THE WINDSOR MURDER.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 22, 14 May 1892, Page 9

THE WINDSOR MURDER.

AN ".INSTINCTIVE CRIMINAL."

A .Melbourne reporter ..has been interviewing Dr Caffyn coacerningWilliams, '{The doctor said: :—-

"I was asked to undertake 'the up of the lunacy aspect of-the •case by Mr Marshall Lyle. I have, ■seen Williams in court ifrequently with ithat object in view. I am retiring ifrom it now, not beoause there is any \want of evidence to show that Williams is a lunatic, which is self-evident to any : student of criminology, but "on account of my being quite unable to ; stand the ■torture of hysteria which > characterises ? the; prosecution." ;

"Then you think Williams a crimi- ; nal ?•''asked the reporter.

"Williams belongs, to a-special order of criminals known among .students as -'instinctive criminals.' "That is to;say, the is asimuch wantingin a moral sense as a blind mania in the sense of seeing. It is as much a part of his nature to Ti kill as tb\eat. It is not an actual «disease as was the case with Colston, the Narbethong murderer. His organic wants are due to parentage.' The man's -whole character are is .one of extreme ■stupidity. Bis,jokes are either coarse • or idiotic, and • his escape so far is less «due to cunning than,to accident."

"Do -you thiak.it desiraßle to save \ Williams!"

" Certainly not. The • object. of the • defence, had I gone on with with it, would ■ have been to widen the law ■to ..include such-cases. At present, from a

'legal of view, he is responsible, 1 but? from'! from a scientific-point of view, She is not?'

"Then.l;understand.that you intend ->to retirefrom the case altogether ?" - ".,Yes. ;Only because I recognise the

absolute impossibility of being heard in.

■ this community, which lias already prej judged.the man. Educatedmen decline «to help me m the matter, because we

are quite unable to stand the torrent 6f abuse." ; ''"" % ',

""Have yon noticed anything peculiar -about the shape 6f his head."

"^he-size-of Williams' head is six

and a the smallest head in Wictoria^'for the'height df;the man.

The best^picture of Williams^yet given* -is of a skull from (L^mbroso, which is that of a-homicidal maniac xv^ho -shot a ".man andhis'Wifein'lß42."

"T suppose you observed l'hini' closely sa& the trial?" i

" I was leaning over 'his chair con-->versing with him whilst we were -waiting-far theverdict of the jury, and vhis little iokes, his inconsequential, re and the indifference he assumed • Correspond with the 'history of * every man- of "his order." .

""Now, as Wthefutureof;Williams?"

"He must die a. coward. It is a s, prominent characteristic of a mail of ■"this order. He can'kill women and •^children, arid a man if there is no possibility of revenge, and he would ?lf>lay with the lives of his victims as :a eat -plays with a mouse. In my opinion the time is'not ripe for •the world afc'large t6'classify a man of •this oi-ider,; as he is only partly under- : stood among scientists as yet. Although I haves to some extent (.interested myself Tin tiiis. man's defence, 1 woul<3 willingly : supply the rope tb hang him If it were inecessary." ■:'_

'Since Mr 'Webster, ex-Governor of Hull Gaol, was first interviewed by an. "Argus" representative the, sanity or; iinsanity of Deeming has assumed grave importance, and now appears destined rto play a leading part in the final ; settlement of the tragedy. Mr Web-ster-said then, long before any question of the prisoner's sanity was raised, "Deeming may set up the defence of" insanity, but he will not, I should say,' .have the, slightest chance of escaping .punishment upon such a plea. He is .perfectly .sane—that -my experience of him proved conclusively. During his Incarceration in Hull Gaol he impressed ;me Tery unfavourably. He appeared ito be :■.& particularly active and dangerous criminal, and in consequence lhe\was carefully watched and kept so

much to himself that his criminal skill, daring, and aggressiveness might not be given any scope." , Strong ;as this' evidence is against the accused, Mr Webster is .prepa red .to ,go -further. He has written from Sydney ts Mr Kennedy, the superintendent of the ■ criminal investigation branch*of the police,' offering to give evidence at the trial if it be thought necessary and advisable to v the effect "that Deeming's present eccentric behaviour and simulation of insanity; is exactly similar 4o what exhibited 1 by him .prior to his committal by the magistrates at Hull and while' awaiting his trial by the -superior' tribunal. When his conviction was' beyond doubt and sentence was passed, upon him he did not trouble'himself to act eccentrically, but became the violent dangerous, resourceful, and particularly, sane criminal be.is remembered by >the warders to have been." Mr 'Kennedy' was pleased to receive Mr "Webster's, letter, and has recommended that the, offer contained an itshould be accepted.