Post by jo on Mar 31, 2021 11:22:44 GMT
The Honeypot Lane Murders
The quiet little country Road, Honeypot Lane was the scene of one of the most notorious crimes in the area.
The Basildon area during the early 1900s had problems with water , either too much or too little. The summer of 1906 was long, hot and dry and many of the small ponds dried up. In an area where many of the local residents kept poultry or small animals this became a big problem.
Emma and Albert Watson who lived in a bungalow on Honeypot Lane found themselves with no water for their animals and so asked a neighbouring resident, Richard Buckham if they could collect water from his pond. With his permission, the next day after Mr Buckham had left for work in London, the Watsons went to the pond to collect some water.
Later that same day a man was passing the pond and saw two bodies floating. He reported it to the local police and a sergeant was sent to investigate. The bodies were removed and on checking the Watsons house, discovered it had been ransacked and money was missing.
The next day Robert Buckham who was 16 years old , one of Richards sons confessed that his brother also called Richard , not knowing his father had given permission was incensed at the Watson helping themselves to water from their pond had shot them. Both brothers were arrested. The case came to court in November 1906. The younger brother Robert was acquitted.
Richard’s mental state was questioned as he suffered from headaches and had been known to be very cruel and did he take after his grandfather had been committed to a mental health facility in Colney Hatch and was kept in a padded cell.
The jury were told that Emma had been shot twice which meant that Richard must have reloaded the gun to shoot her again.
Richard was found guilty and was hanged in December 1906 at Chelmsford Prison.
Photo1 Mr Watson's bungalow
The quiet little country Road, Honeypot Lane was the scene of one of the most notorious crimes in the area.
The Basildon area during the early 1900s had problems with water , either too much or too little. The summer of 1906 was long, hot and dry and many of the small ponds dried up. In an area where many of the local residents kept poultry or small animals this became a big problem.
Emma and Albert Watson who lived in a bungalow on Honeypot Lane found themselves with no water for their animals and so asked a neighbouring resident, Richard Buckham if they could collect water from his pond. With his permission, the next day after Mr Buckham had left for work in London, the Watsons went to the pond to collect some water.
Later that same day a man was passing the pond and saw two bodies floating. He reported it to the local police and a sergeant was sent to investigate. The bodies were removed and on checking the Watsons house, discovered it had been ransacked and money was missing.
The next day Robert Buckham who was 16 years old , one of Richards sons confessed that his brother also called Richard , not knowing his father had given permission was incensed at the Watson helping themselves to water from their pond had shot them. Both brothers were arrested. The case came to court in November 1906. The younger brother Robert was acquitted.
Richard’s mental state was questioned as he suffered from headaches and had been known to be very cruel and did he take after his grandfather had been committed to a mental health facility in Colney Hatch and was kept in a padded cell.
The jury were told that Emma had been shot twice which meant that Richard must have reloaded the gun to shoot her again.
Richard was found guilty and was hanged in December 1906 at Chelmsford Prison.
Photo1 Mr Watson's bungalow
