The Wmdsor-Rainhill Tragedies

Feilding Star, Volume XIII, Issue 117, 31 March 1892, Page 2

The Wmdsor-Rainhill Tragedies

The above portrait of the Windsor and Rainhill murderer is a reproduction of that published by the Melbourne Argus from a photograph supplied to the Victorian police by the Chief Commissioner o f Police, Sydney. In Williams' physiognomy may be mentioned a low receding forehead, decidedly lacking breadth, somewhat projected eyes, blue and keen, and clearcut short nose and fine nervous nostrils. A heavy blonde moustache quite conceals the character of the mouth, and then comes the most physiognomic trait, a broad square projecting chin, displaying the capability of ferocity. But for this the appearance of the man is distinctly pleasant. The statement that he is of gentlemanly appearance is, however, absurd. He is rapidly becoming thinner, and losing the freshness of colour which he had when he arriyed at Perth. Whilst in Hobart, in 1888, Williams was quite a Lothario, being struck with every pretty face he saw. He was very popular with the ladies, by whom he was known as the "American Millionaire." He gave a ball to his friends in Hally's Assembly Eooms, and a complimentary return ball was tendered to him. During his six months' incarceration at Hull Gaol, in 1890-91, he impressed Mr Webster, the governor, yery unfavorably. He appeared to be a particularly active and dangerous criminal, and in consequence was watched and kept so much to himself that his criminal skill and aggressiveness might not be given any scope. He was several times visited by his first wife, who passed herself off aa his cousin for awhile, but subsequently admitted that she was Mrs Deeming. The conversations of the two were alway conducted in tho presence of a warder, and thus it was that Mr Webster learut that Deeming blamed his wife for telling the police where he had gone, after his flight from England. He spoke so roughly to her concerning this that Mr Webster, on one occasion, remarked that he would not be surprised if he murdered her on his release.

I PEU UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. I London, March 29. Ann Morley, of Liverpool, who gave evideupe at the inquest on the bodies of the Rainhill victims, stated that when sho heard of Miss Mather's marriage she fancied Williams was identical with Deeming, who she had long knowu, but she remained silent because she was uncertain. She thought Deeming's wife (Marie James) was aware he was a bigamist, but was not familiar with much of his career. The Times says that Deeming is essen* tially a swindler, but only incidentally a murderer. It is rumoured that the police attribute the " Hipper" murders to a convict now in Portland gaol for obtaining money from a woman by threats. | Christchurch, March 30, A Mrs Dunn, residing here, whose husband left her in April, 1887, when a warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge oE embezz lement at Reefton, has said that the portrait of Deeming in the Austrahuu papers has made her suspect that he his her runaway husband, from whom she has not heard since his departure, bhe says that he was possessed of considerable mechanical ability, and told her he came from America. Subsequent enquiries at places in America, where he said he had been, failed to confirm his stat 'meut.