South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1837-06-10

4 OF Mr.. Il. Brown, at BcStWOOd fGTK
| remained there all the day, and re-
turned home in the evening about Sc
ven o clock. When l got home, / took
somethipgto eat, staid in the house a
bout half an hour, and then went to the
Seven Stars public house, near the
Leather Bottle, Nottingham, where |
had cup Of ale. | then returned
home. walked alone the whole Of
the way, and reached Basford between
eleven and twelve that night. | met
Mr.. Joseph Woodward (who is the ia
Their of Mr.. Mark woodward, my land
lord) in the yard; he asked me about
the rent, and / told him had arfang-
ed with his son to pay it the next
Wednesday but one he told me he
would have it nextmorning; told him
it was impossible for me to give it to
| him the next morning, but he should
| have it through the course of the next
week; he said that he would not be
put off in that way, and if didn't get
| it ready in the morning, he would take
my goods. | thought if he took my
goods. that I should have no house
| no where to go to-no home nor moth
ing--& that before my children should
be turned into the street, and be sepa-
rated from me, l would suffer what the
law would please to clap on me. CThe
prisoner here paused, and it was very
apparent that great emotion was pass
ing within his bosom, but after he had
answered two or three questions, he
resumed and described to the jury in
the most minute detail, and with the
greatest composure, as follows) -
Coroner---Did you turn your house
keeper away that night?
Prisoner--I told her she must go;
and ! intended her to go out and not
stay there that night.
Coroner-Did you go up stairs as
soon as she was gone?
Prisoner-No. | was not willingto
part with my children, SO I made up
my mind to strangle them, and l did it
with my handkerchief.
Coroner-When did that idea first
come into your mind?
Prisoner-Not till that night--after
talking to Mr.. Woodward. [ did not
proceed up stairs Immediately after my
housekeeper left. staid in the house
place about an hour-I then went up
stairs, and went directly into the chill
dren's room. I think some Of them
were awake, but dom know particu-
larly.-The threat that Mr.. Woodward
gave me caused me to do what did.
There were two in one bed and two
in the other. think took my hand
kerchief out ofmy pocket when I got
up stairs, but don't know where. l
went to the bed where the two youn-
gest ones were lying MARK and ANN;
| think they were not awake at the
time. kissed them all, shook hands,
and babe them good bye, before des-
troyed them. In less than minute
after got into the loom | began; |
took the youngest (Mark) first, i twist
ed my handkerchief bit and put it
round its neck, and tied tin a fast sin.
Gle knot. drew it tight but did not
pullit at all afterwards; I then left hold
of the handkerchief. The prisoner
there is little doubt, in his agitation,
drew the knot of the handkerchief in
the first instance across its mouth, as it
bears marks on its lip, and its tongue
is bitten | had candle with me IN
the chamber; butt do not know that |
looked at it while it was strangling; l
believe did not look at it. Ikeptthe
handkerchief on its neck five minutes.
| then took it off, and the child appear
ed TO be dead. [ did not see that it
bled at the mouth, as did not look att
in the face. 1t did not scream. Never
a one Of them ever WINGED. Invent to
Ann next, and tied the handkerchief
round her throat in the same way.
When had throttled Ann, | went down
stairs and staid against the fire for a few
minutes. l stood considering; and
thought might as we'll suffer for them
all as for two.
then went up stairs again, and was
going up to the bed where the other two
Law (the bed under the window, in
which John and William, the two eld-
estboys were, J when William jumped
out of bed, ran across the floor, he said,
"Pray, father, don't do me So" l
then tied the handkerchief round the
biggest boys neck John ); did not
look 10 see if John struggled, but went
and sat down on the bedside against
William, and said to him, "My lad,
we'll all share our fate; when I've done
you, I shall have nobody to think Of