The National Register. — 1808-03-06 (London, England)

FRIDAY, MARCH 4. HORRID MURDER AT lIODDESDON.  Thomas Shnmoni was indicted, for that he, at Broxbourn, in this county, on the 20th of October last, did make an assault on Sarah Hummerstone. and wilfully gave her a mortal wound in the neck with a knife, of which she instantly died.—This is the case of the inhuman wretch who murdered the two unfortunate women at Iloddesdon, and the Court was crowded at an early hour in the morning to hear the trial. It did not la,t long, as the facts lay in a very narrow compass. The prisoner, on being brought to the bar, looked around him with great composure. He is, contrary to the description given of him, a decent-looking rustic, about the middle age, and his features by no means accorded with his conduct. Mr. Pooley, for the prosrion, addressed the Jury at some length, and stated the fa•cii: would be proved in evidence. He commented with coesiderable force and ability on the horrible facts which would he adduced. They were of that nature text tti ould make mankind blush for the frailty of human nat're, and stamp to eternity the horrid act of the prisoner in the catiiinilie of the most abandoned and terrific (Menders. He entreated the Jury to banish from their minds any vague idea that he taken from report, ana ,judge of the guilt of the prisoner by the evidence that. would fo:low. Sarah Harris, =ervant of Mr. Boreham, said she had lived four )ears with hint ; Simmons, the prisoner, had lived there three years, and quitted it last 'Michaelmas: the prisoner wished to marry her, but her mistress disapproved of it : they had quarrelled before he quitted the service—on which occasion he heat her ; and when he hail done he said he did not care if he had killed her. lie has Often said be would make away with her, because she would not marry him. About half past eiAht in te evsning of the 20th October, he came to the house—she was in the kitchen, and heard him comingalong the yard ; he was swearing violently. He came up to the window and struck at her through the lattice, and swore he would do for them all. She desired him not in make a noise as they had company : he said he did not "are for the company, he would do for them all. Mrs. Ilummerstone hearing the noise, opened the room door and came to the yard. She told him to go away. He gave her a blow on the head, which knocked off her bonnet; she ran into the house, and he , immediately followed her. The witness immediately heard the shrieks of murder, but did not know from whom. All the family were in the room—the three young ladies, Mr. Ildrcham's daughter. Mrs. Warner, the married daughter, Mr. Boreham and his wife, and Mrs. Hummersione. In a very short time the prisoner came to the wash-house to her ; she shut the door, and cried out murder. The witness ran into the sitting room. She there saw some one lying under the window—she ran front thence down a passage—the prisoner followed her—she there met her master, with the poker in his hand—in running hastily, her master, who is a very old and feeble man, was knocked down. The prisoner caught her and threw her down, and drew a knife on her. Ile threw her across Mrs. Warner, who was lying dead, as she believed. Ile drew the knife across her throat, but she guarded it with her hand, which was cut. He ' made a second blow, when she wrested time knife out of his hand. lie immediately ran• away, and she saw no more of him. Thomas Cop perwheat went in search of the murderer. He discovered Simmons concealed under some straw in a crib in the farm-yard ;he had on him a smock-frock eerybloody ; the place where he was found, was about 100 yards from the house. Benjamin Rook, the Coroner, said, when the evidence of Harris w as read to the prisoner, he said it was very true, he had