The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette. — 1861-09-24 (Dorchester, Dorset, England)

FROME. —Some of our readers may remember tivit about ten years ago a murder was committed in the neighbourhood of Fnime, which excited great interest at the time, the circumstances being very mysterious. A man named Watts, who resided at the Woodlands, went to the Fronie market, leaving his daughter, a girl of 16, at home. When he returned he found that the girl had been outraged and murdered. Great efforts weramtade to discover the perpetrator of the diabolical act, but although several persons were taken into custody no trace could be obtained to lead to • conviction. Among others apprehended on suspicion were three bad characters, named Maggs, Sparrow, and "Frame Bob." The evidence against these appeared so strong that they were committed on the capital charge, but the jury acquitted them. Gradually the neighbourhood resumed ita wonted quietness, and the murder was spoken of as an old story. This week, however, circumstances have occurred . _  which lead to the belief that the mystery is about to be cleared np. Within the last few days, a soldier, named Joseph Seer, who has been invalided, returned. to Frome. Seer lived in the neighbourhood when the girl was murdered, and was suspected of having had some band in the crime, but nothing satisfactory was established against him at the time, and he enlisted into the army. After ten years service he has returned, and on Tuesday went to the office of the magistrates' clerk to have a form filled up to enable him to get is three months' pay on his dischargs from the army. While this formalite was being gone through it was noticed that he was in a very agitated state, when he was asked what was the matter with him he said he had "something on his mind." He was consequently taken before the superintendent of police, when he made the following confession :—" I murdered Sarah Watts, I hope the God above will let we live to see her again in another world. I have had it on my mind a long tine, I hare been very unhappy ever since. l went away, I was so unhappy, I hope the God above will wash away our sins. I asked her to go up Bireb Hill Lane and pick Keno water-cresses. She would'nt go. leaked her to go up on &Sunday and then she wouldn't go. I often played with her. It was in August it happened. About three o'clock in the afternoon I went to the house. I thought she was worth some money and she wouldn't tell where it was. I told her to tell me where it was and I would marry her and take her to America. I was very fond of her. then we should live happy together. She said, • The money don't belong to you.' I said, ' If you don't tell where it is I will be the death of you.l I took hold of her by the neck. I had • poker in my hand, and I hit her in the bead with it. I said I should have to suffer for it. either in heaven or in hell. I struck lid in the kitchen, and dragged her into the dairy. I caught her hold by the feet ! and put her head first into the milk pail, and left I her in the dairy dead. I took two shillings out of • I cup on the mantel -piece. I went up stairs and I searched about. I took some clothes and went my way and went to sea. I had connection with her in the settle before I knocked her doe n. I was blamed I for it at the tiuie, and enlisted a soldier to get out of the way. I have never got it 4.ff my mind. I killed her for love. I was very fond of her." lie was promptly brought before the magistrates, and his confession having been read, he was remanded for a week. The prisoner will, in the meantime, be con fined in Shepton gaol.