Published in the Whitehall Evening Post Or, London Intelligencer
Saturday, October 11, to Tuesday, October 14, 1755

LONDON.
Fresh Advices from our Correspondents.

   PHILADELPHIA, August 21. We hear from Chester County, that on Tuesday last one John Myrack of East Cain, murdered his Wife, two of his own Children, and a Child of Mr. John Gilliland’s, that was nursing at his House, in a most barbarous Manner. After he had murdered his Wife, he burnt her Face to such a Degree that no Person could know her; his Childrens’ Skulls he beat to Pieces against a Rock that was behind his Door, and Mr. Gilliland’s he carried a little Way into the Wood, and there killed and left it. He afterwards endeavoured to make his Escape, but was immediately taken, when he confessed the horrid Fact, and is now confined in Chestor Goal. __ Horrible Murders we see are committed in our Settlements abroad, as well as here at home, but whether Gin, Rum, or other destructive Liquor, may intoxicate them, by being consumed in large Quantities, I cannot say, but I verily think that many of the Murders at home have been occasioned by the excessive Abuse of this Mad-making Liquor, which drowns their Senses, destroys their Reason, and is attended with deplorable Effects, as we have too often seen; so that it is to be wished a Way could be found to cure this very great Evil, which is to be despair’d of, as long as People can find Admittance into Public Houses, even on the Lord’s Day, and in Time of Divine Service, which is the Case in several Lanes and Alleys in this Metropolis, where some are harboured and others going in and out the whole Day, and till Twelve at Night, which ill Practice must in great measure be owing to a Neglect in the proper Officers, whose Business it is to prevent this notorious Breach of the Law. Nor do Victuallers themselves consider, that by suffering any to sit tippling in their Houses they may be disabled for three Years from selling Ale; besides, a Conviction is a Forteiture of the Recognizance which they enter into when they are licensed to sell Ale, &c.

-- transcription by Kate Maynard, 2010