AUSTRALIAN HORRRS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8414, 13 January 1899, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN HORRRS.

* — v THE YARRA TRAGEDY. \ TODD MAKES A CONFESSION. • ■ ' THE .GATTON MYSTERY. Electrio Telegraph- Copyright— United Preas ' Atsociat on. Melbourne, Jan. 12. Totlrl has made a statement, in which he saj'.s he was intimate with the girl Ambrose, and when she became pregnant Madame Radalski said for his sake she would remove the trouble. She took the girl into her house as a servant. The day Ambrose died Radalski and .Tamieson informed him that after the former had used some of Condy'g fluid Ambrose gave a loud scream and fell back dead. They tried to restore her with water bottles and brandy. He then discussed with both women various methods of disposing of the body, ' and they decided to put it into the Yarra. Radalski and Jamieson undertook to remove the clothing mid sew the body into bagging, and place it into a boot box belonging to Jamieson. He then details how he and Jamieson with a trap conveyed the body to the Yarra, and threw it into the river. Subsequently Jamieson informed him that they had burned deceased's clothes and cut her hair off, as they thought to frustrate identification. Todd concludes with the remark that he knew nothing whatever of the use of any arsenical poison. Radalski led him to believe that the analyst had made a mistake. The three prisoners were brought before the Court to-day. Jamieson was charged separately, and it is understood the police will accept her as a Crown witness. They were remanded till the 20th inst. Todd visited the morgue yesterday, and stated he was then unable to identify the head. (Received Jan. 13, 9.30 a.m.) Mrs Ambrose, mother of the murdered , girl, is a widow with five children. The *" murdered girl was the eldest of the family. She was a girl headstrong beyond control, and had been away from home before, consequently her absence did not trouble her mother, especially as Todd told her she had a comfortable place. He called last week and told the mother she was all right. Mrs Ambrose was asked to go to the morgue to view the body, but on the strength of Todd's statements considered there was no need. Todd's landlady states that he frequently disenssed the tragedy unconcernedly. He was being married in February to a young lady resident in the country. A town medical man who advised the use of Coudy's fluid says it could have no ill effects. On December 30th Todd insured his life for £200. On the day he was arrested he changed the term of the policy from life twenty years. (Received Jan. 13, 9.40 a.m.) Todd, in his confession, sutcd that an injection of Condy's fluid was used on deceased in accordance with the advice of medical men. Dr Gaze, of the Polypathic Medical Institute, states that the woman Radalski called on him in theearly part of December, and consulted him with reference to the condition of Ambrose. He declined to attend the girl, but advised her to use Condy's fluid. On December 13 Radalski again called and asked him to see Ambrose, and he visited the house. Radalski then stated that Condy's fluid had been used, and that death had been the result. Dr Gaze replied that such a statement was absurd, as the use of the fluid could have no ill effects. That was the full extent of his connection with the case. (Received Jan 13,10 a.m.) Jan. 13. — Dr Neild, who made a post mortem examination of the body of the girl Ambrose, adheres to the belief that death was due to suffocation. The Government analyst has not finished an examination of the stomach, and cannot speak as to the quantity of arsenic it contained, but is inclined to accept Dr Neild's theory. Brisbane, Jan. 12. The police have discovered something in a waterhole in the vicinity of the Gatton - tragedy which they state will have an important bearing on the case. (Received Jan. 13, 10 a.m.) Jan. 13. — Several residents of Gatton have recognised Burgess as a visitor to the district about the time of the murder.