A Dreadful Account of a Barbarous Bloody Murther: Committed on the Body of one Mr. Cymball,•t his own Houſe, in Old Soho; On the 31ſt. of January, 1694. by a Perſon, who under pretence of coming to pay him a Viſit, and after having been very well Treated, Surprizingly gave him divers Mortal Wounds; in the preſence of his Wife and Siſters, (of which he immediately Dyed,) and then made his Eſcape: The whole Proceeding on this Bloody Act, being very Cruel and Inhumane; As will appear in the Relation of it.
⟨1. Febr. 1694 / 5⟩Licenſed according to Order.
SUCH Is the wicked Inclinations, and Depravity of ſome Men's Nature, that the Bloody mindedneſs of divers Perſons in their Miſchiefs, and Tragical dealings, even Startle Underſtanding Men in their thoughts, and Conſideration of a Repoſing a Truſt, as not being able•o look into the Intentions of ſuch as Guild over a plauſible Friendſhip, with Flattering Proteſtations; whilſt Fraud, or the Rankeſt of Malice,•ike a Poiſonous Serpent Lurks under their feighned Smiles. Such was•he Misfortune of this Gentleman, who inſtead of Entertaining a Friend,•urprizingly met with a Death, he little ſuſpected from ſuch a Hand.
This Gentleman (of whoſe Name we are yet Ignorant) on the 31ſt. of January, coming to Viſit Mr. Cymball, at his Houſe in Old Soho; and•eing known to him, he was welcomed, with all becoming Civility; Ac•mmodated with Wine and other Treatments, ſo that in a kind of a•erryment ſome Hours paſſed till it grew very Late. The Concern of••eir Meeting ſeems to be about Buſineſs, as appears by a Writing, ſaid to be Signed by the Deceaſed; and the Common Diſcourſe is, That it was a Will, but as to that particular we determine not, without better information.
But to come nearer, and open the Tragical Scene; whether about affairs of Buſineſs, ſome Heats might ariſe that might carry the Edg of•atal Miſchief in them; or otherwiſe is not greatly Material to our En•uiry, ſo we leave it to a more Judicial Scrutiny, and proceed to Mat•er of Fact.
After the Watch had paſſed by the Door of this Gentleman, and were not very far diſtant from it; ſome People that were Neighbour•heard a Confuſed Voice, ſuppoſed to be that of the Mu•ther'd Party ▪ and the Women preſent Crying, Murther, Murther, and Implorin•Help.
The Watch upon this were Alarm'd, but before they could com•up, or Enter the Houſe, Mr. Cymball, too Fatal Gueſt was Flea'd and left him Gaſping his Laſt: His Life haſtily paſſing away, throug•many Mortal Wounds; which nothing but a Cruel, or Inraged Han•could have ſo often Repeated; when a far leſs Number in all probability would have ſent him to his Grave, and there needed not ſ•many Gaps to let in Death. Therefore to Enumerate them ſhows th•Inhumanity of the Inflictor of them.
Weltering in his Blood, they could not be particularly diſtinguiſhed but the Body being Cleanſed from it, and Expoſed to View, His Righ•Shoulder was found to have a Wound, that ſeemed to be torn with th•Sword, as if a piece of Fleſh was Cut out. Two Wounds were made in his Breaſt, one on his Right Side; his Left Arm pierced almoſ•through: Another Wound he had on the Left Side his Left Hand ▪ Run through his Right Hand; ſuppoſed in Defending his Body, or Extended to Implore Mercy from his pretended Friend, but now Mercileſs Enemy was Cut between the Finger and Thumb, and otherways very much mangled; his Chin received a part of Dire Execution, and amidſt theſe many Wounds he Breathed his Laſt; and was Expoſed as a Miſſerable Spectacle of Cruel uſage, the following Day to the pitying Spectators; whoſe Tears at ſuch an Object of Compaſſion could hardly be Reſtrained.
Upon this, thoſe that were preſent. Viz. The Women (the Party who is held Actually to do it, being Eſcaped, as far as we can hitherto have any Account of him) are ſecured in order to their further Examination before the Corroners Inqueſt; or what other Matters may be Objected to them in this Matter: Nor is it doubted but the Grand Agreſſor, may in a little time be brought to Anſwer for ſo Monſterous a Crime of Late, without Parrallel or Precedent.
Some ſay, he has ſent by an unknown Hand, a Letter to the New Widow, to Condole the Loſs of Her Husband, and Expreſs his Sorrow ▪ but whether ſo or no, ſo Great a Guilt deſerves Floods of unfeighned Tears, to Attone Heaven's Impendent Vengeance.