SENTENCED TO DEATH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18664, 21 March 1924, Page 9

SENTENCED TO DEATH.

MURDER OF CHILDREN.

THE SYDNEY TRAGEDY.

WILLIAMS IN THE DOCK.

IMPASSIONED STATEMENT.

INSANITY PLEA SCOUTED.

By Telegraph—Press

(Received 9 p.m.) A. and N.Z. SYDNEY, Mar. 20. The trial of the music-teacher, Williams, on a charge of murdering his three children at their home in Underwood Street, Paddington, opened this morning. Williams' three little girls, aged five, three, and two years respectively, were found in bed at a late hour on February 7. The bodies were covered with a blood-stained counterpane and death had occurred the previous 'day. The children, who were exceptionally beautiful, were fully dressed, and apparently had been placed in. bed after they were murdered. They lay side by side with haunting looks of terror on their faces.

When the proceedings opened to-day the Court was crowded. Williams, in an impassioned statement from the dock, said thai; when he committed the crime he did not expect, nor did he attempt, to escape punishment. A plea of insanity had been raised against his wishes. He did not plead that he was insane.

Continuing, he told a pathetic story of how his wife had been in an asylum for over twb years. The whole responsibility for the children fell on him. Ho had to feed and clothe them. This included school holiday time when the lot of the music teacher was a hard and lean one. Ho fed and clothed them but starved himself. He had one meal daily very often, having his breakfast at nine o'clock at night. His suits were secondhand and never cost more than 255.

The accused referred to the unsatisfactory arrangements for the care of his children when he was away teaching and a suggestion by relatives living in the house that he should send them to an institution. This suggestion, and the fact that he had no one to. look after them, and could not neglect Ms pupils, and thereby sacrifice his earnings, decided him to do what he did. He reiterated that he was not insane and said he did not want to escape the consequences' of his crime by pleading insanity. He said that if the girls had gone to an institution they would have been separated and when they came out' they would be the tools of the first smooth-tongued person who came along.

Happy in Heaven.

Williams called attention to the fact that his eldest girl had certain facial

characteristics similar to her mother and said he feared these might similarly lead to her developing insanity. He could not kill her and leave the two others, therefore he decided to murder all three. He added: "I say murder because it was murder. When I did it I pictured them happy in Heaven. They went to God with untarnished souls." *

He was not callous because when he killed them he loved them most intensely. .He covered the bodies so that he would not see them again. He committed the crime at two o'clock in the morning. l -< ; - ; ;",•■;;■':■■»':- ■

At seven o'clock Williams stated he went to Mass and asked God to pardon him for what he had done. He claimed his act was one of great love. He decided not to give himself up until the Monday, so as to learn that the children had bean properly buried. Neither Favour nor Mercy. Williams concluded: "I seek neither favour of mercy, only justice. If lam to be hanged let me be hanged." He urged the jury to take no notice of the plea of insanity. "I do not raise it. ■ As to being temporarily insane I cannot say myself.'"; ■*;' Williams at times was deeply affected and wept. ■' The Judge, summing up, said Williams' evidence showed that he knew what he was doing, and the punishment involved. It was no excuse to say he thought he was doing the children a kindness, by killing them. Judge Passes Sentence. The jury found Williams guilty with a strong recommendation to mercy. The Judge, in addressing the prisoner, said the motive he had put forward for killing his children was one which might appeal to the sentiments of some people, but one which was not in any way to be considered by the Court. His Honor then passed sentence of death. He added that he could not hold out any hope of the sentence being commuted by reason of the jury's, recommendation. x