The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-01-16 00:00:00

THE EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSION
OF MURDER.

- -
William Sheward, the man charged with the murder
of his wife Martha Sheward, on the 15th of June,
1851, and who voluntarily surrendered himself to
justice on Friday, the Ist inst., was brought up for
examination at :\ orwich on Friday in last week. By
twelve o'clock a large crowd had assembled in the
vicinity of the Guildhall in the hope of catching a
eight sf the self charged murderer, who, it Was
understood, would undergo his first examination at
one o'clock. At that time the prisoner was brought
into court, and a regular rush was made by the public
to obtain admittance, but the limited space allotted to
visitors to the court prevented but very few being
gratified. Prisoner is short in stature, his height
probably aot exceeding sft. 3M. ; pale, with grey
hair, and of very respectable appearance. Several
times during the examination he became visibly
affected. As he appeared to be exceedingly weak,
he was accommodated with a chair during the pro-
ceedings.
The magistrates present were the Mayor (chairman),
J. (1. .1-nnsoo, W.. 1. U. Browne, J. M. Yenning, H.
Chem ierlin, .1. Sultzer, H. Woodcock, H. Fitch, and
H. W. duke, Eters.
Tile Town Clerk propecuted, and Mr. Joseph Stanley
(who Mel been instructed by the prisoner's relatives)
watched the time on his behalf.
It appears from inquiries made that previously to
I$M Shewaril resided in Loudon, where he met with
his deceased wife, whose maiden name was Martha
Francis. She Was a native of Wymonilharm Norfolk,
and was considerably his senior. She appears ti have
iived with Sheward as his housekeeper at I hreenwich,
where it is believed they were married, but it
is not exactly known in what year. In 1533
Sheward and his wife came to Norwich, and
resided for some time in Ber-street, where it is
believed he worked as a tailor. He next removed to
White Lion-street, where he failed for a considerable
sum. He next. removed to Upper St. Giles-street,
Norwich, and thence to St. Martm's-at-Palace, where,
according to his confession, the horrible crime now
under investigation was perpetrated. A person who
watt then a neighlsiur I if Shewarde remembers missing
Mrs. Sheward at the time considerable excitement
prevailed in Norwich in consequence of the finding of
a W011)3111'3 remains. This woman, although on friendly

Items with Mrs. Sheward, appears never to have made
inquiries, and never heard what had become of her.
The next heard of Sheward with that he resided a
King-street, near St. Peter per Monntergate Church,
where he carried on busintsi as a p.swilliniker. lending
money on goods and plate. While living in this neigh-
bourhood it was remarked that he began to drink. On
the 13th of February, 1802, Sheward married his pre-
sent wife, with whom he had previously cohabited,
and by whom he had two or three children. The
marriage was at the Registrar's office in King-street.
Norwich. About four months since, Sheward, who
seems itot to have been very prosperous in his pawn-
broking business disposed of his stock principally to
Mr. Boston, another pawnbroker. of Orford-hill,
Norwich, and removed to the "key and Castle
Tavern," at St. Marten at Oak, where his family are
at present residing. He left home a week or two since,
and it was remarked before he left that he was
somewhat depressed in spirits. He had stated his in-
tention to go to London in order to see his sister,
and he had fixed the Monday after Christina& for his
journey. When the Ilay in questien arrived he did
not start on the plea that he slid not feel well, but
early on the following morning (Tuesday, December
28), after passing a isomewhat restless night, he started
for the metropsilis. Nothing was heard of him by his wife
until the morning of Sunday, January 3, when she
received a letter from bile stating that he was ill
trouble, the nature of which she would 140011 learn.
The nature '.'ssf the "trouble" soon reached the jessr
woman, and she is now placed in a poeition of great
embarrassment with six children, the eldest fieuteen
years and the youngest eight months °lsl. Suit-,- the
disappearance of the first Mrs. Sliewani in 1851, a
sum if about L'4oo less been bet ineathed to her, and
tees, in the hands of Mr. C. nun, a solieiter at Wyniond-
ham, Norfolk, the birthplace if tine deceased woman.
were made of Shewarsl as to his first wife
when this legacy was left her, and he is said to have
replied that he did not know where she was —that Inc
believed she had gone to New Zealand, or
Diemen's Land, or one of the Australian colonies.
Reviewing all the circurnstancee which have since
transpired, it seems strange that suspicions of foul play
on the pad of Sheward never arose.
Prisoner is described in the charge sheet as William
Sheward, of the Key and Castle public-house, St.
Martin's at Oak, licensed victualler, and he was
charged o,i him own confession with feloniously killing
and slaying Martha Sheward, his wife, at St. Martin's
at Palace, iin the 15th of !one, 1551.