The history of crime in Westmorland is marked by two previous executions and both criminals hailed from Sackville. In 1807, Henry BABCOCK, acting under an impulse caused by religious fanatacism, killed his sister-in-law at Shediac. He got the idea from hearing some revivalists who were at work in the county at the time, that only by the means of scrifice could the atonement of sins be made and he went to Shediac and murdered his sister-in-law and made attempt on the lives of other members of the family. The next execution took place Sept. 8, 1864 when Amos HICKS was hanged for the murder of an old British soldier named HILL, whom he deliberately shot in the woods a short distance on the Dorchster side of the line between this and Dorchster parishes. Hicks, who was only half witted, swore that he acted under the suggestion of an uncle named TINGLEY, who was afterwards tried as an accomplice and acquitted. The story is that Hill squatted on a piece of land which Tingley claimed as his and refused to move off. Hicks was frequently told by Tingley that it would be better if Hill were out of the way. One day Hicks took his gun, apparently with the intention of going partridge hunting, and went to where Hill was at work in the woods with his son, took deliberate aim at the man, shot him and ran. He was arrested in town here shortly after. His execution was public and it is said Dorchester never had so large a crowd within its boundary as on that day. He was hanged by Sheriff Botsford in front of the Court House in full view of the people. (see original for execution of 'Buck' for murder of Policeman Joseph STEADMAN)