NOt to inſiſt on the horridneſs of the Sin of MURDER, which defaces Gods Image, and beyond moſt other ſpecies of wickedneſs, cryes loud to Heaven for vengeance; I ſhall immediately addreſs to the Relation of the preſent Fact, which in all its Circumſtances, is one of the moſt impious, pre-meditated, and abominable, that our times have been guilty of.

The Good-Woman killed, named Jewers, was a Widow, whoſe Husband, by Trade a Weaver, dyed about a year or two ſince, and left her poſſeſt of a ſmall Houſe in Angel-Alley, before mentioned, with convenient Goods and Furniture, and as ſome report, a ſmall parcel of Plate: ſhe was near Fourſcore years of Age, and lived as it were alone, only letting out half of her Houſe to a perſon that ſold a Cup of Ale; the reſt reſerving in her own hands, ſhe willing to improve, as well as ſhe could, did ſometimes entertain Lodgers, and moſt unhapily about a week ago, took in a Man and a Woman, who pretended to be Man and Wife, but wholly ſtrangers to her and all the Neighbours.

'Tis ſuppoſed ſhe had been ſo indiſcreet, as to ſhew or declare to theſe ill people, what Plate or Money ſhe had; who thereupon form'd a Helliſh deſign to deprive her thereof, and of her Life to boot, if they could not otherwiſe effect their black purpoſe; in order to this, masking their bloody intentions with a ſhew of kindneſs, on Friday laſt in the Evening, they invited their Land Lady up into their Room, to eat a piece of Pork with them; who nothing ſuſpecting their villanous plot, went up; but immediately, as 'tis ſtrongly preſumed, they cruelly, without any Compaſſion to her Age or Innocence, fell upon her, and having firſt ſtopt her Mouth with a durty Towel or Cloth, they twiſting a Napkin about her Neck, Throtled or Strangled her, and then, (as 'tis believed) Rifled her Room of the moſt conſiderable and portable things ſhe had, as Plate, Money, &c. which they might eaſily accompliſh, without being obſerved by any, the other people being buſie and not in the leaſt miſtruſting any harm. Having thus effected the Inhumane and Bloody Exploit, they left the Dead Body in their own Chamber, and then, how or when the Man went out, is uncertain, no notice being taken thereof; but the Woman came down to the other part of the Houſe where Drink was ſold, and defired three Pints of Ale, as for their Supper, ſaying, ſhe would ſtep out whilſt it was drawing, and fetch ſome Cheeſe: this was about Nine or Ten at night; but ſhe not returning, and the Tenant wondring as well thereat, as that her Land-Lady came not down to ſhut up her door, ſeveral times loudly call'd on the ſtairs, but received no anſwer; whereupon, with a Neighbour ſhe went up, where ſhe found the poor old Woman lying on the floor Murdered, as aforeſaid; the Napkin remaining ſtill violently drawn together about her Neck, and the foul Towel ſo furiouſly ramm'd into her Mouth, that her Face was very much disfigured, and the very skin torn therewith. There was then no body in the Room, only the Table ſpread with a Cloth, and a Salt-ſeller ſet thereupon; but no Meat, nor any appearance of any that had been.

What Goods in particular they took away, is yet not known, becauſe the Woman living privately, few people (if any) could exactly tell what ſhe had; only one Neighbour teſtifies, that in or ſince the time of Bartholemew Fair, the Deceaſed ſhew'd her a piece of Plate, of about Four or Five pound value, which ſhe ſaid ſhe had bought at the ſaid laſt Fair; and now there is no ſuch, nor any other Plate or Money to be found.

Theſe Lodgers not having been ſince heard of, have (as it were in a Legal ſenſe) confeſſed thereby their concernment in the Guilt, by their flight, and accordingly all Endeavors are uſed to Apprehend them, whom 'tis not doubted, but Divine Vengeance will diſcover, and bring to condign puniſhment, whilſt in the mean time, they wander up and down, under the Terrors of Conſcience, and the frightful Apprehenſions of Blood-guiltineſs, not to be exceeded by any Tortures, but the actual and endleſs Torments of Hell.

This ſad Example ought to awake the Diſcretion, and alarm the Caution of all honeſt Houſe-keepers, to be more wary in entertaining Lodgers, without ſufficient Teſtimonials of their Integrity; it being become a common Practice for thoſe Runnagate Inmates to rob and ſpoil thoſe that admit them into their Houſes: Nor do they thereby onely hazard their Goods, but their Lives alſo; as in this lamentable Caſe is too apparent.