Northern Times. — 1857-12-02 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

CONFESSION OF MURDER.  A great deal of excitement has been created in Weymouth during the past week, says the Sherborne Journal, in consequence of a rumour that an old woman on her death-bed had confessed that she was a participator in a most foul and cruel murder, committed more than half a century ago, but the real perpetrators of which at that time could not be discovered. About the period mentioned great alarm was felt in the town in consequ sties, of the discovery of a human body wrapped in a linen sheet, lying near the foot of the old bridge, on the Melcombe Regis side of the harbour. On examination it was Lured that death had been caused by a blow on the too of the head, causing a severe fracture of the skull, as if committed by some iron and blunt instrument. Blood was traced from the spot across the bridge to a house in which the deceased woman resided, situated in High-street, near Boot-lane, This was then the only house of ill-fame in the town. It is supposed that on the night of the murder, the unfortunate man. whose name was Tillroyd Morgan, by profession a jeweller and engraver, was at this house in company with a farmer, named Hardy, who resided at the village of Chickerell, but who died many years since. A quarrel is said to have arisen between these parties, which resulted in a death-blow being inflicted upon Morgan. After the fatal blow had been struck, the body of the deceased was wrapt up in a kind of sheet or sack, and was then placed on Hardy's horse (which was standing at the door of' the ill-famed house at the time of the occurrence), and brought it to the bridge, the intention of the murderers being to throw it into the, water. Ia this, it would seem they were baffied,, for the night was dark, and they, on landing at the Melcombe side, dropt their burden in the street. As daylight dawned a workman near the spot saw the bundle, and on opening it a most horrid sight presented itself, the head of the unfortunate man being completely smashed in. An alarm was instantly raised, and a search instituted, which resulted in spots of blood being traced throagla the whole of the route they had taken, and to the very door of the house iu which the murder was committed. Suspic',on was at once raised as to the guilty parties, and the deceased woman and her associates were at once arrested and brought bermes the tribunal at Dorchester, but the evidence failed to substantiate the charge, and they were acquitted. Hardy is said never to have been a happy man afterwards. Al anecdote is told of the horse, which we believe is true, that so sensitive was the animal of the deed which had been committed, that it would never pees that house afterwards, and his master was compelled to get rid of him. A few days ago. the last of the survivors of those supposed to be participators in the dreadfulaleed died—Prisehla Guppy. On her death-bed her state of mind was truly frightful ; she had attained a great age, being upwards of ninety. It is stated that, previons to her decease, she confessed she was a participator in the murder, having beat him on the head with a flat piece of iron, or heater, such as is used in ironing linen. She implored the Divine Creator to laws mercy on her soul, and forgive the sins she had committed. When she was arraigned before the bar of justice on the trial she had the gold watch and chain of the murdered man concealed in the hair of her head, and after the commission of the crime Hardy went home to his own house and immediately on entering put back the clock two hours, He retired to rest, and a short time afterwards awoke his servant, and told her to go down stairs and see whet was the time, when she returned and told her mister very innocently the hour, not knowing that the clock had been altered. Tale servant was brought forward on the trial, and thus her testimony as to his being at home at the time the cr;eae was supposed to be camniitted led to his acquittal. The body of the murdered min was interred in the churchyard of St, Mary's Ceu rob. where now to this day may be seen his tombstone wish the following inscription :—" This stone was erected by public subscription, in remembrance of the cruel murder committed on the body of Tillroyd Morgan, who lies here, on the 27th April, 1792, aged 22:"