THE WINDSOR TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 77, 31 March 1892, Page 5

THE WINDSOR TRAGEDY.

Australian - papers to hand contain columns ot incidents and particulars of Swanston's

career and movements,

THE WARRANT.

At the Waterside (Perth) lock up, Detective Cawsey appeared with the original Victorian warrant for the arrest of Albert Williams at Windsor. Ho did not reply when the warrant was read over to him. The prisoner seemed more cheerful, and expressed a vindictive desire to co for a certain amateur photographic camera and artist who attempted to hare a shot at him as he entered the 'bus after leaving the traia from York last week. THE ARREST. From particulars to hand from Southern Cross it has been learned that Swanston was arrested by Constable Evan Williams, in company with Constable McCarthy, in his room un Fraser's Leaae at 1 p.m. on the 11th inst. Tho usual caution was given to him, and he replied, " 1 am innocent. I

Hedge's remembrances of him. When Hedge entered the lockup yesterday morning and greeted the prisoner as Deeming ho started to his feet and steadied himself" by grasping the table at which he had been seated playing a game of draughts with a constable in plain clothes. Hedge said, "You haven't altered much," but Swanston said nothing and was evidently collecting his startled faculties. He never once spoke whilst Hedge was in the lockup, but when ho had gone ho turned to tho lockup-keeper and said, " Who is that man? I've never mot him before." Hedge says that he is absolutely certain of his man. Ho is changed but little beyond looking a little older. THE CASE IN THE PERTH POLICE COURT. Swanston was brought up at the Perth Poiice Court, and remanded back to Victoria. Owing to the crowd present the atmosphere 'of the court was terribly close and stuffy, and prisoner evidently felt this as much as" the rest. None the less, Swanston was quite imperturbable, and evidently enjoyed the episode as much as anyone. For instance, lie turned round as the crowd surged in after he was p'.uced in the box, and his smile, if not exactly a pleasant ono, was not artificial. Then, too, he was quite as alert as his counsel, Mr Haynes, who objected to Mr Max Herschfeldt referring to prisoner as the murderer of his wife. Ho smiled, indeed, almost superciliously, at this remark. For the rest of tho time ho was keen and intent, but occasionally presented strongly an animal-hunted look. He frequently sent messages to his counsel through the medium of a press representative at the reporters' table. Mr Haynes cross-examined and browbeat the smart and keen-looking detective sent round to arrest Williams, but Mr Cawsey was by no means disconcerted and stood firo like tho veteran that he is, whilst Mr Horschfeldb's transparent honesty of demeanour was proof against assault. MORE ROUNSVELLE LETTERS. The following letters were found among Swanston'd ollects :—From Miss Ruunsville'a sister to Swanston . — "Cambria Terrace, I>athursr, February IC, 10L"2. Dear Mr Swansf.on —1 promised

The house at Windsor, Melbourne, in which tho romains of the murdered woman were found concealed under a hearthstone.

shall say nothing. lam innocent. My name is nob William 9." Prisoner was then taken to the lockup. In the evening Swansbon was risited by Mr Weir, manager of the Fraser mine, and during the interview Swanaton fainted. The conversation between the two related solely to the machinery. On the 12th inst. Swanston was brought up before Mr Finnerty and remanded to Perth in charge of two constables. A quantity of luggage was also taken ; about 2cwt of it was left behind. During the two nights Swanston was at Southern Gross he did not sleep well. He asked for the Rev. Mr. Gillett, the Church of England minister, to visit him, and Mr Gillet paid him a visit while in the lockup. Swanston said to the constable with him, "It is a very serioug charge to be charged with, but the man who has lived a good life up to now need not fear, as he can only die once. I can't believe it is the girl I know, as she is such a tender-hearted little creature a man could not help loving hor. I don't know where Windsor is ; I have never been there to ray knowledge, without it ia a suburb to Melbourne. When I was in Melbourne I was staying at the Cathedral Hotel. The landlord made the remark that I never went out ab night." On the way down prisoner was more cheerful and ate and slept well. When ncaring York prisoner said—" 1 can't believe that is the one I knew. She was such a tenderhearted little creature a man couldn't help loving hor ; there must be some mistake and foul play somewhere; They have got the wrong man for it."

THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE

ACCUSED.

Max Herschleldt, a fellow-passenger of Mr and Mrs Williams by the Kaiser Wilhelm 11., identified Baron Swanston as Albert Williams in the Waterside (Perth) lockup. Prisoner, who is medically prescribed a certain quantity of alcohol daily, was fortified for the occasion ab the request of his counsel (Mr R. S. Haynes). Shortly before the arrival of Detective Cawsoy and Mr Herschfeldt, three detectives were sent down to the lockup, and these and the two plain-clothes constables watching Swanston, his guard having been doubled since yesterday morning, were, together with the prisoner, in the small court-yard when Herschfeldfc entered with the Melbourne detective. Of all those present, Herschfeldb was apparently the most concerned, _ that gentleman's feelings when he faced his sea companion and the husband and suspected murderer of Che unfortunate Mrs Williams being, doubtless, of a painful character. Swanston was in his shirt sleeves and wenring, for the first time, as far as is known, a pair of glasses which he had used in writing out a statement said to be in preparation for his counsel. Without thinking or hesitation. Herschfeldt, on being asked by Detective Cawsey if he recognised Williams, singled out Swanston and, pointing to him, with his forefinger, said, "That is the man." Detective Caw3ey then said to Herschfeldt: "Go and touch him," and the witness did so. Swanston aid not appear to recognise Herschfeldb or to be at all concerned, never paling or ilinching under the ordeal.

Previously, however, to Swansfcon being identified as Albert Williams, be had been identified by a man named Hedge as Fred Bayley Deeming. Hedge had lived next door to him in Sydney four years ago, and knew Deeming and his wife and children well. Mrs Deeming's appearance corresponds with the description of'the body of the murdered woman discovered at Rainhill, viz., she was of very dark complexion and stout in figure. The children also found murdered at Rainhill corresponded in age and sex with thoso remembered by Hedge save one, which was not born when the Deemings left Sydney. Particulars of Deeming's business weneMticaj largely correspond with

to enclose a note to you in Katio's letter ; ib is in answer to ona she received this morning. I don't think it wili be possible for her to be ready by the beginning of next month. I would so much like to go with Kate, especially to he with you both on your weddingday. You see, your gain will be our loss ; but there, I will have a brother, and I hope you wiil bo as our own. Of course, you have nob meb any of our own people. I would like Tom to be ablo to go or take Kate to you. I am afraid ho can't get away, and I am so fiNed that I can't pet off. If it, were only as far as Sydney, er even a little farther, I would make an effort to go ; but I am such a bad sailor thab going to West Australia would be liko going to England, I told Kate the next time I made a voyage I would make my will. Dear Mr Swanaton, I am glad you liko the country you are in. I hopo you will like it even more as time goes on. Is ib as pretty as Bathurst ? Kate and I went to a social last evening ; it was hold in our Church schoolroom. We had all kinds of games ; ib was really splendid. 1 wish you had been there. Had an invitation oub tomorrow and also Tuesday to tea and to spend the evening. If Katie were here much longer she would get known aa well as myself. You see, I have been hero for more than twelve months. Katie snt in the choir with mo on Sunday ; thab is the only day lam at home. If she stays in Bathurst much longer you will nob know her, as she looks even better than I havo ever seen her. It is so different to Queensland here, and I suppose you find ib the same in West Australia. I am glad you wrote to my brother, I don't think I havo any more to say. — Yours truly, Lizzie IIOCTNSVELLK.

" P.S.—You wanted to know if Katie coulfl get away soon, but you don't know how we are situated. Tom and I are keoping Katie. It was our idea to give her a little rest, as she had been in business three years in Brisbane, and she would have gone into business again if she had nob met you for a while, and v/e would have given her what money she required ; but as things are, I am prepared to give her all she wants ; bub as for her journeying expenses, I think you had better send them, or sho will have to remain with us until we come together. Bub you had better write to Kate about it.—l am, yours, L.R."

