THE WINDSOR MURDERER. THE DEATH SENTENCE TO BE CARRIED OUT.

Otago Witness, Issue 1994, 12 May 1892, Page 35

THE WINDSOR MURDERER. THE DEATH SENTENCE TO BE CARRIED OUT.

A CONFESSION TO THE GAOL CHAPLAIN. (Peb Press Association.)

Melbourne, May 8.

A petition, on the ground of insanity, has been lodged with the Executive Council here on behalf of Williams, under sentence of death for the murder of his wife at Windsor.

The Executive Council to-day had the case of Williams (Deeming) under consideration, when it was decided not to interfere with the sentence of death passed on him. The execution has been fixed for 10 o'clock on the morning of Monday, the 23rd inst.' •

May 10. In the course of frequent conversations with the gaol chaplain, Deeming has for the first time deliberately confessed to the murder of his last wife (Emily Mather). His account, though mixed up with statements that are evidently pure inventions, is, in the maiu, a credible story. He says he made four attempts. The first took place in London shortly after his marriage. He was awakened nightly by visitations from his mother's spirit commanding him to kill his wife. For some time heresisttd these' promptings, but the- impulse at length became so strong that he crept quietly out of bed and seized a chair with - the intention of dashing out his wife's brains. She awoke, however, at tho critical moment, and seeing his intention jumped to the other side of the bed in time to escape the attack. He managed by some means to explain away his conduct, and the couple lived happily together until their arrival in Melbourne. Then while staying at the Federal Coffee Palace he was moved once more by the same impulse. It became so strong that he awoke his wife one night and implored her to leave him and go away, else he would murder her. She threw her arms round his neck and told him she would rather die than leave him. The murderous fit on this occasion lasted only about half an hour. On December 18 he took the house in Andrew street, Windsor, and stopped there three nights— the 18th, 19th, and 20th. On the night of the 19th, yielding to the same murderous impulse, he attempted to cut her throat, and she 'was only saved by awaking suddenly. He awoke at 2in the morning, and found his wife sitting up in bed peeling an apple with a large clasp-knife. He wrenched the knife from her, and cut her throat. When the murder was done he was seized with an uncontrollable fear, of the dead body, and rushed out of the house. Deeming alleges that he paid a man LlO to bury the body, and could not account for having purchased the cement and tools beforehand. A knife answering to tho description of that said to be used was found among the murderer's effects.

Deeming repeats the Story of the Rainhill murders as given at the inquest by his first wife's sister.

Miss Rouusefell has visited him privately, and Deeming gave her sketches of two tombstones in the South African cemeterybetween which he said Lll,ooo worth of jewellery, &c, was buried . He .received thedecision of the Executive fixing his execution for Monday week as the best news they could bring him. Deeming is engaged writing a history of his life, and states that 'he intends to make a full confession of the Rainhill and Windsor murders. He has assigned ajl his property to Mr Lyle, his counsel, for the'purpose of paying the expenses attending his*defence. " , , t. London, May 7.

Deeming's petition to the Privy Council for commution of the death sentence has not yet been filed ; but at tne request, of Mr Lyle, the condemned man's 1 counsel in Melbourne, application will be made : on the 11th, inst.