At the Assizes for the County of Derby, which commenced on Monday 16^th March 1807. William Webster the unfortunate Sufferer, age 34 was charged on the oath of Thomas Dakin and others, on a violent suspicion of having on the 11^th day of February last, infused and mixed a mineral poison in ale, drank by Thomas Dakin, at the house of John Sims, of the parish of Hartington, Inn Holder, with intent to poison the said Thomas Dakin. And also on a violent suspicion of having on Monday February 16^th infused, and mixed mineral poison in the tea drank by Elizabeth Dakin, Mary Roe, Jane Fern, Thomas Dakin, and four of the children of the said Thomas Dakin, in consequence of which mixture the said Elizabeth Dakin, and Mary Roe died on the 17^th February and the said Thomas Dakin, Jane Fern and the four children were taken extremely ill and in grave danger of losing their lives.

It appeared in Court that Mr Dakin (the prosecutor) had advanced several sums of money to the prisoner for which he had no security and the prisoner had promised to pay him from time to time and to satisfy the prosecutor that he had money owing him, he procured letters to be written in other persons names, signifying that he had money owing him, which should be paid to the prosecutor whenever he received it. – The prisoner thought as Mr Dakin had no security for his money, if he died he could not be obliged to pay it. He therefore, on the 11^th February, put into some ale the prosecutor was drinking, some corrosive sublimate, but which made the ale so nauseous the prosecutor did not drink it. Being disappointed in this he introduced the next day a poison into some posset which was provided for the prisoner after eating a part he mixed arsenic with the remainder, and put it on the table where the family were at breakfast, all of whom partook of it.

He then on the 16th February following, put some arsenic into the tea kettle belonging to Mr. Dakin’s family, by which Mrs. Dakin and Miss Roe, (her sister) died, and Mr. Dakin, and four of his children, and servant, were made extremely ill.  -  It appeared during the trial he had told many gross falsehoods, especially to Mr. Dakin, from whom under false pretences he obtained about £660.00  -From the evidence being so connected and everything so clear against him, after a trial which lasted 11 hours the jury pronounced their Verdict, GUILTY.

The learned Judge then pronounced the sentence of the law against the prisoner, that he be hanged by the neck until he was dead, and his body afterwards given to the surgeons for dissection, which sentence he heard with indifference and composure.

How hardening is sin!  Murder is a crime at which human nature shudders; but we know not to what we may be brought if we give way to sin.  This unhappy man appears to have indulged himself in cruelty and wickedness till the blackest crimes were easy to him.  Disappointed more than once in his deadly designs, yet he still pursued the object of his hatred, till justice prevented him from going further.  -  One murder is dreadful, but he seemed not to care how many of his fellow creatures he could destroy to obtain his end.

                                                                                       Wilkins, Printer, Derby.