The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-22 00:00:00

EXTRA° ROI

During the last 6 or 7 weTes(-ays the Royal Cornwall
Gazdte) much exci cement has prevailed iu the neigh-
bourhood of Tregeare, the seat of Mr. John King Leth-
bridge, in c.msequence of the great and mysterious
slaughter of sheep and lambs IJelongtme to him and the
occupiers of the firms immediately adjoining. On the
first alarm that several sheep and lambs had been killed,
mangled, and torn in the most shocking manner, the
whole of Mr. Lathbridge'e farm servants and also the
farmers in the vicinity, commenced a systematic watch
over their flock.. Yet, notwithstanding, the slaughter
continued, sweep and lambs were killed on several occa-
sions in the very field surrounded by perhaps a deter-
mined party of at least 15 or 20 on the look out. All
kinds of conjectures as to the destroyer were made ;
some were of opinion. that wild dogs infested their neigh-
beurhoed, others that a wolf was secreted somewhere
near the scene of the disasters ; then the idea of witch-
craft was stoutly maintained by a party. At length Mr.
Lethbridge's shepherd had found a clue ; he had found a
hole lined with dog's hair in a hedge, and a similar nest
in an adjoining plantation. This discovery filled the
whole party in the district with hope and encourage-
ment- —the men tuned out in great force, the locality in
fact was literally surrounded by anxious watchers, but
in spite of all this, the slaughter continued, and although
the sheep and lambs were for the most part killed within
a few feet of some 5 or 6 men purposely watching, no
owe could give the slightest clue to unravel the mystery.
Six weeks thus pissed away, In the meantime Mr. G.
Adams, of Lidcott Farm, in the very heart of the dis-
trict, on Friday week called to his councils Mr. Leth-
bridge's principal farm servants (except the shepherd) and
a neighbouring farmer. Mr. Adams a-ked whether it had
not ( cedrred to them as strervee that Sieion Kniver, the
shepherd of Mr. Lethbridge'sfl ick, should always be the
first man to fled the carcases of the cattle destroyed.
Tney fully discussed the point, and they fiend that in
almost every instance (and by this time between 30and 40
sheep had been destroyed) Simon Kniver was the man
who had found the slaughtered cattle ; that Simon
Kniver was the only man, of all the men on the look
out., who had seen dogs in the fields. He also was the
only man who had fired at dogs, and this not when
in
the company of any other person. Simon, too, had dis-
covered the "dogs' nests" in the hedge and plantation.
This brought to the mind of one of the party that Simon
had his hair cut about the time the hairy nests were
discovered ; and that the hair found therein was very
like his own. 'rne result of this conference wag, that
instead of watching any longer for dogs, a determination
was come to to watch the shepherd ; and with this view
Mr. Lethbridge's hind arranged to station Simon Kniver
to watch in a field, adjoining Mr.
,Adams's ground, where
an eye could be kept on ho Tn. he rest of this singular
story is coon told. Mr. George Adams was right; but
one ewe and lamb swelled the list of those already de
stroyed before Simon Kniver was detected and in custody.
He was taken to Launceston, to the inae'istratee, on
Saturday, and was remanded till Tuesday. On Sunday
the prisoner made a most desperate attempt to eectpe ;
hut after a short run was captured. He was brought
op before the magistratee on Tuesday, and after a
lenge heeed examination of witnesses, includin most of
the persons who had been victimised, was fully com-
mitted to take his trial at the next Cornwall assizes, on
two distinct charges, for maliciously killing and maiming
cattle. Since being in custody the prisoner has stated
that he did not kill more than one-half of the sheep de-
stroyed, and that be oueht not to suffer for the whole.
It cane out in evidence that, while watching with others,
the prisoner would pretend that he heard dogs or some
singular noise in some particular place near, which he
would name ; he would then rush to the spot, and alter
being absent a short time, would return and report the
death of either a sheep or a lamb, or perhaps several of
-etch. In this interval he had slain Lis victims. This
leers up the mystery. Being tee ehepherd of the flock,
int] one of the party on the watch, he well knew their
re-pective stations, and also the exact position of the
sheep, and could then easily arrange and carry out his
diabolical purpose. He is about twenty-one years old,
and has been in the employ of Mr. Lethbridge from a
boy.