Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1883-05-04 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

THE HENSTRIDGE WIFE MURDER, --SENTENCE OF DEATH.  TAUNTON, Friday. George White, 25, described as a labourer, was ind c'ed and also charged up on the coroner's inquisition with the wilful murder of his wife, Clara White, at Henstridge, on the 28 h of March. Mr. llu.rp or and Mr. Hugh Neville were counsel for the Crown. it was under•tood that no counsel had been assigned to the accused. Pr saner, who leal the appearance of a groom, preserved the calm demeanour which has characterieeit him since the perpetration of the horrible offence. When asked by the C.erk of Arraigns, he pleaded' Guilty " wit h a firm and unwavering voice. His Lordship You understend the nature of the charge against you—that you wilfully and with your malice aforethought killed and murdered your wife? Prisoner • Yes, sir. His Lordship:. You fully understand the nature of the charge, and desire to plead guay Prisoner: Yes, sir. His Lordship sent for Mr. Kitley, the governor of Taunton Gaol, and had a brief conference with him the prisoner was then put down from the dock for a short time. Prisoner having been brought up again, The Clerk of Arraigns asked— What do you plead now I'  -I";teoner : Guilty, sir. . & The Clerk of Arraigns What have you to say why the Court should not give you judgment of death, accarding to live! .  Prisoner made no reply, and His lordship, having assumed the black cap, said: You have pleaded guilty to a merder of a very cruel characer. Before I accepted that plea I was anxious that yoe should fully comprehend the nature of the consequenc,s which mu it inevitably follow, and I desired that you should have time for reflection, and that the position in which you have placed yourself by that plea ghoul i he fully explained to you by the governor of the amt. That has been done, and you still maintained the plea which you first offered I cannot help thinking that it is the only atonem-nt which you can offer for the heinous offence of which you have been guilty. Ido nit wish to aggravate the pun which yoa moat feel at this moment, but the circums'ances of your case ought to be brought before the Court that they may know the consequences of a crime such al you have cominittd Teat 3ou intended the death of that unhappy woman, not only your own confession to-day but the circutustanc a clearly show. You visited the spit where she was living in retirement; you had expreesed your intention to put an end to her life before you went there; you led her from that spot to another where you gave her refreshments; took her into the readand there you brutally . murdered her, etabbing her first in two places with &knife, ' and then beating, kicking, and id-using her in a most inhuman manner. Your time on earth 14 ; you must inevitably forfeit your life to the offended laws of your country. Let use beg of you, as one man to anotser, to spend the few moments of your present existence in making your peace with the Deity you have offended. The course which you ha.° t ,keu t ...day is the first s'ep towards con' rition ; follow it uii, and you may Oat •in that forgiveness in anotoer avoid woke you cannot . xpect in this. The sentence of the c net upon you for the crime of wilful murder, of wh.ch you are n c inviete I, is that you be taken from the Wean whore you are to the prison whence you came, and from thence on a day appointid that you be taken t n a pl net of execution, that veil be there hanged hj th• net until ye ir holy be dead; that your body when dead he huried wit in the pre mete of • the prison in which you shall have b eau c 'satinet' after thia your conviction, and may the Lord have mercy upon you: soul. The prisoner, who coutinued t obe apparently unaffected, then qiiiety walked from the doek. Hie Lordship after wards sent for Sur teant-Mnior St 01brook, of the Blacknicour troop of the Dorset Yeomanry Cavalry, who intartered while White wail beating his wife, and knocked him d iwn. A idreaing S lig mutMaj ir Stenbrook, the learned Jade° amid ;—I thint you are so deserving of cm lit in this case, in which George White has pleaded guilty to the murder of his wife, that , I have sent for you t 3 express publicly my denim of the 1 chirage which you exhibited oa that