Page:Notes and Queries - Series 11 - Volume 9.djvu/198

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [u s. ix. MAE. 7,

Longuet had been riding, and his horse was found down near the riverside. The victim had been badly mutilated, and his head was nearly severed from his body. Several gashes had been inflicted on the skull, and five stabs on his body, one of which had pierced his heart.

The Reading Mercury of 17 Feb. states that the murderers plundered the body of thirteen guineas (a ten-pound note of the Wallingford Bank, three one-pound notes of the Bank of England, numbered 24,793, 75,643, and 73,674, ten shillings of the new coinage, and a three-shilling Bank token). They did not take his watch or silver buckles.

On 5 March The Morning Chronicle stated :

" The Mayor and magistrates of this town [Reading] are vigilantly exercising themselves for the apprehension of the persons who so barbar- ously murdered the Rev. Francis Longuet on his return from Wallingford on the 13th inst."

The London Gazette, 22 Feb., 1817, had the following announcement offering a high reward : Whitehall, February 22, 1817.

" Whereas it hath been humbly represented unto His Royal Highness the Prince Regent, that on Thursday evening the 13th instant, the Rev. Mr. Longuet, on his return on horseback from Pangbourn, in the county of Berks, was bar- barously murdered between the hours of eight and nine o'clock, on the Oxford road, about three miles from Reading ; that his head was nearly severed from his body ; that several dreadful gashes were inflicted on the scull, sup- posed to have been done with a sword ; and that five stabs, apparently made by a bayonet, had penetrated the heart ;

His Royal Highness, for the better apprehending and bringing to justice the persons concerned in the said atrocious murder, is hereby pleased, in the name and on the behalf of His Majesty, to promise His Majesty's most gracious pardon to any one of them (except the person or persons who actually committed the same), who shall dis- cover his, her, or their accomplice or accomplices therein, so that he, she, or they may be appre- hended and convicted thereof.

" SIDMOUTH.

" And, as a further encouragement, a reward of TWO HUNDRED GUINEAS is hereby offered to any person (except as is before excepted) who shall discover his, her, or their accomplice or accomplices therein, so that he, she, or they may be apprehended and convicted thereof ; or to any person or persons who shall apprehend and bring the said offenders, or any of them, to con- viction, or cause them or any of them so to be apprehended and convicted as aforesaid ; such reward to be paid on application to William Andrews, jun., Esq. Clerk to the Magistrates of the Reading Division."

On 19 Feb. the remains of Francis Lon- guet were buried in a vault in the Catholic chapel at Reading, which at that time was in Vastern Road.

" Mr. Taunton from Bow Street, aided by Mr. Davis of this town, are indefatigable in their exertions to discover the diabolical villains." Reading Mercury, 24 Feb.

" Suspicion having arisen that the murder was committed by soldiers, the appearance of the wounds justifying the idea that they were made by a sword and bayonet, the commanding officer of the Oxford Blues, quartered at Reading, called out his regiment and surveyed every man attentively in walking up and down the ranks, when two of them, conscious of their guilt, fainted away," &c. Morning Chronicle, 24 Feb.

This rumour proved to be entirely false* and much indignation followed its being printed.

" A man named John Woodison is just brought into town, having been apprehended at Tile- hurst, about a quarter of a mile from the place where Mr. Longuet was so inhumanly murdered. He is a thatcherj L _and in his possession was found a large instrument used in his calling. He is now under examination before the Mayor and magistrates." Morning Chronicle, 5 March. Woodison was discharged, no evidence being found against him.

" There have been various reports in circulation relative to the perpetration of the horrid murder, but they are totally devoid of foundation. It seems, however, established that, about a quarter after 8 o'clock on that evening [13 Feb.], a tallish person in a great coat or soldier's wrapper was met by two persons about two hundred and fifty yards from the spot where the murder was committed, and who asked how far he was from Reading. It is not believed this person came to Reading, but that he crossed into Oxfordshire. A man about five feet ten inches high, with a foul-weather great coat buttoned up to his chin, having stopped at Goring about ten o'clock the same evening, and enquired his way to South- stoke, saying, when he got there, he knew his way to Crowmarsh. If any of our readers can give information of a man with a wooden leg who was seen to leave Pangbourn on the road to this town [Reading] between 5 and 6 o'clock, they are requested to communicate the same to the Mayor." Reading Mercury, 3 March.

" Thomas Lamb, a chair - mender, who for several days before and subsequent to the murder of Mr. Longuet was living in a cart with his wife and family, was arrested," &c. Reading Mercury, 10 March. Thomas Lamb was discharged.

The murderer was never brought to justice, but died some years afterwards, immediately after confessing his crime. Within the last twenty-five years an old inhabitant of Reading (Mr. W. Darter) published ' Remi- niscences of Reading by an Octogenarian/ and from this book I take the following :

" On the day this crime was committed there had been a pigeon match at Pangbourne, and the murderer had left the shooting party earlier than the others ; but owing to his family being of such respectability and long standing in Reading, it was not until about the time of the trial of Queen Caroline that any suspicion attached to him,