The Blackpool Herald. — 1876-04-14 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

MURDERER. On April ith, an inquest was opened at Leamington , On Monday morning George Hill,who was convicted on the body of Mr. Whittirgham. The only occupants at the recent Herte assizes of murdering his natural of the house were Mr. and Mrs. Whittingham and a child, at St. Albans, in July last, suffered the servant. The wife had no idea of his intending to do extreme penalty of the law. Hill remained in her harm until she saw him with the gun in his bands, gaol eight months before being brought up for A number of shots have been extracted from her back, trial. Since he has been under the sentence of but many still remain. and it is feared some are lodged death his conduct has been exemplary. On Sunday in a vital part, as the charge partly entered the loins. As the culprit acknowledged the justice of his sentence. Mr. Whittingliam, when she was shot, fell over into an , and made a full confession of the murder, which was adjoining yard, it is presumed deceased thought she had long premeditated. Be first of all had it in his mind to bee killed. He then went tohie bedroom„ and the servant ' kill both the mother and her child and then to commit heard him say, "I thought it would cothe to this," and 1, suicide, but eventually he gave up the idea of commitas she passed him she begged him not to do her harm.lting self-destruction, and carried a hammer about with He was seen in the street carrying the gun two hours 'him on purpose to destroy the young woman and her before the occurrence,and had been wandering about the ' baby. The culprit slept well on Sunday night, and house all night, and drinking, to which he was addicted, awoke at five o'clock on Monday morning and receiveel Deceased was iu receipt of four hundred a year. and had the ministrations of the ordinary of the gaol. Just lived much abroad. They had been married eight years. before eight, 'Harwood, the executioner, entered The coroner then adjourned, the inquiry, which was con- the condemned cell and pinioned the prisoner, chided on Saturday. It was shown that deceased had lived and shortly afterwards the procession crossed the unhappily with his wife, who was much younger, and courtyard to the scaffold. The prisoner's step was to whom he had been married eight years. Two years firm and his body erect, and not until he was ago, when living at Stafford, they separated, and be placed underneath the fatal beam did he exhibit any allowed her ten shillings weekly. He then threatened , sign of emotion. He then trembled a good deal. The her life, struck her, and behaved like a raving madman, cap having been adjusted, the bolt was drawn, and the He repeatedly complained of severe pains in his head, body fell a distance of seven feet. Death appeared to on which he received a severe blow when returning be instantaneous. As soon as the drop fell the black from Australia, where he made his fortune during the :flag was hoisted, and p-oclaimed to a large number of gold fever and lost his first wife and enly child. The pereons assembled outside that the sentence bad been wife returned after three mouths' absence, but they were carried out. at other brief periods separated prior to their removal to Leamington, eight months ago At Leamington deceased acquired intemm rate habits, complained of his head, and his wife and her sister considered him deranged at times. His will, made two years ago, left all his property to his sister, and his wife was not mentioned. The jury returned a verdict of "Suicide whilst temporarily insane." Were