The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1878-07-27 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

THE SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT LLANGIBBY.  At the Caerleon Petty Sessions, on Monday, Joseph Garcia, 21, was charged with the wilful murder of William Watkins, Elizabeth his wife, and three children, Charlotte, Alice, and Frederick, at Llangibby, a village near Usk. The Spanish Consul, Seftor Uncilla, had instructed Mr. Ensor, of Cardiff. to defend. The prisoner, who appeared unmoved during the proceedings, understands but little English. Much of the evidence given had been already and was mainly as to the been seen near the spot on fs at tt eodf tbheef opr re s ot the ee r coroner, having the day previous to the murder being committed, and to the discovery of the bodies.—The following is a condensed report of the proceedings : Police-sergeant Povah saw Watkins and his wife lying on the garden walk stabbed in the neck. Marks of blood were seek on the garden gate and on the wall and ground. It seemed as if a struggle had occurred. Further evidence warn given showing that the prisoner called at the house of Mrs. G. Watkin, about half a mile from the deceased's house, on the evening of the 16th and asked for a glass of water. Police-constable Tooze said at midnight he saw the prisoner at the Great Western Station at Newport. He had a bundle with him. Witness communicated with Policesergeant Magrath, who apprehended him whilst sitting at the railway station.— Police sergeant Magrath said he examined the boots of prisoner and found they corresponded with those taken from Watkins. The prisoner had various articles of male and female apparel in bundles, and the loaf of bread corresponded with a tin found at Watkins' house. The prisoner's clothes were wet and his shirt was stained with blood. Mary Anne and Catherine Watkins, daughters of the deceased, recognised the clothes found in the prisoner's possession as those of their relatives. The boots were proved by the shoemaker who made them to be the property of Watkins. Mr. Robert Boulton, surgeon, of Usk, said he examined the body of William Watkins on the 19th inst. The external marks were two bruises, whichi were sufficient to cause insensibility. The witness found a wound on the right side of the neck, five and a half inches deep and three inches long. The wound had gone through the carotid vein into the jugular vein. Both hands were clinched. Watkins died from Inemorrhage, and probably bled to death in about two hours. The witness examined the body of the wife Elizabeth Watkins. There was a quantity of blood on her clothes, and a wound on the left side of her neck, two inches and a quarter long and five inches deep, communicatinglength. with two small ones under the chin. hhe reirgeh t were ahotuhl dr three There was a wound one inch and a half long on the tworight an sdidae quarter a rttheer neck, inches ine and on fingers cut on the right hand, and the ring finger was cut in two places. The children were lying on the floor; they were very much burnt, and their night-dresses and the bedclothes were marked with blood. The eldest girl, about 10 years of age, was much s :orched and had wounds on the neck and spine. In the boy's throat there was a wound four inches long' and one on the left side of the neck an inch and a half deep. The children had all died from hwmorrhage. The witness noticed stains of blood on pieces of calico, and found a child's dress in the house with marks as if some one had wiped their blood-stained hands on it.  The aelioitor far the defence intimated that the &caused would be properly represented by counsel at the Assizes. The prisoner was then formally committed for trial at the Assizes.