Murder of Charlotte Dymond

Charlotte Dymond (1826 – 14 April 1844) was an 18-year-old servant who was the victim of a notorious murder which influenced the folklore of Bodmin Moor.^[1] In 1844, she was found dead on the moor in grisly circumstances. A fellow farm worker, Matthew Weeks, was convicted of the crime and sentenced to death. The notorious crime inspired poetry, songs, and ghost stories in Cornish folklore.^[2] It is considered to be one of the most infamous murders in Cornwall.^[3]

Charlotte Dymond was born in Cornwall into poverty and illegitimacy.^[4] She was a servant at Penhale Farm, which was situated between Camelford and Davidstow, on the outskirts of Bodmin Moor.^[5] The farm where she worked was owned by Phillipa Peter, an elderly widow and her son John.^[6] Dymond resided with two other live-in servants, John Stevens and Matthew Weeks (also spelled Weekes), who also worked for the farm.^[5] Although Dymond and Weeks were believed to be courting, she was also thought to have romantic feelings for her employer's nephew, Thomas Prout.^[3] It was thought that Prout and Dymond intended to elope.^[7]

On 14 April 1844, Dymond and Weeks were seen leaving the property and making their way to the moor.^[8] She was wearing a distinctive green striped dress and Weeks was recognised by an old farmer by his characteristic limp.^[8] When he returned alone later that night suspicion was aroused by his muddy trousers and a torn shirt.^[8] He told the household that Charlotte Dymond had been offered a new job in Blisland.^[9]

Charlotte Dymond was missing for a week before the discovery of her body.^[3] Her body was found at a high-point at Roughtor Ford.^[2] A post-mortem found her throat had been sliced from ear to ear.^[5] The coroner was Joseph Hawley and his deputy was Gilbert Hamley.^[10] Weeks fled to Plymouth and planned to flee to the Channel Islands when an arrest warrant was issued.^[9] When he was captured he pleaded his innocence.^[9]

Circumstantial evidence implicated Weeks as he was the last person to see her alive, as well as his erratic behaviour after she went missing.^[11] It was believed that Charlotte was planning to leave him and she was killed in a fit of jealous rage.^[12] Due to subsequent research, considerable doubt was raised surrounding his guilt. An alternative hypothesis suggested she was killed by a secret admirer.^[13]

Weeks stood trial in August 1844 at Shire Hall in Bodmin.^[14] He was found guilty of the murder.^[15] At noon on 12 August 1844, Weeks was hanged in front of Bodmin Gaol.^[3] He was buried in the coal yard adjoining the gaol.^[6]

The crime influenced local folklore inspiring poems, songs and ghost stories, including The Ballad of Charlotte Dymond by Charles Causley.^[2] The Charlotte Dymond Memorial, which commemorates her life, stands on Bodmin Moor and is a Grade II listed building.^[2] The monument is listed due to its rarity as a mid-19th-century memorial to a domestic servant paid for by public subscription which was unusual at the time.^[16]

In 1978 a local historian, Pat Munn, wrote a book on the murder.^[17] In the same year the case was adapted for a televised reconstruction.^[18] In 2001 the case was part of a historical exhibition at Shire Hall.^[19] The exhibition involved an immersive reenactment of the trial.^[20] Author Jill Batters presented a talk "The Life of Charlotte Dymond" at Liskeard Old Cornwall Society in 2019.^[21]

The British-Australian author Brand King sets much of his second novel, A Cornish Spring on Bodmin Moor.^[22] The novel evokes the ghost of Charlotte Dymond to drive its narrative.^[23] Her monument features on the book's cover.^[24] An episode of Rick Stein's Cornwall features a visit to the memorial on Bodmin Moor.^[25]

• List of solved missing person cases (pre-1950)

• Munn, Pat, The Charlotte Dymond Murder Cornwall 1844 (1978, reprinted 2010)