The excellent and detailed account, with clippings and quotations from sources at the time:
https://davidkiddhewitt.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/the-unsolved-murder-of-mr-westwood/
A brief account in this book
Gangland Soho
And more on the inadequate state of police investigations at the time
http://www.historybytheyard.co.uk/early_murder_investigations.htm
With more information about Mr Westwood, his work in watch and clock making and his character, in Marine Chronometers of Greenwich
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xL9EDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA319&dq=32%20princes%20street%20soho%20london&pg=PA318#v=onepage&q=32%20princes%20street%20soho%20london&f=false
The Victim
Mr Robert Westwood had a shop at 32 Princes Street, Soho in the 1830s. He was a watch and clock maker to the King, who had also invented and patented the 8-day watch in 1829
The last link gives some background on his early life, but I will simply note that he had married Mary Priestman on 19 April 1818, who was at least 10 years his senior. At the time of the events being described, Mr Westwood was aged between 52 and 55 years, while his wife was now frail. The couple had no other family and rented rooms in their property to make extra money.
In 1822 he had (according to Gangland Soho) been tied to a bed and robbed by William Redding, who had previously been convicted of capital crimes and transported, but the latter Marine Chronometers (which is more detailed) says that the property was vacant on Sunday 28 July 1822 as the Westwoods were out visiting. Mr Reading had been seen coming out of the shop and was arrested the following day, still in possession of the stolen goods. Mr Reading's alleged fence was acquitted, but Reading was found guilty of burglary and hanged on 27 November 1822 at Newgate prison.
Mr Westwood was described as a difficult man and prone to violent outbursts.
In 1837 the master of a merchant ship had returned a watch to him because it was not working. Mr Westwood had promptly snatched it from him and stamped on it. The customer took Mr Westwood to court and was not the first to do so. On several occasions his wife had sought police protection for his violent assaults.
The last link gives some background on his early life, but I will simply note that he had married Mary Priestman on 19 April 1818, who was at least 10 years his senior. At the time of the events being described, Mr Westwood was aged between 52 and 55 years, while his wife was now frail. The couple had no other family and rented rooms in their property to make extra money.
In 1822 he had (according to Gangland Soho) been tied to a bed and robbed by William Redding, who had previously been convicted of capital crimes and transported, but the latter Marine Chronometers (which is more detailed) says that the property was vacant on Sunday 28 July 1822 as the Westwoods were out visiting. Mr Reading had been seen coming out of the shop and was arrested the following day, still in possession of the stolen goods. Mr Reading's alleged fence was acquitted, but Reading was found guilty of burglary and hanged on 27 November 1822 at Newgate prison.
Mr Westwood was described as a difficult man and prone to violent outbursts.
In 1837 the master of a merchant ship had returned a watch to him because it was not working. Mr Westwood had promptly snatched it from him and stamped on it. The customer took Mr Westwood to court and was not the first to do so. On several occasions his wife had sought police protection for his violent assaults.
The Crime
On 07 June 1839, the police quickly arrived to put out a fire in the shop and in one of the smoke-filled rooms they found the murdered body of Mr Westwood. Mr Westwood had been hit around the head with a heavy weight from the sash window then had his throat cut with a knife, before being set on fire, while still breathing. The police also discovered that over 80 of his valuable watches had been stolen as well as a box of sovereigns and several silver items.
Occupants of 32 Princes Street, Soho
Mr Stephenson
He rented one of the back rooms on the first floor with his wife. Mr Stephenson is described as a friend of Mr Westwood, but he and his wife frequently quarrelled as Mr Stephenson believed his wife was seeing other men. This had upset Mr Westwood and he had evicted them. Both had disappeared on the night in question, but taking keys to the property with them.
Mr James Bannister
He worked in the back room over the kitchen during the day as a journeyman employed by Mr Westwood. He had gone out earlier in the evening to his lodgings in Euston Street, Seymour Square.
