The Windsor Murder.

Mataura Ensign, Volume 15, Issue 1181, 3 May 1892, Page 3

The Windsor Murder.

f ßy Cable.] Melbotjbnb, .April 30. The appearance of Williams, the Windsor murderer, is much improved by the growth of a beard and moustache. He now displays nervousness. The application for the postponement of his trial was held on Thursday. Lengthy medical evidence was adduced as to the state of the accused's mind.—Dr Springthorpe gave evidence to the effect that Williams made a statement to him alleging that his dead mother appeared regularly to him since he was 16 years of age, and while he was in Sydney she incited him to kill his wife. The doctor explained that accused* had contracted syphilis, and he stated in the presence of j a Grown witness that be would kill any ! woman who was suffering from the same J disease. He followed one woman into four different places with the object of killing her, but he did not get an opporI tunity to commit the act. While in I London Williams suffered severely from this disease.—The judge said he failed to see why doctors could not give a decided opinion as to the fanity or otherwise of | the prisoner at this stage, and declined to grant a postponement.—Mr Lyle then threw up his brief.—Mr Deakin subsequently agreed to defend the prisoner, and the trial is proceeding. The exhibits produced at the trial are so numerous that the court resembles a general store. May 1. Williams in his defence has adopted a new, line. He asserts through his counsel that Miss Mather, whom he married in England, is still alive, and that she cleared out; that the body found at Windsor was that of another woman, | who might have been murdered six months ago; and further, that the body was so decomposed that it was impossible to identify it. Counsel, though not bringing evidence to support these contentions, submits them to the jury for consideration. The medical evidence has strengthened the belief of the detectives that Williams is identica.l with " Jack the Ripper." April 30. In his affidavit Edward Deeming declares that his father cruelly treated his wife before the birth of Frederick. He also says that his father always disliked and ill-treated Fred, who proved to be a stubborn and untractable youth. Returning after long wanderings in distantlands, Fred exhibited noticeable eccentricities, and showed a strange conoeit of himself, a trait in his character which had not ' been observed before he left horn*. | Edward goes on to say in the affidavit i that his fathrr attempted to commit suicide on four different occasions, and j eventually died un imbecile. Mrs Edward j Deeming has made an additional affidavit, partly confirming the account of j Frederick's delusions with regard to the > appearance of his mother, but denying j that she ever heard Frederick assert, that his mother prompted him to murder females.

Albert Deeming denies that Frederick, or any member of the f imily, was ever insane, or had been put under restraint. He condemns Frederick for slandering his dead parents, and also denies that the latter was ever known as " Mad Fred."