PADDINGTON MURDERS

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 152, 21 March 1924, Page 7

PADDINGTON MURDERS

WILLIAMS SENTENCED TQ DEATH IMPASSIONED STATEMENT / FROM DOCK 'plea OF INSANITY ; REPUDIATED Edward Williams, father of the three little girls found murdered in their home in Paddington, has been sentenced to death, the Judge stating that he could not hold out any hope of the<•> sentence being commuted because of a recommendation to mercy by the jury. (Rec. March 20, 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, March 20The trial of Edward Williams on tho charge of murdering his three children at Paddington on February 6 opened before a crowded court. Williams, in an impassioned statement from the dock, said that when he committed the crime he did not expect nor did he attempt to escape punishment. The plea of insanity had lieon raised against his wishes. Ho did not plead that he was insane. Ho told a pathetic story how his wife had been in an asylum for over two years. The whole responsibility of the children fell on him. He had to feed and clothe them, including school holiday time,, when the lot of a music teacher was a hard and lean one. .He fed and clothed them, but starved himself. He had one meal a day. very often having, breakfast at 9 o’clock at night. His suits were second-hand, and never cost more than 255. He referred to the unsatisfactory arrangements for the care of the children when he was away teaching, and the suggestion by relatives living in the house that he should send them to an institution. 'J'liis suggestion. and the fact that he had no one to look after them, and could not neglect his pupils, and thereby sacrifice his earnings, decided 1 him to do what he did. He reiterated that he was not insane, and did not want to escape the consequences of his crime bv pleading insanity. He said that if the girls went to an institution they would be separated, and when they came out they would ho the tools of the first smoc tli-tongucd person who came along. Fear of Insanity. Williams called attention to the fact that liis eldest girl had certain facial characteristics similar to her mother, and lie feared they might similarly lead to developing insanity. He could not kill her and leave the two others, therefore he-decided to murder all three. He added: “I say murder because it was murder. When I did it I .pictured them happy in heaven. They went to God with untarnished souls.” He was not callous, he added, because when he killed them he loved them most intently. He covered the bodies so that he would not see them again. He committed the crime at 2 o’clock in the morning. At 7 o’clock. Williams stated, he went to' Mass and asked God to paixlon him for what he had done. He claimed that his act was one of. great love. He decided not to give himself up till Monday so as to learn if the cliildren had been properly buried. Sought Neither Favour nor Mercy. Williams concluded: “I seek neither favour nor nierev, only justice. If I am to be hanged, let me be hanged.” He urged the jui-y to take no notice of the plea of insanity. “I do not raise it. As to being temporarily insane, I cannot say that myself.” Williams at times was deeply affected and wept. The Judge, in summing up, said Williams’s evidence showed that he knew what he was doing and the punishment involved. It was no excuse to say that he thought he was doing the children a kindness by killing them. Recommendation to Mercy. The jury found Williams guilty, with' a strong recommendation to mercy. The Judge, addressing the prisoner, said the motive he had put forward for killing the children was one which might appeal to the sentiments of some, but one which could not in any way be considered in his case. He then passed sentence of death, adding that he could not hold out any hope that the sentence would be commuted because of tho jury’s recommendation. —Press Assn.