Bedworth’s first steps of flight were directed into Spa-fields, where he remained until dark, and then returned into town.—Passing over London Bridge, he, for the first time, bethought himself, that some of the blood of his victim might be upon his clothes. He therefore examined his dress, but found that all parts had escaped, except his apron, which he pulled off, and tossed through the ballustrades of the bridge, into the Thames. He then wandered through the Borough, over Blackfriars Bridge, and afterwards over Westminster Bridge, and thus roving about, he, by day-light, the following morning, reached the Regent’s Park, where he threw the knife into the Canal. From the Regent’s Park he pursued his way to Hampstead, where he passed the whole of that day about the fields, and where he also determined to pass the night.—About eleven o’clock, while in a hay-field, where he had betaken himself to rest, he was suddenly disturbed by the deep groaning of one, as in great agony, whose voice was exceedingly like that of the deceased, and he passed the remainder of the night in much disquietude and alarm.
Early on the following morning, he pursued his route toward St. Albans, and thus spent the remainder of the day. At night he once more fled, for a hiding and resting place, to the fields, where having laid down, he was disturbed by a dreadful noise, similar to that which he had heard the night before. This was now accompanied by the voice of the murdered woman, who emphatically said, “Oh Bedworth! Bedworth! what have you done?” The address was followed by other expressions, complaining bitterly of having been hurried into another world, and particularly these words: “You have deprived me of all the happiness of this life.” He was so far persuaded of the reality of this visitation, that, “in the name of God,” he entreated the horrible phantom “to go to rest and leave him!”—Unable to sleep, he arose at an early hour, still wandering, and returned towards London.
It was the time of the general illuminations for the late battles, and Bedworth, entering the city about nine o’clock in the evening, traversed the streets, to divert his distracted imagination, by gazing at the lights. Thus wandering about, he retired to Smithfield, in order to pass the night in one of the sheep-pens. Here, however, he had scarcely laid himself down, when the murdered woman appeared to him with a dreadful noise, and bitter exclamations! His entreaties and prayers were, on this occasion also, most earnest, that she would “commit herself to rest, and cease to torment him!”
Unable to rest, he arose from the earth, left the sheep-pen, and walked towards Islington, in which place, and at Highgate, he spent his time until the following evening, and once more returned to London, again viewed the illuminations in the city, and again wandered about, until half-past twelve o’clock, when he directed his course once more towards Islington and Highgate. No new scene, however, or course which he pursued, could lighten the load of his crime, or chase away the guilty horrors which pursued him. On this night, while walking up Highgate Hill, the murdered woman again stood before him! Imagination may paint, if it can, the horrible feelings of Bedworth at this moment. She walked with him, side by side, until they reached the other side of the hill, and then taking the hand of the miserable man, placed it upon her severed throat, and groaned and mourned deeply!—Driven to despair, he fled into a field, where he threw himself down upon his face on some hay, hoping to elude at least the sight of his ghostly pursuer. Such, however, was the consequence of guilt, that he felt her lying by his side and crouching against him!
After spending the whole of the last-mentioned day and the next night in indescribable horror, without being able to leave this situation, he again came into London, on the following morning; and—it would be incredible, if it were not true—he actually applied at the Justice Room, Guildhall, for a “walking pass” to Wolverhampton! Such was the fact, and being told, upon application, that he must come the next day, he retired for that night into the fields near Islington, where his rest was rather less disturbed than before. The next morning he again applied at Guildhall for a pass, but, after a strict examination, as to who he was, and where he last slept, he was ordered to go before the Magistrates at the Public Office, Queen Square. This he instantly did, and having there undergone the usual enquiries, he actually succeeded in obtaining a pass! At the moment the whole town was in alarm at the atrocity of the murder, when Police Officers were in pursuit of him, and placards were posted in every direction, describing his person and dress minutely, and offering a reward for his apprehension; at this moment he applied to the Police Office for his pass, and obtained it from the Magistrates themselves, without being suspected!
Possessed of his pass, Bedworth set out for his native country. He slept the first night in Kentish Town, and the next morning pursued his journey towards Coventry, receiving at each town, through which he went, the relief to which his pass entitled him. He arrived in Coventry, on Monday, the 3d of July, and slept there the same night. The following morning he pursued his route to Meridan, about twelve miles from Coventry and six from Birmingham. From thence he went back to Coventry, where he again slept, and, on the 5th arrived at Horseley.
During these travels and retravels, conscience was still crying vengeance, and though he, for a while, flattered himself, that he could familiarise himself with the horrors of his mind, if not eventually stifle them, he still anticipated the dreadful expiation of his life, for the murder he had committed. Terror, shame, and remorse were the conflicting passions which accompanied him in his escape; but the violence of these having in a great measure subsided, reflection assumed a more rational seat in his breast, and now it was that he began to look with a steadier eye upon the deed he had perpetrated.
From Horseley, Bedworth once more returned, on the 5th July, to Coventry, but his compunctions, while on his way to the latter place, had become so alarming and irresistible, that he finally resolved to surrender himself to justice.
For this purpose, on the morning of the 6th, he went before the Mayor of Coventry, and made a full confession of his guilt. The candour and ingenuousness with which he related his horrible tale, occasioned doubts of its truth in the mind of the Magistrate, who, with much humanity, supposed it might be the imagined story of a perverted intellect. He was, however, put into confinement, and, proper enquiries being made, was forwarded, in custody, to London, and arrived at the Bow Street Police Office, on the 11th of July. Here he confessed, fully, before Mr. Nares, the Magistrate, the murder of which he had been accused, and, in the presence of others, signed his confession.
In concluding his narrative, which has been related with the strictest accuracy, from his own lips, the unfortunate culprit added, “I have now been most justly condemned, for this foul and barbarous murder, and after surrendering my forfeited life to public justice, I have only to look to that awful moment, when I shall meet my Heavenly Judge, whose merciful pardon I hope for and implore, through the merits of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer.—Amen!”