get to him. As soon as the escape became known, every means were employed to recapture the man known as Murdock. Policemen and others were sent off in all directions, but nothing was heard of him until the afternoon, when a little girl saw a man lying in a ditch between a field on the West hill occupied by Mr. Thwaites and a garden occupied by Mr. Golding - a locality just above the road leading from the Croft to Torhill-field. The prisoner alarmed the little girl by threats, and she left him and told some boys who approached him, when he also threatened to kill them. Finding, however, that others had discovered his whereabouts, or were likely to do so, he ran off across the West hill towards the windmills and from thence down Wallinger's Walk, where he took off his shoes and threw them into a garden. Meanwhile he was pursued by the boys, who were joined by others, and was at length captured by Henry Barton and Thomas Tutt, who led him off, and gave him into the hands of Sergt. Brazier. The inquest was held on Tuesday and adjourned till Thursday. In the interim the examination of the prisoners took place, when they were both committed for trial at the next Sussex Assizes on the charge of wilful murder. Also, at the adjourned inquest, the jury returned a verdict against John Murdock and George Wright. During their examination the prisoners appeared to be but little affected, and when on the railway platform, en route for Lewes without irons of handcuff, the boy succeeded in tripping up Sergt. Brazier, in whose custody he was, whilst Murdock also struggled to get away.
The trial took place on Wednesday, July 16th, at the Sussex Summer Assizes, and Murdock, being found guilty, was sentenced for death. Wright was sentenced to two months imprisonment for larceny. John Murdock alias Joseph William, aged 19, was hanged in front of the Lewes new gaol at 12 o'clock on Tuesday, Aug. 5th. His conduct while in prison was most exemplary, and on the day before his execution, he wrote a letter to the son of the deceased gaoler, imploring him to forgive him. He also begged that the boy Wright (who had to some extent assisted him to escape) might be brought before him. His desire was granted, and the interview was a painful one. He urged the boy to relinquish his evil courses, and entreated him to keep before him as an example, his (Murdock's) fate. He also wrote affectionate letters to his mother and other relations. When the cap was drawn over his face at his execution, he prayed "Lord have mercy on me" "Lord Jesus receive my soul!". He died without a struggle. [Notwithstanding the solemn exhortation to the gaol a few weeks when he was taken up at High Wycombe for picking pockets, and sentenced to three months imprisonment.]
Burglary
At the East-Sussex Sessions on the 1st of July, Frederick Henton was sentenced to six years' penal servitude, and Charles Hill to twelve months imprisonment, for breaking into Mr. William Cloke's cottage at Fairlight and stealing £70.
