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Waikato Times, Volume II, Issue 91, 28 November 1872, Page 3

Confession of Mukdgh.—About a quarter-past nine o'clock the night before last, says the Daily News, of September 4, a man about forty years of age, and apparently a mechanic, called at Birmingham police station and made a very extraordinary statement. He was, first of all, met by police constable Hatton, the reserve man, to whom he related an account of a murder in Scotland some three years before, in which he asserted that he was engaged.' The officer disbelieved his story, as he apeared to have been dunking, and to be suffering from a slight attack o2 delirium tremens. He persisted, however, in the truth of liis narrative, and was eventually taken before Inspector then on duty, and asked to repeat his statement. He did so, saying that three years ago he was at work as a millw.isht in Glasgow, and one day he had occasion to visit a friend in Stockdale-street. He went to one of the hrge lodging-houses there, but could not find him, and as ho was down the stairs, he met a little girl, whom he murdered on the spot. This was the whole of his story, as when questioned as to the manner o: her death, he refused to say the exact course he pursued, He was acked to repeat his tale again, and did so without any deviation from his original statement. He was accordingly locked up, as it was found that in june, 1569, a girl about e :, *ht years of age was murdered in Stockdale street. She had been out on an errand for one of the people in the house wheve she was living, and not returning so soon as was expected, a search was made, and she was discovered lying dead on the stairs. £100 reward was offered for the discovery and apprehension of the murderer, but up to the present no clue had been found. The man gave as his name Samuel John Horton (4d), millwright, and stated that he was a native of Weduesbury. After being locked up he was again questioned, but still adhered to hi? statement. The man yesterday was brought before the stipend'ary magist ate, and denied the truth of his previous assertions. His descriptions, however, answering in many particulars to that specified in the reward bill, he was remanded.

Fratricide by a Sister.—ln the neighbourhood of Liberty, in the county of Clay, has been, says the Kansas City Times, thrown into furore of excitement by the intelligence that Miss Julia Wills, a beautiful and accomplished young lady of 17 years, had killed her brother, aged 22. At first the report was discredited; but, on investigation it was found to be too true. At about six o'clock in the morning, of August 9, a dispute arose between Miss Wills and her brother, in what is known as the cow lot on the farm, three miles west of the Liberty, in regard to the conduct of their younger sister, and whether it had justified the manner in which she had been treated by her brother, who, it is said, had whipped her very severely. The young man, who had the reputation of being very quarrelsome, became angry at the upbraiding of his, seizing an axe, raised it with the evident intention of striking her. She screamed violently, and rushed towards the lioiue, closely followed by her brother. On reaching the house she seized a gun which lay in the dining-room, and warned him not to make any-further demonstrations of injuring her, or she would kiU him. He paid no attention to her admonition, but advanced, and as he did she pulled the trigger. Wills fell dead, the contents of the gun having entered his neck a short distance below the chin. There was not a word spoken. The young lady, pallied with fright, stood trembling, while her brother lay stretched before her, his life's blood' fast ebbing. She is crazed with grief, and a close watch is kept upon her movements to prevent her from committing suicide. An inquest was held on the body of young Wills, on August 10, and a verdict returned of " Justifiable homicide." Mr Wyatt Wills, the father, is one of the old citizens of Clay county and a gentleman who is held in the highest esteem by al who know hint.