The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-17 00:00:00

THE MURDER AT DUNDRY.

The coroner for North Somerset (Mr. Bruges Fry)
resumed the adjourned inquest at Dundry on Tuesday,
on the body of Sarah Waterman, the old woman who
was murdered at Dundry last week.
Thomas Waterman, a nephew of the deceased, and a
farmer of Glastonbury, attended, and proved that ode
hundred sovereigns, and the Peninsular medal, which it
was supposed had been stolen from the cottage on the
night of the murder, had been found under a stone in
the kitchen.

A farmer named Marshall swore to having seen the
men now in custody on the charge of murder, Charles
and Matthew Wedmore, nephew of the deceased, at the
Dundry Inn, about five minutes before seven on the
night of the murder. They left the inn about that
time, and five minutes afterwards the outrage was com-
mitted at George Waterman's house, which is situated
about 250 yards from the public house.
Mr. Shoreland, the surgeon, who had made a post
mortem examination on the body of the deceased at the
request of the coroner's court, detailed the results of that
examination, and expressed his opinion that death was
caused by compression of the brain, produced by injuries
which were inflicted by a blunt instrument such as the
bludgeons which were found in the cottage after the
murder.

John Keevill, who has not been examined before, gave
important evidence against the prisoner, Charles Wed-
more. He stated that eight days before the murder the
prisoner called upon him and asked him where old
George Waterman lived. Witness offered to show him,
and on the road to the cottage told him that his (Wed-
more's) brother had recently bought a house of his uncle
(old Waterman). When they came to the house witness
knocked at the door, and the murdered woman from
within asked " Who's there ?" Witness replied, " John,
the old policeman." The old woman then let them in;
but she did not know Wedmore, who was dressed in the
uniform.

It will be remembered that the murderers obtained
access to the interior of the house, on the night of the
outrage, by answering in reply to the question of "Who's
there ?" " John, the old policeman."

The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against
Charles and Matthew Wedmore.

GASLIGHTS IN RAILWAY TRAINS.—A very successful
effort has been made on the East Lancashire section of
the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway to light the car-
riages of a passenger-train with gas. The invention is
Mr. Newall's (the inventor of the continuous railway
breaks), and the gas is kept in a flexible receiver, in
the guard's van. From the van iron tubes carry the gas
over the tops of the carriages, the connection between
the pipes on each carriage being made of flexible tubing.
From the pipes over the tops of carriages shorat suspen-
ders drop into each compartment of the carriages, to
which are attached neat brackets and glass globes. Thus
a flood of light by which passengers may read coin
fertably is obtained, and considerable warmth is imparted
by the lamps, while all foul air escapes through the roof.

RACE ON THE ICE.—An excitinn•r, race on skates took
place at Halewood, for a prize given by the Earl of
Harewood, on Friday last. The distance was about
half a mile over the large lake in front :of Harewood
House, and 16 competitors started. The skating was
of a very good description (there being no downfalls or
any accidents) and the pace throughout was terrific.
The race was won easily by Mr. W. Wright, J. Clarke
second, I. Booth third, C. :West fourth, the Hon F.
Lascelles fifth, and 'Viscount 'Lascelles fliith, two or
three others being pretty' well up, and the reminder,
from the length of the cou'rse`aud the severe p'ace, being
•
completely distanced. • - 1 .

THE COURT-MARTIAL ON CAPTAIN
MOORMAN, R.N.

The Court-martial a Captain Moorman, re-assembled
on Tuesday morning on board the victory in Portsmouth
harbour: After some further e-Adenrie,. similar in
character to that of the first day, had heal: received,
Captain Moorman was called on for his defence. _ _

Captain Moorman, in addressing the Court, said he
was placed under the peculiar circumstances of being
tried under such serious charges as cruelty, oppression,
and enoffverlike conduct, with their consequent heavy
penalties, if iit.'ec,d.• The captains of her Majesty's
vessels were always tatfs, to similar charges. He
must support his officers. fro' -It,int!td orders disre-
garded by the man Smith, and Ste at nought
en the subject of cleanliness at a time a
disease (ulcers) was raging in the ship, and no cause
! could be assigned for it. Admiralty instructions directed
' that intibil'im's fowl others of that class should not take
first-class pet.t? 6+;cersi military rank. He treated
this case with ridicule,' si,:t`cl; believed it to be the best
course to pursue under the ciaiMbeanets. lie was not
disposed to be bearded by a charaiterr tikt tire man
Smith, and, had he committed himself fipTyr, he
would have punished him after so well-meant a
caritiori. The man Smith, as proved by Lieutenant
Barkley' t,.yiente, was not systematically persecuted
from the 27th of 41.1/ to the Ist of May. The capstan
affair was over by four o'CloA on the first day. The
standing bowline placed round Stnitt's htody was only
placed there to make him stand where ordered, thi'd had
perfect play from his loins to his armpits. On the occa-
sion of the man Smith's desertion he might have said,
"Thank God ! the fellow is none ;" but he took a dif-.
ferent 6otirse; znd his duty to his profession compelled
him to endeaioitf to cupture the deserter and hand him
over to punishment, whiat stomeded in doing. This
was all that had subjected him (the prisoner) to the
degrading indignity of being sent home fro& / foreign
station for trial by court-martial on such false attd
unfounded charges. Captain Moorman, after expressing
in strong and indignant terms his feelings at being
placed before the Court on such malignant charges,
concluded by leaving his case in the hands of the Court,
and expressing his confidence in their full acquittal and
exoneration:
Witnesses mete then celled for the defence

Lieutenant lEeppell stated that the conduct and bear-
ing of Captain Mootn'Ea* the prisoner) towards Isaiah
Smith was during the time to *Melt the p'r'esent charges
referred of a most forbearing and lenient charrictet.
Lieutenant Shaw was called, and gave similar evidence
to Lieutenant Keppell's, and to the same effect, as to
Captain Moorman's forbearance to the man Smith.
Mr. freernat, gunner of the ship, gave similar
evidence.

The Court then closed to' Cot:skier the evidence and
their finding.
After a short time the Court re-opened, aAd their
finding was read by the Deputy Judge Advocate, to the
effect that the Court found the three charges not proved,
and honourably acquitted the prisoner. The Court
could not separate without properly noticing the gross
disregard for truth shown by the witness Isaiah Smith.
The President, addressing Captain Moorman, said—
Captain Moorman, 1 hare much pleasure in handing
you your sword.
The proceedings then terminated.