The Virginia Gazette

May 12. The frequent Murders which of late have been committed, and discover’d by the Actions or Words which have fallen from the Perpetrators conscious Guilt, which continually presents itself before them, is the Occasion of the following Instance of inward Compunction and Horror being communicated to the Publick.

A Jeweller, a Man of good Character and considerable Wealth, having Occasion, in the Way of his Business, to travel at some Distance from the Place of his Abode, took along with him a Servant, in Order to look after his Portmanteau. He had along with him some of his best Jewels, and a large Sum of Money, to which his Servant was likewise privy.

The Master having Occasion to dismount on the Road, the Servant watch’d his Opportunity, took a Pistol from his Master’s Saddle, and shot him dead on the Spot. Then rifling him of his Jewels and Money, and hanging a large Stone to his Neck, he threw him into the nearest Canal. With this Booty he made off to a distant Part of the Country, where he had Reason to believe that neither he nor his Master were known. There he began to trade in a low Way at first, that his Obscurity might screen him from Observation, and in the course of a good many Years seem’d to rise by the natural Process of Business, into Wealth and Consideration, so that his good Fortune appeared at once the Effect and Reward of Industry and Virtue. Of these he counterfeited the Approaches so well, that he grew into great Credit, married into a good Family, and by laying out his hidden Stores discreetly, as he saw Occasion, and joining to all a universal Affability, he was admitted to a Share of the Government of the Town, and rose from one Place to another, ’til at Length he was chosen chief Magistrate. In this Office he maintained a fair Character, and continued to fill it with no small Applause, both as a Governor and a Judge ’til one Day, as he sat on the Bench with some of his Brethren, a Criminal was brought before them, who was accus’d of having murder’d his Master. The Evidence came out full, the Jury brought in their Verdict that the Prisoner was guilty, and the whole Assembly waited the Sentence of the President of the Court (which he happened to be that Day) with great Suspence. Mean while he appeared to be in an unusual Disorder and Agitation of Mind, his Colour changed often; at length he rose from his Seat, and coming down from the Bench, placed himself just by the unfortunate Man at the Bar, to the no small Astonishment of all present. You see before you, said he, (addressing himself to those who had sat on the Bench with him) a striking Instance of the just Reward of Heaven, which this Day, after thirty Years Concealment, presents to you a greater Criminal than the Man just now found guilty. Then he made an ample Confession of his Guilt, and of all its Aggravations, particularly his Ingratitude to a Master who had rais’d him from the very Dust, and repos’d a peculiar Confidence in him; and told them in what Manner he had hitherto screen’d himself from public Justice, and how he had escap’d the Observation of Mankind by the specious Mask he had wore. But more, added he, no sooner did this unhappy Prisoner appear before us charged with the same Crime I was conscious of myself, than all the Circumstances of my Guilt beset me in all their Horror, the Arrows of the Almighty stuck fast within me, and my own Crime appeared so atrocious, that I could not consent to pass Sentence against my Fellow-Criminal ’til I had first impannelled and accus’d myself. Nor can I now find any Relief from the Dyonies of an awakened Conscience, but by requiring that Justice may be forthwith done against me in the most publick and solemn Manner, for so aggravated a Parricide. Therefore in the Presence of the Almighty God, the great Witness and Judge of all Crime, and before this whole Assembly, who have been the Witnesses of my thirty Years Concealment, I plead guilty, and desire Sentence may be passed against me as a parricidial Murtherer. We may easily suppose the Amazement of all the Assembly, and especially his Fellow Judges. However they proceeded, upon his Confession, to pass Sentence upon him, and he died with all the Symptoms of a penitent Mind: An exemplary Instance of the fatal Effects of an exorbitant Passion, and the tremendous Justice of Providence, in detecting one of the most cool and artful Villains, after such a long Concealment.