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

THE MURDER AT SOUTHAMPTON,

Abraham Baker, who so barbarously murdered his
fellow servant, Naomi Kingewell, at Southampton last
Sunday week, has made a confession. It seems that after
he had committed the murder he appeared stupified with
the horrible offence, but soon after he was committed
for trial he became aware of the dreadful situation in
which he was placed, and sent for the Mayor of the
town to make a communication 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, and that
she was perpetually tantalising him by accepting and re-
jecting his attentions, and that, after behaving to him
in this way for some considerable time, she finally re-
jected him with contempt. He had a wedding ring in
his possession when he was apprehended. by which it
would seem that he had oontemplated 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 wish to tell you, sir, that I took up with this young
woman about two years ago, at Miss Bussell's, at Ryde.
She left the town, and went to Bembridge. We felt very
much at separating. We frequently were writing to each
other, and also frequently saw each other. I think
Naomi was at Bembridge about nine months; several
letters she wrote 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 near, I
often went of a 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 each other. This continued till Ileft my situation at
Miss Carber's. 'Tyres 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 a few things I had given her.
Her sending that, and my leaving my place,l felt it both
very much indeed. I went into my bedroom, and I could
not help crying. After reading her letter to me, I had
not heart to write anything at all to her afterwards. I
went home to my friends at Newport, and the next day
to Cowes, to see my brothers. I returned to my friends
the next day, and on the mantel-piece I found a letter,
which was sent by Mr. Vanner, the carrier. I opened
it and read it, and she wished to see me again very much
and wished to know what I was doing. She wished me
to forgive her in sending the things back ; if so, that
would write but two words that she might know. I
complied with her wish. I told her that I would for-
give her everything, and wished to meet in peace again.
On the Sunday following I would bring my likeness
and two books for her. We spent a very happy even-
ing, and were sorry to part when 10 o'clock came. As
I had nothing to do just then, I slept at Brading,
and went to my father's the next morning. I was
looking about for some few days for something to
do, and went to Southampton. Slept at Mrs. Wood's
eating-house for some few nights. I found it is
so expensive there, that I took a week's lodgings at Mrs.
Buzzin's, at 8, in the Strand. I think I was there near
or quite a month. Naomi kept writing to me, and Ito
her. She very much wished to come and live with me,
and she was rather jealous of me, but her own mother
knew there was no occasion for it whatever. What time
I had to spare in the evenings I went to the chapel. I
went to the Wesleyan and Above Bar Chapels, and to a
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 was happy to hear that I
had got a situation, and hoped that I should do well, and
if I should hear of anything in the same town to salt
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, and rang the bell for me to give
that letter to Smith, that is Mrs. Lacy, the cook, who
brought 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 know 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 Mrs. Peynder was so satisfied with myself,
she had no objection to sending. I sent for her the same
evening by post, 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. Peynder,
that she would comply with anything that she 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. Mrs. Poynder
sent to Naomi to tell her when to come, and respecting
the work and the wages, and I believe Mrs. Poynder re-
ceived an answer 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 6 o'clock boat.
We were glad to see each other. I told her that as we
parted once, I wished to remain with her as another fel-
low servant. Her reply was, Very well, if Mrs. Poynder
should hear of our intimacy that has passed we must only
speak the truth. 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 Christian-like man-
ner. Very well ; we went for a walk once or twice
when we were together—once to chapel. I told her
that I was going to Anglesea with Mr. Poynder, and
she would have to remain at home. She said she was
sorry to hear it. I told her never to mind, the time
would soon pass away, as Mrs. Poynder had promised
her to come down once or twice to Anglesea to spend a
, day or two, and that I might be up myself once or twice
