The Express. — 1853-02-09 (London, England)

DREADFUL MURDER IN DEVONSHIRE. CONFESSION OF THE MURDERER.  On Sunday morning (as we briefly reported yesterday) a shocking murder was committed near a little village called Clayhidon, about ten miles from Iloniton in Devonshire, and about five miles from Wellington in Somerset. The victim was a rrspectable land surveyor and miller, residing at Clayhidon Mills, named William Blackmore. lie was also the collector of taxes fur the perish. and was much esteemed in the neighbourhood. Ile was t 53 years of age, was married, and had ono grown-up son. He had been out collecting tithes on Saturday last, and in the evening he went into a roadside public-house, called the White Horse, #Lar Clayhidon, where he drank freely in company with three labouring men. They all left the public-house together about one o'clock on Sunday morning, and at four o'clock the body of Mr. Blackmon was found about a quarter of a mile from his own house by his son and a servant mar, stretched across the road in a dreadfully mangled state. The head was severely fractured, and there was blood seaweed about the road. His purse, containing two five-pound notes, was found in the road by his side. The three men who let the house with the deceased were labourers, named George Sparks, Edmund Sparks, and James Hitchcock. They were at once taken into custody. An inquest was held on Monday, at the Half-moon Inn, Clayhidon, before It. H. Aberdein, Esq., coroner for the district.  J. Marks, a labourer, deposed to having met the three prisoners and the deceased betwt en 1 and 2 o'clock on the Sunday morning in the road leading to their house—the prisoners lived in the same direction us the deceased. After a salutation they passed on. Edmund Sparks was walking by the ride of the deceased, and George Sparks and James lii•cheeek were walking behind. George Braddick, a constable, apprehended the prisoners the same looming, just before daylight. George Sparks lodged with his brother, about a half mile Irons the deceased's res.dence ; and when he went to him he was in bed. He denied acy knowledge of the crime at first. The witness then requested him to put on the same clothes as lie wore that morning, and he did so. Oa the waist. cost were spots of blood. On searching the house fen sovereigns and a half were found wrapped up in a rag. Whilst the witness was engaged in searching the house several people came in and put sundry questions to the prisoner. At last he exclaimed, " It's no use to care, nor to think any more about it ; for I would as soon tell the whole of it as not." The prisoner then gut up from his seat, took up a pair of tongs, and, showing the position in which he stood, said, " I struck him inck•handed, and I think I killed him the first blow, but I struck him twice after that." Ile further said he struck him with a part of a pair of fire•tongs which he bronght away with hint from the White Horse, and which was subsequently found in the water at the spot indicated by the prisoner. The prisoner, George Sparks fully exonerated the other prisoners in his confession ; and they severally declared that they left the deceased by a Frcuch nut-tree, and went to their homes. The only suspicious circumstances in respect to Hitchcock were, that on his g-eat-coat, which he wore, there were spots like blood ; but there was some difference of opinion as to whether it really was blood. FootmarkA, corresponding with his boots, were also discovered near to where the body was found. There was no evidence against Edmund Sparks, further than his being in the company of the others at the public-house, and being seen with them on his road home. Mr. William Buncombe, surgeon, described the nature of the injuries inflicted on the bead of deceased. In his opinion the injuries were such as were likely to have been produced by the instrument alluded to, via., the part of the tongs which George Sparks confessed to having taken from the White Horse.  The jury returned a verdict of "Wilful Murder" against George Sparks and James Hitchcock, atd they were at once committed for trial.