The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1868-08-11 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

THE SOUTH PETHICILTON HEIDER.  William Hayw-at4,-60,--f;;;;;,-;;;IO-ili-eted for the wilful murder of Ann Hayward, his wife, at South Potherton, on the 7th of May. Mr. Spike anil Mr. Warty were counsel for the prmecution ; Mr. &Bin and Mr. Folkard defended the prisoner. He was insisted into the dock by one of the gaolers, and seemed to be so feeble that it was with diffioalty he walked. He is a stout, burly-looking man, but his vacant look and extremely nervous air seemed at once to indicate that he was • man a weak intellect. He pleaded not guilty in a tremulous voice. The prisoner and his wits bssl resided for • number of year. In farm house in the parish of South Petherton. They heed on very good terms, and had one child about nine years old. The prisoner Laving suffered • good deal from illness, had requested his wife's brother, Kr. George Best, to come and reside with them, and take the management of his farm. Iket had resided with them for some months, and on the morning of the 7th of May, the prisoner, his wife, and her brother breakfasted together about half. pest seven o'elock,when deceased and prisoner appearei to been very good terms. Shortly before eight o'clock Best went into the barton, and about a quarter to nine o'clock the prisoner went out to him and said, "George, George, do come in." Best went into the kitchen, where a short time previously be had left prisoner and his wife, and there saw his sister (Mrs. Hayward) silting in a their. He went up to her and found that she was quite dead. He said to prisoner, "You rogue; you have 'hot my sister." to which he replied," Have I." A labourer, named Jarrett, who worked upon the farm, cisme into the kitchen, and seeing what hail occurred, remarked, "Yon have done something now, master," and prisoner replied, "Ye. John, it can't be helped," Best bad a gun which be kept in a corner of the kitchen, and which had been for some days unloaded, but upon hie going into the kitchen it was full of smoke, which snieh of powder, and on examining the gun be observed that It had been recently discharged. Best called Beyond neighbours, and the polioe-serjeent stationed in the village, and Mr. HISTOYI a surgeon, were sent for. The officer on arresting him charged prisoner with the murder of his wife, and he lifted both his hand., and said, "Oh den I I done it," He also said, "1 loaded the gun behind the settle, soil shot her as she sat in the chair, and then he added, " Mho never spoke." In one waistcoat-pocket some percussion caps were found, and in the other some thick brown paper, which, on being taken from him, the prisoner said, "That is* piece of what I rammed the sun with."—Mr. Hervey, who made the post morrow examination, deposed to finding • gunshot wonod in the back of the deemed ; some of the shot had passed entirely through the body, took ling the heart. Several witnesses were called to depose to these facts, and it elicited from them that prisoner was subject to epileptic Ste. 111141 ot a low and nalancboly disposition, and had upon one °cession attempted to hang himeelf.—Mr. Kdlin made so able defence of the prisoner, oontending that at the time be committed the offence with which he was charged he was of unsound mind. And in support of this theory Dr. Woodforde and Dr. Davey, two physicians of great erperienoe in the treatment of lunacy, were called- They gave it as their opinion that the prisoner VIM suffering from mental derangement. His Lordship haring summed up, the jury found the prisoner not gailty, on the ground of insanity, and the learned judge ordered him to be detained until her Msjesty's pleasure be known. The prisoner, who appeared quite unennicious of what was going on, and was dosing during the summing up of the learned judge, twee hen assisted from the dock.