The Sun. — 1857-11-28 (London, England)

CONFESSION OE MURDER.  A great deal of excitement has been created in Weymouth during the past week, says the Sherbombe Journal, in consequence of a rumour that an old woman on her deathbed had confessed that she was a participator in a most foul and, cruel murder committed more than half a century ago, but the re tl perpetrators of which at that time could not be discovered. The particulars of this dark deed we have gathered from the testimony of many old persons still living, and who can distinctly recollect the circumstance that about the period mentioned great alarm was felt in the town in consequence 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 found that death had been caused by a blow on 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, 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 on Morgan. After the fatal blow had been struck the body of the de• ceased was wrapped 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 to the bridge, the intention of the murderers being to throw it int) the water. In this it would seem they were baffled, for the night was dark, and several voices were heard, which thwarted their designs, and they on landing at the Mel, combo side dropped 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 through the whole of the route they had taken, and to the very door of the house in which the murder was committed. Suspicion was at once raised as to the guilty parties, and the deceased woman and her associates were at once arrested and brought before the tribunal at Dorchester, but the evidence failed to substantiate the charge, and they were acquitted. A few days ago the last of the survivors of those supposed to be participators in the dreadful deed died—Priscilla Guppy. On her deathbed her state of mind was truly frightful ; she had attained a great age, being upwards of 90. It is stated that previous to her decease she confessed she was a participator in the murder, having beat him on the head with a piece of iron or heater, such as is used i❑ ironing linen. She implored the Divine Creator to have mercy on her sett], anu forgive the sins she had committed. We understand also that she st ited that 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 that after the commission of the crime Hardy went home to his own house an I immediately on entering put back the clock two hours. Be retired to rest, and a short time after wards awoke his servant and told her to go down stairs and see what was the time, when she returned and told her master very innocently the hour, not knowing,th at the clock had been altered. This servant was brought forward on the trial, and thus her,testimany as to his being home at the time the crime was supposed to be committed led to his acquittal. The body of the murdered man was interred in the churchyard of St. Mary's Church, where now to this day may be seen his tombstone with 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 of April, 1792, aged 22."