At Warwick assizes, William Thomson, a lad only twelve years of age, was capitally convicted of robbing and intending to murder his master, John Darleson, a weaver.
The master had given the lad some correction for neglecting his work, which the boy determined to revenge; and, hiding himself in the bed-chamber, as soon as his master was asleep, he made a cut at his throat with a large knife, but it luckily happened that Mr. Darleson had neglected his usual custom of putting off his neckcloth, and that secured him from the blow. Darleson instantly started up in a fright, but the boy hiding himself behind the curtain, he imagined that his terror was occasioned only by a dream; he lay down again and went to sleep.
As soon as the boy found he was asleep, he renewed his attempt, but the master started up again, and was now so much shocked that it was a considerable time before he could prevail on himself to lie down; however, at length, he lay down, and only pretended to go to sleep, when the wretch made another violent stroke at him; but Mr. Darleson then caught his hand, and jumping up secured him.
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