or Moat Farm as it was to become known. Discovery In early 1903, questions arose as to the whereabouts of Camille Cecile Holland and the fact that cheques and other financial instruments were being presented with what purported to be her signature. No one had seen her since 19 May 1899 when the maidservant who had rebuffed Samuel Dougal's sexually-motivated attack on her refused to be left alone with him. Miss Holland had left in a pony and trap with Dougal driving, telling the servant that she would not be long. Dougal returned alone and claimed that Miss Holland, whom the servant was led to believe was 'Mrs Dougal', had gone away to London. The servant's mother removed her daughter from Moat Farm the following day. Subsequently, a series of young women were to suffer similar fates at the hands of Dougal: no sooner did they start work than Dougal was preying upon them. Within three months of his appointing Georgina "Kate" Cranwell as a servant, he had made her pregnant. She left six months later and gave birth in December 1902; Dougal evidently refused to provide for the child, so Kate sought an affiliation order on 27 January 1903. Information given to the court revealed that Camille Cecile Holland was not married to Dougal, resulting in some further enquiries being made about him. Initially, the enquiries centred on fraud and forgery until it became quite evident that Miss Holland was missing and had not been heard from by her relatives for over four years. Weeks of digging ensued at the Moat Farm until 27 April 1903 when Miss Holland's body was found. Following an inquest where it was discovered that Miss Holland had suffered a bullet wound to the head, Dougal was committed for trial on 22 June 1903. Conviction and execution On 23 June, with the unanimous verdict of the jury, Dougal was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by Mr Justice Wright. He was hanged by the public executioner William Billington at Chelmsford Prison on 14 July 1903. References External links British Executions case file pertaining to Samuel Herbert Dougal 1847 births 1903 deaths 20th-century executions by England and Wales People convicted of murder by England and Wales People executed by England and Wales by hanging Suspected serial killers Uxoricides