From Miss Rounsvelle to Swanston :—

" Bathurst, February 11, 1892. My dear Baron. — Re your letter this morning, I am really sorry about your loss. Bathurst is awfully dull ; I shall be glad to loavo ifc. I wish my sister could como with me. Do you think she could get work ? What is the town like—Low largo? Where would you meet me?' I never dreamt ifc was so far away. Do you like the place? What port of a place is it, and what dressos ought I to get? You never gave me half the information I wanted, but I hope will in your next. Lizzie has written to you. Ido wish, dear Baron, you would send a kind letter to her, begging her to come, because we are never happy parted, if you did send for us both I would love you so for your kindness when I am your little wife, dear Baron. I wish letters would come oftener. I think I wait an eternity for yours. Whenever am I going to you ? I am sending on my photo. I think I look very sick ; what do you think ? Never mind ; you will socn see mo, I hope, in the body healthy and ro?y. How do you spend your time? How many hours do you work—is it dirty work ? Write all the news, because I want to know everything. Good-bye. From yours always, Katie."

The following is an unfinished letter from Baron Swanston to Miss Rounsvelle :—

" February 2S, 1892. My dear Kate,— Have just received your short letter, and I am very verydisappointed at not getting the photo. This ia only the thini letter I nave

had from you since I left Bathurst, bnfc I don't mind that, dear. I shall soon have yourself, and you will mako up for the deficiency in the past. You ask me whab Perth is like, and if there are ary grand parka ? Perth is a very nice pkce and there are parks, but there are uo parks ab Southern Cross. It is only a mining town, and there will be very little comfort till we get the train, which will not be long:, but now is the time to make money. But what matter about parks, dear, co long as 1 have a comfortable little home for you and do all I can to make you happy, which I will do. You will not like Fremantlo ;it is allsand hill,and you haveonly to pass through it on your way to Perth. When you get to Perth, dear, go up to the Shamrock Hotol, and there will be a letter for you telling you whab to do. You will like Mr aad Mrs Quinlan very much. I am pleased to hear that Lizzie had a nice timo of ib in Sydney, but ib must be .very lonely for you. lam also pleased, darling, to hear you are well and enjoying such good health. God bless you ! I wish.'you were here, I am so lonely by myself. Words wiil nob exprese the feelings and happiness I look forward to where the :, A LETTER FROM MRS DEEMING. Senior-constable O'Dwyer, of Williamstown, has secured possession of a document which will be handed over to the detective in charge of the Windsor murder case. it is a letter in the handwriting of Mrs Deeming, whose dead body was lasb week discovered with those of her children. The letter has been in the possession of Mrs Agnes Le Maire, the wife of a naval engineer engaged on one of the coastal steamers, and residing at 101 Thompson - street, Williamsstown. It was written from Rainhill at the end of 1882, under circumstances thab place the honesty and integrity of the murdered woman in marked contrast with thab of her husband. Le Maire had become possessed of a large sum of money for bravely recuing some passen- i gers from drowning. He was, with his i wife, living at tho time in lodgings with a I Mrs Selby, at Riloy-street, Sydney, and Deeming was also lodgiuor there, both before and after Mrs Deeming arrived from Birkenhead to join him. Knowing that Le Maire had become possessed of this money, Deeming gave him no peace until he recoived some of it. His h'rsb demand was for £50, buc Le Maire pub him off with £15, receiving a promissory noto ab three months for ib. The bill, which is still in Lβ Maires's possession, and bears Deeming signature, was dishonoured. Deeming; paid £2 on account of it when he gob into his insolvency troubles and cleared out. The letter from Mrs Deeming waa written six months after her husband's disappearance, and was to the cfl'ect thab she had joined him at Rainhill and would pay tho £13 herself, seeing that he had failed to do so. She did not write again. Both Mr and Mrs Le Maire are able to identify Docming, and they know the whereabouts of the lodginghouso keeper with whom the lodged in Sydney. SIGNATURE AND CARD. We append a fac-similoof Dceming's signature, taken from a document he signed when a resident of Sydney : — It ha 3 already beon statod that Deeming was in Sydney at the beginning of this year. Ho then paid a visit to tho establishment of John Sands, George-street, and handed in n card, a fac-simito of which is here given : — ENGINEER. He ordered 50 copies to be printed—a number that indicates that he did nob intend to use that alias for long. The date oa the back of the card is January 21, 1892.