Edward Morgan

Wednesday, 6 April 1757

Edward Morgan (of the parish of St Mellons, Monmouthshire) on 2 January 1757

assaulted Jane Rees in the parish of Llanfabon with an iron spit (value 6d) striking and thrusting on her breast and the left of her belly so that she instantly died (WALES 4/617/4).  He pleaded Guilty.  In his confession he stated that when in bed that morning he decided to murder and rob uncle.  He left home at 11 in the morning and by the time he reached his uncle's house he'd changed his mind.  He went in and was fed and at about 9 o'clock they all went to bed.  He shared a room with their parish apprentice.  After slumbering a while he again changed his mind, got up and attacked the apprentice trying to stab him he missed and only gashed his face and stabbed him in the arm: the boy fled.  His cousin came on the scene and he killed her.  Then he murdered his uncle and aunt.  He found no money and on leaving the house accidentally set fire to the house so that it burned down.  He was ordered for execution on Wednesday 6 April and his body afterwards to be hanged in chains on Eglwysilan common (WALES 14/24).  This is one of the few Welsh crimes in the Newgate Calender (various editions).