I I - American Memory

I 14 I
accordingly, and for which Mrs. Hpyei paid lo /. ^ J.
They then fat down to Drinking, or rather to fee Mr.
Hayes drink, under Pretence of the Wager betwixt Bil-
lings and him, who was to drink all the Wine, whilil
they three had feveral Pots of Beer, i^c.
Having encourag'd Mr. Hayes in drinking the Wine,
and he growing very merry therewith, he fung and
danc'd about the Room, but his Wife fearing the Quan-
tity he had drank would not have the wifli'd for EfFeft
upon him, flie fent away for another Bottle, of whicii
he drank alfo, which efteftually anfwer'd their Expefta-'
tions, and Mr. Hayes became thereby intoxicated and de-
priv'd of liis Underftanding.
He however made Shift to get into the other Room,
and throwing himfelf crofs the Bed, fell alleep, upon
which Mrs. Hayes, mindful of her black Intentions, re-
minded them of the Affair in Hand, and told them,
then was the moft proper Junfture to finifh the Bufinefs.
Upon which Billings went into the other Room,
where Mr. Hayes lay fleeping, and going to the Bed-
fide with a Coal-Hatchet in his Hand, ftruck Mr. Hsyei
on the back of the Head, whereby he broke his Skull,
the Violence of the Blow, and the Agony of the Fain,
occafion'd Mr. Hayes to flamp upon the Ground five or
fix Times with his Feet, Vi'hich hung over the Bedfide.
Whereupon Thomas Wood came into the Room, and
ftruck him twice more on the Side of the Head with
the fame Inftrument, tho' the firft Blow had done his
Bufinefs efFeftuaily.
Upon the Noife Mr. Hayes made with his Feet, as
abovc-mcntion'd, Mrs. Springate, who lodg'd up in the
Garret over Mr. Hayes'^i, Room, hearing the fame, came
down to enquire the Occafion thereof, complaining tlie
Difturbance was fo great, they meaning herfelf, her
Hufband, and a Child they had, could not fleep for it.
To which Mrs. Hayes anfwer'd, they had fome Com.-
pany there, who having been drinking, were grown
merry, but as they would be going immediately, de-
fir'd her not to be uneafy!
This