The Confession of Murder.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5259, 15 May 1895, Page 2

The Confession of Murder.

[Per Papas Association.!

AUCKLAND, Mat 14

The man Samuel Eviaon, fielf-accuaed of murder in Nottiogton, arrived by train this afternoon from Hamilton, being in charge of Constable Forbes of that township. On arrival at, the Newmarket Station the man was taken up to Mount Eden Gaol, where he it lodged pending examination before a magistrate next week. Eviaon ir thirty-six years of age, and is a carpenter by trade. He is spoken of as a very good workman. Although residing in Hamilton for over two years Evison did not make any friende, in fact, his appearance wav always that of the greiteßt reserve, almoat to moroseness. When questioned aa to the motive which induced him to confess hia crime, Evison said that for the last thirteen years he had Buffered the pangs of ft guilt stricken conscience. "I have not," he said when questioned by the constable, *' been able to get rid o{ the feeling that I was the girl's murderer. I have been driven nearly mad by it, and have several times felt inclined to go and commit suicide. I have never been happy since I did it. and I thought that tbe only rest I could get or the only way of makinir my mind easier would be to confess it all." Evieon, it appears, went up to Constable Forbes, in the street in Hamilton on Snaday morning, and eaid to him quite calmly, " I want yon to look me up." The constable asked the man to come into the middle of tbe street as there wen a number of persons close by, and then asked Evison why he wanted to be locked npp "I caused the death of a girl in England in 1882" was the reply. The constable took the man to the police station, and subsequently took down his statement. It Beemß that Evison had been suffering remorse for his self-conf eased crime for many years. He waa, on several oocasions, seen crjing, as if in some trouble, by Hamilton residents, and according to his own statement, he could get no rest. Ifc ia not thought that he is of unsound mind ; at any rate, the constable who arrested him considers him quite sane.