The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Extract of a Letter from Portsmouth, Aug 9.

Last Thursday Evening, 4 Miles from this Garrison, at a place called Wimmering, several Gentlemen’s Servants of both Sexes, had a Dance in a Barn. After their Dance they got several Hand-Bells, and other noisy Instruments, and out of a little Sport went to a Lone House in a Field near them, where a single Man, a Labourer, was a bed, in order to Fright him. The Man rose out of his Bed, and having a Gun in his Room, loaded it with large Swan-Shot, and swore he would shoot them. A Lady’s Servant near them, a Maid and the Coachman, (not concerned in the Dance, or with the Company) ran down to the Field to see what was the matter, and just as they came on the Spot the Man Fired, Killed the innocent Maid, and dangerously Wounded the Man.---The Maid’s Jaws were torn all to pieces, and great part of her Ear, so that she immediately expired, and the Coachman is so ill, that it is not expected he will soon recover. The fellow was taken and lodged in our Goal, in order to be sent to Winchester to take his Trial at the next Assizes.