Star.
London, England, 1811-04-24 00:00:00

RAPElireitigriSr AssiZst

'Moanta.-.Friday se'nnight came on, at the Ha-
vetfordsvest Assizes. the ttial of John G riph, for the
wilful murder of his wife, by poisen.
The Arznawat-Gswattat. addressed the Jury in an
impressive speech, stating the leading particulars of
.the case, and then called his evidence.
The first aud principle witness Dinah Eastance,
gave iier testimony with so much accuracy and firm-
ness, as jorinduct,the Learn.d Judge to pronouoce
her a valuable member of society, and a creak to the

country in whicllshe lived. Hei'evidence being sup-
ported by other witnesses, after an able summing up,
the jury found the prisoner Guilty. The Judge then
proceeded to pass the dreadful sentence of the law on
the unhappy wretch I and in a solemn and affecting
address, conjured him to spend the small period .of
time thaf remained to him in this world in preparing
himself to appear before another and; more awful
Tribunal, as he would iti'a few hours be launched,
into eternity !
We have been tints concise in our relation of the
proceedings in Court, to enable us to oo 'spore at'
length into. the confession and conduct of the priso-
ner. In a few minutes after his return to the gaol,
he was visited by the Rev. Mr. Luke at his own re-
quest, to whom he disclosed the shocking fact, that
be was not only guilty of the crime for which he was
about to suffer, but that he had also murdered. his
first wife, and had destroyed both by administering
arsenic fo them. He said that be had employed a
fellow-servant to purchase' the arsenic for him with
which he poisoned his first. wife, pretending that -he
wanted it to kill the rats and mice that infested the
house; instead of which, be administered the poison-
ous drug to his wife. He acknowledged that he put-,
.chased a shilling's worth of arsenic himself, for the pur-,
of destroying hii second wife, and that he gave
pose
first dose in some bucfram (oatmeal gruel,
on Monday morning the 25th of February last ; this
not taking immediate effect, and his conscience up-
braiding him, he went the next morning to Di. Free-
! man for advice, but the same evening he gave his
unfortunate wife a second dose in some treacle, which
soon deprived her of life. He admitted that she was
a good woman, add possessed an excellent temper;
and said that he had no object in view in thus mil-
dering his two wives, but that "-the Devil persuaded
him to do it."
His conduct after condemnation manifeited .the
deepest contrition for the horrible crimes of which he!
had been guilty ; he prayed constantly, expressed
' his fears that he should not be considered worthy of
Divine Mercy, but blessed COD that his offences!
had been brought to light, 26 it was fit they should
be punisised.
On Saturday mornalt,. at *yen o'clock, be was
conveyed from prisoo to meet his fate ; he appeared
fully resigned, and joined in prayer with the clergy-
man ; he then addressed the numerous spectators,
birth in Welsh and English, exhorting them to tile
warning by his miserable situation, and confessed that
he had poisoned both his wives, to which he had been
tempted by the devil. After bidding his hearers an
eternal tateweli, he was turned off the laddet, and',
died without a struggle.
This wretched criminal was. 96 years of age, and-
was born in the parish of Mote, Pembrokeshire ; his
parents being poor, be received no education, And
could neither read nor write. About two yeirs since!
he married his first wife, whom he deprived of life
in-
about eight or nine weeks ; his neighbours strongly
suspected him at the time, but no inquiry-took place.:
He soon- after married his second wife, by whom he
had a fine boy ; he went, to reside at Cuskow, near
Haverfordwest, las autumn, where he accomplished
his diabolical purpose of again destroying the partner
of his bed ; but the very means he used to prevent
suspicion and conceal his crime, produced an opposite
result, and led to his detection ; he endeavoured to,
prepare the minds of his neighbours for hearing of
hi!: wife's decease, by saying that be had seen her
laid out on a table, and a candle hopping upon her :
and at other time!, that he had seen a woman's hand
and arm carrying a candle about the house, which he
knew to be his wife's left arm by a mark thereon ;
that he was sure she-would not live with him long ;
and that she was swelling, and very unwell, which
was proved to be without found stion. These asser-
tions caused him to be suspected when his wife died ;
she was buried on the Ist of last month, but the body
being taken up on the following day, and opened, a
considerable portion of arsenic was found in the sto-
'mach, upon which he was instantly apprehended and
gommitted for trial. It was impossible to prove that
ilie prisoner had administered the poison, the evi-
nce against him therefore could only be circumstan-
tial ; buchis own conduct,as above related, furnish-
ed such strong presumptive proof against him, that
riot a loubt of his guilt existed in the minds of the
giant; Jury, or auditory ; wllich was subsequently
confirmed by his own confession.

COURSE OF
Avolterdant, 28 • 2 U
Diuo at sight, 27 2
Rotttrdant, e. f. 8 8 2 U
Hainburgh, 24 0 2i U
Alma, 24 1 f U
Paris 1 clay's di. 17 16 Ler.
Ditto, 2 Us. 18 •

XCIiANOF.
Palermo, 125 Pence per as.
I..ehora, 58 .
(lima, 34 •
Venice, a. C. 52 LW. Pkcnte
effective per(. sta.
_ _

Naples, 44
Lisbon, 66
Oporto, r.
Dublin, 10i
Cork. 10/
New Dollars, ss. I id.
65, Qibraltar 40.
Sllvv.r in barrier cos. GA. Id.

Bourtiraux, do. IS 0
Madrid,
Cadiz,
Sao&

Effect.
46j
rffect.

Fin Janeiro 11, Malta
• New Doubloons, " 17s, Off:

El it.l H. -
Saturday Laat,in th/Clese, Sarum, of i posthumous son and
heir, the relict of the Hon. Willoughby Bertle, (hr4tber of the
Earl of Abingdon). Captain of the Sateiltte, who, with his ship
god brave crew, are supposed to have perished in the dreadful
gales Which happened about the 23d of List December.

MAItRIED:
At Mos, Mull, ort the Sd instant, the Rev. N. Macleod, of
Campbeltown, to Miss Maxwell, eldext daughter of Janus
Maxwell, Esq. of Aros.

DIED.
Mosley ae'nnight. Mrs. Pigor, widow of the late Admiral H.
'Pigot, and sister to the Duebees of Urafton.
Tuesday sennight, at Pontefract, Mr. ,-erjant. Cotten, many ,
year, an entinot leading Counsel oa the Northern Circuit.
At York, on the 15th inn. Mr. Alexander rtartholonesn, prin-
ter of the York Herald, and one at the Common Councilmen tar
Wahnpte Ward, York.
At the !stand d Fayal, thelaiter sod Of February, Air. Fran-
cisco Mantis de Sobradollo, resident 'attar theirs in the &tab-
lipbmam of Messrs. Chrtstogdmr.lellerklrotheriendrs.

WATXR AT LONDON BRIDGE TO44OItRO'
....... ~ 11 suirmesainiir.
Afallnings ••••• mr***•4l*-04erc• 5tu".44.144: .