A Grand Day Out .....

I have spent the most fascinating day out today at the Essex Police Musuem.
Loads of exhibits relating to Essex crimes, plus a mock-up of a crime scene, old police uniforms, a Victorian cell - loads to see.

I was particularly struck by the Moat Farm Murder which I had never heard of before.

In 1903, Samuel Herbert Dougal, a serial womaniser, stood trial for the murder of Camille Cecile Holland.

 

In 1898, Camille was living in London.  At the age of 56 she was still single and managed her own affairs, taking care of her stocks and shares which were valued at around £6,000. In the autumn of that year she had made the acquaintance of Samuel Dougal. Samuel was 4 years her junior and had enjoyed a successful career in the army, reaching the position of Chief Clerk in the Royal Engineers.

 

His first wife died in 1885 after a bout of sudden illness. Two months after her death he remarried, only for his second wife to die three months into their marriage. Samuel left the army in 1887, and from then on had a rather chequered personal life and career. He formed relationships with a number of women and held a variety of jobs, none of which lasted for very long.

In January 1899, Samuel and Camille moved to Saffron Walden to take possession of their new home, Coldhams Farm near Clavering. The property had been chosen by Samuel but had been paid for by Camille, who, despite Samuel's protestations, insisted that the property remain in her name. Since the property required some attention before they could move in, Camille and Samuel lodged with Mrs Wisken in Market Row, Saffron Walden. Although Samuel and Camille were not married, they presented themselves to the world as 'Mr and Mrs Dougal'.

On 22nd April 1899, 'Mr and Mrs Dougal' moved into Coldhams Farm, which they renamed Moat Farm. On the 13th May they were joined by their newly appointed maid, Florence Havies. Florence had barely set foot inside the house when she discovered that she was the subject of Samuel's attentions.

 

On the night of the 19th May, Florence found herself alone in the house with Samuel. Earlier that evening, at 6.30pm, Samuel and Camille had gone out in the pony and trap. At 8.30pm Samuel returned and when Florence asked after Camille he told her that Camille had gone to London and would return later that night.

When Florence came down to start her chores at 7am the next morning, she was surprised to find Samuel already up, dressed and eating breakfast. He told her that he had received a letter from Camille in which she said that she had gone on holiday.

Over the next 4 years, Samuel continued to live at the farm and enjoyed a number of liaisons with different women in the village. He became part of the local community, attending church regularly and giving generously to local causes such as the enlargement of the churchyard and the interior redecoration of the church.

How was it that Samuel, who had no visible means of support, could afford to be so generous? The answer came in March 1903, when he was charged with, 'forging and uttering a cheque value f28 15s purporting to be drawn by Camille C Holland at Clavering.During the trial, which began in the Spring of 1903, the prosecution produced evidence that showed that Samuel had systematically moved money from Camille's accounts into his own, sold her stocks and shares and even transferred title of Moat Farm from her name to his.It rekindled interest in the whereabouts of Camille Cecile Holland and prompted a police investigation into her disappearance.

Camille Holland's body was found in a drainage ditch at the farm and was laid out in the conservatory.  Since she had been in the ground for the past four years, identification was difficult. However, vital clues on the body helped the process. Her former landlady, Mrs Wiskin, and her nephew, Ernest Legrand Holland were able to identify the garments and the jewellery on the body as those of Camille Holland. Mr. Mold, Camille's shoemaker, also came forward and identified the shoes on the body, which bore his name, as those he had made for Miss Holland.

On Monday 22 June 1903, in Shire Hall, Chelmsford, it was indicted that Samuel Herbert Dougal, "on the 19th May 1899, did feloniously, willfully, and of his malice aforethought, kill and murder Camille Cecile Holland at Clavering." In his opening speech, Mr. Gill KC, for the Crown, argued that on the evening of 19th May 1899, Samuel took Camille out for a ride in the pony and trap. He then proceeded to shoot her in the head and buried her body in a prepared grave in the grounds of the farm.

After the cases for both the prosecution and the defence had been heard, the jury retired to make their verdict.

After an absence of 56 minutes, they returned their verdict - guilty. The judge donned his black cap and passed sentence - execution by hanging.

Samuel Herbert Dougal was executed at Chelmsford prison at 8am on Tuesday 14 July 1903. He was buried in the grounds of Chelmsford prison and only his initials and a number on the wall near by marked the grave of one of Essex's most notorious murderers.

It was interesting to see her actual shoes but slightly disturbing to see her little dog, Jacko, who has been stuffed and now resides in all his glory in a glass case!

I have lived for many years in this area but didn't even know this museum existed! If you are in the Essex area, I highly recommend a visit.....