Strange News from Staffordshire: Being a true RELATION OF TWO Bloody Murders Committed by one Andrew Sympson, Upon the Bodies of a young Man and a young Woman.  
O What a world of Curses the eating of the forbidden fruit hath brought upon Mankind! and unavoidably entailed upon the Sons of Men great Misery; amongst all which none appears more terrible and full of Sorrow, and bewraying greater Wrath, than the Blood-crying Sin of Murder, especially when it is attended with Crimes, whose Wickedness of themselves might purchase the reward of Death: which in the Person, of whom this Relation is written, might have been fully evidenced, before he committed this horrible Action, for which he received his just Reward or Punishment.  
The place of his usual abode was Leek, a Town in the Moorlands in Stafford shire; his Name Andrew Sympson, by Trade a Shoemaker, and some time an Ostler in an Inn in the same Town, where he first begun to act his wicked Designs: For, about two years ago, a Countryman coming to Market in Leek, he set up his Horse at the Red-Lion, where Andrew was Hostler; and from thence going into the Town, he received, for Corn, some Three Pounds, which putting in a large Leather-purse in his Pocket, he in the Evening comes to his Inn, and drinking indifferent hard, stays till 10 of the Clock or thereabouts (it being in September, the Night's dark;) he then calls for the Ostler, and giving him two Pence for his horse, he road homewards towards his own house, which was some four Miles from Leek.  
But Andrew seeing this Purse of Money, and judging it to be more than it was, he takes a Horse of his Master's out of the Stable; he rides a nearer way through a back-ground of his Master's, and meets the Countryman in an open large Moor; where bidding him stand, he robs him of his Money, and then with a Horse-collar, or Halter, binds his hands and feet, losing his Horse to run home; and so leaves the poor Countryman in great distress all Night on the cold ground, Moneyless and comfortless.  
Next Morning he was by Countrypeople found, and came back to Leek, where he made known his bad Misfortune: But none could suspect Andrew to be the Actor in this Fact.  
After this prize, he continues a good time honest, till another opportunity affords itself to his eye, which he would not let slip; which was as followeth:  
About six months after the former Robbery, there came a youngman to the house on foot, travelling for Nantwich in Cheshier, who overnight enquiring in the house of his way, next day none was so forward as Andr. to inform him, or to get into the acquaintance of this Stranger, who, by his own lavish discourse, discovers he had good store of Money, and that he had lately left his Friends upon Discontent. Andrew informs him of the best way he could towards Congerton seven miles on his way, and himself proffered next morning to put him in the right way for a mile or two. The Stranger accepts his proffer; and so in the morning out they go together, their way lying over a great and almost unfrequented Moor, and so through a great dismal Wood; in the midst of which he takes an opportunity, and with one blow of a heavy Stick he knocks the poor Traveller down; but not so content, he redoubles his blows till he found him breathless on the ground: which when he perceived, he took out of his Pocket six pounds in Gold and Silver, with two Rings, and a silver Box, and then takes the Body and drags it into an old useless Coal pit; which being left open and deep, the Body was not found till his Confession before Justice Anderson in June last, 79.  
From acting this horrible Crime, he comes home again to Leek, no body ever suspecting him: for he easily told where he pretended he parted with the Stranger, and they never thinking but he was gone his Journey.  
Andrew upon this Theft was full of money, which he freely spent, the only way to be poor again, and so to be tempted to another sin or Robbery. He was so cunning an Artist, as he never exposed the Rings to sale in Leek, but once going over to Stafford, he there to a Goldsmith sells them, with the Box pretending he found them.  
After this, he continues till May last, without acting any dishonesty to be detected; but though he was asleep in security, he could not escape the Divine Vengeance for his horrid Facts: for now the time of his apprehension drew on, and that he must render an Account for all his sins before the Terrestrial and Celestial Judges. He observes in May last, a woman, who coming to Leek with Cloth, Lace and Thread, and other Pedlar's Commodities, she took some money in the Town, and with what she had before, it was pretty considerable. She than intends for the Town of Bakewel, Northwest from thence, where she must pass by a place called the black Mere of Morridge, which is a strange deep black water-pond of a very prodigious depth and colour, differing from most ordinary waters. Andrew learns what way she must travel, but in his heart he intends to prevent her Journey, and add one more great sin to his two former. This place was some seven miles or thereabouts from Leek; and it was almost three in the afternoon ere she went out of Town, and consequently it must be near night ere she passed by this unfrequented place. Andrew follows her, pretending he was going to a Town three miles off; but he dog's this woman, and follows her to the very place he intended, where by force he first strangles her, and then taking her Purse of money from her side, and her Boxes of Lace, and her Linen, he ties a Rope to her middle, and a great Stone to the end of it, and throws her into the Mere; and so packing up his Prize he hies home, where he gets before morning, and in a Hay-mow hides all his Purchase: which he had not long possessed, but being over-kind with a Maidservant in the house, he tells her he would give her some Lace and Linen; which she being glad to hear, often tells, and urges him for his promise. At last she so much tires him, that he goes one day to fetch her some of both; but she watching him privately, wonders to see him from the Hay-mow draw forth such a quantity of Linen and Lace. She says nothing to him, but at night, sick of a woman's distemper, she tells her other fellow-servant, who could scarce believe it; but the other affirming it, she next day tells her Mistress, who also wondering, sends for Andrew, and taxes him, but he denies it stoutly. She than calls her Husband, and he going to look in the very place, they find all the Linen and Lace, and some Money.  
Andrew was secured, and carried before a Justice; where, after a many strange Excuses, he confesses the Fact: and for it being committed to the Goal, he was, this last Assizes there held, Condemned: And then he confessed the other two Facts, receiving the just Reward of his horrible Murders and Robberies.  
This Relation is known to be true by most of the Inhabitants of Staffordshire, and by the Authors here inserted. Mr. Tho. Horsley, and Mr. Samuel Stains.  
FINIS.