1861- Murder in the village of Dundry Sarah Waterman, aged 75 Stories from the note books of a newspaper reporter by E. Austin - Bristol Correspondent of 'The Times' Early in the year 1861 an atrocious murder was committed at Dundry near Bristol. An pensioner, named George Waterman, and his wife. Sarah Waterman, aged 75, lived together in a secluded cottage in that village. On the evening in question the nearest neighbour of the old couple was aroused by Waterman coming to his house and imploring help, stating that his wife was murdered, or nearly so. Lovell, the neighbour. quickly answered the appeal, and assisted Waterman back to his dwelling. On entering the cottage, the old woman was found lying on the floor, covered with blood, flowing from wounds that had been inflicted on her. An alarm was given, a surgeon was speedily in attendance, but he found the patient beyond human skill, and in half an hour Mrs. Waterman expired. The husband, who had also been severely beaten, retained his consciousness, and was able to give some account of what had happened. He stated that as he and his wife were sitting together when some one knocked at the cottage door. After inquiring who it was, and receiving an answer which led him to believe all was right, he opened the door, when two men, armed with bludgeons, rushed in upon him. He was immediately knocked down and beaten about the head. His assailants then forced him up stairs, ransacked his place, and carried off a brace of loaded pistols, two silver watches, and some other articles. The old man was unable to give any precise account of the time at which his wife received the injuries which resulted in her death, but stated that while he was being beaten he said to the ruffians, “ Spare my wife,” ~~hereupon one of them replied, “I have put her to sleep.” It so happened that at this time one of the employees in a Bristol newspaper office lived at Dundry, and early on the following morning he brought in the intelligence of the murder. Very soon afterwards, in company with three other reporters, I set out for Dundry. On our arrival there we gained admission to Waterman’s cottage, and were obtaining such particulars as could be gleaned respecting this tragic affair from the persons who were there, tending old Waterman, when our proceedings were interrupted by the appearance of the police superintendent of the district. This gentleman was deeply impressed with the importance of his office, and had the common objection entertained by many of his class to information being received by reporters except so far as it may be vouchsafed by the police. Hence he requested us to leave the cottage, hut kindly promised to favour us with any particulars which in his judgment ought to be made public. We expressed our thanks to the superintendent, and told him we would do all we could to assist the police by making inquiries in other quarters. Outside the cottage we found a group of villagers talking over the murder, and to them we addressed ourselves with a view to ascertain, if possible, whether suspicion had already fallen on any one. In answer to one of our questions, one of the rustics, told us that he heard 'John, the policeman,' say he saw two men near the cottage shortly before 7 o’clock on the previous evening. This was very near the time fixed by old Waterman as that at which he heard the knock at his door. Where is John, the policeman, to be found‘“ we asked. 'Oh, sir, he ain’t a policeman now, he’s a gardener up at the parsonage,” replied the rustic. On this hint, after a few other questions, we withdrew, and held a conference at the village inn, the result of which was that we resolved to invite “John, the policeman.” to an interview. It was arranged that I should assume as well as I could the character of a magistrate. and that my brother reporters should act as my assistants and clerk. A message was despatched to the parsonage requesting 'John, the policeman', to attend at the inn, and in due time he was ushered into our apartment. We are here.” I said,“ to make inquiries touching the same murder that has taken place in this village, and we learn that you are able to give some information respecting it.” Yes. your Worship,” replied John, who had evidently not forgotten his habits as a policeman, and who flattered me with the belief that I was sustaining my assumed character creditably. Be good enough to give Your name, address, and present occupation.”John complied. I do not think it necessary,” I continued', at this preliminary inquiry to cause you to he sworn, but will merely ask you to state all you know about the matter, and we will then consider whether it will he desirable to reduce your evidence into a formal deposition.” John accordingly to make a statement to the effect that on the previous evening he had seen the men whom he believed to he the nephews of Waterman at the village alehouse, and that he afterwards saw them going in the direction of the cottage. He gave us a