Monsieur Gerard
An elderly French gentleman who lived on the upper floor. He had returned to the property earlier in the evening and had been a lodger at the property for over 10 years.
Elizabeth Pretty
Servant girl to the household. She had only been working for the Westwoods for 2 months, but had come with good references.
Interviewed
In addition to Mrs Westwood, Elizabeth Pretty, Mr Bannister and the Stevensons, evidence was given by:
Mr Smith
Surgeon who was called from nearby Dean Street, Soho to examine the body and who confirmed Mr Westwood's death.
Superintendant Baker and Inspector Jarvis
Both from "C" Division were sent to the scene to investigate.
Timothy Gimlet
Also of "C" Division who had heard the cries and arrived at the property first.
Mr Frederick John Owen
He lived at 38 Silver Street, Golden Square and had apparently seen 2 men (who were not respectable), 1 of whom he thought he recognised (though he was mistaken) leaving the property.
Mr George Robinson
He was interviewed because he was suspected of being 1 of the men seen by Mr Owen. His account was confused, he denied that a hat found by the body was his, and was subsequently taken into custody. Mr Robinson also had a wound on his cheek, though a surgeon said this was a graze, rather than a burn and unrelated to the fire.
George Spendlow
Chief Fireman. He had exchanged words with Mr Robinson about his "wrong" hat, who claimed to know the deceased well and identified the body. Mr Robinson said the hat at the scene was not his.
Sarah Appason
She was the mother of Mrs Stephenson and confirmed that her daughter's evidence, that the people visiting her were her brother and sister, was correct.
Mr Charles Louis le Roche
He had worked for Mr Robinson but was frequently late for work and had argued with his employer; on the day of the murder he had not been seen at all. Mr le Roche, on being interviewed, was very distressed by the murder and had an alibi for the time, as he was moving house and had witnesses to confirm this. He had moved out because he did not get on with the previous servant girl.
Mr Stephenson
He rented one of the back rooms on the first floor with his wife. Mr Stephenson is described as a friend of Mr Westwood, but he and his wife frequently quarrelled as Mr Stephenson believed his wife was seeing other men. This had upset Mr Westwood and he had evicted them. Both had disappeared on the night in question, but taking keys to the property with them.
Mr James Bannister
He worked in the back room over the kitchen during the day as a journeyman employed by Mr Westwood. He had gone out earlier in the evening to his lodgings in Euston Street, Seymour Square.
Monsieur Gerard
An elderly French gentleman who lived on the upper floor. He had returned to the property earlier in the evening and had been a lodger at the property for over 10 years.
Elizabeth Pretty
Servant girl to the household. She had only been working for the Westwoods for 2 months, but had come with good references.
Interviewed
In addition to Mrs Westwood, Elizabeth Pretty, Mr Bannister and the Stevensons, evidence was given by:
Mr Smith
Surgeon who was called from nearby Dean Street, Soho to examine the body and who confirmed Mr Westwood's death.
Superintendant Baker and Inspector Jarvis
Both from "C" Division were sent to the scene to investigate.
Timothy Gimlet
Also of "C" Division who had heard the cries and arrived at the property first.
Mr Frederick John Owen
He lived at 38 Silver Street, Golden Square and had apparently seen 2 men (who were not respectable), 1 of whom he thought he recognised (though he was mistaken) leaving the property.
Mr George Robinson
He was interviewed because he was suspected of being 1 of the men seen by Mr Owen. His account was confused, he denied that a hat found by the body was his, and was subsequently taken into custody. Mr Robinson also had a wound on his cheek, though a surgeon said this was a graze, rather than a burn and unrelated to the fire.
George Spendlow
Chief Fireman. He had exchanged words with Mr Robinson about his "wrong" hat, who claimed to know the deceased well and identified the body. Mr Robinson said the hat at the scene was not his.
