The Kenilworth Advertiser. — 1880-08-28 (Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England)

MULDER AND ROBBERY.  Between one and two o'clock on Sunday roornin Mr. Edward Anstee, farmer, Marshall Wick Farm, near St. Albans, was shot dead by a man who called at the farmhouse and shouted for Mr. Anstee. The deceased, it is stated, opened his bedroom window on hearing that he was called, and immediately he was shot in the head, being killed on the spot. The murderer, having got a ladder, entered the bedroom window and covered the deceased with the bedclothes. There were two females in the house at the time, a domestic servant and a lady named Lindsey. The latter, who slept in the room adjoining Mr. Anstee's room, was visited by the man, who told her that Mr. Anstee had gone out to see one of his cousins that was very ill. He them left, but subsequently returned, and asked her where the money was to be found. She replied that she did not know, and upon this the man went downstairs and ransacked the place. She heard him break open the cupboard, from which he took the plate. Returning to Mrs. Lindsey's room a third time, he found the door locked. He threatened to break it open unless money was given him. The old lady pushed two shillings under the door, saying it was all she had got. The domestic servant was too terrified to move. The man was seen leaving, carrying two parcels with him. An alarm was not raised until the arrival of the cowman, who saw traces of blood outside the house. Information was at once given to the police, who believe they will have no difficulty in finding the murderer. Suspicions have fallen upon a man seen about the farm on Saturday, when he enquired the way to a railway station. He was seen walking on the line by a signalman. Mrs. Anstee was away from home at the time her husband was killed. On Friday afternoon three men named Wheeler, members of one family, were apprehended on suspicion. The shirt and trousers of one of them were stained with what appeared to be blood. The stolen property has been di3covered in a field not far from the house. Some other property stolen from Mr. Reynolds, a farmer in the district, has been found at the house of the prisoners. The prisoner, Thomas Wheerer, was charged in private before the Magistrates at St. Albans, on Monday, with the murder of Mr. Anstee, farmer, at Marshall Wick, on Saturday night. Only formal evidence was taken, and the prisoner was remanded. Three other members of the Wheeler family were charged with receiving stolen property, and were remanded. At present Thomas Wheeler alone has been accused of the murder, as it was on his clothes that supposed blood marks were found. A full description of him was in the hands of the police early in the day, and, as he was missing from home, search was made for him in all directions, but without result until six o'clock on Sunday evening, when he was found in a beer-house at St. Albans. He is a short man, about forty-seven, and wore a moustache, but it is stated that on his arrest this was found to have been shaved off.  An inquest was opened on the remains of the murdered man, before the District Coroner.—Mr. Webster, surgeon, said deceased was a patient of his. Witness went to the house of deceased at 5.30 on Sunday morning, and noticed blood outside the bed-room window. On entering the room he saw the body of the deceased covered with bed-clothes. The corpse vvas in a sitting posture. The upper part of the head had been shot away, and the shots were certainly fired at a distance of not less than three or more than ten yards. Death was instantaneous. Witness found blood and brains on the window of the room.—The enquiry was then adjourned. _ _ _  Great excitement prevails in St. Albans. Mrs. Anstee has returned home, and, as may be supposed, is in much distress at the loss of her husband  A later telegram states that Thomas Wheeler comes from Bushey Green, Catford Bridge, Lewisham, and it is believed he is one of a gang who have committed many burglaries of late in this neighbourhood. On his clothes have been many stains, apparently of blood, and in his waistcoat pocket were found ten large shots exactly corresponding with the number found in the ceiling of the room in which the murder took place. The police, assisted by detectives from Scotland Yard, are making every effort to discover the owners of the property which has been found in possession of the prisoners.