http://www.southafricansettlers.com/?cat=9&paged=498
Last Name: Kidwell
First Name: Thomas Richard
Date of Birth: 1823
Place of Birth: Bathurst, Albany, Cape
Parents – Father: Alexander Kidwell
Parents – Mother: Phebe
Name of Spouse: not given
Marriage Date:
Marriage Place:
Date of Death: 11 Sep 1859 age 36/37
Place of Death: murdered near Bedford, Cape
Notes: DN 6334/1859 signed by Charles James Kidwell, brother of deceased. Children:
Alexander James
Amelia Emma
Charles Augustus
Thomas John
Louisa Elizabeth
Emily Jane
Queenstown Free Press - 1863 - 3 - July - September (Written by Sunelia Heath)http://www.eggsa.org/newspapers/index.php/queenstown-free-press/1276-queenstown-free-press-1863-3-july-september
Tuesday 29 September 1863
MURDER WILL OUT. Confession of one of the murderers of Mr Thomas KIDWELL.
Although it has been known for some weeks past that one of the murderers of the late Mr Thomas KIDWELL had given himself up and made a confession, we refrained from giving publicity to the fact in the hope that his accomplices in the murder might have been apprehended before the confession was made public. Now, however, that we see the subject, noticed by some of our contemporary’s, we think that too much publicity cannot be given to the matter in the hope that the other accused parties, READ and SHEPHERD, may be apprehended and brought to justice. It will be in the recollection of many of our readers that four years ago last month as, Mr. KIDWELL was returning from Bedford (whither he had taken his wife to be confined) to his farm, distant only a few hours ride, he was most fouly murdered. Mr KIDWELL left a wife and six children. Suspicion at the time rested entirely on the natives of Bedford, who were known to be very restless. It has now come out that the murder was committed by three Europeans named SHEPHERD, READ, and BADRICK. The latter, after keeping the secret four long years, tormented and worried with nigh unto death, has at last made confession of the crime. We hear that some time prior to his giving himself up he was in continued dread of being apprehended. He had engaged himself to a farmer in this district, who on being told his name was John BADRICK, remarked to him it was a very bad name and he did not like his looks. Leaving shortly after for Queen’s Town the prisoner thought he had gone for assistance to apprehend him, and his feelings were so worked up that he confessed soon after his employers return. He was conveyed to Queen’ Town, the District Surgeon giving it as his opinion that he was not in his right mind, but suffering from Delerims, he was kept quiet and attended to until released form medical aid when he made the statement given below. The prisoner has a most forbidding look as though afraid to enter into conversation, large whiskers, sallow complexion, and sunken eyes as if some deep grief had settled upon him. At Queenstown, this 25th day of Sept. 1863, appeared before me, Charles Duncan GRIFFITH Esq., Resident Magistrate for Queenstown, John BADRICK, who after being duly cautioned that he is not obliged to make any statement that may criminate himself, and that what he may say may be used in evidence against him, makes the following statement:-“I have come to surrender myself as being guilty of murder, in having been concerned in the murder of Mr KIDWELL near Bedford, about four years ago. At the time of the murder, I was in Bedford with two other men named “READ” and “SHEPHERD”, we had been drinking togethe rat Mr KITCHEN’s canteen, this was on the same day that Mr KIDWELL was murdered, we all three left Bedford together on the afternoon of that day, and went along the footpath towards Baviaans River, and when we got on to the neck, we all three sat down and had some more brandy to drink, which we had brought with us. Sometime after dark a person came along the footpath on horseback, he spoke to us, and asked us for a light for his pipe, and dismounted from his horse. I think it was SHEPHERD who gave him a light, the other man named READ asked him (KIDWELL) he addressed him by name, if he intended to pay him some money which he owed him. KIDWELL said he was mistaken as he owed no money to him; with that READ struck him a blow on the head with a stick, and we all then commenced to fight one with the other. MR KIDWELL then fell down and I struck him a blow on the head with a stick, and he said “my God you have killed me” he laid quite still for about five minutes, and then we found he was quite dead, we then took his body and carried it some distance from the footpath and laid it down, we then said amongst ourselves that we must get away out of this – we took the road to Dagga Boers Neck, and remained there that night, the next morning I separated from READ and SHEPHERD, they said they would take the road to the Free State, and I took the road to the Tarka, and have been working in the colony ever since. I have not seen or heard of READ or SHEPERD since I parted with them at Dagga Boers’ Neck. I cannot say for certain whether SHEPHERD struck Mr KIDWELL or not, but I am quite certain that READ struck him the first blow. I had never seen Mr KIDWELL before this murder took place, it was not an arranged plan to go to this neck and wait for Mr KIDWELL, not a word was said to me about it by the other two men. I do not recollect ever leaving Bedford, I was so much under influence of drink at the time. The description for SHEPHERD as far as I can recollect is as follows: Rather stout made, with light hair and whiskers, fair complexion, and about 5 feet 7 inches in height. The description for READ was as follows: Also stout made, and rather shorter than SEHPERD, with dark hair and beard, dark complexion, both these men I think were sailors. I think SHEPERD was called Jack and READ Jim, amongst themselves, but I only met them for the first time on the day we committed the murder, I may be mistaken. John BADRICK." Witnesses John HEMMING, Alex PETRIE. Taken before me and in the presence of the above witnesses, at Queenstown, this 25th September, 1863. Charles D.GRIFITH, Resident Magistrate.