Sarah Appason
She was the mother of Mrs Stephenson and confirmed that her daughter's evidence, that the people visiting her were her brother and sister, was correct.
Mr Charles Louis le Roche
He had worked for Mr Robinson but was frequently late for work and had argued with his employer; on the day of the murder he had not been seen at all. Mr le Roche, on being interviewed, was very distressed by the murder and had an alibi for the time, as he was moving house and had witnesses to confirm this. He had moved out because he did not get on with the previous servant girl.
The Outcome
Despite the offer of a reward, numerous arrests and the investigation, no one was ever convicted. Mr Westwood was buried at St James' Church, West Hampstead on 10 June 1839.
And so, we get to my ancestor.
Nicholas William Caron
My 2nd cousin 6x removed, was a paper hanger and neighbour of Mr Westwood.
Nicholas was born in 1806 in Blackfriars to Jean Emerson le Caron and Martha Edwin. He was part of a large family with 2 sisters and 4 brothers. Jean was a first generation Huguenot to be born in Spitalfields in 1776 and he and Martha were married in 1800 at the unusually named church of St Andrew by the Wardrobe. Jean was initially a Stationers' Company Apprentice and later became a stationer/storeman. Unfortunately his death in 1835 records him as a painter and the cause allegedly to be suicide by hanging.
It would make sense for Nicholas to have followed a similar line of work to his father. On the marriage certificate to his second wife, Sarah Yates in 1838, he is listed as a painter. He had 4 children from his previous wife: 3 sons and 1 daughter.
Shortly after the discovery of the body of Mr Westwood, Nicholas was nowhere to be found. There are stories that he fled England to America, possibly by France. His disappearance made him the chief suspect and some sources say he was never located.
Marine Chronometers appears to confirm that he was the guilty party. Mr Caron was reportedly on friendly terms with Robert Westwood, but had disappeared immediately after the murder and, according to those who knew him, had gone to America, to be following shortly afterwards by his second wife. The children were simply left and were later taken into the workhouse. The book says that an article of Mr Westwood's missing clothing was found in Mr Caron's house and one of his relatives had one of the stolen watches. Enquiries had been made in New York, where it was discovered some of the stolen property had been offered for sale. Notices in the English press had suggested the suspect had been found and was being brought home, but there is no record of this, nor of a trial and conviction.
So was it my ancestor?
This article in The Sun, offers another suspect. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2824925/deathmask-victorian-murderers/
Epilogue
In 1841 the shop at 32 Princes Street was re-opened by Mr James Bannister. Today the site is occupied by the Queen's Theatre with the stage, apparently, located on the site of the grisly murder.
Marine Chronometers appears to confirm that he was the guilty party. Mr Caron was reportedly on friendly terms with Robert Westwood, but had disappeared immediately after the murder and, according to those who knew him, had gone to America, to be following shortly afterwards by his second wife. The children were simply left and were later taken into the workhouse. The book says that an article of Mr Westwood's missing clothing was found in Mr Caron's house and one of his relatives had one of the stolen watches. Enquiries had been made in New York, where it was discovered some of the stolen property had been offered for sale. Notices in the English press had suggested the suspect had been found and was being brought home, but there is no record of this, nor of a trial and conviction.
So was it my ancestor?
This article in The Sun, offers another suspect. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2824925/deathmask-victorian-murderers/
Epilogue
In 1841 the shop at 32 Princes Street was re-opened by Mr James Bannister. Today the site is occupied by the Queen's Theatre with the stage, apparently, located on the site of the grisly murder.
I own one of Robert Westwood's watches, a silver, fusee, English lever watch. The silver case is hallmarked for 1824. The enamel dial has, "WESTWOOD LONDON" in small capitals. The movement has, in an Italic script, distributed around it: "Westwood - Princes Str't - Soho - London". The balance cock, in very florid script, reads, "Detach'd - Lever". It has been recently serviced and keeps good time, over 200 years after it was made!
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