April 10. This Day came on before the Honourable the Judges of the Provincial Court now sitting, the Trial of Jeremiah Swift, who murdered two of his Master's Children at Elk Ridge, in this County, on the 14th of March past, and knocked down and almost killed the third. He was at work in the Field with John and Benjamin Hatherly, his Master's Sons, one of them twelve, the other about ten Years of Age, when one of them asked him if he thought he could make a Thousand Hills before Night? for they were making Hills for Tobacco; he told the Boy he would let him know before Night, and immediately, without the least Provocation, struck John on the Head with his Hoe, and knocked him down, and then repeated his Blows 'til he killed him on the Spot: Little Benjamin seeing his poor Brother thus butchered, and expecting the same Fate, run from him to the Distance of about 60 or 70 Yards, where he was stopped by a Fence, and there the Villain overtook him, and with the same Hoe, knocked him down, so that he could remember no more, for he was left for dead; but after some Time recovered, and is now so well as to appear in Court as an Evidence; but his Skull on the Back of the Head is dented in almost as deep, and full as large as a Saucer, and he lost a vast deal of Blood. From the Field the Villain went to the House, and there with a Knife stabbed Elizabeth Hatherly, a Girl of about 14 Years of Age, in several Places, and then with an Ax gave her several Blows on the Head, which killed her, but she did not die immediately, for there were some Signs of Life in her when her Father and Mother came home at Night; for they had that Day been to a Funeral at some Distance. Their Trouble and Distress on this melancholy and shocking Sight, is easier to be conceived than expressed. Benedict Leonard Hatherly, another Child, about 9 Years of Age, who appeared in Court to witness against the Murderer, being in the House, endeavoured to help his Sister, and took hold of the Knife, telling him not to kill Bett; but he plucked the Knife (which happened to be dull) through the Child's Hand, which cut him in several Places. After he had perpetrated these atrocious Murders, he made off, and got a few Miles from the House, but Vengeance pursued him, and he was soon taken up and secured in Goal. He was arraigned upon one Indictment only, which was for the Murder of Elizabeth, to which, on Trial he pleaded Not Guilty; but the Evidence against him was so full and explicit, that the Jury did not tarry two Minutes before they brought him in Guilty.
