THE WINDSOR TRAGEDY.

Evening Star, Issue 8773, 14 March 1892, Page 1

THE WINDSOR TRAGEDY.

[By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.! i?KB Association., SYDNEY, March 13 Williams became engaged to a Bathurst lady, who was en route to Perth to marry him. When he was arrested she handed over to the Melbourne police a quantity of jewellery which Williams had given her, and this was identified as belonging to the murdered woman. LONDON, March 11. It has been ascertained that Williams, who is in custody in Australia on a charge of murdering his wife at Windsor, arrived at Rainhill, a village in Lancashire, in July last. He pretended that he wanted to rent a house in the township for bis sister, who, however, was never seen, Williams, who appeared to have no occupation, declared himself an inspector of army stores, and said his father, a colonel in the army, was killed in the Crimean War. He also gave out that an uncle of his was a man of very considerable means, hut this must have been a myth, as he has never been seen. On September 24 last Williams was married to Emily Lydia Mather, the ceremony taking place during his stay in Rainhill. The villagers are said to have been greatly impressed with him, but some of them had their doubts about the mau, because it was known that prior to his marriage to Miss Mather he was visited by a woman who was reputed to be hia lawful wife. After tbo wedding Williams entertained the villagers at a banquet in honor of the event, but none of bis friends were present at the festivities, a fact which caused some comment.

Miss Mather’s father keeps a small shop iu Rainhill, and is highly respected by all classes of the community. The family were unaware of the terrible fate which had b(fallen Emily until one of the agents of the Australian and New Zealand cable service called on them with reference to the subject. Ou hearing the awful news the mother fainted. It was ascertained from members of the family that Williams left England in company with his wife (n€e Miss Mather) on the pretence that he bad been commissioned to take charge of army stores at Bombay, Mrs Mather stated that she hed received affectionate letters from both the parties, and she was surprised when she found that their destination was Melbourne and not Bombay.

Mrs Williams's last letter bore the Colombo post mark, while the husband's last communication, which was dated Melbourne, December 29, informed the family that he and his wife had spent a happy Christmas. He also remarked that Emily was the happiest woman he had ever seen, and she did enjoy herself thoroughly. Ho announced that he had been appointed manager of a large tea business in Hongkong, and that he and bis wife were to sad for their home on January 4. Nothing is known regarding Williams’s antecedents.