CONFESSION OF AN AUSTRLIAN MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 581, 31 March 1870, Page 3

CONFESSION OF AN AUSTRLIAN MURDER.

On the 10th met., an extraordinary selfaccusation was made at Bow-street of a murder alleged to have been committed many years ago in Australia. The prisoner is a man about 47 years of age, named George Dyer, who has been employed of late as a clerk in a city office. He voluntarily gave himself up to the police, and stated that about 12 years ago he was in Australia, and in the year 1857 was working a claim at the Loddon gold diggings. About Christmas of that year be encountered a man named George Wilson, an English sailor. They were both BiDgle-handed, and as each required a mate, they joined in working the claim. They agreed very well for about a month, when a quarrel arose between them in reference to the quantity of gold realised. In consequence of this dispute, Wilson drew his sheathed knife against the prisoner, who, to defend himself, struck down Wilson with the spade be used, cutting his head completely open, thus caueing instantaneous death.

The prisoner afterwards threw the body, which was still warm, into a well some 30 or 40 feet deep, which was situated near a tent occupied by some Cornish people. Into this tent prisoner subsequently retired to rest for the night. vShortly afterwards this party left the spot, and inquired after hia mate George. He replied that Wilson had gone to the Inglewood rush. Prisoner did no good at the Loddon, and after passing several years in Melbourne, New Zealand, and other places, he returned to England. As during his stay in Australia he had frequently corresponded with his children, heTisited them immediately on his arrival home. He lodged some time with a married sister, Mrs Axtens. He was perfectly sober, calm, and 1 rational as he made this statement, and fully understood the position he was placed in by the confession of the murder, of which no one knew but himself. He had not had any peace since the event ; his mind had become distracted, and he therefore determined to give himself up when he sawon a wall the words "Police Station." In anßwer to Mr Wright, the superintendent acknowledged that he did notice a slight wild expression of the prisoner's eyes, but he did not mention anything about Iris son having attempted to poison him. Robert Hubbard, inspector of the E division, who was on duty when the prisoner delivered himself up, corroborated the last witness's evidence. He added that he had called on Mrs Axtens, and she said that the prisoner had undoubtedly been labouring under some strange delusion ever since he returned from Australia. The prisoner's landlord said the prisoner had frequently complained of the unnatural behaviour of his sons, who would play the part of detectives upon him, and sometimes get under his bed of a night. Mr Wright said he did not know whether Mr Vaughan intended to remand the case or not, but a gentleman from Australia was present, who would, if called, state that he never heard of any such murder having been committed there. Many friends of the prisoner were also in attendance. Mr Vaughan hinted that from the manner in which the murdeu was alleged to have been committed it was very probable, supposing the prisoner's statement to be true, that it might never have been discovered. The prisoner was remanded, to enable the police to make inquiries, and for medical testimony to be produced. Pending the arrival oi tidings from Australia, the poor fellow will be detained in custody.