Murder of Richard Rugman and Attempted Murder of Eliza Smith

On the night of April 1, 1887, 80-year-old Richard Rugman and his live-in maid 76-year-old Eliza Smith was at their home on Morton St. in Thornbury, England. visited by their neighbor Mrs. Brown. She left the two at 6p.m. and then another friend of theirs, French, came and visited till after 7 p.m. The two seemed to be in a good mood that night. A third visitor would come that night and create a tragedy.

Richard was sitting in his chair by the kitchen fire and Eliza was sitting nearby. A man would come to the house and lift the latch of the door to the kitchen. Eliza did not recognize the man as he demanded £5. Eliza would reply with a "My good man. we've got no money to give you. We can't afford it." The man angry at the response would then strike Richard upon the head with a large stick and then struck her. Richard would be struck at least five times over his right eye, and his arm broken from trying to protect his face. Eliza's face was badly beaten and he beat her on the left side of her body. The two lay on the floor till the next morning.

Eliza took all her strength to crawl outside the house. She would be discovered by George Trayburn, a tradesman, who came to get their order of meat. He would get help from a man named Horsman, who was working nearby, to bring Eliza into the home. They discovered the grizzly scene and Richard. The police and doctor would be called to the scene.

 It was found that the stick used was from the garden. The killer took it from a bundle of withies that was going to be used to make spikes. The murder weapon was found. It was about two feet long and the butt end that used to hit the two broke off. 

Richard's wounds were so severe that doctors worried about his survival. He would lay in and out of consciousness as people who knew him visited. He recognized his friends and family, but unfortantly he would die over a week later.

Though the unknown man had the opportunity to ransack the house he did not. There was gold and silver on a table upstairs and Eliza had a box with  £13 inside. The cottage they lived in was humble in nature and it was strange that the man thought they would have the money to give.

It was suspected at first that Eliza may have done the murder, but doctors stated she did not have the strength to do such blows. Also, her retelling of the crime right after may have been inaccurate due to her injury and worsening memory problems she had over the last few years. 

This case remains unsolved.

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders UK

Thornburry Roots

Citizen April 9, 1887

The Bristol Mercury and Daily Post, Western Countries and South Wales Advertiser May 4, 1887