The Virginia Gazette

Exon, May 20. About Eleven oClock at Night, of the 16th of this Instant May, was committed to the High Goal of the County of Devon, John Collings, of the Parish of Ken, Thatcher, upon his own voluntary Confession, as well as the Depositions of divers Witnesses, for a Murder (supposing him to be Compos Mentis,) attended with such horrible and Shocking Circumstances, as are rarely parallel'd in History.

Richard Lakeman and Edward Mole, both of the Parish of Ashcombe, in the County of Devon, Yeoman; before the Worshipful Justice, who took Cognizance of the Affair, deposed, That the said Monday, they heard, in the Porch of the said Parish Church of Ashcombe, one making a hideous Noise and Out cry, The Devil is come, the Devil is come! Approaching the Place to see what was the Matter, they found the Voice come from the said John Collings; who, presently at their Appearance; ran directly to assault Mr. Mole. At this Mr. Lakeman immediately interposed, and struck up his, the said John Collings's Heels; who outrageously exclaim'd, I have done the Thing by God! The Informant ask'd what he meant, and what he had done? He reply'd at once, he had kill'd a Woman in Colway Lane, which parts the Two Hals-downs; for he had cut off her Head, and chopp'd the same to Pieces afterwards. They thereupon took proper Methods to secure the Murderer, and repairing to the declar'd Place, found the mangled Head and Body, as he describ'd, most ghastly to be viewed, which they since understand are the miserable Remains of Jane Upcot of Alphington.

The said John Collings, on his Examination before a Magistrate, and since his Commitment, has given Account, as follows: That being employ'd by Mr. John Ball, of Dawlish, he was the Day aforesaid, with his Spar-hook in his Hand, going to his House to Work at his proper Calling; but meeting the said Mr. Ball in Colway Lane, and being accosted with some uncommon Discourse, and appearing somewhat Wild in his Look
Look as well as Talk. He was ask'd by Mr. Ball what ail'd him? He reply'd that he was troubled in Mind, and could take no Rest. At the same fatal Instant, unhappily rode by one Jane Upcott of Alphington, the Hindermost of the Three Fish-Women, who on their Post journied together. The two First accosted him with How do you do Gaffer Collings? but the other not speaking to him, he was on a sudden irresistibly tempted, as he expresses it, by the Devil, to fall upon her with his Weapon. Accordingly he made at her, struck her with his Hook, and felled her from her Horse. Going to renew the Blow to her absolute Destruction, Mr. Ball, dismounting, intercepted it, and was thereby wounded in the Arm and Forehead, which last Wound was with the back of his Hook, and must have kill'd him on the Spot if it had been with the Fore Part, as he says he intended. He however, for the present prevented the barbarous Intention, and got the Fellow down, where he kept him 'till the poor Woman re-mounted, and rode forward to her Companions. The Gentleman with persuasive Reasons aimed to disarm his Resolution (better indeed, could he have ventur'd it, had he got the Spar-Hook out of his Hands,) which on the Fellow's Declaration, he thinking he had effected, and being somewhat disabled with the Gout, he gave him Leave to rise, on his Promise to catch his Horse for him, which on his being let loose, and affrighted at the Scuffle, had run some Distance from him.

But, being thus unluckily set at Liberty, and still arm'd, instead of following the Beast, he ran with the utmost Speed after the poor Object of his Cruelty, whom too soon overtaking, he again fell at her, fetch'd her a second Time to the Ground, and cut off her Head, which he chopp'd and batter'd 'til the Brains turn'd out, which he dash'd abroad. After this he open'd her Body from her Breast to her Navel, took out her Heart, and sticking it at the Point of his Spar Hook, march'd with it, shoulder'd, on and about Haldon, etc. being met by several, especially by a Lad just come from Sea-Service, who thought (he says) it had been the Heart of a Hog, which he took such a Method of carrying the more conveniently and clean to have it dress'd. He declares the Woman had never disoblig'd him, nor had he 'til that woful Moment, ever conceived the least Revenge, Spleen, or Grudge against her.

His Wife (he being a married Man of about 30 Years of Age, having Children,) pretends that the last Fall, and during the late Spring he had Several Fits of Frenzy, and both his Discourse and Actions gave Tokens of a disorderly Mind; more especially since Friday last; particularly his expressing terrible Disquiet at his being put to Bed at Mr. Ball's to a Woman in Man's Cloaths, who he was positive had a cloven Foot. But his Father who seems a downright honest Man, told me that he knew nothing of any former Distraction, but what his Wife avers. The Prisoner at this Time looks and talks very wildly, sings, raves of the Devil, pretends not to know his own Father, but that he is Gaffer such a one. Sometimes he discourses more sedately, tho' to the like Purpose. Whether he be really mad, or in Hopes to save himself, only acts the Mad-man, must be left to Time, and due Observation and Examination to discover.