to see her. We were both sorry to be parting again so
soon. We began to write to each other in the course of
a few days, and I never in my letters sent her any jokes
to upset her mind, which she frequently did in hers
when I was in Anglesea. I put my thoughts back to
when at Bembridge, and thought of it very much, as
Mrs. Poynder had workmen in the house.—(Signed in
an almost illegible hand) ABRAHAM BAKER.
" SAMPSON PAYNE, Esq., Mayor."
On the next (Wednesday) morning the Mayor received
the following letter from the prisoner :
" October 17, '55.
" Dear Sir,—I should be happy to see you this morn-
ing and a few mineters (ministers) of the chaple with you
As I feel much happyer this morning. I feel this week
may be my last here on earth But hope and pray to
meet my Maker in heaven, and Not me only But hope
to meet mi friend in heaven with me I feel that she has
gone to heavn Atifie right Band of God I remain your
most humbe servant through Christ Amen
" ABRAHAM BAKER.
"Mr. Payne, Esq., Southampton."
The Mayor went to the gaol and wrote down the few
lines following :
" Naomi continued to write in a joking way. I wrote
and told her not to send any more jokes, it so very much
upset my mind receiving so much from her in that way.
(Signed, in almost an illegible hand)
"ABRAHAM BAKER.
" SIMPSON PAYNE, 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 see me any more ; if not, if she would be kind enough
to send my box and a few things to No. 8, in the Strand
(in Southampton). She wrote and told me she did not
wish to sea 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 leave Mrs. Poynder at Anglesea,
as she was coming home in the course of a few days; there
was so much to do in packing up the things, I did netlike
to leave her without a man servant. On Friday evening,
when we got home to Southampton, I did not see her
till some time after I was in the house ; as I passed
the kitchen door, Smith, which is Mrs. Lacy, said—
' Baker, here is some one wants to see you.' I said
I would come directly. I went into the kitchen and
spoke to Naomi, and wishing to shake hands with her,
and hoping she was well. She neither would speak a
word nor shake hands. Mrs. Lacey did not observe it,
but she was in the kitchen very busy unpacking with her
back to us. Mrs. Wells was washing up the tea-things
with Naomi, and Mrs. Wells must have observed us. I
was very sorry to see her so, and was much upset in my
mind. I told her if she did not wish to see me any more
to be a little matter sociable with her fellow servant. I
spoke to her several times respecting the work, but she
would not answer. I met her the following morning,
sad spoke to her. She did not speak then. I told her she
never showed her temper so much before to me, neither
had I ever seen it in any other fellow servant so much.
She knew my mind so well, it tried it to the extreme.
I told her I would not live with her any longer, and I
should give Mrs. Poynder notice to leave her on the
following week. I think I told her I gave warning to
Mrs. Poynder, 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 her, the due respect and attention I always paid
her in' the' most humble and homely manner, seemed
more altogether than I could bear ; I believe I said
nothing more to her from that time until I used that un-
lawful weapon. The whole of the morning and the pre-
vious evening I did not know scarcely what I was doing.
Naomi had upset my mind so much and so frequently.
"ABRAHAM BAKER.
"Taken before me at the Gaol this 18th day of Octo-
ber, 1855.. . " SAMPSON PAYNE, Mayor."

CRYSTAL PALACE. --- FIVE SHILLING DAY. Satin=
day, Oct. 20 :—Admissions on payment,. 244 ; do. by
season tickets, 1,560; total, 2,104. Corresponding day
last year, 1,214.
GREAT MEETING OF DISSENTERS.—Dnring this week
there will be a great gathering in Londoo of dissenters
from all parts of the country, on the ocasion of the
annual meeting of the Congregational Union of England
and Wales. The 'proceedings will commence with a
meeting (at the Poultry Chapel this evening, when an
address will be delivered by 'the Rev. J. C. Harrison, of
Camden-town. To-morrow evening there will be a pub-
lic meeting at Exeter-hall for explaining and enforcing
Congregationalifprinciples, Mr. Samuel Morley in the
chair ; and meetings for religious purposes, presided over
by Mr. Kershaw, M.P., and Mr. J. 14 Mills, will be
held on' the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday. On
the mornings of to-morrow, Wednesday, Thursday, and
Friday there, will be conferences ; that on Thursday
morning being " free and confidential," and confined to
pastors and delegates. On this occasion an address will
be delivered by the R.ev. Thomas Kinney. The proceed-
ings of he week will be brouglit to a olooe by a soiree
Friday ;at •.ther Milton Club.