EXTRAORDINARY ROMANCE OF CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 69, 22 March 1892, Page 5

EXTRAORDINARY ROMANCE OF CRIME.

WHO WAS ALBERT WILLIAMS?

GOING BACK ON HIS LIFE'S HIS

TORY

ROBBING THE SOUTH AFRICAN

MAIL CART IN 1877.

(FROM THE MKLBOI7KNE "STANDARD.")

Talking to a " Stundard " representative yesterday about the Windsor murder, the disappearance of the murderer, and fcho strango developments of the crimo, one of t!ie detectives engaged on the case dropped the remark that "when their man is caughb and his life's history revealed, people will have occasion to remark that ' truth is stranger than fiction.'" The lull extent of the information in tho hands of tho police we do not know ; but it would eeem from the revelations of the past day or two, coupled with still further information now in our possession of a still more startling character, that William*, the murdorer of his newly-wedded bride, is an accomplished robber as well as an assassin. His life appears to have been singularly eventful and full of the most thrilling incidents. Instead of tho awful tragedy of Christmas Day last in tho littlo cocrage in Andrew-street being hi.i first incursion into the realms of criminal adventure, it is becoming more and more apparent, as the mystery of the man's past life is penetrated, that tluib revolting episode was but one of the culminating incidents of a life of crimo that haa run its allotted apan, and is now gradually but surely drawing to a close. Tho story that has been laid beforo us this morning is

OF A MORE STARTLING NATURE than any already chronicled. It goes back 15 years, and tho scones are all laid in South Africa, at a time when the diamond fever was raping, and the Raeso-Turkish War was nearing its close.

In (Jape Colony in 1877 three boxes containing 0.000 sovereigns were one day mysteriously abstracted from a mail care travelling between Kingwilliamstoun and Grahamstown. The gold belonged to the Standard Bank, and was taken ovor to the hotel in Kingwilliamstown, whence the mail cart started, and here placed in the vehicle by Mr Pointing, manager of the hostelry, in the presence of the bank officials. Oneofthem mounted the box with the driver, and all went well until a certain half-way turnpike was reached, when bills of lading had to be scrutinised, and the concents of the vehicle examined. Then it was found that the gold was not on board. It had disippeared in some unaccountable manner ; but how or where ib had gono to remained a mystery for some time alter.

It was noticed that at about thia timo A SEAFARING ENGINEER NAMED

"BULLY" WILLIAMS was knocking about Kingwilliamstown, and in such a way as to excite suspicion in tiie minds of the police, for he had no ostensible means of support, though lie represented himself as being connected with a bier engineering firm in England. He lived at the hotel where Pointing waa manager, the owner of the place being ab the time in the old country, having left Pointing to look after his interests during his absonce. Pointing and Williams were fast friends, and the fact that Pointing evidently knew something of how the money had disappeared brought suspicion on both men alike. There was no direct evidenco upon which either could be arrested, and so it was decided to keep them both under clo3C surveillance.

William began to find this sorb of thing rather disagreeablo and determined to pub Rome distance between himself and the Cape Colony police authorities as soon as possible. Bat his time for departure had not ycfc arrived. Ho resolved to put up with the risk a little longer, rather than leave the country, and perhaps lose the chance of sharing in the spoil.

The police at last DETERMINED TO ACT BOLDLY

AGAINST POINTING, fearing that he would sooner or later give them the slip. So they pounced upon him suddenly one day and accused him of the robbery; and lie, taken aback with the suddenness of the charge, tacitly admitted he was a party to the deed. The bank, more anxious for the money than for the vindication of the law, gave the thief to understand that if ho would only lead them to the place where the coin was "planted," they would not prosecute him. He reluctantly "consented. The money, ho told them, had been planted in a sandhill near the town. There were several such hills, but he could nob tell them exactly which ono. Two policemen, a bank official, and Pointing sot out for the concealed treasure. Pointing led them up . one hill and down another till darkness came on, and they were all tired, and the 5,000 sovereigns were as far away as ever. For several days after the search was renewed, but with no batter result. Pointing had changed his mind. Williams had found an opportunity of persuading him that it would be much better to risk a term of imprisonment, and have the money when he came out,

than give up the money and perhaps have to go to gaol after all. The hotel manager was at last placed on his trial. The evidence brought against him was conclusive. The jury found him gnilty, and, much to his disgust, he left the Court to SERVE A SENTENCE OF THREE YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. Tho position grew altogether too uncomfortable for Williams now. The eyes of the police wore on him everywhere. It was known that he had played an important part in the robbery, and he knew he was suspected. While Pointing was on his trial, Williams assured him he would see that he was properly supplied with luxuries during his incarceration, that he would wait till he came out again, and that then they could lift the " plant," leave the country and SAIL FOR AUSTRALIA WITH THE £5,000. Ab any rate, Pointing asserted on his liberation thab such an understanding did exist between them, and how Williams on his part fulfilled it remains to be seen. One morning, after the hotel manager had begun to serve his sentence, a mysterious disappearance was reported. Williams had not been seen for some days, and no one could say where he had gone, or how he had taken his departure. He had disappeared like a ghost in the night, and no trace of him could be found. Nothing more was heard of him till about nine months later, when a queer-looking little man, evidently disguised, gob oil' the coach at) Kingwilliamstown. No one knew who tho visitor was, and as so many Deople were going and coming to the diamond fields ho did not excite more than ordinary notice. The little man was none other than " Bully " Williams, who had RETURNED FOR THE "SWAG" WHEN THE COAST WAS CLEAR. He found ie where it was planted in the sand, and, laden with sovereigns, he made his way back as quickly as possible to the coast. On arrival at the port of East London it was noticed he was very flush of cash. He gave a great spree at ono of the hotels, got all his old acquaintances round him, and after a really merry time of it, he sailed for London.

Tho gentleman who has supplied us with this information was at the time a prominent resident of East London, and his bona fides are undoubted. He know Williams well and all about him, and has no doubb that tho man who committed the Windsor murder and the accomplice of Pointing in the South African gold robbery are

ONE AND THE SAME PERSON. Williams was for pome years an ensrineer on ono of tho Union Company's mail boats. When at East London ho had to leave tho vessol, it was supposed through a row with the men, who could not stand hie arrogant disposition. He was known among seafaring men as "Bully"' Williams, because of tho constant swagcer he nesumed, and his notoriously aggressive manner.

Whon Pointing £;ofc out of gaol he went back to Kingwiiliamstown, to get the money ho and Williams had planted, but found to his sorrow that Williams, who had promisod to wait for him, hnd been there before him. It transpired subsequently that Pointing, instead of putting the boxes of gold into the mail cart.

PUT IN DUMMY BOXES INSTEAD, tho bank officials who were standing by being deceived by tho counterfeit parcels.

Williams' favourite topic of conversation on board the Kaiser Wilhelm was "My travels in South Africi," where he alleged ho had made a fortune and " spent it like a man, sir."