, at Miss Bonin's, at Hyde.
She left the town, sod went to Bembridge. We felt very
much at separating. We frequsatly were writing to each
other, and oleo frequently sew each other. I think Naomi
was at Banbridge about nine months; several letters she
suit me were joking about young men she knew there,
which disturbed my mind very much, and I told her mother
of it at the time. As she lived Lear, I often went of • Sunday,
and used then to read to her and her children. I frequently
took my tea there. Naomi's mother being a widow, I felt
for her and her children. I used to do any little things that
laid in my power for them. When we met we were almost too
happy to see mob ether. This continued till I left my situation
at Mho Cuba's. 'Twos through our strong attachment to
each other that I lost my place. She then told me that as I
was going so far away, that we had better part She sent a
small note and a box with s few things I had given her.
Her sending that, and my learns my place—l felt it both
very much indeed. I went Into my bedroom, and I could
no; help crying. After reading her letter to me, I had sot
heart, to write anything at all to her afterwards. I went
hone te.' my friends at Newport, sad the next day to Cowes,
to see my beechen. I returned to my friends the next day.
and oa the mantel piece I found a letter, which was sent by
Mr. Vannes', the carrier. I opened it sad read it, and she
wished to see me spin wry much, and wished to know
what I was doing. She wished me to forgive her in *ending
the thiop back ; if so, that I would write bat two words
that she ni jht know. I complied with her wish. I told
her that I would forgive her everything, and wished'
to meet in poem again. On tho Sunday following I
would bring my Memos and two books for her. We
spent a very happy evening, and were sorry to part
when tea reek* game. As I hsci nothing to do
just then, I slept at Brains, and wen: to my father's
the next morning. I was lookiog about for time few
days for something to do, and went to Soothaoptco. Slept
at Mrs. Wood's eating-home for some few nigh.te. I found
it SO expensive there, that I took • week's loditi.P at Hrs.'
Bassin's, at Bin the Strand. I think I was ere near or
quite a month. Naomi kept writing to me, sad I to her.
Site very mush wished to come and live with me, an.a she
was rather jealous of ma, bat her own mother knew t.tsre
WY no manna for It whatever. What time I had to emu
in the *ventage I went to the chapel. I went to the Wm•
leyan and Above Bar Chapels, and to • lecture once or
twice. I wrote to Naomi, and told her that I had got a
place; that it had been very expensive to me the long time
I had been out—about 201., what with giving my friends a
trifle and myself keeping. I always explained things to her
in the most homely_ way. In answer to my letter, she wee
happy to hear that I had got a situation, end Doped that I
should do well, and if I should hoar of anything in the same
town Mash her, to let her know. In the course of two or
'three weeks, Mrs. Poynder's maid servant was leaving her.
Mrs. Poynder wrote a letter, end rang the bell for me to give
that letter to Smith, that is Mrs. Lacy, the cook, who
nought it to my pantry, and read it to me. She asked
me if I knew any one to suit Mrs. Poynder. I told her
Yes, I knew a very nice young person in the Isle of
Wight,' and she wished to name it to Mrs. Poynder, to know
if Mrs. Poynder should send for her or allow me to do it.
As Mts. Poynder was so satisfied with myself, she bad no
objection to my sending. I sent fur her the same evening
by poet, and told her that Mrs. Poynder was in want of a
servant. She wrote and told me the next morning that she
was just upon leaving her place at Bembridge, and was to
give her duty to Mrs. Poynder, that she would comply with
anything that oho wished, as she could not get leave to see
her personally. Mrs. Poynder sent for her character, which
was received the next morning, and gave great satisfaction.
Mn. Poynder sent to Naomi to tell tier when to come, and
respecting the work and the wager, and I believe Mrs.
Poynder received an auswer respecting her letter from
Naomi as a servant. I believe in two or three days after I
was to meet her at the Southampton pier by the six o'clock
boat. We were very glad to see each other. 1 told her that
as we parted ones. I wished to remain with her as another
fellow servant. Her reply was, Very well, if Mrs. Poynder
should bear of OW intimacy has as passed, we must only
speak the troth. We knew right from wrong In every
Christian way, as we had always done ever since we had
known each other, and hoped that we might continue the
same.' Her answer was in a very Chnstian-like manner.
Very wall; we went for a walk once or twin when we
were together—once to chapel. I told her that I was going
to Anemia with Mr. Poynder, and she would have to
remain at home. She said she was sorry to hear it. I told
her Dever to mind, the time would soon pus away, as Mrs.
