The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-14
MURDER IN ENGLAND.
Rev. John Selby Watson Convicted Of the
Murder Of His Wife.
The Body Packed in a Box-History OF the
Crime and Description Of the Prisoner
Claiming Brother in Williams
burg, United statea

present to our readers the following points OF the
HISTORY THE CASE
The terrible crime, FOR the commission OF which
q clergyman OF the English Church has forfeited
lis life to the laws OF his country, was committed
at Stockwe on either the night OF Sunday or early
in the morning of Monday, the 7th and Sth OF Octo
Der, 1871, under extraordinary and revolving cir
cumstances. These may be recapltulated pretty
much as f0llows:-
on the 18TH OF October, last year, the
Rev. John selby Watson aged fifty six, residing at
the dock before .ar. Ellison. charged with wiiuly
numbering his wife, Anne watson, on the Sth OF the
lie was further charged with attempting to commit
suicide on the 18th OF the month by taking guam
The case created the utmost excitement not
fS IN the nsigh6orS1oa OF the house where
Lonaon Ss prisoner but Delns gu %e
known and highly respected. The prisoner
attention was pald him, and ne slept upon bed
fetched from mis- own house. About II quarter past
eleven O'Clock IN the morning ne was placed Ia cay
Sergeant HAZEL, OF the W DIVISION, lor the purpose
OF being taken to the ponce court Some hundreds OF
persons assembled outside the station To see him
depart Upon the arrival of the cab at the court there
was crowd assembled. but by the direction OF the
police authorities tue vehicle was driven into the
courtyard. Upon alightlng the prisoner was con-
ducted to the consultation room, his solicitor and
many lrienus being with nm. the excitement con-
ttnued TO increase, and the court was densely
crowded.
into the dOcK and INSTANTLY became the object OF the
scrutiny or all In court In the dock lie first OF all
STOOD out AZ the request OF Mr. Fraser his solicitor,
Was allowed to De seated, on account or MS ner-
vOusness. He appeared quite uncUncerned ~ his
position, and gazed around the court. CT.
Ellen Pyne was the nrst Witness called. She
sald:-I was in the servlce Oi The kev. Mr.. Wat
son; was general servant, and nave been In his
at Jour o'cocS IN the afternoon. Went out leaving
the prisoner and the deceased at nome; mere was
no one else there; 1 returned just before nine
O'Clock, when prisoner Openeu the door to me; he
SAID, 'Your mistress Is out OF town, and Will be
home to morrow said, Very wel!n and went
H0w Went S'p' stairs to 90 bsa he S a%e
came out OF the library and lie showed me some
"iour mistress spilled some port wine, and IN case
yOu wondered what 1t was nave shown IT to yOu;"
tnat Is al ne SAID 70 me- that night d,d not see
about my mtstress on Tuesday ne said, ''Your mis-
tress VIII not De nome for two or three days"
question?
WlrNEss-Yes sir; on Tuesday, just before he
was going out, he said my mistress would not be
home Tor two or three days. he also asked II could
get any one to remain WIN me Tor the night, as he
so one mt could nor and on NV telling u,m f He
said, "YOu'u have to remain IN the house by your
selI;' remained up until eleven O'Clock; the prs-
Oner called from The stairs and SAID, "1 am taken
III, or II you find any ming wrong, sena Tor Dr.
kugg;" asked my maserlf he was Ill, and ne SAID,
81 may require medicine IN the mornlng' then l
went to bed; ne stayed at home; IN the morning,
about ha-past six O'Clock, ca'ue down, and nc
nve minutes to eight O'Clock l knocked at his uoor
and he answered me: he went out before he
had his breakfast and came home, and alter
breakfast went out again; ho came In between zen
ana eleven O'CLOCK ana sad, III you ind me Ill
before dinner time go for the DOCTOR" l SAID
nothing; oe.ore twelve O'Clock l heard groan
spoke to him and he appeared unconscious; saw
glass and some PAPERS; the one produced, ad-
1t, anu words To the effect that lie did not
wish to be indeD,ed to any one; was III ana out OF
the room when prisoner became CONSCIOUS; only
said, .You are I'll, sr," but he made no reply; Dr.
