STRANGE CONFESSION OF MURDER BY A GUARDSMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9142, 25 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRANGE CONFESSION OF MURDER BY A GUARDSMAN.

Walter Haylinc.s, alias Benjamin Brooks, a private in the Grenadier Guards, was charged at Bow-street Police Court, on July 17, on his own confession, with the murder of a man at present unknown. Inspector Robinson deposed that at two o'clock that (Saturday) morning the prisoner was taken to the police station by a constable who stated that the accused had given-himself up on the charge of murder. He sent for Dr. Hamerton, the assistant divisional surgeon, who certified that the prisoner was drunk. He was therefore charged with being drunk and placed in a cell. When sobered a little he was asked if he adhered to his former statement with refere ice to the alleged murder ; he replied in the affirmative. He was formally cautioned about anything he might say being used in evidence against him, and then made the following statement : —On or about the month of April, 1879, he wilfully pushed a man— whose name he did not remember—into a reservoir at Aston, Birmingham. The man was a repairer of umbrellas, and he met him in a public-house at the bottom of Gravelly Hill. They had some words about a young woman who accompanied him to Slade Lane. The man followed him about 500 yards, and they quarrelled the whole time. The young woman and the prisoner then left the lane by a narrow path passing the reservoir, the man still following, and on reaching the reservoir the prisoner and the young woman commenced to quarrel. He alleged that lie caught hold of her, and threw her into the water. He then turned to leave, when he met the man, who stated that he would give him in charge. The prisoner then caught hold of the man, and they struggled together for some time, when he (the prisoner) succeeded in throwing him into the water. He stood on the bank and saw him go under the surface. The prisoner then left and returned to the stables, wh<ye he was employed as groom. He made inquiries about the young woman, and discovered that she had got out of the water. The prisoner adhered to his statement, and averred that it was true. He was remanded, in order that the Birmingham police might be communicated with. A Birmingham correspondent telegraphs that the body of an umbrella maker named Mathison was found in the reservoir indicated, but this was two years before the date mentioned by the prisoner. It also appears that the prisoner formerly lived in Birmingham, and that the deceased, the night before his disappearance, was drinking with a young man, who may be iden- | tilled as Hayling.