The Sun. — 1841-09-11 (London, England)

MURDER AT CHEPSTOW. (From the Bristol Standard.) A melancholy case of murder has occurred at Cheps`ow. The victim, Sarah Sophia Fleming, was a native of Bristol, about nineteen years of age, and of considerable personal attractions. She was induced to leave her Lome about twelve months ago, and had latterly abandoned herself to a dissolute course of life, attaching herself to a young man of idle habits, named Benjamin James, whom she chiefly supported by her sinful pursuits. On Sunday night, the 29th of August last, this poor girl, with another unfortunate creature of the same class, and Benjamin James, were walking on Chepstow-bridge, and were joined by three young men, with whom they went up to Tutshill ; deceased left the party in company with one of the men, which roused the jealousy of James, who called after her, and as she did not return, followed her up a lane called Dead Man'siane (in which tradition says a murder was formerly committed), the other girl followinglim, and at the end of the lane they found them in. the turnpike-road. It was a moonlight night, and on seeing James, the poor girl withdrew her han:l from the young man, and James ran up and attempted to strike her, but was twice prevented by the man, who took hold of him, and begged him to let the girl alone, calling to her to go home, which she refused, saying, " Ben will beat me worse if I do, when he catches me." James at length got loose, and overtook her at the gate leading into Dead Man'slane, where he struck .her violently with his fist in her right side; she immediatel:, fell on her knees; he dragged her up, and she fell ae,,,t..nst the wall. The wretched man then lay down in the road, and his poor victim crawled to him and kissed him, saying, " Don't do it any more, Ben." He turned towards her and said, " I will murder you." She kissed him again, and he swore he would murder and be the death of her; he did not strike her again, hut, alas! the mischief was done—she had received her death-blow.  They afterwards went down the lane to Chapel House Farm, where the two females and James spent the night in a shed, the deceased suffering acute pain in her side; in the morning James left them in Chepstow, but in the evening met them on the opposite side of the town, and they remained together all night under a hay-rick, the deceased in great agony on her right side and back, the internal inflammation increasing rapidly ; they continued out the whole of , the following day, and at night James left them, saying he was afraid to stay lest she should die. Her companion then supported her through the streets in search of a lodging, and at length, being quite exhausted, the poor sufferer sank on the steps of a door, where they were attacked by some vagabond boys, who threw dirt and filth at them. The deceased exclaimed, " It is hard I cannot be left alone, I am so ill," and burst into tear 3 ; her companion got her away and obtained a lodging, where she passed the night in extreme agony, and the next morning her father was sent for, who, being unable to pay a medical attendant, took her to the poorhouse, where she received every attention that medical aid and kind treatment could afford, but the inflammation increased, and she expired on Friday evening. Benjamin James was apprehended on Thursday, and the poor girl's deposition taken by Colonel Lewis •in his presence, out she was evidently alarmed at the prisoner being in the room, exclaiming, "Take him away, he will kill me." On Friday morning she told her father she was worse, and said, " Where is Ben? He has murdered me, and I am dying; he ought to suffer as well as me;" and expressed a wish to see the Magistrate, as she had something on her mind. A messenF,er was despatched to St. Pierre, and on Colonel Lewis's arrival, the prisoner was again taken to her room, but it was then too late, she had lost the power of speech— she was dying. The worthy Magistrate and all in the room were deeply affected, except the prisoner, who stood unmoved at the dreadful scene without betraying the least emotion, and apparently without the slightest feeling for his unfortunate victim. On Saturday he was committed to Monmouth gaol, charged with wilful murder, and the Coroner's inquest has since returned a similar verdict.