The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-04-22
BRADFORD, THE INNKEETER.

Jonathan Bradfnr1 kept an inn in Oxford
shire, on the London road to Oxford. He
bore respectable character. Mr. Hayes, a
gentleman of fortune, being on his way to
Oxford, on visit to a relation, put up at
Bradford's. He there Joined company with
two gentlemen, with whom he supped, and in
conversation unguardcdly mentioned that he
had then about him a considerable sum of
money. In due time they retired to their
respective chambers; the gentlemen to two
bedded room, leaving, as is Customary with
many, candle burning in the chimney cor
ner. Some hours after they we're in bed one
Of the gentlemen being awake, thought he
heard a deep groan in an adjoining cham
Der; and this being repeated, he softly awoke
his friend. They listened together, and the
groans increasing, as of one dying and in
pain, both instantly arose, and proceeded 81
lently to the door of the next chamber, from
which the groans had seemed to come. The
door being ajar, they saw light in the room.
They entered, but it is impossible to paint
their CONSERVATION on perceiving a person
weltering in his blood in the bed and nan
standing over him with dark lantern in one
hand, and knife in the other! The man
seemed as much petriied as themselves, but
his terror carried with it all the appearance of
guilt. The gentlemen soon discovered that
the murdered person was the stranger with
whom they had that night supped, and that
the man who was standing over him was their
host They seized Bradford directly, disarnl-
cd him of his knife, and charged him with
being the murderer. He assumed by this
time the air of innocence, positively denied
the crime, and asserted that he came there
viii tLa cn,,,n humane ip4ontiopc thaO,-
selves; for that hearing a noise, which was
succeeded by grooming, he got out of bed,
struck light, armed himself with a knife for
his defence, and had but that minute entered
the room before them. These assertions were
Of little avail; he was kept in close custody
until morning,and then taken before a neigh
boring justice Of the peace. Bradford denied
the murder, as before but with such apparent
indications of guilt that the Justice hesitated
not to make use of this extraordinary expires
sion on writing his mittimus, =" Mr. Bradford.
either YOU or myself committed this murder"
This remarkable affair became q topic of
conversation to the whole country. Bradford
was condemned by the general voice of every
company. In the midst of all this predeter-
mnation, came on the assizes at Oxford
Bradford was brought to trial; he plead not
guilty.. NOIHlIlp Cuuiu oc otloliScI tHdH IHc
evidence of the two gentlemen. They testi-
fed to the finding Mr. Hayes murdered in his
bed, Bradford at the side of the body with a
light and knife, and that knife, and the hand
which held it bloody. They stated that on
their entering the room, he betrayed every
sign of guilt; and that, but few minutes pre-
cediug, they had heard the groans of the de-
ceased.
Bradford's defence on the trial was the same
as before he had heard a noise he suspect
ed that some villany was ,transacting; he
struck light, snatched up the knife, the only
weapon at hand, to defend himself, and enter
ed the room Of the deceased He averred
that the terrors he betrayed were merely the
feelings natural to innocence, as well as guilt,
on beholding so horrid scene. The defence,
however, could but be considered as weak,
contrasted with the several powerful circum-
stances against him. Never was circumstan-
tial evidence so strong so far as it vent
There was little need of comment from the
judge in summing up the evidence no room
appeared for extenuation; and the prisoner
was declared guilty by the jury without their
even leaving the box.