The tragic death of Charlotte Diamond on Bodmin Moor (7 photos)

Love is perhaps the most beautiful feeling in the world. Because of which people do stupid things and commit irreparable acts. Although in this case the truth remains obvious, but elusive, like the kiss of a timid lover.





Bodmin Moor is a stunning moorland of hills and moors in Cornwall, England. It is a site of special scientific significance. The site is known for many creepy legends. This place is also associated with the gruesome murder of 18-year-old Charlotte Diamond in the 19th century. In this story of love and jealousy, Matthew Weeks is hanged for his crime. But many people believe he was innocent, despite the many details that seem to point to him.

Charlotte Diamond's Story

It all started in 1842, when maid Charlotte Diamond went to work at Penhale Farm, adjacent to Bodmin Moor. The farm was owned by a 61-year-old widow, Mrs. Peter, and her son. In addition to Charlotte, a couple of other people worked on the farm - John Stevens and Matthew Weeks, who were about 20 years old. Weeks had been working on the farm for seven years.

Love triangle



Bodmin Moor

The town knew that Charlotte and Matthew had been dating before she started working on the farm. However, Weeks had a rival, Thomas Prout. Tom was the nephew of the farm owner, and the 26-year-old often helped with the housework. There were rumors that Charlotte was a girl of free morals and inclined to flirt at every opportunity.

Weeks and Prout got along well together. The problems started when Prout became infatuated with Charlotte. Another farm worker, John Stevens, reported that Prout wanted to save Charlotte from her current hard life and possibly run away with her.

On April 14, 1844, Charlotte finished her shift on the farm. Since it was Sunday, she wore a Sunday dress with a red shawl. Charlotte was seen chatting with Thomas Prout, and soon after, she set off on her journey with Matthew. Isaac Corey, a 63-year-old man who farmed in the area, said he saw Matthew accompanied by a young woman wearing a green striped dress. It was foggy that day, but the farmer clearly recognized Weeks by his limp. Everyone assumed that Charlotte was with him at the time since they left together.

Return of Matthew





Weeks returned to the farm alone that day. Mrs. Peter questioned him about Charlotte's whereabouts. But the guy feigned surprise and said that he didn’t know anything. Weeks' legs were covered in mud up to the knees. John Stevens also noticed rips and a missing button on his shirt.

Several days passed, but Charlotte still did not appear. Weeks insisted he was not near the swamp. Suspicions grew among the inhabitants of the farm, and in their eyes Weeks was certainly guilty. A few days after Charlotte disappeared, Weeks reported that the girl had accepted a job offer in Blissland, located a few kilometers from her home.

Ten days after Charlotte disappeared, anxiety reached its peak. Village residents organized a search. They also searched Matthew Weeks' room for any clues. There was nothing there to indicate his guilt. But the job offer he talked about turned out to be a lie.

Body Detection



River Allen in Cornwall, where Charlotte was found

As a result of the search, a body was discovered. It was Charlotte, lying on her back on the river bank. The girl's throat was cut. The blow was so strong that it damaged the vertebrae. The evidence indicated that someone had first made one cut in her throat and then inserted a blade into the wound to make a second cut to finish the job. The police began searching for Matthew Weeks, who managed to escape. As a result, the guy was found at his sister's house.

Weeks was returned to Bodmin where he was tried for murder. His testimony changed several times, and the details Matthew gave were contradictory. In addition, two more witnesses appeared who saw him with a woman similar to Charlotte. Boot prints at the crime scene also matched Matthew's boots. The jury took just 35 minutes to return a guilty verdict.

Was Matthew Weeks guilty?



Bodmin Gaol, where Matthew Weeks was hanged for murder

The judge sentenced Matthew to death, and on August 12, 1844, he was hanged at Bodmin Gaol in front of 20,000 people who had come from all over the area. During the investigation, one detail emerged: Charlotte planned to meet Thomas Prout at Tremale Chapel late in the evening, some time after she left the farm with Weeks. In fact, this was enough to make many people believe that Matthew Weeks was innocent and that he had been hanged unfairly. It is for this reason, they say, that his angry ghost haunts the prison grounds in search of justice.

Shortly before Matthew was hanged, he dictated a letter that read as follows:

I hope that young men will take my warning and not trust young women too much, as I did; and I hope that young women will accept the same from young men. I loved this girl as much as I loved my life; and after all the kindness I showed her, she said she would have nothing more to do with me. And after this happened, I mourned her bitterly, thinking about what my end would be. I thank the judge and jury for giving me no more than my fair share.

It looks a lot like confession, but...

Memory of Charlotte



City residents erected this monument to Charlotte Diamond at the crime scene.

The tragic murder of Charlotte and the subsequent execution of Matthew caused a great stir throughout the country. Soon after things calmed down, the people of Bodmin erected a memorial to Charlotte Diamond. A tall granite obelisk still stands today at the site of her murder with the inscription: “This monument was erected in memory of Charlotte Diamond, who was murdered here by Matthew Weekes on Sunday, April 14, 1844.”



As for Charlotte, according to legend, her restless spirit wanders the moors on each anniversary of her murder.