The body’s found, the inquest held, to prison I was sent, With shame I do confess my sin, with grief I do repent; And when my trial did come on, I was condemned to die, An awful death in public scorn, upon the gallows high. While in my lonely cell I lie, the time draws on apace, The dreadful deeds that I have done appear before my face; While lying on my dreadful couch those horrid visions rise, The ghastly form of my dear wife appears before my eyes. Oh may my end a warning be now unto all mankind, And think of my unhappy fate and bear me in your mind; Whether you are rich or poor, your wives and children love, So God will fill your fleeting days with blessings from above. Rocliff, Printer, Old Gravel Lane, London. SHOCKING RAPE AND MURDER OF TWO LOVERS. [Illustration] Showing how John Hedges, a farmer’s son, committed a rape upon Jane Williams, and afterwards Murdered her and her lover, William Edwards, in a field near Paxton. This is a most revolting Murder. It appears Jane Williams was keeping company, and was shortly to be married to William Edwards, who was in the employment of Farmer Hodges. For some time a jealousy existed in John Hodges, who made vile proposals to the young girl, who although of poor parents was strictly virtuous. The girl’s father also worked on farmer Hodges’s estate. On Thursday last she was sent to the farm to obtain some things for her mother, who was ill; it was 9 o’clock in the evening when she set out, a mile from the farm. Going across the fields she was met by the farmer’s son, who made vile proposals to her, which she not consenting to, he threw her down, and accomplished his vile purpose. In the meantime her lover had been to her house, and finding she was gone to the farm, went to meet her. He found her in the field crying, and John Hodges standing over her with a bill-hook, saying he would kill her if she ever told. No one can tell the feelings of the lover, William Edwards. He rushed forward, when Hodges, with the hook, cut the legs clean from his body, and with it killed the poor girl, and then run off. Her father finding she did not return, went to look for her; when the awful deeds were discovered. Edwards was still alive, but died shortly afterwards from loss of blood, after giving his testimony to the magistrates. The farmer’s son was apprehended, and has been examined and committed to take his trial at the next Assizes. Thousands of persons followed the unfortunate lovers to the grave, where they were buried together. Copy of Verses. Jane Williams had a lover true And Edwards was his name, Whose visits to her father’s house, Had welcome now became. In marriage soon they would be bound, A loving man and wife, But John Hodges, a farmer’s son, With jealousy was rife.