News from the Sessions. Or, The Whole TRIAL OF GEORGE ALLEN THE BUTCHER Who Murdered his Wife in the Fields behind Islington, On Friday the 5 th'. of this Instant February, And the manner how the same came to be Discovered.  
As also the Full Trial of John Harter the Oastler, for stealing an Horse, and an Hundred and Twenty Pounds of Money. For which he is Convicted of Felony.  
With the Trials of several other Malefactors, for divers Notorious Crimes, and other remarkable passages at the Sessions begun at Justice-Hall in the Old Bailie, the 19 th'. of Febr. 1674/5.  
Printed for George Smith, 1675.   

News from the Sessions, etc.  
AT this Sessions for London and Middlesex, and Goal-delivery of Newgate, amongst many other Criminals of divers kinds, George Allen for the heinousness of his barbarous crime, was sadly remarkable above others: Having not only committed a bloody murder, but such as was aggravated to the highest degree, by being perpetrated on a poor innocent of the weaker sex, and the nearest Relation in the World: This inhuman Fact was done on Friday the 5 th'. of this instant February in the Evening. In the Fields behind Islington (lately the bloody scene of several lamentable Tragedies, as that of the eminent Quaker who drowned himself in Wheelers-pond on Friday night the 12 th'. instant whose corpse was not found till Thursday last, and another person since killed in a fray not far from thence. The manner how this Allen came to be suspected and discovered was thus. The murdered party his wife, and he had for a long time lived at difference; insomuch that she was forced to leave him, and return home to Uxbridge her native place, to live with her friends, and had lived from him there for about Two years: During which time he being by trade a Butcher, worked as journy-man with one of that profession in an Alley in Turn-Mill-Street; but the week before the murder committed he went down thither, and seeming very willing to be reconciled by fair words prevailed with the woman's credulity and good nature to live with him again, promising for to use her far more kindly for the future; and accordingly on Friday the fifth instant they came up together from thence to London, and arrived at Grays-Inn Lane just as it began to be dark, but he pretending that his Lodging was a great way off, led her from thence round through Hatton-Garden, and so again into the fields, where he inveigled her along till they came as aforesaid behind Islington, near the Gravel-pits, and there carrying her pattens for her with one of them he knocked her on the head, and leaving her dead went home to his Lodging in Turn-Mill-street: next morning her body was found, and coming to strip her, in her stocking they found her wedding ring, which 'tis more than probable she had hid there, that he might not take it away from her, it being his usual custom formerly to plunder her of every thing of any value to supply his extravagencies. The rumour of a woman so found, who by all circumstances appeared to have been murdered, spreading about the country, soon came to Uxbridge where her Father and Uncle were living, who no sooner heard it but they were struck with a kind of prophetical apprehension, that it might be this person murdered by her unnatural Husband. And therefore ordered a friend that was coming to London to inquire after it, who coming to Islington knew the slain persons clothes, and thence concluding on violent presumptions that her husband must indeed have a hand in it, immediately procures a Warrant and apprehends him in Newgate Market, before the Justice of Peace, he absolutely denied all, and affirmed he parted with his Wife at Grays-Inn-Lane end, and since had neither seen nor known what was become of her. But being committed to Newgate, and forced (for he was very unwilling) to go to hear the Sermon there the next Lord's day. It seems the same made some impression on his spirit, for the next Day being closely examined, he confessed he did K●ll her, and that the intention of the murder first entered into his heart as they were passing over Hatton-Garden, and that he did it with one of her Pattens, which was sufficiently proved now in Court, for notwithstanding such his acknowledgement at the Bar, he pleaded, Not Guilty: It was also proved by several persons from Uxbridge, that he had formerly attempted to Poison her, and to that purpose had sent her several times Poison, which once before had like to have cost her her life, and also that here in London he kept company, and was in League with another woman, whom he had promised Marriage, and appointed a day for that purpose: telling her, his wife in the Country had married another man; and therefore he was free to dispose of himself: yet being questioned, he now cleared that person, and affirmed that she neither instigated him, nor was privy to this Murder. There was likewise a letter produced and read, which he owned to be of his writing, it was dated on the Monday after the Fact, directed to his Wife's Father (contrived on purpose to conceal his Gild) for therein he acquainted them his wife was very well, and that he had taken a little house, beyond London, at Stratford, etc. All which making his Murderous intention so apparent he could not at last deny that he Killed her, but said it, on provocation of ill Language, and that she tore him by the Hair, whereupon he did indeed strike her a blow with her Patten, and left her on the ground, but did not think to have Killed her; but being not able to give any account why he led her that way, at that time o'th' night, his design was evident: Being asked what he had to say for himself, one of the Honourable Judges, no less Gravely then Religiously told him his Condition, required him rather to say much against himself, as being Guilty of so great and horrible a sin, of which he feared he was not sufficiently sensible: To which the Prisoner replied that indeed he was not sensible of it, and that he hoped that the Court would pity him: and so desired Transportation. But was told, that our Laws are more Just then to allow that favour to such bloody Criminals: so he was left to the Jury, who Immediately brought him in Guilty of Murder.  
There was also one John Harter, Indicted for Felony, his Case appeared on proof to be thus: a Gentleman of Berkshire usually lying at an Inn in Old-Fish-street, where this John was Oastler, being to go forth o'th' Town early on Monday Morning, the 15 th'. instant, desired him to get his Horse ready, which being done, he having One hundred and Twenty pounds to carry down with him, lays it on the Saddle, and then steps into his Chamber, or the Kitchen to fetch his Coat: Whilst he was gone, John having notice of the Money, mounrs the Steed, and rides away with the Money directly to Cain-wood, where taking out so much of the Money as he thought fit far his present Occasion, which was to buy him a Perriwigg and new Suit, that he might pass undiscovered, he hides the rest there, and brings the horse into a By-Lane near Holloway, and there leaves him tied, and comes back to Lon●on: in the mean time a friend of the Countryman's that dwelled in Drury-lane that was very well acquainted at the Inn, comes thither, hears the sad story of his Loss, and goes homeward, where near Drury-Lane he spies this fellow already disguised in a Gentile Wigg, yet not so much but that he knew him, and caused him to be Apprehended; before the justice he forthwith confessed the fact, and told how he had disposed of the horse and money, which were recovered all but about 10 l. which he had spent. The Jury at first brought him in, Not Guilty, as supposing it could not be Felony, because the Horse was delivered by the Owner into the Oastlers Custody, But upon the advice of the Court, that he had no such special custody committed to him, and the Witnesses better explaining his former Testimony, they amended their Verdict, and found him Guilty.  
A person was indicted for robbing a Woman in the Evening near Thistle worth; who testified that as she was walking two men came behind her and one of them clapping his hands over her eyes plucked her to the ground whilst the other robbed her, and then muffling her Hood over her face, fled. A Shepherd hearing her cry out, making to her rescue, see them at a distance and pursued one of them near half a mile, of whom he gave a description so like the prisoner at Bar that he was apprehended and presented upon suspicion. But no direct or sufficient proof appearing, and the fellow producing several to speak in his behlf, he was acquitted, so also was another, upon the same score that stood indicted for stealing of broad cloth out of a West Country Carrier's Wagon.  
There were three more arraigned for Murder: That's to say, A Soldier for killing a man in a fray in St. Gilese's, and two women for destroying their Bastard Children, with several others for felonies, petty Larcernies, and other offences too tedious here to relate.  
FINIS.