The victim of a murder is often forgotten and fame is given to the person who took their life. Alfred Dauncey was convicted of the murder of William Braund and this is the story of how it happened and the consequences for Dauncey.

William Braund was considered to be a respectable young man who was employed by a Mr Gillet who was a spirit merchant in Redcliffe Street. Alfred Dauncey was an errand boy in the service of Mr Prowse who was a surgeon in Guinea Street.

A detailed description of Alfred is available but none of William. Alfred has been described in his prison records as a porter and then later a bricklayer. He was a miller’s son hailing from Bathwick and his physical presence is of a 14 year-old boy with dark brown hair, grey eyes and under five feet tall.

One Sunday afternoon in 1849 Dauncey and his friend Collins were playing leapfrog over an iron post near Bedminster Bridge. Braund, with his friends Horgan and Coggan passed them by and as they did Horgan said “Over it.”

This seemed to be the cue for Alfred and his friend to shout names at William and shouted abusive language as they followed them. Horgan turned round and they ran away still shouting at him. Horgan caught hold of Collins by the railings of Zion Chapel, hit him twice and then gave. him a blow to the face.

Horgan went to his companions and they continued on their way and were followed by the persistent Dauncey and Collins. Having caught up with them Collins pulled out a life preserver (a cosh) and menaced them with it. Braund then threatened to tell Collins mother that he had a cosh and that she wouldn’t be well pleased about it. This suggests a previous relationship with the boys and not a healthy one at that.

Braund rushed at Collins whereby the was a scuffle on the floor. Dauncey declared more than once that unless William stopped he would shoot him. Despite Horgan trying to stop him shooting Braund Alfred did it anyway.

A local magistrate, Mr Brown, witnessed the murder from his window and came to help William but he was already dead.

Alfred ran away pursued by several people. He was caught in Stillhouse Lane and taken to Bedminster Police Station. On being searched it was found he was in possession of a bullet mould, several bullets, percussion caps, £3 1s 6d and a pack of playing cards.

His sentence was 10 years transportation. In March 1850 he was transferred from Bristol city jail to Gloucester County Prison and from there he was transferred to Parkhurst boys’ prison on the Isle of Wight. He was there for the census of 1851. He left for Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) on the Equestrian in 1852. He was given a conditional discharge in 1855 but nothing has been heard of him since.