The National Register.
London, England, 1817-11-30 00:00:00

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HORRID )IORDER.-IFrom a Welsh paper.)—lt is our
painful task this week to record a most revolting act of mur-
der, committed in our comity ; and what is very remarkable,
without any apparent motive of gain or advantage to account
for its perpetration. An aged man of the name of Josiah
Evan, tormerly a farmer, but who had recently become an
him ire with his grand-daughter, the widow of one Thomas
Hicks. at Gorsefraith,iii the parish of Lanboidy, in this coun-
ty, was on the evening of 'Tuesday seatifight found dead in a
harp near that place, with his skull dreadfully fractured a
little above the right ear, and forced into the brain, and hav-
ing several "narks of violence on his neck, chest, and other
parts of the body. Near the deceased lay a hammer, the head
of which exactly corresponded in site with that of the frac-
ture in his skull, and left no doubt of its haviug been the fa-
tal instrument with which the bloody deed was effected. An
inquest was held on the body, on Friday week, by Rees Pry-
thereh, Esq. one ut the (.runrrs fur this county, when, after
the examination of several witnesses, and hearing the con-
fession of one Jahn Hicks, a young man suspected of being
the. maracrer, the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder
against hum and he was thereupou committed to gaol, to take
his trial at the nest Great Sessions. It appealed iii avilence,
that the prisoner had been ',drought up at Gorsefraith, by his
grandfather, .1140:11JS Hicks, end had lived there until the
death of the tail, which happened but a short time ago;
that in consequence of this es ent, Josiah Evan went to reside
as before stated, a ill his grand-daughter, the widow of T.
Hicks, of whuni she bad been the second wife, but to whose
grandson, the prisoner, she had no other relationship than
step-grandmother ; that the plasticize was then promptly dis-
carded, and not being able to procure work, was reduced to
Bleat distress, beitia at times in want of food. One of the
witnesses, a blacksmith, deposed, that the prisoner, Jolut
Hicks, and the deceased, were, about a o'clock on the Toes.
day evening, at his forge, distant only a few fields flout Gorse-
frattli, mid that no ohcrcalion or dispute whatever took place
between them there ; but that John I licks made an observa-
tion to the witness in the folloning words," there is my grand.
father's hat upon the old devil's bead now." The prisoner
left the smith's forge about an hour before the deceased, and
the latter was found dead between Tune and five o'clock on
the same evening. A neighbouring farmer suspecting John
Hicks of the murder, of his own accord apprehended hint,
and brought him home with him, for the purpose of eaamiaa-
lion. He urged him to confession it' guilty ; observing, that
it would be much better for hint in the end, to disclose than
to conceal the truth. After repeated' denying all knowledge
of the murder, the prisoner at length acknowledged Isis guilt.
IV lien brought, how ever, before the Coroner, he was informed
that any confession he might make on that oreasion would be
produced in. evidence against hint on his trial, and w ould pro.
bahly lead to his conviction. He was farther told, that he
wa. tinder no obligation to confess any thing that might tend
to et Militate himself; and that it would not be to his advan-
tage to make any confession; but it was at the same time ob-
served, that, it alter the caution had been given, lie was de.
woes of barite; auy thing he bad to say taken down, the Co-
roner would readily nerved to all his wishes. The prisoner
Miss, emit that he had na desire to Init this world, but wished
to live; and this the truth of the matter was, Ilia, he went to
Gm %errata', and asked the deceased for :wow bread mid
cheese, who whose(' to give him any, deelat lug, that lie, the
deceased, wouLl try his life against the prisoner's first ; that
he then followed up his threat by striking the primmer with
his fist, and afterwards with a hammer, that the deceased
had an iron bar in his hand, at first, but threw it down ; and
that he, the prisoner. seized the hammer and struck the de-
ceased he did nut alum on what part of his body; that he
afterwards left him, and *en; away. The prisoner declared,
that this was al lie knew of the matter; and his coitus:tot,
after bring takeu down in writing. was signed by himself.
The number of depredations committed by pickeoakets in Windaw
on Wedrusalay rev is beyond all calculation. The most in ;enious
der ices were resorted to by these persuas, apparently of genteel address
to occupy the attention of their destined vicuna'. Pockets were cue
through or turned out, while sante smiliag stranger was answering or
proaosing a question with. Ma greatest polacaeas ; and when the
pa ... ,e of tickets became dtsautaal and the poeseasora of them were
oee.a ad in the li, ation of then. tg,... the ple niter became universal,
and t4:4llre.y that approached the gate escaped. We regret
to add . ,at; to ugh the rollee %VIM nul-lams, not ow of4htee Gaul-
den bad been brought. to justice.