Kugg, who came, went out ana letcned the police:
SAID no more The prisoner; l heard hun speak 10
the doctor, but do not know what ne SAID; l re-
MEMBER asking prisoner II ne was cold and he SAID
ne was, aud put someih lng more over MIN; alter
went mo the library ana saw some uark stains
the furniture, but thought IL Was the port Inc
prisoner mad told me he spilled; found nothing
else there.
me CLERK-Did you see your mistressa
WITNESSING, sir, not until this morning (the wit
ness was much alected); saw ner DOdy this morn
lug lying the bed III room adjoining the nbrary
l have not been IN The room Tor months, the de-
ceased has occupied It Tor the past TWO or three
mOatn5 by herself; the deceased hau sad she
thought mad got quite enough 10 do, and she would
sell; at Lne same time The prisoner pointed out the
STAIN upon the carpet he sad. Don't go to that
rOom polntng TO the one she slept I'M, Tor your his
tress has locked It,"
me ULERK-Did you hear any quarrel between
them on sunday
WIrNEss-NOt on that day or any dav since have
lived with them; they always appeared TO i've hap
ply together; lett the papers spoke1 or and the
glass-an ordinary wine glass-where saw 1t nrst;
saw the glass was wet Inside.
By NIL Fraser prisoners sOlictor)-I am twenty
years od the prisoner ceased TO keep u second SER
want at christmas last; he ceased 10 be, believe.
head master Of St0cKwell Grammar ScnOol last mIi-
summer; THINK prisoner went out on Monday alter
AEON between two and three O'CLOCK, and came BACK
abou. five O'Clock, but am not sure; the prisoner
and MS wife had not always occupied separate
rooms, out had done so In consequence VI the hot
weather; they had not occupied separate rooms be-
lore that since 1 nave been there: think the de.
not violent; never heard angry words passing De-
tween them; l nave never noticed dispute
between them never noticed my mas er mad sliigu-
lar haolts, but he was always very qulet anu Kept
10 nimsel1 with the exception OF meal times, he
always sat In MS library; ne was, when
had occasion 10 go into the room, either reading
or writing; my sister was the second servant and
lie on account Of being Ill no steps were taken TO
would remain by myself, ana SAID would; there
might have been q difference In MS spirits latelY,
nm %sss S but no
been or some weeKs;l never heard II he was re-
George Philip Rugg was called, and said:-I am q
doctor OF medicine living at Stockwell Vlila Clap
ham r0ad have known the prisoner for some years
school; nave not attended him professionally but
he mas called me In to attend the sister or the last
mornIna aSou1 hali.past eleven O'CLOCK. i was
called to mis- house; found MIN unconscious, IN
oed, slightly convulsed. breathing heavily and
with dlficulty his eyes were liked, turned upward,
pulse soft and cOmpressibe, and gave under the
pressure OF the finger; there was cold, clamny
perspiration; thought for moment he mad mad
an ephepic it, the last witness placed the follow.
Ing letter In my hand; II was IN sealed en-. cope
and addressed in prisoners nandwrtin2:-"r0 the
SurgeOn-I have Killed my vile in III OF rage.
Orten and often she has provoked me, and have
endeavOre to restrain myself, but rage 0vercame
me and struck her. Her body will be found In the
little on the library. The key is IN letter on
the table. l hope she will be buried as
becomes a lady Of birth ana position. She
Is an Irish lazy, and her name II Anne.o
The Following letter was also found by the servant
and han led to DIR. Rugg who gave It 10 the polce:
81 don't know whose business 1t Will be TO look to
property left, as my little possession Will be my
books and furniture. Ny only brother tCds tUi,ag,
chen heard or htUt fUe or SIC years ago. in Ante-
RIGA, at 80 Grand street, Williamsburg, and niece
lptth him. He Is my heir, II still alive know not
II have any other surviving relatives. one quar-.
ter's wages Will soon be cue TO my servant, and
should wish the sum TO be more than doubled Tor
al the present time, and the patience with which
horne N NV rae