The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1858-04-20 00:00:00

TAUNTON.

FEARFUL MURDERS. —On Wednesday morning
last, as we gather from the second edition of the
Bridgwater nyteB of April 14, discovery was made
of the barbarous murder of an aged couple at a house
called "The Cottage," in Coombe -lane, in the parish
of Creech St. Michael, about four miles and a half
distant from Taunton. "The Cottage," which is
a beerhouse, was occupied by a person named John
Bucknall, who was about 72 years of age, and his
wife. The former was well known in Bridgwater
and other neighbouring market towns as a pig-jobber,
an occupation which he had followed for several
years. He had arranged it seems, to attend Bridg-
water market on Wednesday last, and the night
previous he signified to his grandson, John Baker
Bucknall (who generally accompanied him to the
various markets> his intention of doing so, and
stated that he had about £4O in his on for the
purpose of paying for some pigs. His grandson had
also been employed during the past week in making
up the books and straightening the accounts of the
deceased, and was consequently well aware of his
pecuniary circumstances. About 6 o'clock on the
Wednesday morning a neighbour named James
Thorne, who lived at a cottage close by, heard the
report of a gun, but at the time he paid no particular
attention to it. At about this time the son of John
Bucknall, who is employed at the Coombe-mills,
which are within 200 yards of "The Cottage," came
to his work, and shortly afterwards John Baker
Bucknall, the grandson, called him from his employ-
ment and told him that he could not gain admittance
to his grandfather's house. Accompanied by Mr.
Morris (the owner of the Coombe-mills), the son and
grandson proceeded thither, and found the door
locked and the key removed. Mr. Morris, on
perceiving smoke issuing from the premises, effected
an entrance, and, proceeding to the lower cellar, the
door of which was locked, they found the poor old
man weltering in his blood, with his coat on fire, it
having been ignited by wadding from the gun.
They then discovered that a bullet had penetrated
the back part of the head, and, passing out near the
left eye, had made an indention on the door poet.
His brains were scattered on the wall adjoining. It
is supposed that he was shot while in the act of
stooping to pick up some hay for his horse. On pro-
ceeding up-stairs a still more horrible sight presented
itself. There lay on the bed, which was saturated
with blood, his poor old wife, with a frightful gash
in her throat, and one of her fingers nearly severed,
as if in her agony of despair she had raiaed her hand
to protect herself from the merciless cruelty of her
murderer. The prevailing opinion in the neighbour-
hood is that she was attacked in her sleep, and that
some of the bedclothes had been thrown over her
head to prevent her struggling or giving an alarm.
The old man had evidently been followed to the
cellar and shot with his own gun, which had been
carefully replaced in its wonted position in a little room
adjoining. The murderer, doubtless, made his exit
by the front door, which he had locked, and removed
the key. In addition to the disappearance of the
£4O, there are two or three rings and a brooch
missing. Suspicion at once fell upon the grandson,
John Baker Bucknall, who was forthwith appre-
hended.

On Saturday John Baker Bucknall was brought
before the magistrates of the Taunton division,
charged with the murder of his grandfather and
grandmother, John and Betsy Bucknall, at Creech
St. Michael, on the 14th inst.
. .

The prisoner is a young man, about 22 years of age,
six feet in height, with a countenance expressing
much determination, and a head of the shape to which
phrenologists attribute the possession of unusual
firmness. He has apparently seen some military
discipline, from the erect manner in which he bears
himself. Several witnesses were examined, whose
evidence tended strongly to implicate the prisoner.
The prisoner was asked in the usual form whether
he had anything to say. Acting under the advice of
his solicitor, he reserved his defence, and was there-
upon committed for trial at the next Assize for the
murder of John and Betsy Bucknall. The inquiry
before the magistrates lasted nearly eight hours. On
the previous day an inquest was held before Mr. W.
W. Munckton, coroner, at which several of the same
witnesses were examined, and gave similar evidence.
The jury returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against
John Baker Bucknall.