The Virginia Gazette

There is something extremely Shocking in the whole Story of Miss Jeffryes, lately executed for the Murder of her Uncle; and it is impossible to reflect upon it, without Shuddering at the dreadful Consequence of a total Want of Virtue. According to Miss Jeffryes's Confession, her Uncle, who ought to have been the Guardian of her Innocence, was the first who seduced her, and by incestuous Commerce, so vitiated her Mind, that it is no Wonder it became capable of any Iniquity. By a long Habit of the most monstrous Incontinence, doubtless took of all moral Principles; and having no Education to polish her Manners, and give her a delicate Taste, She until the Conversation of low People, from whom nothing can be learned to correct the Appetites, or refine the Passions, Providence seems remarkably to have interposed in the Punishment of this Man, by making him fall by the Hands of her he had first ruined in her moral Character, and, by an Attachment to another Woman, intended to ruin a second Time, by leaving her exposed to Want and Beggary. --o-- M. Jeffryes's Guilt can indeed admit of little Palliation, no more than the Conduct of her Uncle can admit of Excuse; but the Fate of both must necessarily strike a reflecting Mind with a solemn Kind of Horror, and expose it to contemplate the Guilt of Incontinence with Dread, in all its Train of unavoidable Miseries.

The Case of Elizabeth Jeffryes, concerning the Murder of her Uncle, Joseph Jeffryes.

I Elizabeth Jeffryes, do freely and voluntarily confess, that I first enticed and persuaded John Swan, and Thomas Matthews, to undertake and perpetrate the Murder of my deceased Uncle; which they both consented to do the first Opportunity; that on the 3d Day of July, 1751, myself and John Swan, (Matthews to my Knowledge, not being in the House) agreed to kill my said Uncle, and accordingly, after the Maid was gone to Bed, I went into John Swan's Room, and called him, and we went down together into the Kitchen; and having assisted Swan in putting some Pewter and other Things into a Sack, said I could do no more; and then I went up into my Room; and afterwards Swan came up, as I believe, and went into my Uncle's Room, and Shot him; which done, he came to my Door, and rapped. Accordingly I went out in my Shift, and John Swan opened the Street Door, and let me out; that done, I alarmed the Neighbourhood; and I do solemnly declare, that I do not know that any Person was concerned in the Murder of my deceased Uncle, but myself, and John Swan; for that Matthews did not come to my Uncle's House the Day before, or Night in which the Murder was committed, as I know of.