Mary Anne Hogg

Mary Anne Hogg and Caroline Gwinnell Hogg were found dead in their home in Heathfield House, Camberley.

They were beaten to death with a hammer that had cloth wrapped around its head. It was thought at first that they had never had a hammer in their possession, however, it was later found that they did have a hammer that had it's head wrapped in cloth which was used for breaking coal quietly.

It was noted that Caroline Hogg was an invalid.

It was also thought that a knife had been used in their murders which was later washed in the scullery where a bowl of water and blood was found.

It was thought that Caroline Hogg had been hit on the head with the hammer from behind which caused the handle to break away from the shaft and then in a mad frenzy the iron end of the hammer was used to further beat her. Her body then fell face downwards and her throat was then cut.

After Caroline Hogg was killed Mary Hogg's throat was cut, but she managed to get out of the house.

The knife was then washed and thrown back with all the other cutlery.

At about 4.30pm Caroline Hogg was seen in the London Road with blood streaming from her neck screaming, 'I am murdered, I am murdered'. She then ran into another house where she frequently put her hands in the direction of her throat and exclaimed, 'My sister, my sister'. As well as having her throat cut she also had severe injuries to her temple.

When a man when to inform her sister he found Caroline Hogg lying on the floor of the hall in a pool of blood with her head nearly severed from her body.

Bloodstains ran all along to the back of the residence which was open and access to which would have been easily obtained from a wood to the rear.

Heathfield House was a large house although they lived alone there. They were also believed to have been in the habit of keeping a considerable sum of money in the house.

Mary Hogg said, 'I went out in the afternoon at two o'clock for a walk on Barossa Common. This is according to my usual custom. I returned, and then, according to my ordinary practice, I went to rest, leaving my sister downstairs. I had not been upstairs long when I heard a scream and a loud call for help. I sprang out of bed and rushed downstairs. When halfway down I was startled by the appearance of a horrid man who attacked me and struck me a violent blow on the head with some sharp instrument.'

The police issued a description of the man as being about 35 years old, 5ft 7in tall, with red cheeks, a thick neck, dark eyes, wearing a brown cloth cap and cloth coat and with the appearance of a respectable working man.

The man was seen by several members of a croquet party that had assembled in the house next door. They saw him run on the lawn and when he saw them he turned his coat collar up and fled in the direction of the wood.

Police found his footmarks on the grass which were followed for several miles. They found a place where he had crossed a fence and another in a meadow where he had rested. The trail went several miles along the London road but after that all trace of him was lost.