The Central Glamorgan Gazette, and General, Commercial, and Agricultural Advertiser. — 1871-03-17 (Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE BROMPTON MURDER.  On Monday afternoon Claude Scott Wooley, 19, a painter, who on Sunday gave himself up to Police. constable Austin, 167 L division, on his own confession of being the murderer of Samuel Lee, the potman at the Drayton Arms, West Brompton, on the 16th of Augustlast, WU brought up for examination before Mr. Ingham, at the Hammersmith Police Court—lt will be recollected that the unfortunate man was found in the drawing-room of an untenanted house, newly-erected at Gledhew-terrace, Gledhew-gardens, with seven fearful wounds upon his head, as though inflicted with a slater's hammer. The murder excited a great amount of interest at the time, as notwithstanding the searching inquiries by the police, no clue whatever could be obtained to the murderer. On the estate on which the Drayton Arms is situate, a large number of buildings were in course of erection, upon which several hundred men were employed, the greater number of whom having their daily beer from the Drayton Arms. The deceased was sent with large cans every day to supply it, and on Saturdays was sent to receive the money, and as he every week had a considerable sum to receive, the supposition was that he had been inveigled into this empty house, under some pretence, and there murdered for the money he had upon him. The evidence given at the inquest showed that after receiving his money he was in the habit of going to empty houses to count up the sum he had received.—Superintendent Fisher, of the T Division, and Inspector Palmer attended to watch the case on the part of the police authorities. —The prisoner, who is a very respectable-looking youth, of small stature and boyish appearance, on being placed in the dock, appeared to feel his position acutely. Police-constable 167 L said—About four o'clock yesterday morning I was on duty at Tower-street station. The prisoner came up to me and asked me if he could go into the station. I asked him for what purpose, and he said he was tired of walking about, and tired of his life, and wanted to give himself- up. I asked him what for, and he said for committing a murder at Brompton—for murdering a potman. I asked him when he did it, and he replied last August. He then said he did it in some new buildings; that they had a quarrel about some money; and that he refused to pay the potman what he demanded, because it was more than he owed him. Prisoner then said, "I took up a hammer and struck him over the back of the head. With that he fell down, and I struck him three or four times afterwards when he was on the ground, and then left him for dead."  Inspector Whitney—l was on duty at Towerstreet station when the prisoner was brought in by the last witness. The constable told me he had given himself up for the murder of Samuel Lee. The witness then proceeded to state that he cautioned the prisoner that if he made any statement it would be taken down in writing and used against him; but that the prisoner adhered to the statement he had made, and wished it to be taken down.—The document was then put in and read.—After a little further evidence the case was adjourned till Tuesday next.