THE WINDSOR TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8825, 14 March 1892, Page 5

THE WINDSOR TRAGEDY.

ARREST OF WILLIAMS.

A CAREER OF DECEPTION.

HIS MARRIAGE IN ENGLAND. Press Association.—Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright-

Perth, March 12. Williams, the supposed Windsor murderer, took great precautions to cover his track, but committed an act of folly in communicating the loss of a bag on a steamer to the police at Adelaide. This proved a valuable clue. 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 has been 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 Kamhill, a village in Lancashire, in July last. He pretended that lie wanted to rent a house in the township for his sister, who, however, was never seen. Williams, who appeared to have no occupation, declared himself an inspector of army stores, and said his father, who was 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, but this must have been a myth, as he had never been seen.

On the 24th September last Williams was married to Emily Lydia Mather, the ceremony taking place during his stay in Kamhill. ' The villagers are said to have been greatly impressed with him, but some of them had their doubts about the man because it was known that prior to his inarrage to Miss Mather he was visited by a woman who was reputed to be his lawful wife.

After the wedding Williams entertained the villagers at a banquet in honour of the event. None of his friends were present at the festivities, a fact which caused some comment.

Miss Mather's father keeps a small shop in Kamhill, and is highly respected by all classes of the community. The family were unaware of the terrible fate which had befallen Emily until one of the agents of the Australian and New Zealand Cable Service called on them with reference to the subject. On hearing the awful news the mother fainted.

It was ascertained from members of the family that Williams left England in company with his wife (nee Miss Mather) on the pretence that he had been commissioned to take charge of army stores at Bombay. Mrs. Mather stated that she had received affectionate letters from both the parties, and she was surprised when she found that their destination was Melbourne and not Bombay. Mrs. Williams' last letter bore the Colombo postmark, while the husband's last communication, which was dated Melbourne, December 20, informed the family that lie and his wife had spent a happy Christmas. He also remarked that "Emily was the happiest woman lie had ever seen, and she did enjoy herself thoroughly." He announced that he had been appointed manager of a large tea business in Hongkong, and that he and his wife were to sail for their new home on January 4. j Nothing is known regarding Williams' antecedents.