Dalmas committing murder on Battersea Bridge

Watercolour by J. Cullum depicting Dalmas committing murder on Battersea Bridge. 19th Century.

This watercolour captures the shocking murder of Sarah Eleanor MacFarlane by Augustus Dalmas, a French-born chemist, on Battersea Bridge in April 1844. The two had been involved in a passionate affair following the death of Dalmas’ wife. Tormented by guilt, Dalmas began sending MacFarlane hate mail before ultimately slashing her throat during a walk across the bridge.Dalmas was tried at the Central Criminal Court and sentenced to death. However, petitions from family, medical professionals, and even jury members led to a reprieve on the grounds of insanity. He was briefly confined to Bethlem Hospital before being transferred to Milgate Prison.On 13 May 1845, Dalmas was among 220 convicts transported aboard the David Malcolm to Van Diemen’s Land and Norfolk Island, arriving on 25 August 1845. He died 1st Jan 1874.An account of the murder appears on page 161 of Murder Guide to London by M. Fido