Kentish Gazette, 5 April 1803.

BROADSTAlRS. To be SOLD by AUCTION, By R. COLLARD,

On Thursday, April 14, 1803.

AT the sign of the "Neptune's Hall, at three o'clock, in the afternoon, (unless before disposed of by private contract, of which notice will be given).

A fine Lugsail Boat the Chance, 33 feet 4 inches long, 11 feet 4 inches wide, copper fastened, together with her materials.

Also the Boat Christmas 23 feet long, breadth 5 feet, with her materials.

And a Galley 26 feet long, with her materials.

The above now lay in Broadstairs Pier, are in good condition, well found, and fit for sea. For further particulars apply to Mr. Stephen Jarman, mariner, Ramsgate, or at the "Neptune's Hall", Broadstairs.

From the Kentish Gazette, 26 March, 1807.

Horrid murder in the Isle of Thanet.

This day Andrew Schostock, a German, was tried on indictment, charging him with the wilful murder of Thomazin Ward, at St Peter's, in the Isle of Thanet, on the 16th of January.

Mr. Gurney opened the prosecution, and he was followed on the same side by Mr Garrow, who stated the facts attending the case to the jury. The councel observed, that the Prisoner was a private soldier in the King's German legion, and the unfortunate woman who was murdered was at the time a shopkeeper of respectability, residing at St Peter's, in the Isle of Thanet. She had taken a walk to Broadstairs, about a mile distance from her place of residence, and not having arrived back again at the time appointed, her husband became alarmed for her safety, and, on search being made, the body was found in a field, about 60 yards from the road. It was evident, the learnt counsel observed, that the unfortunate woman had experienced much violence, her body was exposed, and her person has been injured. The prisoner, it would be proved, was seen walking a few yards distance from the deceased a short time before the murder was committed, and it would be proved in evidence that he was absent from his guard, without leave, from 7 till 10 o'clock, his shoes with dirty with field dirt; and it would be proved that he was found in possession of three handkerchiefs, the property of the deceased, which had been taken from her. On being questioned where he was at 9 o'clock, the prisoner said he was at the "Neptune's Hall" public house, which would be contradicted in evidence; and he said that the handkerchief's found in his possession had been given him by a stranger. In another conversation the prisoner has said he saw a man knock a woman down, and it was the same man who gave him the handkerchief.

A ribband was found tied tight around the neck of the deceased, it would be proved by her husband, that she never wore an appendage of that kind. It would be stated by a Surgeon, that by this ribband the deceased was strangled. Under the strong circumstances attending the case, the Jury would have no doubt of the guilt of the prisoner.

Henry Blackburn, a carpenter, residing at Broadstairs, stated, that he met a soldier in the regimentals worn by the German Legion, as he was returning home from the village of St Peter's, about 9 o'clock, on the evening of the 16th of January, and he immediately after met the deceased, who he knew, and with whom he conversed. She was in good health, and was going home. Witness could not swear to the prisoner as being the man who he met.

Steven May found the body of the deceased at 12 o'clock at night, in a field about 60 yards from the road, where the preceding witness saw the deceased. She was lying on her back, and her apparel was in a very disorderly state, it being mostly torn from her. Her mouth was open, and witness found a handkerchief lying by her side, which was wet, and from appearances it had been stuffed into the mouth of the deceased. A ribbon was also fastened as tight as possible around her neck. Her person had sustained a good deal of injury. There were tracks of two persons having had a scuffle from the road to the field.

Mr Frome, a surgeon, at Broadstairs, examined the body of the deceased, but there were no external marks sufficient to cause death. There might be a concussion of the brain by a fall, or by other violence, so as not to leave appearances behind. Witnesses had seen the ribband which was tied twice round the neck, and which he believed was a cause of death by suffocation.

Sergeant Frederick Riford, a sergeant belonging to the German Legion, proved, that, on the evening of a murder, the prisoner absented himself from the guard without leave, from 7 till 10 o'clock. In consequence of the information given at the guard room by a Mr Barfield of the murder, a privy was search, and two handkerchiefs found therein, which were proved to have belonged to the deceased. Another handkerchief, which had also been taken from the deceased, was found in the crown of the prisoner's foraging cap. The prisoner had informed witness, that the handkerchiefs were given him by a stranger who he had seen knock a woman down, after dragging her into a field.

Mr Robert Barfield, Sub-Deputy of St Peter's, gave information of the murder at the guard-house, in the presence of the prisoner, who appeared a good deal agitated. This gentleman corroborated what was stated by the preceding witness respecting the finding of the handkerchiefs; and he also stated, that the shoes of the prisoner covered with field dirt.

The testimony of other witnesses strengthened the case, so as to leave no doubt of the guilt of the prisoner, and one of them proved that he had left the "Neptune's Hall" at half-past eight o'clock. Another witness proved, that the prisoner had pointed out the spot where the murder was committed.

William Ward, the husband of the deceased, who appeared deeply affected, said that his wife and gone to Broadstairs on the evening of the murder to see her daughter, and he proved that she never wore a ribbon around her neck.

Judge Heath summed up the evidence, and the jury without hesitation found the prisoner - Guilty.

He was sentenced to be executed on Saturday next, and his body to be dissected.

The prisoner had an interpreter, and after sentence was passed on him, he said, "there is one God, and one heaven," and he had one prayer to make, the judge having informed him he did not expect mercy in this world.