LATER PARTICULARS.

Feilding Star, Volume V, Issue 17, 12 February 1884, Page 2

LATER PARTICULARS.

DBEADPUL DETAILS. ' Napieb, This Dty. ' It appeirs that the murder of the Edward's family was carried cut in) a ; most deliberate and determined manner.. Three of the four children went to eiiiirch on Sunday evming, the mother staying at home nursing the baby. On their return they went to bed, and the mother lay down dressed on the bed, waiting for tier husband. .When lie -returned it would seem, from a heap of chips at one corner, that he took a -half charred 'log' from the fire, ' and with his 'pocket [knife. oooly cut one end into a convenient handle • Fie must then hare stunned his wife and children as they lay on . tlie bed. 'The foreheads of ail were cut' and braised! The wife's throat was cut on the bed. IProm the enormous quantity "of blood in .the middle of the floor, on the murdeier's 'trousers, and on a chair, it appears that- '' c lifted the children from 1 the bed, apft taking them between his knees r one by one, cut their throats. Probably he then, cut his own throat, bat not deeply.- * The tragedy must have occurred Isef ore; niid-? night. Karly in the morning, /befpre' (iaylight, he went to the house of a neighboring settler named Plank and asked: for water. Plank says he had a presentiment that all »r>is not right, and refused/ the water, aid w.ien Edwards went away Plank followed him with a loaded gun/ but soon lost him in the darkness. A neighbor named Pask roused the local constable. The went to Edwards' houses and there discovered the horrible tragedy*. When daylight broke Edwgrds was found on the (re.- ties of a high bridge, from which he threatened to jump, but he was ultimately secured. Edwards, is a man of some education, and a principal enf gineer for some years. He received remits liinces from home, his friends being well connected, and a short time since recciveii £1000 with which he bought land at Ormondville. He was given to drinking nnd when drunk was like a madman. , ; It has transpired that when drunk ho' has more than once severely assaulted his wife, and a short time since be plac'/'d a quantity of uunpowder under hisi wife 1 ;* bed and exploded it fortunately without any serious results. -