full, and as it proved accurate description of both men, and some other minor particulars. When his examination, which had been carefully taken down in shorthand by my fellow reporter who acted as magistrates' clerk, was concluded, I threw John a half-crown, and told him I was much obliged to him for his evidence, and that he might be required to attend on a future day. John took up the coin, and said, 'Thank your Worship, any time I may be wanted I'll be ready to come'. We returned soon afterwards to Bristol, and on the following morning several London and local newspapers contained reports of the Dundry murder, embodying the facts we had gleaned from John. On the afternoon of the same day some officers of the Somerset County Constabulary, assisted by members of the Bristol police force. succeeded in apprehending Charles Wedmore and Matthew Wedmore in the Hotwell road, Bristol. The men were Waterman’s nephews the former was a deserter from the Marine Artillery, and the latter a lumper. Both prisoners made a desperate resistance, Matthew having fired off a loaded pistol at one of the constables when within about three yards of him, and Charles having made an attempt to get another loaded pistol out of his trousers pocket. These weapons were afterwards identified by old Waterman as his property the watches which were stolen were also traced to the possession of the prisoners, and proved to have been pawned by them on the day after the murder and Waterman swore positively that they were the men by whom be had been beaten and robbed. The evidence of “John, the policeman,” afterwards taken judicially, and that of other witnesses, made out a chain of circumstantial evidence in which no link was wanting, and which pointed in one direction, and one direction only, to the prisoners’ guilt. They were both fully committed for wilful murder by the coroner and by the orthodox magistrates before whom the case came, and were tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death at the ensuing Somerset Assizes. The evidence against the ruffians was overwhelmingly conclusive. and each of them male a statement which was, in effect, a confession of guilt. From the time of their committal till the close of the trial the Wedmore's evinced a callous indifference which amounted to levity but the absolute certainty of a speedy and ignominious death intimated by Mr. Baron Martin in passing sentence, and the ministrations of the gaol chaplain and another clergyman, produced a salutary effect upon the convicts. After quitting the dock the reckless bravado they had all along displayed was no more exhibited. On the contrary they admitted the justice of their doom, and expressed remorse for the crime for which they were about to suffer; and in the opinion of the governor of the gaol, and the clergymen by whom they were attended, the repentance thus manifested was truly sincere. Upon leaving the assize court, the prisoners did not see each other again till the morning of their execution, when they met in the gaol chapel. Neither spoke, but each gazed wistfully at the other with strange solicitude. Having partaken of the Holy Communion the prisoners were conducted from the chapel to the flight of steps leading to the gallows. The ceremony of pinioning the arms was then performed, and the procession mounted the scaffold. First came the chaplain, reading the burial service for the yet living men ; then followed the governor of the gaol: next, Charles and Matthew Wedmore and. lastly, the hangman and the goal officials. Both the condemned men walked with a firm step. Matthew was first placed under the fatal beam, and while the cap was being drawn over his face, and the rope adjusted round his neck, his brother looked on him with intense emotion. The same operations were then performed on Charles Wedmore. and being completed Calcraft the hangman shook hands with both prisoners. The chaplain, governor, arid Warden thou withdrew, and the executioner soon afterwards acquitted the scaffold. leaving the brothers to await their doom. In a second or two an audible shudder ran through the crowd, the bolts were withdrawn, the platform fell, and the criminals were left suspend in the air. Matthew Wedmore died apparently without a struggle, and after a few convulsive throes, the stalwart form of Charles was a corpse. I do not remember whether in this case a reward was offered to any person giving such information as should lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer or murderers. All I know is I never heard that ‘ John. the policeman’ received any gratuity, except the half-crown before mentioned, and I am certain that we who conducted the 'extra-judicial inquiry,’ and gave the police the benefit of the benefit of the information we received, were unrequited in any sense, except that of having procured for our several papers early and authentic intelligence which had no unimportant share in leading to the capture and conviction of the criminals.