A true and perfect account of the examination, confession, trial, condemnation and execution, of JOHN PERRY, his mother and brother, for the supposed murder of WILLIAM HARRISON, Gent.

Upon Thursday, the 6th of August, 1660, William Harrison, steward to the Lady Viscount Campden, at Campden in Gloucester, being about seventy years of age, walked from Campden aforesaid to Charringworth, about two miles from thence, to receive his lady’s rent; and not returning so early as formerly, his wife, Mrs. Harrison, between eight and nine o’clock in the evening, sent her servant John Perry, to meet his master on the way from Charringworth.  But neither Mr. Harrison nor his servant John Perry returning that night, early the next morning Edward Harrison, William’s son, went towards Charringworth to enquire after his father.  On the way he met Perry coming thence, and being informed by him that he was not there, they went together to Ebrington, a village between Charringworth and Campden, where they were told by one Daniel, that Mr. Harrison called at his house the evening before, in his return from Charringworth, but stayed not.  Then they went to Paxford, about half a mile from thence, where hearing nothing of Mr. Harrison, they returned towards Campden.  And on the way hearing of a hat, band and a comb, taken up on the highway between Ebrington and Campden, by a poor woman then leasing [gleaning] in the field, they sought her out.  With her they found the hat, band and comb, which they knew to be Mr. Harrison’s; and being brought by the woman to the place where she found the same, in the highway between Ebrington and Campden, near unto a great furze-brake, they there searched for Mr. Harrison, supposing he had been murdered, the hat and the comb being hacked and cut, and the band bloody, but nothing more could there be found.  The news hereof coming to Campden, so alarmed the town that the men, women and children hasted thence in multitudes to search for Mr. Harrison’s supposed dead body, but all in vain.

Mrs. Harrison’s fears for her husband were now much increased, and having sent her servant Perry the evening before to meet his master, and he not returning that night, caused a suspicion that he had robbed and murdered him.  Thereupon the said Perry was the next day brought before a Justice of the Peace; by whom being examined concerning his master’s absence, and his own staying out the night he went to meet him, gave this account of himself.  That his mistress sending him to meet his master, between eight and nine o’clock in the evening, he went down Campden Field towards Charringworth about a land’s length,[107] where meeting one William Read of Campden, he acquainted him with his errand, and farther told him that as it was growing dark he was afraid to go forwards, and would therefore return and fetch his young master’s horse and return with him; he went to Mr. Harrison’s court gate, where they parted.  He stayed till one Pierce coming by, he