The Gregory Murder

Murder at Yeovil

The murder of a Yeovil veterinary surgeon

 

The following report is from the 31 May 1839 issue of 'The Times'  -

"About a fortnight since we stated the death of Mr SV Gregory, veterinary surgeon of Yeovil, whose body was found lying on the turnpike-road between Sherborne and that town. On Thursday week, after three adjournments of the inquest on the body, there being some mysterious circumstances connected with the death, the jury again assembled the fourth time, and after deliberately considering the whole of the evidence which had been adduced, unanimously returned a verdict of 'Wilful murder against some person or persons unknown'.

It appears that the deceased had on the same day he met his death (Friday) received the amount of two or three bills at Yeovil market, and had purchased half-a-pound of tea, which he requested to be tied up in quarter pounds for the purpose of carrying one in each pocket, but the tea and the money, with the exception of a few halfpence, were missing from his person when the body was picked up.

There are other circumstances in addition to these, which certainly are sufficient to induce the belief that Mr Gregory was murdered. We trust that the person who perpetrated the act may yet be discovered and meet with that retributive justice which he so well deserves.

Mr Gregory, formerly resident in North Street, in this town, was much esteemed in his profession, and had invented, and we rather think had obtained a patent for, an improvement in the construction of horse-shoes."