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An Indictment 
Against
Samuel Hill
for murder
A True Bill
Thos. Loman, foreman
Witnesses:
Hopkins Sommerson Sworn to give evidence to the grand Jury
Wm. Sommerson R Herring
Hiram Hord
Richard Philips
John Bontivele
Andrian Bowler
George Alsop
Thomas Miller
We the Jury find the prisoner guilty of murder of the first degree, but from some mitigating circumstances which came out in the evidence, are unanimously disposed in to recommend him the Mr. Executive for as a proper object for mercy.
- H. [*]
foreman
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Virginia District Court of Fredricksburg
Caroline County Court
The jurors of the Commonwealth of and for the body of the District composed of the counties of Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Orange, Culpepper, & Madison, do upon their oath present that Samuel Hill late of the Parish of St. Mary’s in the County of Caroline aforesaid labouror, not having the fear of God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the instigation of the Devil, on the ninth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eight and in the thirty second year of the Commonwealth at the parish aforesaid, at the county last mentioned (and within the jurisdiction of the court of the aforesaid District) with force and arms, in and upon one Gawin Sommerson on the peace of God and of the Commonwealth at the time and place first mentioned being feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did make an assault: and that he the said Samuel Hill a [*] gun, of the value of four Dollars, at the time and place last mentioned charged with gun powder and divers leaden shot (which gun the said Samuel Hill in his house at the time & place last mentioned had and held) to, against and upon the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did soot and discharge; and that the said Samuel Hill with the leaden shot aforesaid out of the gun aforesaid at the time and place last mentioned by force of the gun powder shot and sent forth as aforesaid the aforesaid Gawin Sommerson in and upon the left temple and left neck of him the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned with the leaden shot aforesaid out of the gun aforesaid by the said Samuel Hill so as aforesaid shot, discharged and sent forth feloniously willfully and of his malice aforethought did strike penetrate and wound Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned with the leaden shot aforesaid so as aforesaid shot and discharged out of the gun aforesaid by the said Samuel Hill in and upon the left temple and neck of him the said Gawin Sommerson one mortal wound of the depth of one inch and of the breath of one inch of which said mortal wound the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned instantly died. And so the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say that the said Samuel Hill, the said Gawin Sommerson at the time and place last mentioned, in manner aforesaid last mentioned, feloniously, willfully and of his malice aforethought did kill and murder against the peace and property of the Commonwealth.