The Sun. — 1834-08-16 (London, England)

MURDER IN CORNWALL.  A most horrible cold-blooded murder was perpetrated in the parish of St. Martin's, near Looe, Cornwall, on Thursday morning, by John Henwood. It appears from what we can learn, that this young man is an only son of a respectable farmer, and from his youth up has been of a perverse, stupid, sullen, wayward disposition. It appeared that on the day in question, the son had been at work in one of his father's fields, preparing lime for manure ; even this he did not choose to do as he ought. His father, on going his rounds on horseback remonstrated with him in a mild manner. Shortly after this the son left the field, and proceeded home, a distance of at least three-quarters of a mile. He then coolly took up a jug from the kitchen dresser, and went and drew himself some cider, which having drank, he replaced the jug in its former place, and went up stairs to his room, when he was heard opening his trunk, and from which it is expected he took some powder. He then went to the ox-shall, where was a fowling-piece, and which he must have loaded, for the shot-belt was found near the spot. From thence his footmarks were traced by the side of the hedges of three fields and an orchard, until he arrived at a turning in the lane through which he knew his father would come ; and there it is supposed he had not been long before his victim—his venerable parent—must have presented himself. At this place, which is near half a mile from the house, the hedge is rather high, and here he rested the fowling piece, in order to take a more deliberate aim, as is 'shown by the marks there. The poor old gentleman received the charge in his left breast, four of the shots going through his heart ; and several shots penetrated the neck of the poor animal he was riding, which immediately galloped off for the farm, where its sudden appearance, together with its state, was the first stimulus to a suspicion of the cause ; when a search was set on foot, and the venerable man found weltering in his blood. The inhuman son was instantly suspected, which suspicion was confirmed by his absence. Search was then made for him, but to no purpose. On Friday afternoon he presented himself to Mr. Jewry, a farmer, who was with his people cutting barley in a neighbouring field, at the sama time asking for some cider, for he said he was thirsty. He then expressed an intention to go home and see his mother, but this farmer Jewry dissuaded him from, desiring him at the same time to accompany bim to his (Jewry's) house, and he would give him something to eat and drink, which he did. In the meantime the farmer sent one of his servants for a constable. The farmer ventured to ask him where he had secreted himself, when he said, " In the copse close by," and about three fields from where he confessed he shot his father. Soon after this the constable arrived, and he evinced nothing more at his presence than if it had been any other person. He then asked where the gun was, and the powder-horn, when he described the spot (near a hedge) without the least hesitation, where they were both found. His uncle then asked him, " Why he had done so to his poor old father ?" and he replied, " I ought to have it long before." A coroner's inquest has since been held upon the body of the deceased, and a verdict returned of wilful murder against the son, John Henwood. The Coroner having issued his warrant for commitment, the prisoner was taken to Bodmin gaol.—Plymouth Journal.