EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSIONS OF A MURDERER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 898, 4 July 1879, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY CONFESSIONS OF A MURDERER.

An inquest on a murdered woman, Lucy Derrick, was recently held in London, and resulted in a verdict of wilful murder against the man in custody. Edward Saunders, who has made statements to tho police showing a disregard of human life probably unparalleled in tbe annals of crime. His only reason for the murder, be says, was that bo is tired of bis life. lie left his uncle’s determined to murder somebody, no matter whom. Ifo made three attempts to carry out his foul purpose, and succee led iu the last. Before leaving Bristol lie called at tho house of a poor woman iu Gloucester street, and asked for a drink of water. While she was gouo to fetch it he took out the hammer intending to fell her and afterwards cut her throat, but before she returned several little children had gathered round the door and ho was disconcerted. Tie then walked on to Thornbury, where he saw two of the children of Mr Stafford Howard, M.P., standmg outside the gate of their resilience, fhornbury Castle. He made up his mind to murder them in the same way, but as he was nearing them some people came in sight and he walked on. Soon afterwards he met Lucy Derrick, or rather he slackened his pace in order that she might overtake him. The surgeon found live contused wounds on the head, and the muso’es of her neck and windpipe were completely severed. Mr Cox, commercial traveller, who first came upon the scene, asked the prisoner what he had done,and he replied, “Murdereda woman.” Mr Cox asked him why, and he said he did not know. When Police constable Critchley drove up to apprehend him, and was getting down, the prisoner said he need not trouble, he would get up ; and lie did, at once beginning a conversation about the deceased, asking the officer if he knew her, and then descanting on the qualities of the horse. The prisoner’s mother, whose name is neither Saundere nor Smart, occupies a decent position at Brighton, whore she kept a lodging-house, and her husband, who is not the pn’s tier's father, is house-steward in a good family. Tho prisoner does not seem to feel his position in the least. The accused was brought before the magistrates at Thornbury. and was committed for trial on the charge of wilful murder.