The National Register.
London, England, 1808-03-06 00:00:00

HERTFORD ASSIZES.

HERTFORD, MARCH 3.—Mr. Justice Heath arrived this
morning, and read the King's Commission for holding the
Assizes for this County; but as it was late before his Lordship
arrived in town, only one cause was tried in the course of the
day, which was wholly uninteresting.
FRIDAY, MARCH 4.
HORRID MURDER AT lIODDESDON.

Thomas Shnmoni was indicted, for that he, at Broxbourn, in
this county, on the 20th of October last, did make an assault
on Sarah Hummerstone. and wilfully gave her a mortal wound
in the neck with a knife, of which she instantly died.—This is
the case of the inhuman wretch who murdered the two unfor-
tunate women at Iloddesdon, and the Court was crowded at an
early hour in the morning to hear the trial. It did not la,t
long, as the facts lay in a very narrow compass. The prisoner,
on being brought to the bar, looked around him with great com-
posure. He is, contrary to the description given of him, a
decent-looking rustic, about the middle age, and his features by
no means accorded with his conduct.
Mr. Pooley, for the prosrion, addressed the Jury at some
length, and stated the fa•cii: would be proved in evidence.
He commented with coesiderable force and ability on the hor-
rible facts which would he adduced. They were of that nature
text tti ould make mankind blush for the frailty of human na-
t're, and stamp to eternity the horrid act of the prisoner in the
catiiinilie of the most abandoned and terrific (Menders. He en-
treated the Jury to banish from their minds any vague idea that
he taken from report, ana
,judge of the guilt of the pri-
soner by the evidence that. would fo:low. Sarah Harris, =ervant
of Mr. Boreham, said she had lived four )ears with hint ;
Simmons, the prisoner, had lived there three years, and quitted
it last 'Michaelmas: the prisoner wished to marry her, but her
mistress disapproved of it : they had quarrelled before he
quitted the service—on which occasion he heat her ; and when
he hail done he said he did not care if he had killed her. lie
has Often said be would make away with her, because she
would not marry him. About half past eiAht in te evsning of
the 20th October, he came to the house—she was in the kitchen,
and heard him comingalong the yard ; he was swearing violently.
He came up to the window and struck at her through the lattice,
and swore he would do for them all. She desired him not in
make a noise as they had company : he said he did not "are for
the company, he would do for them all. Mrs. Ilummerstone
hearing the noise, opened the room door and came to the yard.
She told him to go away. He gave her a blow on the head,
which knocked off her bonnet; she ran into the house, and he
, immediately followed her. The witness immediately heard the
shrieks of murder, but did not know from whom. All the fa-
mily were in the room—the three young ladies, Mr. Ildrcham's
daughter. Mrs. Warner, the married daughter, Mr. Boreham
and his wife, and Mrs. Hummersione. In a very short time
the prisoner came to the wash-house to her ; she shut the door,
and cried out murder. The witness ran into the sitting room.
She there saw some one lying under the window—she ran front
thence down a passage—the prisoner followed her—she there
met her master, with the poker in his hand—in running hastily,
her master, who is a very old and feeble man, was knocked
down. The prisoner caught her and threw her down, and drew
a knife on her. Ile threw her across Mrs. Warner, who was
lying dead, as she believed. Ile drew the knife across her
throat, but she guarded it with her hand, which was cut. He
' made a second blow, when she wrested time knife out of his
hand. lie immediately ran• away, and she saw no more of
him. Thomas Cop perwheat went in search of the murderer.
He discovered Simmons concealed under some straw in a crib in
the farm-yard ;he had on him a smock-frock eerybloody ; the
place where he was found, was about 100 yards from the house.
Benjamin Rook, the Coroner, said, when the evidence of
Harris w as read to the prisoner, he said it was very true, he had