| Citation |
AWM.737.047
24 Nov-1 Dec 1737:22 (935)
London. . . Derby, Sept. 22. The following very
extraordinary and uncommon incident happen'd here on Friday
night last, viz. One Samuel Smith, a journeyman stocking-
maker, well known for his great skill in church musick, he
having taught singing here a[ ] in this neighbourhood for
some time, and commonly call'd Dr. Smith, having got too
much liquor the day before, so as not to be able to go to
his lodgings, was prevail'd with by one Sarah Soar, his
sweetheart, who lives in the Bridge-gate, to lie down upon
her bed, when in the night she came privately into the room
where the poor man lay fast asleep and in the dark, with a
knife she had provided for the barbarous design, attempted
to dismember him which however she did not do effectually.
The poor man waking, did not at first apprehend what was
amiss, 'till losing a great quantity of blood, and the pain
increasing from the wound, he cry'd out, and assistance
coming, a skilful surgeon was immediately sent for, under
whose care he now is, and in a fair way of doing well. The
next morning the woman was carried before a justice, who
committed her to jail, to which place she was attended by
abundance of people, shouting her all the way. She sayd,
she had for some time past designed the attempt, and only
wished she had done it effectually. The reason she gives
is, that he had courted her several years and had often
promised to marry her, but always deceived her.
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