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Warwick Assizes: miscellaneous papers

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Confession (transcript below) of Samuel Irwin in Rex (on the prosecution of Rebecca Pinfield, widow, William Willis and William Buller, constable v. James Anderson, Patrick Welch, William Howard, William Ridley, Samuel Irwin and James Kelley (soldiers in the 5th Regiment of Dragoons) for the murder at Stratford-upon-Avon of Joseph Pinfield. Transcript Samuel Irwin's confession, 2nd March 1796 before Marmaduke Matthews Who confesses that he was in his quarters at the White Lion at Stratford upon Avon upon Christmas evening last when the corporal ( Ridley) went around the patrol and called him out and desired him and Wm Howard to go with him into the street and to go round with him to see the men's quarters, telling them that Anderson had been knocked down and beat. That Deponent and Howard accordingly went with the corporal to the Malt Shovel where they found the landlord of the house and took him into custody under a suspicion that he was the person who had knocked down and beat Anderson. That they took him to the guard house at the White Lion. That the corporal went immediately and made his report to the Captain ( Redwood) That while the Corporal Ridley was gone to the Captain with his report , this deponent went from the guard house into the street ( leaving the landlord of the Malt Shovel in the guard house. That one his way towards the Malt Shovel he met with Patrick Welch ( one of his comrades) who asked this deponent " if he had seen James Kelly run after a man and woman with a naked sword?" Deponent answered him "He did not" Immediately after they heard a noise and the voice of a woman crying out Murder upon which this deponent and Welch immediately ran towards the place where the noise and cry came from - upon their coming near the place this deponent and Welch saw James Kelley beating a man with his naked sword as the man was lying on the ground. That Welch immediately ran up towards them and said to Kelley "Damn your soul , do you mean to kill the man" and laid hold of him . That Welch endeavoured to take him away and this deponent assisted him in so doing, that they brought him a small distance, not more than a few yards from the man but that he gave a sudden jerk and got away, having leaped from the hands of Welch when he gave himself a turn round and said " Damn me but he will do the better with another blow" and then turned back to the man who was still lying on the ground in the garden and struck him violently on the head with his drawn sword, that this deponent Welch came up to him again and laid hold of Kelly and dragged him away to the guard house where they left him , Deponent went into his quarters leaving Welch at the guard house * The mark of Samuel Irwin