A Dreadful account of a barbarous bloody murther committed on the body of one Mr. Cymball, at his own house, in Old Soho, on the 31st of January, 1694 ...

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 ap∣pear in the Relation of it.

1. Febr. 1694/5expand_less 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 Mis∣chiefs, 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 proba∣bility 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 Ex∣tended to Implore Mercy from his pretended Friend, but now Merci∣less 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 pity∣ing 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 Exami∣nation 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.