June 28, 1902

AT the Worcestershire Assizes on Tuesday before Mr Justice Wright, Samuel Middleton, Labourer, of Spring Hill Lane, Foxlydiate, was arraigned on the charge of murdering his wife, Hannah Middleton, at Foxlydiate, near Redditch, on May 10th and further with setting fire to his house, his wife being then on the premises.

After an absence of 10 minutes, the jury returned into court and amid deep silence, the Clerk of the Assize (Mr J L Mathews), having received an affirmative answer to his question of whether the jury were agreed, then asked: "Do you find the prisoner at the bar, Samuel Middleton, guilty or not guilty of wilful murder?"

"Guilty" replied the foreman.

His Lordship then assumed the black cap and said: "The gentlemen of the jury have performed a most painful duty which the Law cast upon them with courage and they have found the only verdict open to them to find.

"My duty is to pass the sentence of the Law, which is that you, Samuel Middleton, be taken from hence to the place where you came and thence to a place of execution, that you be hanged by the neck till you be dead and that your body be buried within the precincts of the prison in which you shall have been last confined.

"May the Lord have mercy on your soul."

The prisoner murmured his thanks, then turned round quietly and disappeared down the steps leading to the cells.