Joseph Still

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Joseph Still alias Cutterel , of the Parish of Stoke-Newington in the County of Middlesex, was indicted for an Assault and Murder committed on the Body of John Green , by giving him one mortal Wound on the Left side of his Head, near his Left Eye, the 5 of January last, about Five in the Morning, with the Hedging-Bill, of which he languish'd till the 13th of February and then died .

He was a Second time indicted upon the Coroner's Inquest for the same.

After the Council for the King had open'd the Cause, James Howland , Fellow-servant with the Deceas'd, depos'd, That they being Servants to Mr. Nathaniel Carpenter upon the Day and time aforesaid, be heard the Deceas'd cry out for Help. he looking out at the Window ask'd him where he was, and immediately ran to his Assitance, where he found the Deceas'd near his Master's House struggling with the Prisoner having gotten him fast hold by the Hand and the Collar; and that the Deceas'd had then receiv'd a Wound, and was very bloody; and that tho' the Prisoner was a sturdy Villain, he held him till Thomas Meers , a Watchman, came to their Assistance, having heard the Outcries; upon which, it being in vain to result, he surrendred. This was in part confirmed by Thomas Meers , the Watchman, who swore that he took the Hedging-Bill of him, which was all bloody: And they likewise depos'd they saw a Ladder reared up against Mr. Carpenter's Garden-Wall and Candle and Matches,&c. lying on the Ground. The Affidavit of the Deceas'd was produc'd and read in Court, that he spying the Prisoner in his Master's Garden, who, seeing the Deceas'd, ran to get over the Wall out of the Garden again, he ran a nearer Way and met him just coming down the Ladder on the outside of the Garden-Wall in an adjoining Field; and that following him to seize him, the Prisoner said, G - d G - mn him, if he offer'd to touch him, he would murder him; and that he gave him the said Blow on his Head with the Bill. Nicholas Field , the Surgeon, the depos'd, That he dress'd the Deceased's Wound, and putting in his Instrument, found that there was a Roughness upon the Skull, and he did fear it might be fractur'd; and calling in the Assitance of Mr.Green, took out some Pieces of the Skull, and found a Quantity of corrupted Matter come out; and that he did verily believe the Wound was the cause of his Death. Mr.Carpenter gave a very good Character of the Deceas'd, lamentaing the Loss of the best Servant ever had, or feared ever should. The Prisoner in his Defence deny'd he ever was in Mr. Carpenter's Garden; but said the Reason of his being out so soon was that he had a Sister very ill, who had sent for him to come to her. He did not deny that he gave the Deceas'd the Wound; but said he did it in his own Defence. And being ask'd what Business he had with the Hedging-Bill, reply'd, that he carried it to defend himself from Rogues, tho' it seems he need not have been under much Apprehension of meeting any greater than himself, either in Person or Impiety . For besides that he had the Reputation of being a long Practitioner in such Deeds of Darkness, a Record was produc'd in

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Court of his having been Convicted at Hereford Affizes, and burnt in the Hand, for robbing the Lady Butterfield; and several Person's came many Miles to do him and themselves Justice, in ridding themselves of so troublesome and dangerous a Neighbour. The Evidence being as plain as the Fact was barbarous, the Jury found him Guilty of both Indictments.

Old Bailey Proceedings Online (www.oldbaileyonline.org, version 6.0, 10 October 2011), February 1717, trial of Joseph Still alias Cutterel (t17170227-13).