The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-23 00:00:00

SOUTHERN AMERICAN FEDERATION.

Mr. GREGORY gave notice that on the 16th April he
would move that it was desirable there should be a prompt
recognition of the South American Confederation by the
Government.

An Hon. MEMBER moved that the house be counted
and there being only 28 members present, the house ad
journed at 28 minutes past nine o'clock.

PAIRS ON THE " DEAD MAN'S CLAUSE" IN
THE BANKRUPTCY BILL.
For. Against.
Sir F. Smith Mr. Malcolm
Mr. Layard
Mr. Kinnaird
Mr. Vyner
Mr. Moffatt
Mr. Bellew
Mr. Wemysi
Sir F. Baring
Mr. Bright
Lord Raynham Sir Henry Leeke
Mr. Holland ....
Lord A. Churchill
Mr. Glyn
Sir J. Johnstone
Mr. Carnegie Colonel Gilpin
Sir E. Lacon Mr. Dram
Mr. M. T. Smith Mr. B. Stanhope
Mr. Dundas
Mr. B. Carter
Mr. Hodgson
Lord Hartington
Mr. Fenwick .. Mr. D. Darner
Sir R. Peel Mr. E. Egerton-
Mr. Gregson Mr. Du Cane
Sir John Shelley Mr. Knatchbull
Sir H. Verney Sir W. Verner
Mr. Villiers
Mr. A. Matheson Major S. Knox
Mr. Ponsonby

ASSIZE TELLIG.EN GE.

WESTERN CIRCUIT.—TAUNTON, March 22.

CROWN COURT.
(Before Mr. Baron Martin.)
THE DUNDRY MURDER.

Matthew Wedmore and Charles Wedmore were
indicted for the wilful murder of Sarah Waterman,
at Dundry, on the 9th of January.
Mr. H. T. Cole and Mr. Bere were counsel for the
prosecution, and Mr. Speke defended the prisoners.
It appeared that George Waterman and the
deceased, who was his wife, both being between 70
and 80 years of age, lived together in a cottage
under Dundry-hill. George Waterman was a
Chelsea pensioner. He had a cottage and orchard,
and he kept a cow, and was considered in the
neighbourhood to be a thrifty man, who had saved
some little money. The two prisoners were bro-
thers, and were great nephews of the old man. One
of them, Charles, was a private in the Royal
marines, and the other, Matthew, was a labourer
about the quays of Bristol. A man named Keeble,
who had been a policeman, was intimate with the
old people. About 7 o'clock in the evening of Wed-
nesday, the 9th January, as the old people were sit-
ting, healthy and well, by the fire in their kitchen,
they heard a knock at the door. The old man asked
who was there, and a voice answered, " It is the
policeman John." The old man then opened the
door, and there he saw both the prisoners.
Matthew immediately struck him a blow on the head
with the bludgeon he had in his hand. The old
man retreated. Matthew followed him, striking
him with the bludgeon until, he knocked the old
man down ; he was almost unconscious. Matthew
then dragged the old man by the collar into the
back kitchen, and then dragged him upstairs.
Charles followed, and he ransacked the room while
Matthew stood over the old man. They asked him
where his money was, and he told them in a box.
Charles found two loaded pistols, which the old
man was in the habit of keeping under his pillow.
He pointed one at him and said, " Kill him ; we
don't mind killing people." The old man begged
them not to injure his wife. Charles said he had
put her to sleep. Matthew then dragged the old
man downstairs again. The prisoners said they
wanted something to eat, and Charles took a loaf
and cut some bacon that was hanging up, and
wrapped them up in a handkerchief. They asked
the old man for a rope, and he told them where
there was one. They got the rope and then
dragged the old man into the back kitchen, and
Matthew tied the old man's hands and feet to-
gether, and then tied him up to the rack, and
told him not to move for 20 minutes, and then to
call his wife to release him. The prisoners then
went away. The old man contrived to get loose
and went into the kitchen, where he found his
wife lying on the floor alive, but almost dead.
He tried to raise her up, but was so much exhaus-
ted from the loss of blood that he could not succeed.
He then crawled out to the next cottage, some 300
yards off, and gave an alarm. Some persons re-
turned with him to his cottage; they found the old
woman still breathing, but insensible. A surgeon
was sent for and he examined the poor old woman,
and found her lying in a pool of blood, with her
skull fearfully fractured, evidently by three sepa-
rate blows. There was a pair of tongs lying near
her, with blood and hair on them. She lived for
about two hours, and then died, evidently in con-
sequence of the injuries she had received. The old
man was for some time in a most dangerous state,
but at length he rallied and got well. Upon search-
ing the house they discovered that some money, two
silver watches, a brace of pistols, and a bunch of keys
were missing. Information was immediately given to
the police. Suspicion rested on the prisoners, who
had been together that day in the neighbourhood of
Dundry. The next morning the police got upon
the track of the prisoners, and about 8 o'clock in
the evening they traced them to the Hot Mills,
and saw them walking along the road. One of the
police, named Morse, went towards Charles, who
ran away for about 40 yards, and then turned
round and fired a pistol at Morse, which fortunately
missed him. Matthew was then seen trying to get
something out of his pocket, but the police were too
quick for him, and found he had a pistol in his
pocket, loaded and capped. They were then taken
into custody. Blood was found on both their shirts.
The pistols found upon them were the property of
the old man, and had been taken away on the night
of the murder. The prisoners were seen together
on the morning after the murder at a beerhouse at
Bristol. They had then two silver watches in their
possession, which they got a person to pledge for
them in Bristol. Those watches were the property
of the old man, and had been taken away on the
night of the murder. On the 14th of January
Charles Wedmore desired to make a statement
relative to the murder, and on the 18th of March
Matthew Wedmore also made a statement. Both
these statements corroborated the evidence of the
old man, only each prisoner laid the actual murder
on the other.
Mr. Speke then addressed the jury on behalf of
body
of prisoners. He complained that a great
of evidence had been sprung upon him that day of
which he had not been aware, for it was only since
he had come into the court that he knew of the
statements which the. prisoners had made, and
several of the witnesses who had been called had not
been examined before the magistrates. He should,
however, contend that, in point of law, they could
not be convicted of murder, because no one could say
which of the prisoners had struck the blow which had
caused the death, and then he urged that there had
not been any common intent or purpose between
these two men. The statement of one prisoner was
not evidence against the other, and each had laid the
offence upon the other. Charles said it was Matthew
and Matthew said it was Charles. Was there any
common design to do anything to carry out their
purpose ? He submitted that they had heard no.
thing, to show it.
Mr.r' Baron Martin said that if these two men
went with the intent to commit a robbery and of
using violence if it should be necessary, and that
the violence of either led to the death of a person,
they were both guilty of murder. If they believed
the evidence that had been given, it was his duty
to tell them that both these prisoners were guilty
of murder. The evidence of the old man was one
of the moat extraordinary he had ever heard, for ito