Description by George Eyre Evans:
"About 2 o'clock, on 9 September, a party of men disguised in white dresses, went to Hendy Gate, about half a mile from Pontarddulais. They carried out the furniture from the toll-house, and told the old woman, whose name was Sarah Williams, to go away and not return. She went to the house of John Thomas, a labourer, and called him to assist in extinguishing the fire at the toll-house, which had been ignited by the Rebeccaites. The old woman then re-entered the toll-house. The report of a gun or pistol was soon afterwards heard. The old woman ran back to John Thomas's house, fell down at the threshold, and expired within two minutes. She had received several cautions to collect no more tolls.
On 11 September an inquest was held before William Bonville, Coroner. Two surgeons, Ben Thomas, Llanelli, and John Kirkhouse Cooke, Llanelli, gave evidence that on the body were marks of shot, some penetrating the nipple of left breast, on in the armpit of the same side, and several shot marks on both arms. Two shots were found in the left lung. In spite of all this evidence the jury found "that the deceased died from effution of blood into the chest occasioned, suffocation, but from what cause is to this jury unknown."
Transcription:
"Carmarthen, 13 Sept., 1843.
My dear Sir,
As I understand Mr. Chambers is absent I must address my letters now to you, and I have to inform you that the Secretary of State will authorise the offer by you of Her Majesty's most gracious pardon to any person concerened in the murder of the woman at Ponthendy gate, who shall give information and evidence so as to convict the offenders, excepting such persons as actually fired the shot which deprived her of life. And also that he will recommend of the payment of a further reward of £200 in addition to that sum offered by Mr. Chambers for the detection of the persons who set her property on fire, excepting always anyone who actually set fire to the premises and stacks, and so that no principal offender shall receive any part of the award in question. He will advise in this case the grant of Her Majesty's most gracious pardon to an accomplice under the same restriction, namely, that it is not to be extended to any one who actually set fire to any of the property consumed.
I shall be glad to be accurately informed as to the circumstances attending the threats used to Mr. Chambers if he did not release his prisoner. Can you send me a copy of the verdict?
Bonville [the coroner] is not here.
I am, dear Sir, Yours,
Geo. Rice Trevor. Vice-Lt."
[Source: George Eyre Evans, 'Rebecca Riots: Unpublished letters, 1843-44', The Transactions of the Carmarthenshire Antiquarian Society and Field Club, vol. XXIII, pp. 65-6]