The Murder of Charlotte Dymond: A Tale of Love, Betrayal, and Justice at Bodmin Jail

A CRIME THAT SHOCKED CORNWALL

Charlotte Dymond, a dairy maid, had been brutally murdered near Rough Tor, her throat slashed in what many believed to be a crime of passion. Suspicion quickly fell on Matthew Weeks, a fellow farm worker and her supposed suitor. The evidence against him was damning—Charlotte was last seen alive in his company, and his erratic behaviour following her disappearance only fueled public suspicion. The trial at Bodmin Assizes was swift, the courtroom packed with onlookers desperate for every lurid detail. Despite his pleas of innocence, Matthew was found guilty and sentenced to death.

On the morning of 12th August 1844, Bodmin was engulfed in an eerie excitement as 20,000 spectators gathered to witness Weeks’ execution at Bodmin Jail. His final words, reportedly a confession, were printed in full by the press, ensuring his fate—and Charlotte’s tragic end—remained etched in history.

A Victorian Obsession with Tragedy

The Victorian era was no stranger to sensationalism, and Charlotte’s murder was the subject of widespread fascination. Newspapers relayed every detail, from the discovery of her body to the dramatic trial, turning her story into a public spectacle. A fete was even held near the murder site, drawing thousands who paid to see the very spot where Charlotte’s body was found. Some of these funds went towards the granite memorial that still stands on the moor today, a sombre reminder of a young life lost too soon.