Poynder had promised her to come down one* or twice to
Angleesa to spend a day or two, and that I might be op
myself owe or twice to see her. We wen both sorry to be
parting again so soon. We began to write to each other in
the coarse of a few days, and I in my letters sent her
any jokes to upset her misd, which she frequently did in
hers when I was at Angles's. I put my thoughts Duo to
when at Banbridge, and thought of it very much, as Mrs.
Poynder had workmen in the honse.—(Signed, in an
almost illegible band) ABILUIAM
" Sataroos Parma, Esq , Mayor."
On the next (Wednesday) mortise the Mayor received
the following letter from the prisoner:
" October 17, '.55.
" Dear Sir,—l should be happy to see you this morning
and a few aaineton [miniature] of the chapie with you As I
feel much happyer this morning. I feel this week may be
my lest here on earth Bat hope and pray to meet my
Maker In heaven, and Not me only But hope to meet my
friend in heaven with me I feel that she has gone to herrn
At the right hand of Ood I remain your moot bombe sere
vent through Christ Amen A.III,AHAIII BALM.
" Mr. Payne, Esq., Southampton."
The Mayor west to the gaol sad wrote down the few lines
following:
" Naomi continued to write in a joking way. I wrote
and told her not to scud any more jokes, it BO very much
upset my mind receiving so much from her in that way.
(Signed, in almost an illegible hand)
° ABRAHAM Banos,
° SAMPSON PAYSta, Esq., Mayor."
On Thursday the prisoner made the following further
statement :
" She wrote and told me she would not do it again. In
the course of a short time I asked her if she would like to
Loa me any more ; if not, if she would be kind enough to
send my box and • few things to No. 8 in the Strand
(in Southampton). She wrote sad told me she did not
wish to ea* me any more ; neither should she send my
things to the Strand ; that again upset my mind very much,
as I did not wish to meet her any more, but I was obliged to
as I could not lean Mrs. Poynder at Angles's, as she was
mooing home in the course of a few days; there was se much
to de is packing up the things, I did not like to leave her
without • man servant. On Friday evening, when we got
home to Southampton, I did not see her till
MON tine alter I was in the home ; as I passed
the kitchen deer, Smith, which is Mrs. Lacy said—
' Baker, Mee is some one wants to me you.' I said I
weak' tonne directly. I went into the kitchen and
spoke M Masai, and wishing to shake hands with her,
led lattplai she was well. She neither would speak a word
ea shake heads. Mrs. Lacy did not observe it, but she
wee is the kitchen very busy unpacking with her bask
M we. Mrs. Wells was washing up the tea-things with
Masud. sad Mrs. Wells must have observed us. I was very
may to see her so, and was much upset in my mind. I
Mid her If site did sot wish to see me any more to be a little
manor sociable with her fellow servant. I spoke to her
several times respecting the work, but she would not snewer.
I met her the following morning, and spoke to her. She
did not speak then. I told her she showed her temper
so much before to me, neitht r had I ever seen it in any
other fellow servant so mach. She knew my mind to well,
it tried it to the extreme. I told her I would not live with
her my linger, and I should give Mrs. Poynder notice to
leave her on the followiog week. I think I told her I gave
waning to Mrs. rapider, which she seemed to be very glad
to hear, which I felt very much hurt at, and leaving my
place together. Considering all things from the time I first
knew hsr, the due respect and !guidon I always paid her
in the most humble end homely manner, seemed more
altogether than I could hear; I believe I said nothing more
to her from that time until I used that uatewfut weapon.
The whole of the morning and the previous evening I did
not know scarcely whet I was doing. Naomi had upset
my mind so ramb and so frequently.
AISVAISAM BAKER.
"Taken before= at the Gaol this 18th day of October,
1866. "SAMPSON PATIOS, Mayor."

SINYHMI.OPOL.—A letter from St. Petersburg, is
the Hembuty News. seys:—. The masequenass of the fall
of Sebastopol begin to be felt at Simprueropol. A great
number of the inhabitants of that place have already aban-
doned it. That tows bed profited very materially from the
siege of Sebastopol. Ausording to • letter of the 7th of
bet its population at that date amonated to 70,000,
they were eosetantly increasing by the arrival of per-
sist of all desomimatious, priattipally tradespeople. It at
lags imams impossible to procure lodgings. Rents were as
dear as at St. Petenbarg. Not less than 60 roubles (the
reel& is somewhat seder 41.) a mouth were asked for •
plane whisk before had been only worth about 140 roubles a
rim. Tidies had also become ezesseively dear, bin bread
seallssed at a 'sodomite price, la sossequence of the con-
stant arrivals from New Rusts sad the distant provisoes.
The *saber of shops, whieb before 1866 was cab 438, is
new 800. At the late
were pardon' for fair at Poltava twathirde of the goods
ilimgberogoL"